Fool's Holiday ☾Malum

02

"You can stay at my place," The stranger blurted out, causing both Calum and Jessica to look at him suddenly. He looked about as surprised as they did, as if he wasn't too sure what words had toppled out of his mouth.

"I swear, I won't murder you in your sleep." The guy added with a slow nod, giving a forced reassuring smile. It was a joke, Calum could tell, but he couldn't quite bring himself to laugh.

"I'm Michael, by the way." The black clothes boy introduced himself hesitantly, going as far as standing up to shake Calum's hand, he bumped the table clumsily in the process but didn't seem to notice that a little bit of hot chocolate spilled over the rim, leaving a stray mini marshmallow in a puddle on the table.

Calum shook his hand with a tight smile, he didn't have many options--scratch that, he had absolutely no options. Christmas was on the verge of being ruined completely, he'd make it there just in time for his extended family to show up if he left bright an early Christmas morning.

"If you wouldn't mind," Calum mumbled politely, thanking Jessica for the service as he started toward his room. Michael followed behind awkwardly, hands stuffed into the pockets of his black skinny jeans with a little effort. He looked out of place with dull floral wallpaper as a background and ugly orange carpeting to make his dark clothing stand out even more.

"So," Michael began, keeping pace with the dark haired boy. "You like Christmas?"

Calum looked over in surprise, but quickly realized that Michael's eyes were glued to his festive puppy dog slippers. He became pink with embarrassment despite his usual pride in his amount of Christmas spirit, something about Michael made him feel embarrassed over the simplest things, they'd talked for less than five minutes and he'd already begun blushing.

"Yeah, one of my friend's bought them for me. I like dogs too." Calum admitted, not sure if the question was meant to be rhetorical or not. The stranger laughed when Calum's fringe fell down into his eye causing him to emit a minuscule yelp.

"You never told me your name," Michael spoke up suddenly, realizing that he'd offered to let a complete stranger sleep in his house finally.

"C-Dizzle, my nizzle." Calum blurted out, meaning to mutter it under his breath but it came out a lot louder.

Michael let out a laugh that sounded better than Calum's sister singing Christmas carols, he covered his mouth abruptly and Calum nearly frowned.

"It's Calum actually." He added, embarrassed that Michael even had to hear that come out of his mouth. The boy was going to take back his offer to let him room in his house any second now.

"Well C-Dizzle, let's get your stuff in your car and then you can follow me to mine." Michael suggested, picking up his pace so he was walking beside Calum now.

*   *   *   *

On the way to Michael's place, Calum examined the light displays on the way there, a few houses had blow up snowmen or Santa's sleigh set up somewhere. It seemed like every house on the block spelled out Christmas, and just as Michael's truck began slowing down, Calum noticed that one house was entirely void of holiday decor.

Michael pulled into it's driveway, cut the  engine and stepped out of his dark blue vehicle. Calum was a little hesitant to park outside of this house because it was so bland while all the other houses had a homely feel. He only took the keys out of the ignition because Michael seemed to be watching intently.

As if on cue, a person stepped out of their house next to Michael's in a housecoat and clunky boots. Michael's neighbour did a double take of the two standing outside as he retrieved his morning newspaper. With a smile, he wave over at the two of them.

Michael didn't even bother to make eye contact as he raised a middle finger in the general direction of his neighbour. Calum gaped, watching Michael continuing to flip through his mail like nothing happened, he followed Michael inside with his mouth still open like he'd eventually come up with some kind of protest against Michael's actions.

"That asshole next door lets his bratty kids T.P. my house on Halloween every year." Michael said absentmindedly as he kicked his boots off to reveal what could possibly be the brightest part of his entire wardrobe, fluorescent yellow socks.

Calum didn't bother to comment on them, realizing his black socks were completely bland in comparison.

From what Calum could see of Michael's house, it looked like someone had decreased the brightness on what he was seeing. Everything seemed like it had a dark tinge to it despite the broad daylight coming through the windows. There was a staircase to his left and a hall on his other side with a clear view of what Calum's mind immediately thought a man cave would look like, although Michael would probably consider it more of a living room.

The interior of Michael's house was without decoration, there wasn't even a tree somewhere. Everything seemed achromatic, with different shades of grey to fill the gap.

"Wow, I really like the colour scheme you went with," Calum muttered to himself sarcastically, not sure where to put his suitcase of clothes or even where to go from here.

"Guest room is up the stairs at the very end, bathroom is to the right of that. I'll make some hot chocolate." Michael briefly explained the upstairs floor plan to Calum before heading off with a small smile stretched across his lips.

"I don't like hot chocolate." Calum replied, causing Michael to freeze and look at him like he'd just insulted everything Michael stood for in one go.

"Who the fuck doesn't like hot chocolate, get out o my house." Michael replied, voice raising a little but there was a shred of humour somewhere in there that let Calum know he was only joking.

"You should really be asking what I am, you never know." Calum flashed an innocent smile at Michael as he made his way up the stairs.