Depression ~Michael Clifford

11

Michael let out a shuddery breath as his soup and toast were placed in front of him. He swallowed thickly,praying that he wouldn't have to eat all of it.

He looked up for a quick second to see his best friends all staring at him,encouragement and pity clear in their eyes. Michael's eyes watered and he blinked furiously to prevent his tears from falling since he knew that once he started he wouldn't be able to stop.

Calum and Luke both started eating whilst having a conversation to make things less uncomfortable for Michael. Ashton was eating his food slowly, observing the youngest member have a stare off with a bowl of soup. He gave him some time to pick up the spoon himself before taking matters into his own hands.

"Michael I need you to eat now. It's okay to go slow but you have to start somewhere, yeah?"

Michael closed his eyes for a moment. He couldn't do this.

Ashton picked up the spoon and dipped it into the soup before bringing it towards Michael's lips. "I won't make you eat all of this but at least half okay?" Ashton didn't get a response. Michael was still sitting there with his eyes closed and breathing heavily,trying to get a grip on himself but it wasn't working.

"Michael open your eyes babe. It's alright all you have to do is taste it"

Michael opened his eyes to see Ashton holding a spoon in front of him with soup on it.

The drummer put the spoon to Michael's lips. Normally Michael would have blushed of embarrassment but he was too focused on the calories in this damn soup. He tried to look at the menu to see what it contained to figure out how many calories it was.

Luke picked up on it though.

"Calum. Can you close the menus please" Calum grew confused but saw Michael trying to look for his soup in it and quickly closed them and headed to the counter to return them.

Michael was starting to get frustrated. He wouldn't eat this, he couldn't eat this.

Ashton poked at his lips with the spoon again and gently placed the soup into Michael's mouth. The small boy closed his eyes as he swallowed,he immediately felt sick to his stomach and tried to get up from the booth.

Since Calum had gone to the counter e could easily run to the bathrooms. He got up and bolted only to end up with Calum's body in front of him and Ashton's arms restricting him from going any further.

"Michael we need you to calm down. Once you're calm we can get back to eating okay?" Ashton said, his voice strict and it kind of scared Michael. Ashton was a very motivated man and once he set his mind to something it was almost impossible to distract him from the task at hand.

Michael's breathing quickened as the words left Ashton's lips. Does that mean if I don't calm down they won't make me eat? 

Calum led them back to the booth while Ashton held Michael's arm to prevent another escaping. Luke was sat staring in their direction but quickly looked at his food again when Michael made eye contact with him.

Michael was sat in between Calum and Ashton again. Michael hated making everything uncomfortable like this and he hated himself for making it uncomfortable in the first place. So Michael choked back a sob,dried his tears and picked up his spoon. With shaky hands he slowly dipped it in the soup and lead it to his mouth.

He swallowed it and took another spoonful. This continued until almost half the soup was gone,Michael now had tears streaming down his face. He was almost proud of himself, at least for a millisecond. Until he realised what he had done and let out a sob.

Ashton threw his arms around the boy,bringing Michael to his chest to let him cry,softly giving him so many compliments and telling how proud they were and how beautiful he was.

15 minutes later they were in the car again with Michael still crying but it was now both Luke and Calum comforting him as Ashton continued to drive towards their temporary home.

It took them slightly less than two hours, Michael had passed out from crying about half an hour after they got in the car.

Luke and Calum got the bags while Ashton's duty as to get Michael into the house,he figured it would go more smoothly if he could get Michael in while he was asleep. The drummer carefully picked up the concerningly light boy and slowly transferred him to couch in their living room for him to continue napping.

Ashton covered Michael with a blanket when the boy started to whine in his sleep due to the chilly air of their room. Ashton simply hushed the boy and lovingly caressed his cheek,Michael instantly relaxed from Ashton's warm and soft hands bringing a sense of security into the boy's hollow soul.

Michael was asleep for a few more hours then started to slowly stir awake. Luke and Ashton were sat on the same couch as Michael. He had Luke by his feet and Ashton by his head,combing the blonde's hair with his long fingers.

"Hey Michael,how kind of you to bless us with your awakening." Luke laughed and Michael smiled at his band mates, a little too tired to bring himself to laugh.

"What time is it?"Michael slurred

"It's about half past six so you've been asleep for about four hours now." Ashton answered.

"Hey you want us to give you a tour? we had a look around whilst you were asleep."

"Yeah sure. Have you guys decided rooms?"Michael asked,wanting to know where his room was so he could unpack.

"Ehh..." Luke said and scratched the back of his head" My room is down here on the first floor next to the bathroom,Calum's is upstairs. It's the first room on the right and Ashton's and your room is also upstairs but it's the third on the left,next to the other bathroom."

Michael grew confused"I thought we had five bedrooms? Why are we sharing?"

Ashton let out a sigh and tried to explain in a way that wouldn't be perceived as babying but it was challenging since that was pretty much what they were doing.

"Michael... we figured that it might be best if you shared a room with one of us just so we can make sure you're alright and prevent you from you old habits(throwing up and cutting)"

Michael dropped his gaze to the hardwood floor embarrassed that they had to monitor him 24/7

"Where is Calum?" Just as Michael answered there was a crash followed by cursing from the kitchen. They all smiled and Michael giggled quietly.

"Nevermind I think I found him. What's he doing?" Michael bit his lip fearing the answer. Ashton noticed the boy tense up and laid a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"He is just preparing dinner for us. It won't be done for a while though so why don't we take that tour yeah?" Ashton said,rubbing Michael's shoulder reassuringly.

Michael swallowed thickly at the thought of dinner and nodded slowly.

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Hello! sorry this is late again hopefully I will be able to update more during christmas break :)

Hope you liked the chapter and if you did please leave a comment and vote! thank you for reading<3