Dedicated to Emily (whichwaytosummer). Thanks for the awesome cover!
Michael
Luke takes hold of my hand as we slip out the door to leave Calum and Ashton to figure things out. We walk down the hall and out the front door, and I have a mind to keep walking, to walk the restlessness out of my bloodstream, but Luke pulls us towards Ashton’s car instead. He opens the passenger door for me, and wordlessly, I slip inside.
Watching him walk around the front of the vehicle, I sigh. His face is unreadable, his eyes puffy. We’re drained. Maybe this is the wrong time.
“Seatbelt,” Luke says to me as he opens the driver’s door and folds himself down into the seat.
“Got it.”
“Just making sure.”
He turns the keys in the ignition and puts the car into reverse. The silence feels like a third person in the car. I have so much to say, but suddenly, none of my words are appropriate. My voice, my message can’t seem to come out right.
“Y-you realize we’re stealing Ashton’s car,” I fumble as Luke pulls out of the driveway.
“Yep. He won’t mind.”
“Of course not, but…hm.” I trail off. This is going to be unbearable.
Luke
I can tell Michael’s agitated. Which agitates me. I just keep running over his words again and again in my head. “I need to talk to Luke about something anyway.”
It could be no big deal. It really could.
But if it’s not…what more could go wrong?
I’m not sure I want to know. So I drive.
Michael
“Where are we going anyway?” I try again, after a time.
“Dunno.”
“Can we go to the beach?”
“Sure.”
“Can we talk?”
Luke drums his fingers across the steering wheel. He sighs. “What do you need to tell me? It’s eating at both of us, just spit it out.”
“You don’t need to sound so angry.”
“I’m not angry.”
“Worried?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay.”
Luke frowns. “Okay? Michael, what’s going on?”
My stomach clenches up. I can’t do it. “What do you think’s going on between Calum and Ashton?”
“For fuck’s sake.”
I’m not ready for this. Fuck, I’m not ready. “I seriously didn’t think they were — but then…I don’t know, Luke. What if they’re having a thing? What if —“
“This is what you wanted to talk about? Cal and Ash can—“
“Not exactly.”
“Then what is it?”
“But I do think we need to consider the possibility that—“
“Michael.”
“Pull over.”
YOU ARE READING
Recount the Seconds (Muke)
FanfictionComing off the tour with One Direction, everything is going well for the boys of 5 Seconds of Summer. They're planning an EP, working on tons of new material, and interacting with the fans whenever they get the chance. As Luke and Michael's relation...
