Reaction || Malum ||

41

Michael's POV

"So I invited Ashton and Luke over for dinner tomorrow." Calum informs me from his usual spot on the counter while I flip his grilled cheese in the pan.

"Awesome." I smiled but never looked away from the pan in fear of my sandwich burning. Once burned twice shy. Or in my case, three times shy. At least I am getting better at cooking, sort of.

"Are you alright?" He asked and I finally turned to him. What happened with my mum earlier was definitely weighing on my mind. With a sigh I scooped up the sandwich and placed it on the plate to hand it to Calum.

"My mum came to my work today." I said and Calum's face scrunched up in a disgruntled look.

"She did what?" His voice raised only slightly as he hopped of the counter with the plate in his hands. I didn't want to cause a big scene over it becuase I was still trying to figure it all out.

"She apologized for everything." I shrugged but when I turned back around to look at Calum he looked shocked. His mouth was slightly open and his eyebrows were raised.

"What?" He asked in disbelief, his voice quieter now.

"Yeah she said she was sorry for everything that happened but I'm not sure I really believe her." I admitted and Calum nodded. My hands weren't steady as I tried to make my own sandwich. My mind kept replaying all the events from my mother's visit like scenes from a bad movie. Haunting my every thought until I felt like my head was a top.

"Why not?" Calum's voice treaded lightly, testing my response.

"Because she just acted really weird." I said, turning over the sandwich in the pan still not looking at Calum.

"Weird how?" He asked and I spun around to face him, suddenly feeling a little irritated with all his questioning. Calum put his hands up in defense while I attempted to calm myself.

"I don't know," I groaned, running a hand over my face. "She never apologizes like that and I saw like a bruise or something on her wrist when she was holding my hand, which was also weird." I rambled while Calum nodded as we made our way to the lounge to eat our dinner.

"Bruises? Are you sure?" He asked with concern in his voice. In all honesty I wasn't sure what I had saw. My mind was running a million different races but those purple marks on my mum's wrist were the one thing I kept going back to.

"No, but thats what they looked like." I admitted and my thoughts finally landed on a common point. It made sense. The way my mum was acting, her nervous glances, the marks, all made perfect sense now. "Oh my god." I breathed out, earning Calum's attention.

"What?" His voice was small.

Rage clouded all my judgement as a possible reality flashed across my vision. My dad. The way he always acted towards both of us was wrong, not to mention how much he always drank. My parents were always fighting, it made sense. I knew I shouldn't jump to conclusions but all the puzzle pieces would finally fit.

"He hit her." I choked out, feeling as small as a grain of salt with the possible realization hit me.

"What?" Calum's voice was shaking with confusion.

"My dad. Thats why she acted so nervous and that explains the marks! Calum he abuses her!" I shouted, standing up to pace around the lounge.

"Michael calm down, you don't know that." Calum tried to soothe but this new bit of information was all too good to be true.

"But I do!" I shouted and Calum sunk down. "I do." I said much softer than before.

"Michael, you don't know that's what is happening for sure." Calum attempted to reason with me but it only made me feel even more angry.