Too Late | m.c [completed]

Chapter 19-The Friends

"Hey, Ashton" I tap his shoulder and he jolts from the sudden surprisement but calms down once he realizes it's just me.

"Hey, Mike" he nodded and leaned against his locker. "Don't call me Mike. It's Mikey or Michael" I correct. He nods and I continue to talk, "Do you have a clue where Calum Hood is? Kinda tall, dark hair with blonde streaks. Recently got a hair cut? Uh, kinda tan skin.." Ashton nodded and cleared his throat. "I know who he is. We hung out last night with my friends" he smiled for some reason.

"Where is he?" I asked. "Oh, yeah, he said he was gonna go back home" he shrugged and opened his locker again. "Back home? Okay...uh..thank you Ashton" I pat his back and rush off to class.

After school, I went over to Calum's house. His mom kindly opened the door and let me in. She also offered to make a snack but I kindly declined her offer.

I knocked on Calum's door with the same pattern I've been using since we were kids. "Calum?" I call through the door. No answer. So I knocked again and asked for him, again.

After five times repeating this, he finally unlocked the door and let me in. "Hey" I shoved my hands in my pockets. "Hi" he groaned.

"I'm so sorry, Cal" I start to say as he sits down on his un-made bed. "Sorry doesn't cut it. You freak out on me when I make a funny comment, you've been acting weird around me, and you try to keep Hanna away from me" he shook his head and rubbed his eyes with his hands.

"I know, Calum. I'm sorry" I say in a quiet voice. "Sorry? Ha! That's funny, Michael. I thought you never apologize" he laughed.

"I said I was sorry, Calum! What more do you want from me?!" I yell, causing his sister to come into the room. "We're fine, Mali" he sighed. "Are you sure? I can beat him up if you want" she shrugged. "I said we're fine" he snapped. "Okay, okay. Bye Mikey" and she left.

"Calum-" he cut me off short. "Don't Calum me. You need to know that Hanna and I aren't a thing. I know she loves you and I respect that. I know how you think, Mikey. And I would never do that to you" he sat up straighter.

And for some reason, I didn't believe him.

"Okay" is all I could say. "Thank you, Calum"

We hugged it out and apologized to each other, even though I didn't know why he apologized. I guess we're okay now.

I called Luke and told him where to meet Calum and I. So we all had pizza together and had a fun time. But while I scanned the pizza place, I noticed Ashton sitting alone. We made eye contact and I ushered him to come over. "Guys, Ashton is coming over" I inform them. "Why!" Luke whined. "Because I invited him" I shrugged, thinking it wasn't a bag thing but then I remembered how Ashton threw that brick at Luke's window.

Ashton jogged over with a smile and sat next to me in the booth. Luke just glared at him. Ashton noticed and shifted uncomfortably in his spot. "Luke" I snap. Instead of letting it go, the Luke I know snapped at Ashton instead.

"You broke my window" Luke half pouted and half stammered. It was quite funny. "Yeah...about that...I'm really sorry man" he bit his bottom lip. "Sorry? Are you serious?" Luke raised an eyebrow. "I'll p-pay for it. I'll pay for the damages" he ushered.

Luke nodded and smiled. "Thank you"

"Can't we all just be friends?" I suggested. "He broke my window!" Luke protested. "Luke" I said calmly. "Maybe we can be friends" he sighed loudly and took a bite of his pizza. "If you and Ashton are cool, and Calum and Asnton are cool...I guess I can be cool with him" he finally said.

"Okay. So friends?"

And in unison, everyone repeated 'friends'