the trxye series » ot4

07

CALUM

Michael's in the bathroom taking a shower and I'm staring myself down in the full length mirror. I tug at Michael's long, grey sweater that's draped across my upper body. It hangs off my shoulder a bit and the sleeves are a little long, causing me to have slight sweater paws. I hear the shower turn off and a few seconds later I watch in the mirror as Michael walks closer to me with a towel wrapped around his lower half. He then wraps his arms around my waist and rests his chin on my shoulder, kissing my neck softly.

"You look beautiful, babe." He mumbles.

I giggle as my cheeks turn a shade of crimson. My hands find their way to his as I unlatch them from my waist.

"You should get ready. I don't want to be late!" I say before kissing his cheek and plopping on the bed, watching as Michael lets the towel slip from his body, and how he puts on his clothes in a not-so-delicate manner, and how he toys with his hair repeatedly until it's messy enough for his liking.

"Ready, babe?" He asks me, holding his hand out.

I nod and intertwine my fingers with his as we walk out the apartment and down to Mikey's car. We're on our way to meet with Mikey's friends at The Cheesecake Factory downtown.

I watch how much of a careful driver he is. According to him, "I'm a pretty reckless driver, but when you're in the car I take shit seriously. Wouldn't want my precious baby getting hurt, now would I?" God, I don't deserve him.

Whenever we reach a red light, he gently rubs my inner thigh and I don't think he'll ever understand how loved I feel from such a small gesture.

•

•

[shift back to third person aye]

The drive had been a strenuous forty-five minutes for Calum, but Michael promised it'd be worth the wait, going on about how incredible his friends are.

Marina, Ashton, and Luke had been early by fifteen minutes. They wanted to know who had stolen the heart of their colorful haired friend.

Luke and Michael had grown a very... unique friendship over their two weeks of contact. Michael enjoyed Luke's company enough to invite him to meet his boyfriend, but there were times where Michael was just so fed up with Luke's shit.

Michael and Calum spend an extra ten minutes in the car because Calum had become very nervous. It came to the point where Calum was crying in Mikey's chest, begging him to take him home. Michael assured him that his friends would love him and that they'd be crazy not to. After two more minutes of Michael wiping Calum's tears and giving him encouraging kisses, Calum agreed to get out of the car.

As Michael and Calum approached the table where his friends were already seated, Luke's heart sank. Calum was so perfect and deserving of Michael's love, whereas he felt as if he was not. Despite the pain in his heart, he held a smile as they got closer to the table.

"Hey guys. Well, here he is. My absolute fucking sunshine." Michael looks at Calum fondly.

"Hi, I'm Calum. Nice to meet you." Calum blushes and looks down promptly, but Michael won't have any of that. He wants everyone to see Calum's beautiful face, so he takes his hand and nudges Calum's head upward.

Ashton is the first to approach Calum.

"I'll make sure he takes good care of you." He says and shakes Calum's hand with an extraordinarily kind face.

Marina's next to stand.

"Hi! My name's Marina and Mikey has said so many sweet things about you and he really loves you and one day you guys are gonna get married and have cute babies and I'll babysit oh my god I'm rambling I'm sorry." She sends a goofy smile Calum's way which he's quick to return.

Lastly, there's Luke.

He stands up and walks his way over to Calum, the fakest smile clinging to his face.

"You're very lucky, Calum. I wish you two the best of luck."

And he sits back down.

Gears start turning in the back of Michael's brain and he comes to a conclusion, but he pushes it away. He doesn't want anything to ruin this day.

They all sit and eat and talk over the most random subjects. Luke's a bit standoffish, but he participates with a nod or laugh or two. Ashton watches Marina carefully as she eats, rubbing the small of her back in encouragement. Michael notices and raises an eyebrow at Ashton and he shakes his head in reply.

Calum fiddles with his sweater paws every so often, trying not to be intimidated by Luke's cold stare. Michael notices the nervous habit of Calum's and soothes him with soft kisses atop the boy's head.

Luke has never felt like more of a fifth wheel. It was embarrassing. He wanted to leave so badly, but Ashton and Marina were his ride, he had to stay.

The next two hours were dreadful for Luke, but everyone finally decided to head home and he relaxed. He couldn't wait to be home and away from the world. Maybe he'd rewatch a season from How I Met Your Mother.

As everyone's about to leave, Michael excuses himself from Calum and pulls Luke aside.

"Luke, I fucking tolerate you and your bullshit more than I should, but I will not fucking allow you to look at my boyfriend in a way that makes him feel insecure. I'll be damned if he ever feels like less of what he is - which is fucking perfect. Don't screw up our friendship Luke. And don't fucking screw with my boyfriend's emotions. Got it?" Michael practically screams at Luke, but doesn't. He doesn't want to make a scene.

Luke's eyes are wide and his bottom lip is quivering, but he still nods.

Michael gives him another look and then walks back over to Calum, not wanting to spend another second away from the love of his life.

a/n

i have no excuse for the lack of updates except writer's block is a bitch.

i made this chapter malum af bc they deserve it after last chapter

ily guys see u next chapter (which will be fairly soon) xoxoxoxo