Broken Homes {Lashton & Malum}

XVII

@Autumn_Kitten answered the revision question first last time so congrats! The answer was World War I

Calum sat in a blur, watching hands fly across the table to grab at the platefuls of food in front of him. He tried to regain focus, leaning his head to glance at Ashton, who was eating his cereal next to him, but his eyes remained locked on his own bowl of cereal. Ashton was happily digging in, obviously loving Coco Pops, but Calum had only ever touched his spoon to stir the now soggy cereal around in the bowl. Everything around him seemed to fade away, the only thing he could see being that bowl. Calum didn't know what happened, he used to look at food and fantasize about that delicious first bite, but now all he could think about was the lasting effect a single spoonful of Coco Pops could have on his stomach. 

Calum had admittedly been spending more time in front of the mirror lately, and if anyone ever caught him like Ashton had the other day, they'd probably think he was becoming pretty self obsessed. Well, in a way he was, just not in a positive way. Calum had never really paid any attention to his looks, as he hadn't really cared until now, but the boy really wished he had cared early enough to stop him from getting to this point. His torso seemed to have just too much of a curve, and if he tried he could pinch at the skin on his stomach. Should he have been able to do that? And if he thought the pinch on his stomach was bad, he was in now way prepared for his arms. The skin around his wrist seemed plentiful, Calum had no idea why he was only just now realising all of these...faults. 

The brown-eyed boy hadn't realised that he was completely lost in thought, staring intently at his cereal while everyone was finishing off their final mouthfuls. Ashton was sat beside the boy, wanting nothing to do with Michael or Luke after yesterday, and had been watching Calum out of the corner of his eye most of the morning. He seemed to be in a daze, eyes glued to his food with a solemn look on his face. What was it that had Calum looking so sad? Was it the unresolved tension from yesterday? But then why had Calum's neutral expression instantly washed away when they stepped into the dining room? Was it the food? Did Calum not like Coco Pops? If not, why didn't he just get something else?

Before Ashton even had the chance to slide Calum a note to ask, Haley walked into the dining room, calling out, "Everyone in the van in two minutes!" Chairs dragged against the floorboards as everyone stood from their seats and rushed around the house to get ready to leave, plates clanking together as everyone dumped their dishes in the sink. Calum waited until everyone had left before going over to the sink and draining the soggy Coco Pops down the plughole, unaware that Ashton was watching him from the doorway.

Ashton didn't say anything, however, just met Calum in the doorway with his schoolbag slung over his shoulder, sketchbook tucked under his arm as he walked with Calum out to the van, stopping to grab Calum's bag by the door on their way out. Calum was honestly glad to have Ashton right now, after everything that had happened. He just...he couldn't face either Luke or Michael. They'd both yelled, scared Ashton and Michael had said he wouldn't be mad if anyone else knew, yet he still did. Calum couldn't help but feel a little betrayed by that, especially since when Michael did get mad, it was in front of Ashton, so not only did he scare the boy, but Ashton now knew about Calum's anxiety also.

The two of them sat together on the bus, though Calum couldn't help but look back to where he normally sat. In his usual seat was Luke, who was whispering to Michael, both of them having identical sorrowful expressions on their faces. He hadn't mean to stare, not really, he just wondered if Michael felt bad at all. They'd all been giving each other some space for the most part, and while he hoped Luke and Michael felt bad about what they did, he could never be too sure. 

Before he could give it any more though, Michael turned and caught Calum's eye, making the boy blush and quickly turn away. He glanced at Ashton beside him, feeling honestly a little guilty. If it wasn't for Calum, Michael wouldn't have had any reason to yell and Ashton wouldn't be so scared of the two right now, and he couldn't help but feel like it was his fault. However, he and Ashton were becoming closer as friends, and hopefully Ashton didn't blame him too much. They were going to need to stick together now, after what had happened. Right now, the only people they could trust were each other.