The Choice [Mashlum]

chapter sixteen

A/N the image above is Michael and Ashton at the end of the chapter xx

^^^

Michael and Ashton stood in the doorway of their bedroom as they watched Calum pack a couple suitcases. He was grabbing his makeup bag, his laptop, things for Mac as well. Michael and Ashton knew why he was leaving, they just didn't really want him to go. It's been so tense lately and this wasn't helping anything. Things in the Hood-Irwin-Clifford's home were awkward, it had been a couple of days since Calum brought Michael home from Luke's, after the argument about trust. They've all been tip-toeing around each other instead of talking. They haven't really been acting like a relationship, it feels like best friends giving each other the cold shower. Calum hated it.

Ashton was watching Calum pack and he really wanted to just walk over and empty everything out and make him stay because he doesn't know how well he and Michael are going to do without him. Sure they have all spent time with just two of them but with all the pent up anger and trust issues, things weren't going to go well.

"Could both of you please stop looking as if someone died? I'm only going for a week because my parents want me to housesit." Calum spun around to look at his boyfriends eyeing them both up. Michael and Ashton seemed to snap out of whatever it is they were feeling and stand up straighter.

"It's going to be a long week without you though." Michael stated.

"Yes, and I'll miss you both, but I think it'll be good for the two of you to spend time with one another. You guys seriously need to talk, and I know I have some problems too but you two are always on edge and honestly I think you guys should just have sex and get all the frustration out." Calum says as if sex is the most obvious answer for them.

"Do you need help carrying your bags down to the car?" Ashton asks, ignoring the majority of what Calum just said.

Calum sighed but then nodded his head. He fixed his headband in his hair that had a giant pink bow on it, grabbed one of his lighter bags and then followed the two older boys down the hall. Michael grabbed Mac and everything that went with the dog, at first the dog was going to stay with Michael and Ashton however Calum didn't want to part with the dog for that long so they just had to pack more stuff.

"Your parents should be here soon." Michael states, looking at the time.

"Yeah, I should probably have everything down and ready to go for when they do." Calum replies.

There wasn't much left to say so the three of them and Mac trekked down the stairs that lead outside, being careful on the steps with all the luggage.

"Seriously, peanut, you're going for a week. Not a lifetime." Ashton chuckled as he looked at all of his boyfriend's bags once they got down the stairs.

"I have a lot of stuff okay!?" Calum defends himself.

They didn't have much of a wait as Calum's parents pulled into their driveway. Once the car was parked, Ashton and Michael helped Calum's dad, David, put everything in the trunk while Calum and his mom conversed.

The only thing left to do was to say goodbye, it wasn't a true goodbye, the boys all knew this, Michael and Ashton knew Calum was coming home on the following Sunday but it was just hard. It wasn't often that it was only two of them for this long of a time. And as mentioned before, it will be a long week for Michael and Ashton.

"Okay, let us know when you get there, and text us when you're bored and we will talk all the time." Michael tells Calum as he pulls the younger one into a hug and kisses his forehead.

"Michael I am not your child." Calum was struggling in the hug but then he just went pliant and allowed the older boy to hug him. Michael always gave wonderful hugs.