I'm Supposed To Hate You ||Malum AU||

Chapter 10

The sun streamed through the window in Calum's room the next morning, waking him up before his alarm went off. He groaned as he rolled out of bed, remembering exactly what day it was. Why,of all places, did Michael have to stay with there, in Calum's house? He pushed himself up off the floor, cursing his mother's kindness under his breath as he did.

"You're up early," Joy said when she walked out of the bathroom to find her son standing waiting in the hallway.

"It's the excitement," Calum said sarcastically.

"Oh Calum, I'm sorry, but he had nowhere else to go and Karen was desperate."

"It's alright mum, I understand," Calum replied gently, dropping his mood. "I would do the same if Ashton had a kid. Now there's a weird thought."

"You're not mad at me?"

"Nope, I'm mad at Mali because she's the reason I have to share a room with him." Calum laughed. "I mean, she doesn't even live here anymore."

Joy shook her head, and went into her bedroom, leaving Calum in the hallway, imagining Ashton as an overly protective but fun parent. He was going to have to picture that a lot if he was going to make it through the day.
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"That was Karen," Joy told Calum halfway through breakfast after she finished texting someone. "They're on their way."

Calum groaned, hitting his head off the wall beside his head. He got the feeling that Michael was feeling exactly the same. Their hate for each other was the only thing they had in common.

No more than 15 minutes later, their doorbell rang, making Calum jump out of him seat in his sleepy state. Joy jumped to her feet and rushed over to the door. Calum heard muffled talking in the hall, and his mother's distinct laugh before the door closed and it finally sunk in that Michael was in fact, here to stay.

"Sweetie, would you like to show Michael where he's sleeping?"

"No." Calum muttered, throwing his toast down on the plate. "But I probably don't have a choice." He looked up to see his mother and Michael standing in the doorway. He made eye contact with Michael and both of them instantly glared at each other.

"Calum.." Joy said in a warning tone. Calum sighed and got out of his seat, motioning for Michael to follow him.

"Sweetie?" Michael snorted as soon as they were out of earshot. "What are you, a 5 year old girl?"

"Shut up," Calum growled as they began to climb the stairs.

"Ooohh, touchy." Calum bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from retaliating, but Michael continued. "You know, I don't want to be here as much as you don't want me here Hood, so don't act like you're the only one who's got a shit deal."

"I'm not." Calum growled.

"You are," Michael said gleefully, watching Calum begin to get wound up.

"I am not. My mum has to look after you for week, which is a bloody shame on her."

"My mum has gone on holiday and left me here, with you." Michael retorted bitterly as they reached the top of the stairs. Calum pushed his bedroom
door open and invited him inside reluctantly.

"This is your room, why are you showing me into your room?" Michael demanded, registering the posters on the walls.

"We're sharing."

"You're got to be kidding me!" Michael exclaimed. "I'm not sharing a room with you."

"Better yet, we're sharing a fucking bed," Calum said half heartedly, glaring at Michael like it was his fault. They weren't really, but Calum wasn't going to waste an opportunity to wind him up.

"Yo-you're kidding right?"

Calum shook his head, struggling to hide the grin that was threatening to ruin his cover.

"You've got to be," Michael said, beginning to sound panicky. "We..your mum..she wouldn't?"

"You're right, she wouldn't. I was just messing with ya," Calum laughed, holding onto the doorframe for support. "You should have seen your face though."

"I hate you!" Michael exclaimed, hitting Calum's arm. Calum just laughed harder, tears forming in his eyes.

"Glad to hear it, buddy."

"That's my line," Michael whined. "You can't say that."

"Oops, I just did." Calum smirked. No wonder Michael liked winding him up so much, it was great fun, especially since he was giving Michael a taste of his own medicine.

"You only said that because it's so great and you're jealous you didn't come up with it."

"News flash Michael, you don't own the phrase glad to hear it. Anyone can say it, including me."

"Whatever you say, Asian."

"I'm not Asian!" Calum exclaimed angrily.

"Keep telling yourself that." Michael grinned, before patting Calum in the head and ditching his stuff on the floor of Calum's already messy room. "So, who gets the bed?"

"Me, obviously, its my room."

"But I'm the guest. Hasn't your mother taught you your manners?"

"I get the bed, you're on a inflatable mattress on the floor." Calum stated, folding his arms across his chest.

"Have I ever told you that you're hot when you get angry," Michael smirked, knowing how much that simple sentence annoyed Calum.

"Listen here Clifford." Calum growled, grabbing him by the collar. "Not a word about my sexuality this week, okay? Or I'll beat the shit out of you again."

"Do you threaten all your guests, or do you just want an excuse to be close to me?"

"Do you understand?" Calum snapped, shaking Michael's shoulders.

"Yeah, yeah okay. Calum isn't gay." Michael said. "Jesus, calm down." Calum let go off Michael and walked away from him. They were both glaring at each other, neither wanting to break eye contact in fear of being seen as weak. It was only when Joy came up to ask how they were getting on that they broke it and Michael started to unpack his stuff, ignoring the obvious dark looks Calum was throwing him while helping his mum with the inflatable mattress.

It was going to be a long week for all three of them.

I would like to dedicate this chapter to my granny, who died earlier this year after a short battle with cancer. Yesterday would have been her 76th birthday. She always encouraged and supported my writing throughout my childhood, and I am grateful for that. She was a wonderful woman and I miss her so much every single day.

RIP Granny, I love you so much. I hope you're having fun dancing in heaven. 👼🏻