pls try to comment
Michael wakes up feeling a lot better than he did the day before. Ashton's in bed next to him, in a deep sleep as Michael gets out from under the covers. He sees Luke throwing up into a bowl in the kitchen, groaning every time he throws up what he drank.
"Jesus Christ, that reeks of whiskey. Go put it in Miss Les' bin, would you?" Michael suggests, gesturing to the vomit in the bowl.
Luke nods, slipping Michael's Mum's sunglasses on to avoid the sun. Michael laughs at how ridiculous he looks before getting a pancake mix from the pantry. He puts water in up to the mark and shakes as he gets out butter and choc-chips.
As he's cooking the pancakes, his phone vibrates on the bench, and he picks it up to see it's Calum calling. Without even thinking, he picks it up.
"Hey, Michael," Calum says, and Michael can hear the grin. "I'm sorry for how this whole situation sounds, but it's all a big misunderstanding. Yes, we're not together, but I wanna explain. That chick was flirting, and I didn't say no. That's all, okay? Johnson made it sound terrible, but I would never do that to you."
Michael sighs. "I want to believe that . . ."
"That's why we broke up. Because you don't. And I'm kind of happy about that, because I'm glad you're learning. I'm a dick, and it was horrible what we did, and I feel sad that we broke up, but it's for the best. You'll find someone that loves you better."
Michael shakes his head, flipping a pancake. "How's soccer going, Calum?"
And so, this sparks a conversation until Calum says he needs to go to sleep. Michael hangs up feeling better now that he's lost a boyfriend he can't trust and gained a friend he missed.
It's better this way. Michael thinks. It better for the both of us.
Todd grabs a pancake off the stack and takes it into his mouth, scratching his bed-head. "Was that Calum?"
"Yeah. We talked for a bit. He didn't cheat, but we broke up anyway."
Todd nods, and a girl walks out from down the hallway with no pants on, yawning as she looks around. Michael has only met the girl a handful of times, but he knows enough to recognise her as Todd's girlfriend, Mia.
Michael smirks. "You guys fucked last night, didn't you?"
Todd gasps, cheeks going red. "Shut the fuck up."
"Todd Worthington – a cherry, no more!" Michael yells.
Ashton walks down the hallway, laughing as he comes into the kitchen. "Nice, Todd. No wonder you threw the party."
Luke – who's been throwing up in the neighbour's bin – comes in with a pale look on his face. "Don't be embarrassed, Todd. Michael lost his virginity in a disabled toilet. At least you had some class."
Michael blushes, throwing a burning hot pancake at Luke. "You fucker! You said you wouldn't tell anyone!"
"I lied, hoe!" Luke yells, eating the pancake.
"Oh my god, Michael! In a public place?" Ashton laughs, taking a pancake.
Michael blushes. "Fuck off." He looks to the blond, glaring at him, because he really didn't want anyone to know that.
"Who was it with?" Ashton asks, grinning even wider.
Michael shakes his head, turning off the stove. He doesn't want to talk about this with anyone. He puts the plate of pancakes on the kitchen island. "Todd, you're cleaning all of this up. You started the party, and you're going to make sure Mum and Dad don't know about it."
"Yes, sir." Todd laughs. "Are you just punishing me because I know about your virginity story?"
"Well, I would be punishing Luke, but he's already throwing up his body weight in whiskey." Michael shrugs, and – as if on cue – Luke throws up into the bin. Ashton cringes, and rubs his back for support.
Todd sighs, his arm still around his girlfriend. "Okay, but you have to pay me."
Michael glares at him. "Get fucked, Toddsworthy, you're doing it."
The fifteen-year-old shudders. "Why do you call me that?"
Michael hits him repeatedly with a spatula, not answering his question, until he starts doing some work. He goes around and gets a garbage bag, collecting empty red cups and things people left. Ashton feels bad, and helps him clean up as well. Luke just sits there and drinks some water, and Mia keeps her eyes to the stack of pancakes.
"So, Mia, is Todd nice to you?"
Mia blushes, looking awkwardly at Michael. "Yeah, he's nice."
Todd turns the vacuum on in attempt to get Michael to stop talking, but Michael just yells over the noise. "If he doesn't treat you right, I can kill him for you." Michael says. "Well, maybe not me, but Ashton – that guy over there – could."
Mia smiles, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Thanks, I guess."
"Michael," Todd says, walking over with the vacuum, and sucking it onto his skin. "You're making her uncomfortable; stop."
Michael winces and detaches the vacuum head from his arm. "Ow, you dick. Go clean. Ashton's doing most of the work and it wasn't even him that did it. He didn't even contribute to any of this – he was with me last night."
Todd raises his eyebrows, and then smirks. He makes eye-contact with Michael before doing a quick handjob motion. "Oh, I get you, now."
Michael's cheeks burn, and he shoves the vacuum head onto Todd's cheek. "I'm not a complete fuckin' slut, Todd. Clean up this fucking house."
The bright red mark on Todd's cheek stays as he does the housework silently, thankful that nobody really made too much of a mess. Michael walks into his room, embarrassed and a little insecure.
Is that what Todd thinks of him? That he's just a slut that tries to get with all of his friends? Michael changes into some better clothes, rubbing his face to try and get rid of the embarrassment on it.
"You okay?" Luke asks, opening the door and then shutting it to get rid of the noise.
"Yeah, fine." Michael says, sitting down on his bed. He looks up at Luke, who's drinking out of a water bottle like his life depends on it. "Do you think I'm a slut because of what I did?"
"No." Luke says. "You were just stupid and in love with Calum. I don't think that makes you a slut." Luke sighs. "Slut's such an ugly word. I mean, who gives a fuck that you're getting around? It's your life and you should be able to fuck and fall in love with whoever you want to."
Michael smiles, nodding. "I guess so. Thank you, Luke."
And maybe one opinion isn't enough to stop Michael's insecurity, but it's enough to stunt its growth for the little while. The blond lays down under the covers.
"You know, I don't actually like Ashton, right?"
"Yeah, you've told me. Why do you keep repeating it?"
"Because I just want you to know."
thoughts on this chapter?
sorry not much happened this is ending soon ok
for those who don't already... please go read propaganda it's one of my favourite things and suki is bae
