Broken Home // mashton

chapter ten

"Michael?"

His best friend pulled him into his house and he took a deep breath as he felt tears rush to his eyelids. "What's the matter? Hey, hey, you're okay." Luke told him as he immediately yanked him into a hug in the doorway.

Michael clung to his body, cold fists finding solace in the warm fabric of Luke's shirt and eyes finding a home in the crevice between his neck and shoulder. He couldn't help it. The tears were forcing their way out; embarrassment, anger, and sadness flooding his being as previous events replayed in his head mixed with past words that were trapped in his brain. They never left, filing themselves in the cabinets of his memory, and they hurt as if they were fresh.

"I got you." He promised and Michael let out a quiet sob as Luke cradled him closer. "It's gonna be okay."

How long has he been saying that, and how many times has it been proved wrong?

"Come inside." Luke told him and Michael nodded as he pulled away. "Mom, Michael's here!"

"Oh, at this hour?" He heard Liz's voice and he sniffled as he stepped into the house. "Is everything alright?"

"No." He shook his head as the woman came into view. "Can-Can I stay? Please?"

"Do your parents know you're here?"

He nodded, but it was a lie.

She sighed and then looked between the two teenage boys. "Alright. Come, let me make you some tea and we can all talk about it." She finalized and Michael knew better than to fight her.

"Is it your parents?" Luke asked and Michael nodded. "Momma... not now."

"Ah. You come to my house this late at night and ask to stay, I want to know why. Are you in trouble?" Liz asked and Michael shook his head as she guided them to the kitchen. "Do you know how dangerous it is to when it's dark out?"

"Yeah, but I-I didn't want to be alone." He spoke through the scratch in his voice. "I'm sorry for bothering you. I just needed my best friend, and to get away."

"It's alright. Sit." She motioned and he plopped himself down on a chair as Luke set a hand on his shoulder. "Luke told me a little bit about your family. Is everything okay?"

He rubbed his eye and then watched as she began filling a kettle with water from the tap. "We were supposed to have a-a dinner with out new neighbors."

"And it went south?"

"They began arguing." He sniffled. "Shouting, really, over something trivial. I was embarrassed and-and when I told them to stop they didn't even hear me. It was like I was invisible to them."

"I'm sorry." Luke told him and he leaned into his touch. "In a few years, you can move out, eh? It's going to be okay, you'll see. Until then, you always have me and Calum, alright?"

"Have you ever tried talking to them about it when they aren't in the heat of arguing?" Liz offered and he tapped on the counter as he shook his head. "Maybe you should."

"They wouldn't listen. They think they know what's best for me." He shrugged as he took a deep breath, his head smashed into Luke's chest. "I can go home, Liz, if it's a bother."

"My mom basically adopted you the moment she met you, shut up." Luke hold him and his mom laughed.

"Nonsense, honey." She waved as she grabbed a couple of mugs. "One night won't hurt you, and it's not like you have school on Saturday."

He nodded thankfully and Luke leaned down to his ear. "I'm gonna get you some clothes. They'll be on the bed because I have to shower before she yells at me to."

"You do smell a little ripe." He tried joking and Luke laughed as he walked away. "Take your time!"

"Join me, you need one too!"

Michael pretended to gag, and he looked back at Luke's mom as she shook her head. "He's gross."

"Are you safe?" Liz ignored when Luke left the room and Michael played with his fingers. "I know sometimes kids with parents in your predicament can sometimes be in danger."

"Yeah, I'm okay. I just needed to get away from it." He assured her as she set a mug in front of him. "It got too much."

"Do you need me to set up someone for you to talk to? I can give you the card of Jack's old -"

"- I think I can manage." He turned her down. "I don't need a therapist."

She nodded as she poured the steaming water into the cup. "Do you want my husband and I's marriage counselor?"

"You and Andrew go to counseling?" He asked, stunned because Luke's parents have always seemed so happy. They were perfect for each other.

"Sometimes people need a little reminding of why they married who they did in the first place. Nothing's wrong with that." She hummed. "There's no weakness in seeking help."

"I think my parents are far from help." He sighed as he played with his teabag.

"It's not fair that they put you in this situation. If I could help, I would, but it's not my place, honey." She smiled sadly as she set a hand on his arm. "You deserve more."

He nodded and she took a deep breath. "We're here for you. I know Luke's a little... Luke, so I thought I'd be better at the advice thing, but we're here for you. However, there are some things you just can't keep running from."

"One day," he promised her. "- one day I'll say something, but for now I just want some space from them."

"Good. That's what I want to hear." She chuckled before nodding at him. "So, how are your grades?"

He laughed, and she grinned softly. "You're such a teacher, Mrs. Hemmings."

"It is what I do." She reminded him and he began talking to her about school, glad he didn't have to talk about his home-life anymore.