Fugitive (ON HOLD)

VIII

A/N: I'm extremely tired and it's only 12 am...and I have to pee...Let's get started.

The next morning when I wake up, Michael's not in the room staring at me like he usually is. That's odd. I sit up from the uncomfortable bed and swing my legs over the side, planting my feet on the floor. After a moment, I'm up on my feet, shuffling out of the room and out toward the front room, where Michael and Ashton are sitting on the floor with Michael's phone. They're back are facing me so I try to stay silent as I eavesdrop.

"Luke, you are a genius! A motherfucking genius!" Michael cries out happily. Ashton's smiling a little at him, happy to see his best buddy so joyed.

"I know, I know," Luke says through the phone. He's on speaker phone so I can hear the entire conversation easily. "So, you go to London, take a bus to Brighton and hang around the Starbucks there. Pyro should be there already. He'll come find you, got it?" Luke asks.

Michael and Luke nod but, upon realizing that Luke couldn't see them, say in unison, "Yeah." I hear a quick kissing sound and a bit of shuffling from the phone. Apparently the boys hear it too because Ashton asks, "Luke, what're you doing?"

There's a pause and then Luke nervously says, "Erm... Nothing?"

Michael scoffs and laughs. "Doesn't sound like nothing to me. Sounds like kissing. What are you doing at Sami's house? Isn't it already past your curfew back home?"

Luke curses into the phone as Ashton starts giggling. Yes, giggling. "Lucas, you lucky boy. Finally getting some action, huh?" Ashton calls out in between laughs.

"Calm down you giggly fucker. What I'm doing is not the point. The point is that you guys need to get your asses to England. Now I've got to go," Luke says. There's a tiny giggle from the phone and Ashton starts to laugh again as Michael does a low whistle. I cover my mouth with my hand to hide my own chuckles.

"Alright, Hemmings, I can see your anaconda wants some so I'll leave you to it. See you," Michael says cockily. Ashton's now on his back, his face red. That's when I start to laugh. Just a little.

The two boys turn to see me and I bite my lip, feeling as if I've interrupted something. Michael ends the call with Luke and raises his eyebrow at me. I wonder if he's thinking about last night, just like me. "Um, hi," I try, giving them somewhat of a smile. Ashton sits up and smiles at me but Michael stays quiet.

"Hey Claire, I didn't know you were up," Ashton says, stretching and standing up from the floor. "If you're hungry there's still a pizza box on the table," he tells me, yawning a little.

"Thanks, but no. You know I don't like cold pizza," I playfully slap his arm and he laughs. Michael clears his throat and we're both looking down at him. The criminal's face shows one of annoyance as he stands to his feet as well.

"As much fun as it is watching the two of you flirt, we have a flight to catch at noon. It's ten now, so we need to hustle," he orders, glaring at Ashton until he moves away from me. "Ash, make sure your things are packed. And make sure we've got the first aid stuff. Claire, you just...stand there and do whatever the fuck you do."

I glare back at the male and my temper ignites almost immediately. "Look," I start, taking a brave step toward the black haired boy. "I don't know what the hell got into you last night to make you hate me again but I will not be ordered around by some like-minded bastard like you!" Ashton grips my arm tightly but I shake him off. "I don't fucking get you! I try to get along with you but that clearly isn't working! Take me home, now!" I demand.

Tears swim in my eyes and I command them not to spill. I just stare angrily at the boy in front of me as he stares back at me, wondering what to do next. We stand there for who knows how long, me trying to keep my tears at bay and him trying to see how far out of line I'll step.