Malum goes Places (Boyxboy)

Malum takes Mikey home

bc the way Malum is looking at each other >>><<<

---------------------------------------------------

"Calum, since we're practically dating, I think you should walk me home." Michael says after the bell rings.

I almost choke on my own spit. "Huh, dating? Really Michael? Uh, ok. Yeah. Um, sure. Practically? Where do you get practically from? I thought we weren't dating at all. I mean, I wouldn't mind if we dated- not that I want to but not that I wouldn't mind. Dammit, did that make sense? I um, yeah . . . sure."

Just stop talking, Calum.

"Well, you did kind of ask me out."

"Oh, I did, didn't I?"

"Yes, you did loverboy."

"Shut up, Brendon. I'm not a loverboy. I don't love Michael- not that I wouldn't love you but I don't. You're a great guy and I'm pretty sure someone will love you- I mean- someone probably does love you, I mean, of course someone loves you just not me. Not that I wouldn't love you, I wouldn't mind, it's just . . . shut up Brendon."

"So my house?" Michael asks, not fazed by my word vomit.

"Yep."

The entire walk to Michael's house was just pretty much him talking as I fought to not say something disastrous like Wow, it's hot. What if the sun couldn't hold itself up anymore and came falling out of the sky and killing us? Then again, it's actually pretty cold and we're not that close to the sun for it to hit us . . . right?

"Hey, wanna get some ice cream first?"

"In this weather?" I ask.

"It's not even that cold." Michael says.

"Yes, but when there's a breeze there's a freeze."

Michael looks at me and smiles, gently saying, "Okay."

I hang my head. I really need to stop talking.

We do eventually get ice cream and Michael is still undecided on what he wants.

"Like, vanilla but chocolate. Can you do that? And sprinkles." Michael tries to explain for the fourth time. I quietly eat my mint chocolate chip, standing beside Michael.

"So, you want vanilla and chocolate ice cream with sprinkles, yeah?" The worker clarifies.

Michael sighs. "Just give me vanilla."

"What kind of sprinkles?"

"Rainbow." I say for him. Michael nods and looks at me, then back at the worker making his order.

"Thanks."

Michael not wanting to be in the ice cream parlor much longer, takes the long way home and detours to a park. We sit on the swings to Michael's request and I realize we do that a lot lately. I feel like Michael's the girlfriend who's doing all the crazy shopping going "Baby, look at those shoes, they're sooo cute! I want them." and I, the boyfriend, lugging around his bags all tired and worn out who hopes that there'll be some form of a chair in the next store we walk into.

"This is more than just walking you home, Michael."

"Don't ruin our bonding time, Calum."

"Bonding time? Yep, I enjoy getting to know you in a kids park where we're not talking at all."

"Alright, smartass. Hello, my name is Michael Clifford. I go to your school. My hair is red. I like to sing and play the guitar, you asked me to the dance, I just finished eating ice cream, I'm an only child, I . . . hmm. My eyes are green and I like Green Day and Blink 182 the best."

"Pleasure to meet you Michael, my name's Calum."

"That's it?"

"That's it."

"Wow."

"C'mon, let's get you home."

It was around four-thirty when we left the park. Sadly enough, Michael doesn't live that far away. I wanted to spend more time with him because an hour and a half just isn't enough.

It really didn't bother me that we don't overdo the talking with each other. Or how our conversations usually end awkwardly. Or how I can't seem to shut up sometimes when Michael asks a simple question. I like, ramble about stupid stuff and it's kind of embarrassing. Maybe it's just me because Michael doesn't seem to mind my rosy cheeks or the feeling of shame I have towards myself because he smiles so softly at me sometimes that it's almost impossible to see or sometimes he ignores my awkward behavior and that's totally fine with me because thankfully, that's less explaining I have to do.

"-and then the next day, the duck comes into the bar and is like 'I want cheese'. So, pretty much the joke is useless and there's no reason for it to be that long." Michael finishes explaining.

Has he been talking this whole time?

"Why would a duck want cheese?" I ask.

"I don't know Calum, you tell me." Michael says, opening his front door.

As Michael goes inside, leaving the door open, I stand there unsure of whether or not that was an invitation to come in or . . .

"Well, don't just stand there. Get a move on."

"T-to go? Or come in? Cause um, I've got a lot of plans if you're busy. Like, wow." I say, starting to count my fingers. Someone please stop me. "There's folding laundry- only cause I like to help my mum- when she forces me of course because who likes to do laundry? No, not me. Anyways, there's drawing the trees, something for art- wait. I don't take art class . . . Oh! And there's feeding the pigeons and watering the plants but, of course after that lame stuff, I'll be hanging with my buds and we be chilling, so yeah. Lots to do."

". . . I meant to come in but if you really have to leave . . ."

"No, no." I quickly say, stopping the door from closing shut. "I've checked my schedule. I have nowhere to be."