The Choice [Mashlum]

chapter twelve

It had been a week adjusting to having a dog in the house. Calum was loving every minute of it, he and Mac had really bonded, the only one that wasn't really getting along with the pug was Ashton. Ashton and Mac were struggling to create a bond because on the second day Mac decided to go to the bathroom on Ashton's black leather boots when he wasn't let outside fast enough. Ashton was furious, he was able to clean up his boots but it was really gross and he wasn't impressed, Calum just looked sheepish and kept apologizing to Ashton. As much as the three boys were getting adjusted to Mac, Mac was getting adjusted to living with three humans. He was getting used to Michael's loud music, he was getting used to the different noises, and he was getting used to being left in his cage when Ashton and Michael were horny and wanted to have sex. However Calum was happy again and the two older boys were so thankful for that, to see their little peanut smiling brightly so Ashton put up with Mac. Now though Ashton is left home alone for the first time with the pug and Ashton was feeling like absolute shit. He had to call into work, he couldn't drive Calum to work and he couldn't be supportive of Michael's starting his job at the smoothie bar.

Ashton was curled up in the fetal position on their bed, he had a fever, he was bloated, had the urge to throw up and he had a pain in his stomach that he couldn't seem to get rid of. He took medication, and just wanted to sleep. He didn't often get sick so he hoped this would pass soon. He felt drained. Ashton was always the one to take care of Michael and Calum, he wasn't used to taking care of himself. The two younger boys only left a short while ago, both seemed hesitant to leave Ashton because of how he was feeling. They did have to go though because they had to work, they left Ashton with Mac snuggled into his side.

That is the nice thing about animals, especially dogs, they can sense that something is wrong, that a human isn't feeling well and they will want to cuddle and keep you company. Dogs were great companions.

While Ashton was sleeping off his illness, Michael was getting a crash course in making smoothies and learning how to work a cash register. He didn't know how he felt about the job just yet, he had only been working for two hours at the place, but he noticed it was a happier atmosphere and there was no hot oven taking over the whole place so it was comfortable. There were some positives, he got a discount on smoothies, and if he messed one up he didn't have to throw it out he could drink it, however if you mess up more than twice you had to pay for it. It was a lot more laid back making smoothies than delivering pizzas, and Michael was saving on gas money so he was really happy about that. He was however worried about his boyfriend, Ashton was looking really pale when he left home and Calum worried that Mac and Ashton wouldn't be able to take care of each other, Michael is just hoping it is the flu and nothing more.

"Michael, you have a customer, are you done cleaning up?" His new boss, Rachel, asks. Michael was cleaning the blenders up but he rinsed off his hands and went to the register, and to his surprise it was Calum standing there in a Sal's pet shop polo shirt and light washed jean shorts, he was wearing a flower crown today.

"Cal, baby, what are you doing here?" Michael leaned over the counter to ask the boy and give him a chaste kiss before pulling back.

"I wanted a smoothie, and it's a bonus when your boyfriend works there now." Calum grinned cheekily.

"Okay so one regular sized strawberry and banana smoothie." Michael said as he punched it into the register. "That'll be $4.50 please."

"Awww I don't even have to order." Calum reaches over and pinches Michael's cheek before handing him over a five dollar bill.

"Stop that, I'm working here, you can be an adorable shit at home." Michael smiles fondly and giving Calum his change.

Michael left the register to start working on Calum's smoothie, he took his time with it because he wanted it to be perfect, he put frozen strawberries and a perfectly ripe banana into the blender, added some milk and yogurt and then blended it all up, once everything was smooth, Michael added a squeeze of honey and mixed it once more before taking it off the machine and pouring it into the styrofoam cup.