Diffrent Is Good

Four

Michael and Niall hopped off the train, running up the hills and Michael saw the wooden building. "There it is." Michael smiled and he and Niall rolled down the hill to it, acting like they were 5 again for that short amount of time before going into the church. "Okay Mikey, I'm gonna go to the store down there." Niall smiled as he pulled the money from Michael's jacket pocket, "Don't be gone for too long Ni." Michael mumbled as he sat down on a wooden bench in the church. "I'll be as quick as possible Michael." Niall smiled before leaving the church, Michael leaned against the stone wall and pulled his knees to his chest, lighting a cigarette and taking a long drag. He could only think one thing, why him? Why did he have to get into this? He was a somewhat good kid, he stayed out of trouble most of the time.

In all honesty, he was scared to fucking death about this. He didn't wanna go to jail, he didn't wanna end up in the paper for a bad reason, he didn't wanna get expelled from school. Michael sighed as smoke left his mouth, running his fingers through his hair, holding the cancer stick between his teeth and taking drags every now and then before putting it out on the wall, slowly falling asleep.

Niall walked in and put big cardboard box down on the table, making Michael jump awake and he shuffled over. "We got bread, baloney, a couple cases of cola." Niall listed as he pulled items out of the bag, Michael picked up a hardcover book that Niall pulled out and he looked at the cover, 'Gone with the Wind'. "I've always wanted a copy of this, how'd you know Ni?" Michael smiled as he flipped through the white and black pages, "I remember you talkin' about it one time, I just saw it and thought maybe you could read it, to pass time." Niall mumbled, "Thanks Niall." Michael smiled and put the book down, picking up peroxide and looking confused. "Peroxide?" Michael mumbled and Niall looked at him, "You ain't thinking-" Michael began, but Niall nodded and Michael put it down, "You ain't touching my hair man." Michael mumbled as he sat down, beginning to read the book. "We gotta do it Mike." Niall sighed, "No way Niall." Michael huffed, "We gotta change our look so the cops don't find us out right away." Niall mumbled and Michael groaned, "Fiiiiiiiiine." Michael huffed and Niall took out his switchblade, "Cut first, then the bleach." He mumbled and then began cutting Michael's black hair. "Ow!" Michael winced as his hair was tugged on, "Sorry man." Niall mumbled and continued cutting his hair.

"This should work Mikey." Niall smiled as he picked up an old kinda broken mirror, placing it infront of the now blonde boy. "Not that bad." Michael mumbled as he ruffled his hair, "Makes you look tough." Niall smirked and Michael chuckled, "Nah, I look like a dork." Michael laughed as he stood up from the log he sat on, "You already are one." Niall laughed and Michael chuckled, "Now it's your turn." Michael smiled as he pulled out his switchblade, "Alright, go easy on me though." Niall mumbled and Michael scoffed, starting to cut Niall's blonde hair. "Ow, shit." Niall winced, "Told ya." Michael smirked as he continued to cut it, cutting as much as he needed before ruffling Niall's shorter hair.

Michael laid on the wooden bench, blowing smoke into the air and sighing, wanting to sleep but it was impossible, stress eating him alive. He had been in the church with Niall for 4 days, not feeling right and he had gotten sick of bologna, refusing to eat the horrid luncheon meat after day 2. His stomach didn't feel settled right, like something was wrong but he assumed it was just hunger, although he was probably wrong. He took one last drag of his cigarette before putting it out on the wall, curling into a ball and falling asleep.

"Rise and shine blondie!" Louis shouted in a sleeping Michael's ear, causing him to jump awake. "Get up Niall, get up, get up, get up." He smiled as he shook the Irish lad. "Nice hair Mike." Louis smirked, "Shut it Lou." Michael laughed as he sat up, lighting a cigarette. "I got a letter for you Mike." Louis mumbled as he handed Michael the letter, "Who's it from?" He asked as he opened it, "The president." Louis scoffed as he dragged on a cigarette and Michael rolled his eyes, beginning to read.

Dear Mikey,
Hey kid, it's your brother Calum. I'm still pissed off at Ash for hitting you like that, I freaked out even more when seeing some blood on the wall. Ashton cried that night by the way, he knew he fucked up bad. We saw something about Justin getting killed in the paper, I know Niall did it because Louis told me, but I understand. You would have died if it weren't for Niall. Louis told me everything, I'm worried about you Mike. People are saying that you and Ni are heading for Texas, but I know that's a bullshit lie, Louis spilled to me where you really are kiddo. I hope you guys safe and I pray that you're reading this, Please come home soon, we miss you.

Love,
Cal x

Michael folded up the note, putting it in his pants pocket. "Ash really cried?" Michael mumbled and Louis nodded, "Like a little baby." He mumbled as smoke left his mouth. There was a moment of silence before Michael's belly growling echoed the room, making him blush a dark red.

"Let's go get something to eat, I'm starving." Louis smiled, "Try eating bologna for 4 days." Niall scoffed, "Well, 2 for this doofus." Niall mumbled as they stood up, "You haven't eaten for 2 days?" Louis asked and Michael nodded, "You better not be pulling that 'I'm too fat' bullshit again." Louis scolded as they got in the car, "No, it's not I swear." Michael rushed out, "I-I just didn't want to eat bologna." Michael mumbled. "Chill kid." Louis mumbled as he patted Michael's knee, driving.

The "I'm too fat" thing Louis was referring to was when Michael was around 12, he was starting to put on some weight and people ate school weren't being so nice about it, making him grow extremely insecure to the point where he was starving himself as well as purging to get whatever food was in his stomach out. Ashton caught him hunched over the toilet one day with a finger down his throat and Michael went into a major sob fest, explaining everything to his older brothers and getting comforting cuddles afterwards, now being reminded everyday by his brothers or his friends that he was perfect the way he was.

Louis pulled up to a Dairy Queen and ordered food for them all, 6 pulled pork sandwiches each with fries and coke. Michael hadn't realized how hungry he really was until he bit into the sandwhich, eating three in 5 minutes. "Mike slow down or else you'll make yourself throw up." Louis mumbled and the blonde boy slowed down, but still ate rather fast. "We're going back and we're turning ourselves in." Niall mumbled and Louis froze, "What?" He asked, "You heard me Lou. Me and Mikey are gonna turn ourselves in. I can get laid off easy since it was self defense, you and Mike can prove it." Niall shrugged as he tossed his and Michael's trash away, the pale boy not wanting to get up since he suddenly felt a bit queasy, probably from eating so damn fast.

"Man, I get you this hide out and everything." Louis mumbled as they drove back to the church, "I don't want you to go to prison kid, it changes ya. It makes you mean and cruel and a downright asshole." Louis sighed, "What in the name of..." Louis trialed off as they pulled up to the church, it had gotten caught on fire and Michael froze, knowing one of their lit cigarettes must have caused it.

"There are kids inside still!" A woman cried and this made Niall and Michael jump out of the car, rushing inside the burning church.