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

[14] No Regerts

((Yes, I know that I spelled "regrets" as "regerts". It was intentional.))

So, I post some cool things on my 5SOS Instagram account and you should follow it because you're all really nice people and I love you so much. :D (@quiet.mgc15) 

"You need to call him, Michael. Might I remind you that you're the one that wants to talk to him so badly," Luke coached him. "You were the one that reached out to him and now you just want to leave him hanging? I'm confused by you."

"He didn't want to talk to me and he didn't want anything to do with me the first time around. That answers any questions I have about forming a relationship with him. The only reason that he sent me that message was because he felt guilty for snapping at me like that. That's all. He doesn't have any feelings for me nor will he ever," Michael told him. 

"You don't know that, Michael. Play the voicemail for me again. I'll point it out to you," Luke told him, resting his elbows on the table. 

Michael huffed and unlocked his phone, going into his voicemail. Once he got to Ashton's call, he switched it to speaker mode and the message started. 

"Hey, Michael. I just wanted to apologize for the way I responded when you had called. I shouldn't have acted that way and just assumed that you were one of those clingy clients that wouldn't take no for an answer because it was obvious that you didn't call for that. So, if you want, you can call or message me back when you get this. I understand if you don't because I didn't treat you fairly. Anyway, have a good night and sleep well. Hope to talk to you soon."

"If he truly hated or didn't want anything more to do with you, he wouldn't have called you back to see what you wanted. He also wouldn't have said that he wanted to talk to you," Luke told him. "He cares for you on some level to call like that. There's no reason that he would want to hear what you needed if he didn't. For fuck's sake, Michael, call him the fuck back!" 

Michael avoided eye contact with Luke because he knew that he was right. The real truth was that he was just scared. He didn't want to know what Ashton was going to say because Michael knew that Ashton didn't feel the same way as Michael did about him. It was sad that he wasn't even wanting to give it a chance, but that was because he knew the outcome, so why put himself through the heartache?

"I should get going," Michael muttered, pushing his chair out from underneath him to get up. 

"No, you're not leaving until you call Ashton back," Luke demanded, standing up right along with Michael, looking as if he was ready to pounce in order to stop him. 

Michael stiffened, not appreciating how Luke was ordering him around. He felt himself get angry and then unleashed. "Why should I? To make you happy? To satisfy your needs? I didn't know you were the one that had feelings for him. Do you ever think about anyone but yourself or Spencer? Or is that outside of your brain capacity? Maybe I'm not calling him back because I already know the answer to the potential question. Maybe I'm not doing it because I don't want to put myself through more rejection and heartache. I know you don't know what that feels like, so let me give you a mental picture: it hurts like fucking hell and I don't know why anyone would voluntarily put themselves through it if they know the outcome and I don't fucking understand why anyone's supposed best friend would urge them to get hurt. I know that I sure as hell wouldn't. I actually value my friends' feelings and think about them instead of being so fucking self centered."

"Are you serious, Mike? I'm encouraging you to do this because this is what you want. I'm trying to help you get a boyfriend because if you don't end up with Ashton, you'll go back to whining about how nobody likes you or wants to be in a relationship with you. I also am doing it because I feel like Ashton is the perfect guy for you. You think that I don't know shit about your feelings or what Ashton feels and you think that I'm just assuming this, but I'm not. You two convinced me that you were a couple and it wasn't because of the words you said; it was because of the little things that people do when they have a major crush on someone. Not only did you do it, but Ashton was doing it as well. So, yeah, go ahead, call me a self-centered piece of shit all you want, but just keep in the back of your thick skull that I wouldn't force my bestest friend into a relationship if I didn't think that person was right for them. As much as you want to deny it, I actually do care and I am looking out for you," Luke roared back.