Broken Home // mashton

chapter twelve

"Ready for your first day?" Michael asked and Ashton rubbed his eye before dropping his glasses back on to his nose.

"No."

"That's the spirit." Michael grinned and Ashton gave him an unamused look as he readjusted his denim jacket to shove his hands i to his pockets.

He grumbled something under his breath as they began walking, and Michael hummed. "What?"

"You're preppy." He repeated and the blond shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not a morning person."

"Neither am I." He admitted and Ashton pushed his shoulder when he got too close. "What was that for?"

"I like riling you up." He decided and Michael narrowed his eyes at him as he grinned softy. "But wait before you attack back. My dad is watching."

"Oh." He nodded before grabbed his backpack in his palm. "When he leaves, do you want to go on a date?"

"Who was that kid?" He ignored. "Blond? Tall?"

"Do you mean Luke? The one you got jealous of last night?" Michael rolled his eyes. "That's my very straight best friend, and no, he doesn't know anything about us. No one does."

Ashton nodded and Michael pushed him back after they rounded the corner of their cul'de'sac. They both laughed and Michael felt Ashton's shoulder bump his. They intertwined their fingers as they walked, and it felt nice for Michael have something to look forward to that makes waking up early worth it.

"Why do you have these on?" He asked and Ashton looked at his fingerless gloves. "Are they apart of your deep and mysterious aesthetic?"

"No, I just bruised my hands and thought some stupid gloves would keep suspicion at a low." He replied and Michael felt bad for asking as he saw Ashton's attitude shift. "But yes, I got these specific ones for my aesthetic."

"I knew it." Michael whispered in victory as they crossed the street.

A car skid to a stop beside them, and Michael glared when it almost hit them. His fist was waved as he shook it, and he glared at the driver's seat. "You missed." He hissed.

"Fuck off! Learn how to drive!" Ashton shouted after it and the two looked at each other before laughing at the other's reaction. "He missed?"

"I mean, I'm right here." Michael emphasized and Ashton shook his head as they approached the school building.

-

"Come on!"

"No."

Michael huffed as he continued pulling on Ashton's jacket, but the man stood his ground with his arms crossed and his back against his locker. "You need to make friends."

"Fuck friends. I have you." He scoffed and Michael crossed his arms as he stared at him. "And if you want to then go ahead! I don't need to be watched after of stuck in a conversation with people I don't like nor care about."

"My friends are nice." Michael tried but he didn't seem to budge. "They like nerdy things and old music, and are willing to talk about guys if you want to. Come on, it'll be fun."

"Isn't there like a rule to bringing the guy you're sneaking around with near your friends?" Ashton huffed as he looked away and Michael rolled his eyes.

"Calum thinks you're hot anyways. It doesn't matter." Michael told him and he smiled when he saw Ashton's cheeks heat up. "Like you don't know you're attractive."

"I do, but it's weird to think other people think that too." He scrunched his nose up before pushing his hair from his face. "If I say yes, will you stop?"

He nodded and Ashton rolled his eyes. "Fine, but just today. I don't like being in crowds of people."

"It's just four -"

"- that's already three too many." Ashton grumbled. "I barely feel comfortable with you, and you want me to join your group? No thanks."

Michael didn't hold his hand in school. In fact he didn't even touch his skin since they saw the building in the morning. He just shoved his hands into his pockets and walked beside him, his head wondering if he was standing too close or being too friendly.

He knew Ashton was closeted,  but how far did it go? Was he fully closeted? Was he only out with friends? Was he just out to him?

He didn't want to ask, and he didn't want to push his luck.

"Hey, guys," Michael grinned at his best friends. "- this is Ashton, I told you about him moving in next door."

"Hey, man," Calum nodded as he grabbed a chip from Luke's bag. "- what's up?"

"Nothing." He answered and Michael sat down at their table before setting his bag down. "What's your name?"

"Oh, Luke," he smiled and Ashton nodded as he looked around. "- Michael's dream man."

"If that dream was a nightmare." He rolled his eyes as Ashton looked at him. "He's joking. We aren't together."

"He's into some chick, who isn't even all that, might I add. She has the personality of a sandal!" Calum flailed his arms. "I'm pretty sure she had elevator music playing in her head at all times."

Michael snickered. "Luke has Wii music in his head, so it works. Want some?" He offered his sandwich to Ashton, who shook his head immediately.

"I don't each lunch."

"That's weird," Calum said as he stared at him. "- like really weird. I'm always eating. How do people not eat?"

"Some of us don't have a binging disorder." Ashton replied seriously and Calum rose an eyebrow between looking between him and Michael.

"He firs right in. Good choice." Calum laughed and Michael looked down at his food as he felt his face heat up. "So, parents are leaving this weekend and my sister is throwing this massive party. You're all invited, courtesy of yours truly."

"We aren't party people." Luke reminded him and Michael made a hand motion for him to stop talking. "We eat chips and play way too many videos games."

Ashton chuckled and Michael felt his face get hotter as the boy turned to him. "You? Not a party person?"

"I-I have uh select interests. Why? Are you, Mr. Lone wolf?" Michael challenged and Ashton shrugged.

"I don't drink, but I know how to have a good time." He answered and Michael turned to his best friend.

"What time, and who is picking me and Ashton up?" He immediately asked and Luke began to tease him for being gay while Calum told him everything he needed to know about the party.