Burning Bridges // muke

chapter five

i don't know why i stick around to watch you burn our bridges down

Luke held a fist up to his mouth, scrolling through Instagram and looking through every single account that seemed to hop on to the Mystal tag. He saw them smiling and laughing, holding each other and sharing clothes. He looks happier than he's ever been, and it hurts so much. It hurts like a million knives stabbed through his heart.

He questions if every photo they ever took was real, and if so, which ones? The ones he favored, were they fake? The ones Michael said he favored, were they real? He had no idea anymore.

He begins to question even further, this time pinning the blame on himself. If this was all a façade, a murderous illusion, how come he couldn't notice it? He's known Michael for so long, how could he have allowed himself to be played so easily? Was he that blinded by his own love that he couldn't see the truth?

He's pathetic.

He tossed his phone on the couch and then looked at Petunia, who laid curled up beside his feet. "Hey Piggy," he murmured, reaching down to pick the animal up. "You love me, right?"

Petunia looked up at him and then licked his hand, seeming to try and bury herself deeper within Luke's warm body. He smiled, holding her closer and kissing her head. "Aw, I love you too, princess. My spoiled little pig." He told her.

He hears his phone ring and he turned to it, wondering who it was he was gonna have to turn down. Maybe it'd be Ashton, who wanted to drag him to some friendly house party. Maybe it's Calum, asking if he wanted to have a night in at his place. He really didn't want to check either.

Petunia went to get his phone, and he immediately beat her to it. "No no, you'll scratch it Tunia." He hummed, looking at the caller ID to determine if he wanted to answer it or not. It was his friend Anne.

"Hello?" He asked as he answered his phone, deciding that it couldn't hurt too much. "What's up?"

"Wanna come get your mans?" He heard her ask and he felt his shoulder slump even further. Of course it had to be about Michael.

"He's not my mans. Not anymore." He muttered, his voice shaking as he sighed.

"So, you're gonna let a girl he's only known for two years take the man you've dated for five? Really, Luke?" She asked him, her voice holding a sense of disbelief that made Luke feel small.

"He doesn't want me. I'm a wreck and -"

"We're all a mess, Luke. I'm borderline anorexic, your ex has anxiety, Calum has regular panic attacks, Ashton has abandonment issues, and you drink too much at the wrong times. We're all fucked up, but that doesn't mean we have to let people just walk out of our lives like we don't deserve love." She tried to convince him.

"He wants to leave -"

"- Or maybe he wants you to fight for him. Last I checked, he just wants some attention. His issue is he always needs attention from his friends, family,and boyfriend." She snorted, seeming amused by Luke's ignorance.

"What do you mean?"

"Come by, we'll talk and you can take Michael back home. We have t-minus ten minutes until he's heading upstairs with Crystal to do God knows what." She explained and Luke didn't know it, but he was rushing upstairs for his shoes as soon as the words left her lips.

-

He saw him with her. She had their fingers interlaced and was hanging off his right arm. There were stars and sparkles in her wide eyes as she looked up at him, and Michael was smiling as he spoke. He was looking down at her with an expression Luke couldn't quite pin point, but he isn't sure if he wanted to.

What if that's what he's like when he's really, truly in love?

It hurt to know someone else may be in love with Michael the same way he was, but could he honestly blame her? He's talented and gorgeous, was there a person alive who didn't want a piece of him?

"Hey, you made it."

The couple looked up and Luke's heart clenched as he met Michael's eyes. They held the same sparkle Crystal's had, and Luke turned to face Anne before he started bawling his eyes out again. "Yeah, hey." He nodded at her as he put his hands in his front pockets.

"C'mon. We have a lot to talk about. Modeling is a big gig." She tsk'ed and he furrowed his eyebrows at the lie.

"Wha-"

"Modeling?" Crystal asked and Luke looked at her almost instantly. "You wanna do modeling? That's cool, Luke. You could pass."

She was sweet. She was kind. She held this kind of light over everybody that left her being nothing but nice to them unless they flicked that light off. His ex was one, so he knew how cold she could become, but even so, she was perfect. It hurt him even more to know Michael wasn't just with her because she was a pretty face with money. She had depth and personality, and Luke questions if she was a better person than him and if she was nicer. He fucking hates her, but only because Michael likes her.

"Thanks." He forced a smile, pulling himself out of his thoughts. "Yeah um... Anne is tryin' to get me a deal for some brand."

"You go, Luke." She grinned and then looked at Michael. "You should model too."

Michael just shook his head, giving Luke a glare. "I gotta go. Ashton's been uh bugging me to hang out with him and Cal some more. He calls me dissociated." He immediately spoke. Luke could feel embarrassment and guilt swirl in his stomach. It was his fault he's leaving.

"Yeah uh, same here. I'll just see them tomorrow though." Luke agreed, sliding a hand through his hair as he looked at Anne. He could hear Michael and Crystal whispering, and Anne grabbed his arm.

On his way out, Michael bumped Luke's shoulder and grabbed his other arm. "Stay the fuck away from me, alright? I don't want you around me." Michael whispered angrily to Luke before hitting his back a little too hard and walking away.

He flinched too hard as the door hit the doorframe, and everyone seemed to notice it. "Are you okay?" Crystal asked him and Luke looked up at her.

"No," he answered honestly as he turned to face the door briefly. "But it doesn't matter because he doesn't want me around. Might as well just block off the burning bridge."

"Why burn it, when you can rebuild it?"

"You can't rebuild what's been burned to ashes."