blindness ❁ irwin a.u

chapter 3.

Ariel looks at the clock what is hanging next to the television, it's 8 pm already. She grabs her coat and bag and yells her goodbye to her mom. Gladly Michael doesn't live far from her home so she will be there in three minutes.

Her thoughts slide off to Ashton. Why is he acting so left out? Is it because she bumped in to him? He's acting quite strange. When she was talking with Calum he didn't even look at her. Maybe she's overreacting, and he's just shy.

She made her way to Michael's house where she arrived fast. He 'casually' sits on the couch with a bowl of popcorn, what made Ariel laugh. She knocks on the window what makes Michael look up, smiling. He opens the door and welcomes her with a big hug. ''I missed you my little bitch.'' he smirks. ''Where are your friends?'' he asks when he didn't see anyone behind her.

''They're coming soon I guess, but don't be too hard on Ashton, he's really shy.''

''Okay.'' he shrugs and walks into his house again. Ariel takes off her coat and dumps it in Michaels room, where he already made an extra bed. ''Did you expect me to sleepover?'' she laughs. She didn't even said she would stay over, but he just figured out she would. ''Even if you weren't planning to, I would've made you stay.''

Just as she was about to sit next to Michael, she sees Calum and Ashton walk into the front yard. ''There they are!'' she informs Michael who already laid on the couch in his normal habitat position. Michael again made his way to the door, but got bumped over by Ariel who rushed to it. When she opened the door she immediatly receives a hug from Calum, smiling widely. She wanted to hug Ashton as well, but he looks like he's not in the mood for it. ''Hey Ashton!'' she smiles to him. ''Hi Ariel.'' he mumbles.

When Michael and Calum made eye contact everything just stopped for a minute. Ariel sends Michael a confused expression while Calum awkwardly rubs his head. ''Are you okay Michael?'' she asks him. ''Yeah I guess.'' he blushes and looks at the ground.

''Well Michael, this is Calum and this is Ashton.'' she points at the boys and they both give a small wave. They walk into the room but dread a bit as they hear Ashton walking into a wall. Calum quickly helps him and lead him back to Ariel and Michael.

''I'm sorry he cannot help it, he's bl-''

''I'm just tired, that's all.'' Ashton interrupts Calum, making him confused a bit but shrugs and takes a seat on the couch.

''So are you two together or?'' Michael asks. ''No! I mean.. no we're not. I'm not gay. We just live together that's all.'' Ashton stiffened a bit by the thought of him and someone together again. The words kind of sounded rude, what makes Calum a bit hurt. ''We're not together. I'm gay but he isn't. And we live together because we're best friends and we take care of each other.'' he fake smiled. Ariel immediately notices the hurt expression in Calum's eyes, knowing there was more behind it.

Michael and Calum started a conversation together while Ashton stared at the wall. Ariel looks at him from head to toe, admitting to herself that Ashton is quite attractive. But he's kind of a mystery. He doesn't talk much and when he does, it's to defend himself. There must have happened something to him, she thinks. She wants him to open up, to talk much and maybe even become friends if he let her walk in to his world.

His world just has to be opened with a key, and Ariel might be that key.

--

''Thank you so much for inviting us! I really enjoyed it.'' Calum pulls Ariel into a hug and does the same with Michael, causing him to stiffen but soon relaxes in his grip. Ariel decides to hug Ashton too, but when she does, Ashton shocked and takes a step backwards, not wanting to get physical contact with anyone. ''I'm sorry.'' he mumbles again and hangs his head down. ''Well, we'll see you later guys! Next time at our place?'' Calum winks. He walks out the yard leading Ashton to the street.

''Why didn't you tell them that you are blind Ash?'' Calum asks him when Michael and Ariel are out of sight. ''They don't need to know, they probably don't even care.'' he shrugs. They walk further in silent, but Calum is still not sure why Ashton doesn't open up a little. ''Why were you so offended when they asked us if we are together? To be honest it did hurt me the way you were talking.'' he silently says.

''You know I didn't mean it that way. I just- I don't know. I'm sorry Cal, I never meant to hurt you.'' Ashton stops walking and reaches out to hug Calum. He is the only person Ashton is willing to hug knowing that Calum will never leave him. They were best friends since kindergarten. They've been through a lot, mostly good moments. But since a couple of weeks Ashton isn't the Ashton he was before.

''I love you Ash.'' Calum whispers as they walk further, not knowing that Ashton had heard what he said. ''I love you too Cal.''

--

''So what the fuck happened between you and Calum?'' Ariel excitedly screams as she closes the front door. ''What? Where are you talking about?'' he asks. ''Oh come on, I saw the way you looked to each other, it was too damn cute!'' she laughs as she opens the frigde, looking for something to eat. ''No no no no, you don't understand! I like boobs!'' his voice sounds indignant.

When she's done looking in the fridge, with nothing in her hand, she returns to sit next to Michael and plays with his green hair. ''I am Michael and I have a crush on Calum.'' she says with her low 'man' voice. She receives a slap on her arm by Michael, causing her to gasp and tries to get a hurt expression on her face.

After two episodes of Glee they went to bed. ''Can I sleep with you?'' she says immaterial. Michael nods and lays down in his bed, followed by Ariel.

''You know Mike?'' he looks up. ''I will love you, no matter what. I don't care if you're attracted to girls or boys, you're just the same stupid dork to me who I love very very very much.'' after saying that she places a kiss on his cheek.

''I'm not gay for christs sake!''

It was quiet for a couple of minutes, but just before Ariel fell asleep, she heard Michael whispering against her cheek.

''But thank you, I love you too weirdo.''

[a/n] hi hi hi did you like this? i hope so because i work so hard on it and yeh i just don't know

DO YOU SHIP MALUM BC I DO

I SHIP IT HARD

thank you for reading it so far.. it means the world to me to see such lovely comments and stuff so yeah. dedicated to my lovely friend farrah, i love you loads xx

lots of love, beyoncé, aka zoë