Pretty Boys // cashton + muke \\

21

Chapter 21 (edited May 2021)

It was Friday evening, the sun barely beginning to set as Calum and Luke made their way to the water. They were meant to meet Nathan in the lobby of the hotel and walk down together, but the older boy got caught up a bit at work and decided to just meet them at the lake behind the hotel.

Friday night marked the fifth day that they had been at the resort. Five days of Calum ignoring Ashton's calls and texts because of the fear in his heart, and five days of Luke ignoring Michaels calls and texts because he's been spending time with Nathan. Luke would walk down the street to Mirror, during the day so Nathan wasn't busy and they would sit at the bar and talk. An unexplainable amount of guilt spread throughout Luke's chest every time Nathans smile gave him butterflies. The image of Michael filled his head nonstop, haunting him every hour of the day and Luke couldn't stand it.

Calum walked with his hands stuffed in the pockets of his shorts, his head down as he let Luke guide him to the lake. All Calum could think about was the way his phone buzzed every five minutes, over one hundred unread text messages filling his phone, most sent from Ashton, an occasional angry one from Michael telling Calum to call Ashton.

Calum's head was always pounding, his heart always seemed too heavy for his chest. He felt sick to his stomach, and it all started when Ashton became distant to him. He felt so incomplete and heavy, and it was becoming unbearable. Calum wanted to believe it would all get better if he just talked to Ashton, but that belief was overpowered by how terrified he is that Ashton might hate him now and then he'll feel even worse.

"Cal," Luke called, snapping Calum out of his thoughts. The boy looked up, realizing that they had already arrived at the lake. Calum looked up at Luke, smiling apologetically.

"Sorry, my head's somewhere else," Calum mumbled. Luke nodded, wrapping his arm around Calum's shoulders.

"Just try and have a good time tonight. Mingle and make a friend or two. You're an amazingly fun person when you're not holding your head ten feet underwater," Luke said, smiling softly at him.

"Thanks Luke. I see Nathan and wine," Calum said, managing to smile a bit as he made his way over to where Nathan was standing by a small bar with a girl with dyed blue hair. Luke couldn't help the scowl at the girl who was wearing a red, somewhat lacy bikini.

"Mr. Nathan Roman, care to share?" Calum asked, wiggling his eyebrows as he stared down the bottle of Merlot close to Nathan.

"Of course Mr. Calum hood. I got it specifically for you," Nathan smiled, handing Calum a wine glass and the bottle. The boy hummed a thank you as he took the bottle and the glass. Nathan looked towards Luke, who was still discretely staring down the girl.

"And for you," Nathan paused as he reached behind the small bar and pulled out a can of sprite and a single white rose.

"I have soda and a rose," Nathan smiled, handing them to Luke. The blonde blushed as he took the items, holding the flower up to his nose and breathing in the sweet smell.

"Thank you," He quietly said, the butterflies and guilt battling fiercely. Nathan nodded before turning back to the girl in the red bikini.

"Can I get you something to drink or anything?" He asked.

"No, I was actually wondering if you would like to come back to my room with me," She offered, moving closer to Nathan. Luke narrowed his eyes, clutching the soda can tightly. Nathan chuckled, grabbing a towel from behind the bar and wrapping it around the girl.