Fix You {Malum}

2- Four

Ashton was worriedly looking around the school corridors still waiting for his best friend Michael. They were supposed to be walking home by now, holding his books close to his chest he took a deep breath and waited for Michael. He noticed Luke and Calum walk past him, he just looked away as the two boys walked past him. Ignoring the small glances he received from Luke, he spotted his friend walking slowly towards his direction.

"Hi" Ash smiled seeing Michael twiddled with his fingers

"H-hi" Michael whispered looking around nervously as if he was looking for someone

Ashton ignored this knowing that Michael probably would rather avoid the problem and stay quiet rather than facing the problem. He knew that if he asked Michael he would just shrug and shake his head as if nothing was bothering him.

As they trudged through the piles of snow, the silence was uncomfortable and Ashton felt-knew something was up. Ashton sighed wanting to help his friend, his tummy growled at him, but he playfully patted it. Michael looked at Ashton with curiosity, Ashton sighed deciding to just ask and get this over with.

"Look Mike, if you have something going on, you know that you can tell me. You can trust me, I won't judge. Because I know something's up, and I don't want you to feel uneasy"

"I-i't's no-thing... I'm fine" Michael shrugged faking a smile

This hurt Ashton, seeing that Michael lied to his face. It wasn't the only reason he was upset, it was because of how Michael didn't stutter saying the words 'I'm fine' , It meant that Michael was so used to saying the phrase that he didn't have to stutter it out, since he has repeated the phrase so many times. Ashton knew that Michael's biggest lie was being alright even though he wasn't, he never was in the first place.

(These are some questions Ashton asked in the past)

"Michael are you-"

"I-I... f-fine"

"You seem a little bit uneasy today what's the matter?"

"I-I'm f-fi-ne"

"Did your dad cut you again? I swear I'm going to fucking murder that guy"

"N-no pl-please... I-I'm f-f-ine"

"Are you okay? You seem a little bit down in the dumps lately?"

"I-I'm f-fine"

"Are you cutting again? Please don't"

"I'm f-fine"

"Look Mike, if you have something going on, you know that you can tell me. You can trust me, I won't judge. Because I know something's up, and I don't want you to feel uneasy"

"I-i't's no-thing... I'm fine"

Ashton scrunched up his nose realizing that his best friend has been lying to him every single day, insisting that he was okay, but he wasn't. He was dying and Ashton did nothing to help. Ashton's heart broke thinking of Michael hurting himself, he can't believe Michael would do that to himself. He meant that Michael had a good body and was very healthy and not fat, considering how much he eats, he eats a lot. Ashton didn't understand how Michael did it, he skipped every meal per day and only nibbles food to try not to die but it wasn't working. He was still fat, and he hated it.

"Michael please just tell me the truth, I want to help" Ashton pouted

"F-fight... C-Calum... H-he's m-mad a-t m-me" Michael finally admitted

"What? You got into a fight with Calum?"

"Y-yeah, b-but I d-didn't get h-hit, I w-was m-mad... And I ye-lled a-at him. I-m wo-rried t-that he's g-going t-to ki-ll m-me, si-nce I humilia-ted hi-him"