"So, you're all good now?" Ashton asks, still suspicious as he sucks his straw.
"Yep." Michael says, not wanting to talk about it anymore, 'cause it's just them two at the mall, and there's no one else he can talk to if things get awkward unless he makes friends in the food-court.
"Really?"
No. Calum wants to kiss me all the time, and I really like it but he has a girlfriend. Michael thinks, but nods instead.
Ashton – not really believing him – doesn't comment on it as he looks at the gift he'd bought for Lauren in his hand that he holds against his waist. "Do you wanna tell me the truth now?"
Secret, okay? Calum's voice echoes in Michael's mind, and he shakes his head to try and get rid of the voice, but it's too hard. "We're fine. He apologised, and that's it."
"What happened for you to be so upset?"
"He just . . . did something." And I'm still kinda terrified.
"Something bad?"
"It's over, now, Ash. Can we stop talking about it?"
Ashton nods, always doing what makes people happy, and drinks his Boost Juice one more time before throwing it in the bin. "Okay, but you can tell me anything, dude."
Don't call me dude. It's like a friend-zone in the making. His own voice echoes in his head, and Michael feels Calum's lips on his cheek again. "I know."
"I just . . . if Calum's done something, I'd like to know what, because he might be taking it out on you because of all the stuff that's been going on with him."
Michael looks up at him, interested and confused. "What stuff?"
Ashton raises his eyebrows, as he realises that he's just said something he shouldn't have. "Oh shit. Don't tell Calum I said that. Fuck."
"Ashton, what's going on?"
"It's not my secret to tell." The tanned boy insists, quickening the pace to the car.
Michael drops it, because he knows that if he wants to find out, he will. Calum will tell him eventually, but it might take a while. Calum's a very private person, and never really lets people know about himself or how he's feeling.
Once they're driving, Michael fidgets with his phone, wondering if he should text Calum or not, because now he's practically pissing himself from curiosity. But, just as he went to put his phone back in his pocket, he got a text from Calum.
Calum: where are you?
Michael: why?
Calum: you aren't at your house
Michael: me and ash are going to his
Calum: can I come? I'll bring luke too
Michael: sure
"Luke and Calum are coming to yours."
"Why?"
Michael shrugs. "Guess they miss us."
Ashton smiles. "Yeah, sure."
The black-haired boy furrows his eyebrows. "Why did you smile when you said that?" He asks, turning to Ashton.
Ashton giggles, one hand on the steering wheel, and the other being used for emphasis, "Can a man not smile?"
Michael looks at him, still trying to see if there was something more to it. "Not like that."
By the time that they park, they're still arguing, Michael laughing his ass off because now Ashton was just being ridiculous. Ashton got out, Michael closely behind him.
"Can't a man smile at another man?" Ashton asks dramatically, walking through the front door to see Calum and Luke making themselves something to eat. "Hey, guys."
Michael – still giggling – takes Calum's food and eats it in front of him. Calum smiles, even though he's a little annoyed, but he doesn't want to ruin Michael's fun. He sighs, trying to get back what's left of his sandwich. "Michael, why?"
"I was hungry."
"Hungry for what?" Calum mumbles, but Michael hears, and he starts to blush.
The Maori puts his hand on Michael's back, still looking at him quizzically, as if waiting for the answer of the question he wasn't supposed to hear. "Shut up." Michael says, and Calum laughs, backing away.
"Come with me; I wanna talk to you."
Calum drags him into Ashton's room and locks the door. Michael rolls his eyes. "Do you really wanna talk?"
The Maori laughs, shaking his head as he pushes his best friend down to sit on the bed. He straddles him, his arms around his neck. "Of course not."
"Calum, this is home-wrecking. This is me being a home-wrecker." Michael sighs.
"There's not a home to be wrecked, bub."
Michael blushes. "Don't call me that."
Calum chuckles, and leans in. "What do you want me to call you, then?" he teases, lips against Michael's. "Baby-boy? Sweetheart?"
Michael blushes harder at the names, and looks down at his lap. "Just Michael." He replies. "I don't want any names, yet."
The Maori grins at the fact that he said 'yet' and kisses him. There's a knock on the door, but it doesn't stop the boys. They continue to kiss, and Calum pulls himself off with a sigh.
"Guys, we're watching a movie if you ever want to come out of there." Luke yells.
"We're talking, Luke. We'll be out in a bit." Michael yells back.
"'Kay."
As soon as they both know Luke left, they got back to kissing. Calum rolls his hips into Michael's, earning a moan from the pale boy that has to be covered by olive-skinned hands. "You know," he says, "I think the name 'sweetheart' will fit you just fine."
The Maori gets off of him, and smirks at the boner he's created in Michael's jeans. "Fuck you." Michael whines.
"I'd top." Calum says before opening the door.
He goes into the living room and sits down, putting his feet on Luke's lap.
"Where's Michael?"
"He just needs to be alone for a little bit." The black-haired boy tells them, sighing like he's sad so the boys think they had another fight.
He puts a blanket over himself, scared that he might have a bit of a boner as well. Michael walks in a few minutes later, his cheeks flushed as he pulls Calum up so he can sit where the Maori was laying. The pale boy looks upset, and Calum's glad about that, because then they can play the cover-story well.
"I'm so mad at you." Michael says, pouting.
Calum grins, laying on Michael's lap. He reaches up to touch the pale boy's face, cooing. "You love me, Michael."
At the two polar-opposite behaviours, the blond-brunette and the straw-haired boy look at each other, because, if they did have a fight, what kind of fight was it that caused Michael to be angry rather than Calum? Calum was always the first one to get angry.
"What's up with you guys?" Luke asks, blue eyes darting between them both.
"Nothing; we're fine." The Maori reassures, turning to the TV.
And, with Calum's head on his lap, and a sappy chick-flick playing, Michael decides that maybe, just maybe, he can get used to this.
thoughts on michael still hating it but sort of warming up to the idea? (yikes michael why)
ashton being suss about it? (yeh suss it out glen coco)
calum's views about home-wrecking? (clums a hoe in this story. fck you clum)
