Pretty Boys // cashton + muke \\

20

Chapter 20 (edited May 2021)

Luke groaned as he pushed his sunglasses further up his nose, mumbling curses at Calum for insisting that they eat outside. Luke's headache wasn't unbearable but he'd much rather eat his blueberry waffle in the hotel room, maybe with the blinds closed. The blonde shut his eyes for a second, leaning back in his seat.

"Well if it isn't Mr damsel in distress," A weirdly familiar voice said. Luke opened his eyes and sat up in his chair as a dark haired boy sat down in front of him. Luke smiled, resting his elbows on the table.

"If it isn't Mr badass club owner. Thank you for helping us last night," Luke said, blinking a few times.

"It was no big deal," the man shrugged. "I might have to save you again because you're wearing a black sweater and black pants in 100 degree heat," Nathan chuckled. Luke rolled his eyes, crossing his legs as he leaned back again.

"I'm hungover, leave me alone," Luke laughed lightly.

"Well, I mean, I bet you'd look beautiful in anything, I just don't want a pretty one like you getting heat stroke," Nathan said, smiling warmly at Luke. The blonde blushed, smiling back at the boy.

"Smooth, Mr club owner," Luke said.

"I'm sorry Mr damsel in distress, I believe it was Mr badass club owner," Nathan teased.

"Oh right, my bad, forgive me my lord," Luke rolled his eyes playfully kicking Nathan's leg. Nathan dramatically gasped, clutching his leg.

"How could you, and I thought I could like you for a second there," Nathan said. Luke giggled, shaking his head.

"Mr badass, how could I ever repay you?" Luke asked. Nathan smirked, leaning back in his chair.

"There's gonna be a little bonfire by the water at the end of the week. You and Calum should come, it's only going to be a few people but it should be fun," Nathan said. Luke smiled, nodding his head as he saw Calum walking back to their table.

"That sounds fun" Luke said.

"What sounds fun?" Calum asked, sitting down beside Luke. "Oh, hey Nathan," Calum smiled.

"Hey Calum. I was just telling Luke that you two should come to a little party and bonfire by the water later this week," Nathan explained.

"Oh, yeah totally, we'll be there," Calum smiled.

"Cal, I thought you were getting food?" Luke asked. Calum made a face of realization before he was getting up again with a groan. Luke and Nathan laughed lightly, watching the boy angrily huff with every other step.

"Did he make things right with Ashton?" Nathan asked curiously.

"Nope. He's avoiding that at all costs still," Luke said, popping the 'p'. Nathan shook his head with a breathy scoff.

"He really needs to call that guy," Nathan said.

"I know. He just needs some time to think everything over and look at it from their point of view. We've only been gone a day and I think he needs a bit more
time than that to evaluate how he feels," Luke explained. Nathan nodded in understanding as he pulled his phone out.

"Well, I've got to go but give me your number and we can all go to the bonfire together," Nathan said, sliding his phone over to Luke.

"Is this just a ploy to get my number?" Luke asked, teasing as he raised his eyebrows. Nathan chuckled, raising his hands in a surrendering manner.

"Alright, you caught me. I did want your number, but I do think it'd be a good idea if we could walk to the bonfire together," Nathan said. Luke smiled, nodding his head as he typed his name under 'mr damsel in distress' then put his number in. He gave it back to Nathan and smiled when he laughed at the contact name.

"I'll call you," Nathan smiled as he got out of his chair.

"I'll be waiting," Luke waved as Nathan walked away. Calum came back a minute later with platters of food. He gave one to Luke and sat where Nathan was previously sitting.

"So, I kind of threw my phone into the pool," Calum mumbled through the hash brown he was trying to stuff his mouth with. Luke's eyes widened as he sat up in his chair.

"You what?" He asked. Calum deflated, sighing heavily as he chewed and swallowed his food.

"Ashton kept texting me and I didn't know how to respond so I kind of just panicked and threw it into the pool without thinking," Calum explained, embarrassment creeping onto his face in the form of a deep red blush. Luke chuckled a bit, receiving a glare from Calum.

"Cal, you're going to have to talk to him at some point," Luke said.

"I know, but what if he breaks up with me?" Calum mumbled, picking at his hash browns which didn't seem so appealing anymore.

"He won't break up with you over this, Cal. Just leave it alone for another day or two then we can get you
a new phone and you can call him," Luke said. Calum nodded silently, his head buzzing with an oncoming headache.

"I'm scared," Calum whispered.

"Of what?" Luke asked through a mouthful of blueberry waffles. Calum sighed, shaking his head as he got up from the table.

"I'm gonna go get us mojito's," Calum mumbled before walking away. Luke sighed, taking another bite of his waffle. The blonde jumped a bit when his phone buzzed inside of his pocket. Luke pulled it out, frowning at the icon for Michael. The blonde hesitated, hovering his finger over the little red button before pressing it and sliding his phone back into his pocket. Michael called three more times before giving up, causing Luke to sigh both in relief and sadness.

Luke missed Michael. He didn't know why and he didn't know how or if he could stop missing him, but he does. He wanted to throw himself at any guy who looked in his direction just to see if they could help him forget. Luke rubbed his hands over his face, his heart already sinking in his chest, buried deep in a pit of worn down, smoking coals that was once a strong fire. Luke was hopelessly in love with Michael. Maybe he wouldn't admit it and maybe he wouldn't ever accept it, but everything about the man was a magnet and Luke was drawn in.

Maybe he liked it that way. Maybe he liked being wanted, if only for a little while, only by Michael. That might be degrading and completely against everything Luke was taught and believed in, but he didn't care. He needed Michael to need him, and it killed him inside that Michael doesn't need him, it killed him that he needs Michael more than Michael will ever need him.

He doesn't know what's killing him more; the fact Michael might not love him or the fact that he doesn't care as long as Michael is willing to keep him around.

All he knows is that they both tear into his heart and his mind, leaving nothing but ashes and debris in the wake of his Michael's existence.