The Choice [Mashlum]

chapter four

A/N Calum's bathing suit is in the media x, and get ready for a roller coaster of different emotions.

^^^

Calum and Ashton woke up to Michael being gone already to his moms. Both boys were worried because Michael never came back in a good mood. They wished his mom would just accept their relationship but she never did like it. She was a nice woman but this was just a major flaw that left everyone hurt, mostly Michael. Michael was so proud of his relationship with the other two and it sucked that he didn't have his mom's support. Michael's dad had been out of the picture for several years now, dying of a heart attack when Michael was ten plus he was an only child so the only family he really had was his mom. Ashton worried the most, he had spent nights with Michael talking about his relationship with his mom, Michael crying on his shoulder. They try to shield Calum as best they can,  not because he can't handle it because they know he can but he's their little peanut and Michael and Ashton hate seeing their peanut with big watery eyes. It's heartbreaking.

Ashton knew that they would have to distract themselves while Michael was gone. It sucks that Michael didn't say goodbye but Ashton assumed he didn't want to wake them. Since Ashton and Calum are both up and drinking their coffees Ashton propose an idea for the day.

"Hey baby bear, since Mikey is gone you want to have a beach day? We could lounge on the sand and go swimming?"

"I'd like that, that would be fun. And we wouldn't have to worry about Mikey complaining the whole time about how he would rather be inside." Calum nods in agreement.

Michael hated the beach, he was more of a pool guy but Ashton and Calum really enjoyed it and they were both grateful that Michael agreed to live on the beach. Sometimes Michael would join them but most of the times he would stay up by the house and listen to music.

After breakfast Ashton and Calum got ready for the beach. Calum wearing Aztec pink and purple swim shorts that were a couple inches above the knee and a white tank while Ashton was just wearing his plain black swim trunks and no shirt, all of his tattoos on display. Calum made sure they covered themselves in sunblock, normally Ashton wouldn't bother but he always listens to his baby bear.

The sun was nice and warm, the sand heating up their feet, or more so heating Ashton's feet considering Calum was getting a piggyback, the water was sparkling and there was not a cloud in the sky.

When they got to the spot they wanted they laid out their towels and Calum took off his shirt. If they needed something more they could just walk the fifty feet back to their house. Ashton had brought his phone out in case Michael needed him and it was carefully placed so it wouldn't get anywhere near the sand.

They lived on a private beach which meant there weren't as many people on it, maybe three or four at the most because they had beach rights. It was nice because some people weren't so accepting towards same sex couples and this allowed Calum and Ashton, and Michael when he joined them, to be themselves and not have to care about judgement, well Ashton doesn't care period but Calum gets upset.

"Swimmies?" Calum asks once they are settled.

"Babe we just got here let's enjoy the sun for a bit and then we can go in the water." Ashton suggests.

Calum sighs, "okay we can do that...do you think Mikey is okay?"

"He would let us know if he wasn't." Ashton tells him.

Ashton was lying, Michael would never tell Calum if he was okay or not simply because he didn't want to upset the boy, sure Calum definitely noticed a change in behaviour but he wouldn't question it because Michael always went quiet. Calum hated it and he always did his best to cheer the other boy up. However there were no secrets between the boys, Calum knew what Michael's mom caused the boy. They had talked about it before but Michael usually turned to Ashton for times like these. The only thing is it made Ashton get mad. He hated seeing his boys sad and sometimes there was nothing he could do.