the pale and the dimpled ;; mashton

twenty-three // freebies

Michael didn't understand.

Their party had been fun, yes, but once Ashton had gotten upset all the fun seemed to start seeping out of him. He didn't know why Ashton was upset, and he didn't want him to be either. Most of all, he hoped he wasn't the reason.

Michael sighed as he put his now empty glass of water in the sink. He could hear laughter coming from outside as his friends conversed, Ashton's giggle more distinguishable than anything. It made him feel strange inside, knowing that ever since whatever happened upstairs happened all that Ashton had done was smile a little when he said something funny.

"Michael? Michael, what's wrong?"

Michael wiped at his face furiously, only now noticing the tears that had started to fall. If there was one thing he wished would never happen, it would be that his friends got upset with him. It gave him chest pains like no other, knowing that the people he trusted most weren't happy because of him.

"I'm fine." He said quietly, keeping his head down as sniffles escaped.

He heard Ashton sigh and a small thump. In the corner of his eye he saw Ashton's legs swinging back and forth, which only meant that he was sitting on the island.

"No, you're not," Ashton said. "What's up? Why aren't you outside with everyone else?"

"I'm punk rock I do what I want," The pale boy said, sniffling again. "Can you hand me some paper towel?"

Ashton reached behind him, ripping a piece for Michael. His heart was torn between being upset with him and wanting to comfort him, and Ash just didn't know what to do.

"Thanks." Michael wiped at the areas around his eyes, blowing his nose into the thin piece of paper before throwing it out. He looked up at Ashton, trying not to appear hurt in any way.

Upon seeing Michael's red nose, slightly wet cheeks and trembling lip, Ashton decided for now he would be comforting. He hopped down from the marble island, pulling Michael into a warm hug. The younger boy shook as he tried not to cry again, either from happiness that Ashton was hugging him or sadness that Ashton was still probably hurt.

"I'm sorry," Michael said through small sobs. "I-I don't know what I did, but whatever it was, I'm sorry. I j-just don't want you to be m-mad at me. P-please."

"Shh, stop crying," Ashton said as he rubbed Michael's back. "It's okay. I'm not... I'm not mad."

"But you're not happy either."

"No, I'm not."

"And it's because of me."

"A little."

"Though I don't know what I did."

"I don't think you do."

"So then why are you sad?"

"Because... I saw something I didn't want to see." Ashton said with a little sigh.

"Was it Luke's dingaling?" Michael asked seriously.

"Um, no."

"Amanda's boobs?" Michael wondered why you wouldn't want to see that.

"Ew, no." Ashton scrunched up his face at the thought; boobs weren't appealing to him, at all.

"Then what was it?" Michael gave up on guessing, pulling back so he could look at Ashton properly.

Ashton couldn't look Michael in the eyes, no matter how striking they were.

"Here, I'll show you."

Taking Michael by the wrist, the cinnamon-haired boy led the red-haired one upstairs. He pushed open Michael's bedroom door, closing it once they were both inside.