Run & Hide {Lashton}

f o u r

*Chapter 4* [date part 2]

+Luke+

Not only did Cal know, but now Michael did too. The colorful haired lad had apparently had to go to the bathroom so bad after the food arrived, his "bladder was gonna burst." So, he barged in on me sobbing like a little girl in Calum's arms. It was pretty embarrassing, to be honest.

Anyway, after Michael came in and seen me completely wigged out, he demanded we tell him what was going on. And if we didn't, he threatened to drag Ashton in as well. Which could not happen obviously, talk about a disaster since he was the big root of my issue. Of course then Calum and I had no choice but to awkwardly explain how I had accidentally blurted out I was gay a few moments before, which was why I was crying because, "I thought everyone was gonna hate me",blah blah blah.

All of usjust kinda stood there silently after that, looking anywhere but at each other. I was caught off guard when after a few uncomfortable seconds(when actually, they felt like hours), Michael hurled himself forward to hug the life out of me, mumbling, "I can't believe you thought any of us would hate you. You're such a numbskull sometimes, ya know that?" I wanted to sob in relief. Telling them had been so much more simple than I had originally believed. If I had even half known it was going to turn out like this, I would have told them so much earlier. I really was kind of a "numbskull".

Cal being the angel he is, didn't utter a peep about me having the hots for Ashton. I will forever be grateful for that until the day I die because lets be honest, Michael has the biggest mouth, and would of ended up blabbing about it. I know it.

Now only one person remaining in the band believed I was straight. Said person being the one I was head over heels for, sigh. I felt so relieved by coming out of my dusty, dingy closet though. It felt really, really good. Perhaps with this new found confidence I had developed, I could come out to my family next. The mere thought of it though had my stomach churning with anxiety. Perhaps I'll wait awhile on that step, I don't quite think I'm ready for that.

The rest of the dinner went pretty normally, I guess. Besides Beth acting icy as fuck, and Ashton watching over me like the whole time. I couldn't shake the feeling that he knew, which was quite ridiculous but near to being the only thing that could add up to his behavior. After paying we soon left, chatting absentmindedly on the way back to the lake.

"We should go swimming when we get there, its fucking scorching outside." Ali groaned as she rolled up the sleeves of her flannel shirt. Everybody just kind of nodded in agreement, so it was settled. The hot, sticky air flowed in suffocating rolls causing sweat and irritation. I deeply regretted wearing skinny jeans, and a long sleeved shirt, and Michael wasn't doing much better. He slumped farther and farther away from the group the more we walked, so much so Calum finally had to end up offering him a piggy back ride or else we would never reach our destination. I kicked at a stone on the sidewalk, us all falling into a comfortable silence. Ashton and Georgia though bounced back into the intense, hushed looking conversation, similar to the one they had on the way to restaurant. I glanced away quickly, before my jealousy could start to arise. Calum was watching me over his shoulder, and motioned for me to come over towards him. I muttered to Beth that I would be back, not that she cared anyway as her and Maddie were chatting up a storm.

"What's up?" I asked the dark haired lad once I was at his side, taking in the sympathy glinting in his brown irises. He took ahold of my sleeve and pulled me only closer, which just further confused me.

"You're just being...ugh how do I put this lightly? Uhm, obvious about how jealous you are. You should probably try to distract yourself more. Anyone could read your emotions from like 10 miles away. Just a heads up." He spoke so lowly that I'm positive not even Michael whom was perched right on his back, could hear us.