No Morals

Chapter 13

        I love you baby boy. Forever and Always.

        Michael loves Luke? Am I over exaggerating this? Is it just friendly? No. Friends don't call other friends baby boy. Should I ask Calum? Not right now obviously, but maybe later? 

        Calum pulls on my sleeve, indicating we go out into the hall. I nod, and we step out.

        "Want to go get something to eat? Let Michael calm Luke down?" He asks me. I nod again, in agreement. He leads me to the food court, my body carrying me. I don't feel much. I can't stop thinking of what Michael was mumbling. Now is my chance to ask. 

        I wait until we sit down with our food before I say anything.

        "Calum?" I begin.

        "Hm?" He asks, bringing his fork to his mouth, with a piece of pasta waiting to be deposited into his mouth.

        "Is... Are Luke and Michael gay?" I ask him softly. He chokes on the piece of pasta he began chewing as I spoke.

        "Where do you get that idea?" He asks, after he clears his throat. His eyes are wide, like a deer caught in headlights. 

        "Michael was whispering to Luke in there. He was saying 'I love you baby boy. Forever and Always.'" I explain. 

        "Oh, you caught that huh?" He says, looking off to the side.

        "So are they?" I ask again, expecting a proper response this time.

        "Uhm.. Yeah... Don't tell them I told you okay? And don't hate them." He pleads.

        "Why would I hate them?" I ask softly.

        "I don't know. A lot of people hate gays... There are a lot of homophobes in this area..." He explains.

        "Oh. I see." I say, not sure how to respond. I rake it over in my head. Michael and Luke. Luke and Michael. Michael and Luke Clifford. Luke and Michael Hemmings. Clifford. They should stick to Clifford. Wait, I'm marrying my friends in my mind, when I'm not even sure if they will get married.

        "So how long have they been together." I ask, trying to stop my train of thoughts. Cal's eyes go wide.

        "A year next month." Michael says, coming up behind me.

        "Oh, Michael... Hi. Shouldn't you be with Luke?" I ask.

        "He fell asleep. I took it upon myself to make sure there is food for when he wakes up, in case he's hungry." He says. 

        "Oh, I understand." I say, smiling at him. 

        "Well now you know. Don't give me any shit about how its a sin, or how I'm going to hell. I've got that part. Tell me something I don't know." He says, glaring at Calum.

        "I'm glad Luke has you. I think he needs someone like you." I say softly to him. He genuinely looks surprised to hear this.

        "You don't really know much about us then do you? He doesn't deserve the shit I put him through. Guess your boyfriend didn't tell you the reason he's even here is because of me. I accused him of cheating on me. With the boy down the street. I told him if it happened again, it would be over. Thing is, he wasn't cheating. He never has cheated. And now it's all my fault he's here. I pushed him too far, and he almost died. So save the niceties, and the sappy shit. I'm going to get a cup of coffee and some food for Luke. Maybe you guys can come back later." He says, walking away from us as soon as all the words are out of his mouth. I sit there in silence, trying to proccess what I just heard.

        "Wow." Was all I said.

        "I'm sorry." Calum says, reaching for my hand.

        "Let's just go home." I say, standing up before he can grab my hand. Suddenly I don't feel like eating the sandwich on my plate anymore.

        "Okay." Calum says, throwing our food away. I walk to the car, dragging my feet. I clamber into the passenger seat, leaning my head back as Calum starts it up. 

        The car ride home is silent.