A Man's Bestfriend ⇢ malum [✓]

Chapter 4

(written in point-of views)

≪ Ashton's POV ≫

"You guys don't have to be here, y'know?"

"Yeah, we know," I responded.

"You've spent a week here. Don't you have somewhere else to be?" Mali asked, worried.

I shook my head. Where else do we need to be?

"Alright, I'm going to make you guys breakfast," Mali said, leaving the room.

I got out of bed to find Michael sleeping on the floor with Max. Mali came up with the name for him. Michael wanted to name him Cal in memory of Calum but Mali said that it would be a bad idea, considering Joy's well-being and attachment.

Just then, Max woke up but struggled to get up with Michael's arm resting on him.

"Hey, Maxy," my morning voice sounded coarse.

I lifted Michael's arm, thinking that Max wanted to get out but instead, he snuggled comfortably on Michael's chest. I let them both be and went to get a shower. Michael hated waking up before breakfast is ready, anyway.

After I showered and got dressed, I went down and joined Luke in the living room.

"Breakfast is ready!" Mali voiced out from the kitchen.

"I better go wake Michael up," I told Luke.

"By the way, when do you want to go?" Luke asked, his eyes still fixed on the television.

"Go where?"

"The places that are calling us in."

I was still confused.

"For press? Our album?"

I threw my head back in disbelief.

"Are you being serious right now, Luke?"

≪ Luke's POV ≫

"What do you mean? Of course, I'm being serious!"

"We've just faced a loss and all you care about now is to make an appearance on radio stations and talk shows?!"

I don't understand why Ashton had a sudden burst. Was is something I said?

"It's not that I want to, but they've been trying to contact us," I reasoned with him, "We have to do it sooner or later, Ash. We have to come out of our shells."

"Oh, yeah, and I guess you're also gonna ask me when we should release our tour dates, right?" he snapped at me.

Ashton was practically shouting in my face and throwing his arms everywhere in the air. I have never seen him that angry. His face showed disappointment more than I have ever caused. I was so afraid in that very moment, where he listened to nothing that I have said.

"I can't believe this. I can't believe YOU," Ashton pointed at me sternly, "Calum is gone, Luke. HE'S GONE."

"I know, but–,"

"THEN?!" he interrupted, "Did you expect 5SOS to still carry on? Did you expect us to still go on tour? WITHOUT CALUM?!"

≪ Michael's POV ≫

My sleep was disturbed by loud yelling coming from below. I got even more worried when I saw Max barking from the top of the stairs before running down. I got up to follow him down where I saw Ashton and Luke in the living room.

"Did you expect 5SOS to still carry on? Did you expect us to still go on tour? WITHOUT CALUM?!" Ashton shouted to Luke.

"Ashton, would you please calm down," Mali approached him.

Ashton shot her a "stay-out-of-this" look.

"Ash, if you would just let me speak."

"So what, Luke? So that you can convince me to hurry down to the radio stations? So you could make me agree to go on talk shows?"

Luke was staring at the television box with his jaws clenched. Finally, he stood up and stared down at Ashton, who was not showing a drop of fear or being intimidated at all.

"I am just as upset as you," Luke spoke slowly, "I don't know how you could possibly think that I'm not."

"Because you dared to think that we could still go on without Calum."

"I never said that!"

"BUT THAT'S WHAT YOU MEANT! You want to promote our next album, talk about Calum, and release our tour dates! You want to MOVE ON."

"WE EVENTUALLY HAVE TO!"

Luke, Ashton and Mali were shocked. I was shocked too. I continued the couple of steps down the stairs when they realised that I had overheard them.

"Michael," Ashton softened his voice, "I was going to–,"

"I'm hungry," I cut him off.

My heart ached. Calum would not have wanted his band mates to fight like they did. Everyone joined me at the table but I was in no mood to have breakfast with them. I grabbed my plate and headed out for the balcony. Max followed me and sat on my lap.

"Max," I stroked his body, "I wish Calum was here."