Give me Michael - Malum AU

.8.

The blue haired boy couldn't move at all. Knowing the gaze of the brunette was on him petrified him. He stared back at Calum, right inside his eyes. The tan boy slightly shook his head and closed his curtains, leaving a shaking Michael. The older did felt uncomfortable when he had caught Calum looking at him while he only was wearing a towel around his waist, but somehow, he also felt his stomach twisting and burning. He liked it. Yet, he couldn't. He wasn't that 'type' of person. He was normal, like he was always reminding himself. He shrugged it off, put on his suit and sighed, knowing it was going to be a long and boring night.

Michael kept running through the brunette's mind. God, he hated him so much. However, he also missed him so much and it really annoyed Calum. How could he still felt something for the pale boy after all he had done to him? It just wasn't right.

He picked everything he needed to stay at Ashton's that night – which was only a boxer since they both had clothes at the other one's house – and turned to face his best friend, nodding to let him know they could leave. The two teenagers went downstairs where they found Mali sat on the couch, smiling at them as soon as they pass the living room door. The brunette felt his heart tightening when he saw the worries inside her beautiful brown eyes. He walked to her, and hugged her. "I'm fine, I swear." Then, he kissed her forehead and looked at her in the eyes. "Do you want me to stay here tonight? If you're too worried I-" "No, you go with Ash' and have fun." Calum nodded and hugged her once more. They had such a strong relationship.

Once the two boys were out of the house, Ashton decided it was time to talk about his afternoon with Luke.

"So my partner for the music project is Luke, you know? Well, to be able to do the project, we wanted to learn a little bit about each other so we went to the park near your house and we spoke. We spoke about what we like, what we dislike, we spoke about our family and friends. It was really cool, you know? To my surprise, I've actually talked a lot, and you know I'm not someone very talkative – except when I'm with you – but yeah. It was so easy to just talk to him. I don't know, it doesn't make sense to me. He's really kind too, I'm pretty sure you two would get along! I see him again tomorrow. I'm sorry I'm talking about everything at the same time..."

Calum chuckled. It was funny to see his best friend in such a state. He was thinking about what the blond had said. 'You two would get along'. Since Michael, the tan boy didn't want to have any new friend, because he was scared of what would happen if they learnt he was gay. He was scared they would hurt him as well. He knew Ashton hoped he would agree to meet him but he didn't know if he was okay with letting new people in. However, the curly boy seemed to really appreciate that Luke, so he decided it was time to try meeting new people.

"Ma-ma-maybe we could hangout one day? As the th-th-three of us."

He hated how he always stuttered whenever he wasn't sure about what he was saying, or when he was anxious, but he couldn't really do anything about it. Ashton snapped his head at him. "Really?" The older couldn't believe it when he heard Calum hummed. "Thanks Caly' it really means a lot." The brunette's smile was real. He was happy to make his friend happy.

Without even noticing it, they arrived in front of Ashton's house. They entered and were greeted by the blond's mum.

Michael sighed. This dinner was even worse than he'd pictured it. He was at one of his father's collaborator's — nothing unusual — except that instead of talking about their jobs, his dad and James were talking about Michael's future in the company. Both of the two men were oblivious to the fact that the teenager didn't have enough good marks to do whatever studies they wanted him to do. Besides, the pale boy didn't want to work in that stupid company. He wished he would become a professionnal guitarist, touring the world. He wished he could finally be happy.

As the two women in the room were exchanging recipes, Michael was feeling really alone and useless. That's when Calum's words came back to his mind, sending shivers down his spine.

"What should I want to say about my bullyer? About the guy that has sent me to the hospital?"

What did the brunette mean? Yes, Michael bullied him, he perfectly knew that, but never had he beat him up or anhthing. It had never been more than words. However when his eyes fell on the bracelets on his wrist, he instantly saw Calum's one inside his mind. He wore a lot of them, always. The only time Michael couldn't see them was when he was wearing long sleeves, which he sometimes had been wearing even when it was really hot outside. His mind didn't let him a second that he suddenly remembered how Calum once missed school, for 3 weeks. Michael shook his head, wanting to forget about his thoughts because he couldn't be right. He didn't want to be.

"What, son?" The blue haired boy was immediately brought to reality. He shot his father a questionning look, not understanding why he was asking that. "You've just shaken your head." As the teenager shrugged, he became annoyed. "You have to stop daydreaming!" His voice was louder than a second before and Michael felt scared. He'd never liked getting his parents angry. Even though he wished he could disappear and truly wanted to lower his eyes, he forced himself to keep staring at his dad.

"Sorry." His voice was barely more than a whisper and he shivered, seeing his father's becoming angrier. "Sorry father." He repeated louder. He let out a deep breath he didn't know he was holding once his dad began talking with James again.