Boy Of The Forest [Malum]

Chapter 5

        Ashton and Luke's reactions to what Michael and Calum had told them were a large surprise to the two boys standing in front of them. Ashton and Luke didn't seem to care at all, they were happy to see that Michael had a friend other then them. Michael was always a low trust boy, he didn't let people into his life, so him having someone other then Ashton and Luke was nice for Michael's two friends to see.

        "So Calum, you play video games?" Luke asks as the boys migrate to the living room. 

        "Ah gross! Michael, Ollie got on the couch and got it muddy! Throw him outside." Ashton squeals before Calum could answer. Calum and Michael look at the spot and then to each other before laughing. "What's so funny?" Ashton asks them as he and Luke turn to them.

        "Oh... Uh..." Michael bites his lip and looks over at Calum.

        "When I got here this morning a car drove past me and splashed me with water. It really sucked." Calum says continuing to laugh. "Then when I actually got to Michael's I just sat down on the couch not thinking about it. So that's my fault, not Ollie's." Well that was better then what Michael had been thinking of telling them.

        "Oh. Well, smooth move Calum. " Luke laughs jumping down into one of the recliners. Ashton moves to sit in the one opposite of Luke leaving Michael and Calum on the couch. Michael grabs a blanket and throws it on the couch before sitting down and grabbing another blanket to cover himself with. He was still cold, and didn't know why. Maybe he was becoming ill, but he didn't know how seeing that he didn't go outside much, and he didn't get sick that often. 

        "Alright lads, what are we playing?" Luke asks looking through Michael's games. He does the same thing every time he comes to Michael's thinking that he will magically have a new game every time. He'd always sigh in the end, falling back on his bum from rocking back and forth on his ankles for too long. Michael didn't get new games unless his did surprised him, which was slightly often because every time there was a new game, Michael would get it at some point in time.

        "What do you think we should play Calum?" Ashton asks turning to the raven haired boy sitting on  the couch. Michael sucks in a gulp of air, and as everyone looked at him, he covered it making it seem like it was just a sneeze. Michael hoped that Calum had a story to cover this one up.

        "Oh, um... I don't really play video games, I lived in Alaska, in like the part where we didn't really get to have all of the cool gaming things. Sorry." Calum shrugs looking over at Michael, hoping for something that would reassure him that his lie could work. Michael luckily gave him a smile that made Calum believe that his lie was going to work. Well at least he hoped it would.

        "Holy crap! You miss treated boy! We will save you." Luke and Ashton jump on Calum, scaring the boy. He wasn't used to being touched, he didn't really like it. Calum thought that only Michael should be able to touch him, but if he wanted to play this off, and try to act normal, he was gonna have to let other people touch him.

        "Uh... Thanks guys, I'm sure you will." Calum says patting them both on the back. He prayed that they would move away from him soon. Michael giggled at the sight of his friends. Ashton and Luke were such weird kids, and Calum looked like a little puppy under them.

        "Um... Michael, what time is it?" Calum says, giving Michael a pleading look. Calum was starting to only want to be around Michael, the two boys hugging him were kinda freaking him out.

        "Around... 9 now, wow, I can't believe it's been that long." Michael says looking at the clock that was bouncing around the TV screen.

        "Didn't we have to meet my family at like 10:30?" Calum asks, hoping that Michael would catch onto what he was trying to do. Michael gave Calum a confused look, making Calum role his eyes. He didn't want to do it, but he was gonna have too. 'Make them leave, please.' Calum mouths to Michael, who finally nods understanding what his friend wanted. Michael felt guilty for not seeing it before.

        "Oh yeah, sorry guys, but we're gonna have to cut today short. Maybe another day." Michael said standing to his feet and shutting of the TV and gaming console, making it look real that they did have to leave.

        Ashton and Luke groan not wanting to leave their new friend Calum; oh and of course Michael either. The two really just liked hanging out in Michael's house a lot, their parent's wouldn't let them have video games, they had to be active kids or musical kids, stuff like that. Things that Michael didn't have to do, but he was a music kid himself. But video games were just another one of his things that he loved. 

        "Okay, we'll see you guys another time." Luke smiles pulling himself and Ashton away from scared boy that had been under them. Calum took in a deep breath once they were at least five feet away from him, he really wasn't a fan of people yet.

        "Okay, bye guys." Michael smiles waving at his friends as they walk to the door pushing each other for an unknown reason. They both wave and smile before walking out of the door and to Ashton's car. When they were gone Michael turned around only to be pulled into the arms of a very pine smelling boy. Even for bathing, Michael wasn't exactly all that shocked that Calum still smelt like the forest.

        "Did they make you uncomfortable?" Michael says with his face stuck in Calum's shoulder. He liked it a lot, for a reason that he couldn't figure out. He didn't normally like being touched in this way, being held in someone's arms. Michael felt safe in Calum's arms, and hoped that he'd always feel that way around Calum.

        "Little bit." Calum chuckles leaning his head on Micheal's. Calum loved this close proximity with Michael. He liked holding the smaller boy in his arms, knowing that if someone broke into the house right then, that he would most likely be able to to protect him.

        "Sorry, they're like that. I guess you get used to it." Michael shrugged, he wanted all of this friends to get along. But truly he just wanted to forget about Ashton and Luke, along with their crazy antics; and just focus on Calum for a little while.

        "I've got a lot of stuff to get used to, don't I?" Calum sighs dropping his arms from around Michael. Calum started thinking about what it would have been like if he wasn't the weird boy from the forest. Would he have a completely normal life? Would he know Michael? 

        Would he feel like the person he is today?