For a Good Time, Call | Mashton/Malum ( #Wattys2017 )

[13] Telephone

Dedicated to: @charlyssacook because she was the one who told me about MCR's potential reunion (even though it didn't happen, but that's besides the point.)

I HAVE A ONE DIRECTION/LARRY INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT. A LOT OF PEOPLE SEEM TO REALLY LIKE IT SO YOU SHOULD FOLLOW IT IF YOU WANT TO. IT'S @crybaby.larrie SO PLEASE FOLLOW. I WILL SPAM YOU WITH LIKES IF YOU COMMENT 😊 ON MY RECENT. ILY.

Luke's words were boomeranging around in Michael's head. He thought about all that he had said about Ashton feeling the same way about Michael, but he couldn't think of anything that would've drawn a flag. During their short time together, Ashton seemed to always have fun hanging out with Michael, but he figured that it was just because the kid was a social butterfly. There was also when Ashton had paid for Michael's night with Calum, though he didn't know if it was just because he felt like he owed his customers for not wanting to be the booty call or not.

Michael glanced over at his phone on Luke's counter. He wanted to take it and contact Ashton, ask him to meet up and they could talk, but he was too damn scared to and he knew why. He didn't want to have to deal with the rejection. He already dealt with it once and he wasn't over that yet. To put himself through another round of it was just stupidity on Michael's part.

"Is there a reason you're sitting there, looking at your phone like it's the last bag of Cheetos?" Luke asked from behind Michael, referring his addiction to the American snack.

Michael turned around to see Luke and Spencer walking into the room. Michael had given them time to talk to each other and get everything straight. Considering that Spencer wasn't rushing to pack up his things or Luke wasn't fuming, Michael couldn't help but assume that it went alright. 

"You need to talk to him, Mike," Luke said, putting his hands on Michael's shoulders. 

"I don't want to know what he's going to say," Michael admitted quietly.

"Just ask if you can meet up. It's not something that you're going to want to do over the phone. At least, I wouldn't want to do that," Luke urged. 

Michael thought about it. He knew that it was the right thing to do and it was killing him that the two left each other's lives that way. With a deep breath and no second thoughts, Michael grabbed his phone and went into his contacts, finding Ashton's number. He decided that calling would sound more formal and would help Ashton realize that he didn't have any intentions other than to meet up somewhere and talk to him. You couldn't tell that through text messages.

He hit tapped the call icon. His breath caught in his throat and he shook a little as he put the cell phone to his ear. He was breathing nervously and he hoped that it wasn't going to be audible when Ashton were to answer the phone. 

"You can do it," Luke whispered in his unoccupied ear. 

There was only five rings until Ashton picked up, but it felt like Michael had been sitting there for hours, days even. The sound of his voice instantly made Michael's heart flutter. He was in deep. 

"Hello?" 

"H-Hey, Ashton. It's Michael Clifford," Michael greeted, trying to sound like he wasn't at all nervous for what was happening. 

"Why do you still have my phone number? Michael, our business deals are over. I wasn't kidding," Ashton sighed, the words cutting into Michael.

"I know. I wasn't calling for any services. Um, I guess, I was just - "

"Then what are you calling for? Once I'm finished with a client, I normally don't have any contact with them ever again. I refuse to," Ashton informed him. Michael felt the fictitious dagger that Ashton was holding against his heart pierce the skin.