Flatmates// Cake & Mashton

Chapter eight

Michael's pov

After Luke got in the shower I decided to go in the kitchen and get a coffee, I was gagging for one in all honesty. As I walked into the kitchen I saw that Ashton had also just made a coffee too and sat down at the table, still looking half asleep bless him. "Oh hi.. how's your eye?" I asked him while making myself a coffee as well, luckily it was the only wound he had, it wasn't a black eye but under the eye did have a little cut and a bit of swelling. Ashton sipped his coffee before replying and looking over to me "morning..it's fine, did you sleep well?" "I did thank you, you?" I asked back and took a seat opposite him at the table "good, yeah not too bad ta" and well, that's how it started, Ashton and I talked for a good half an hour/fourty minutes about our love for coffee, music and all things inbetween, I wish it lasted longer but I had to cut the conversation shorter than I wanted it to be, I had somewhere to go..I wasn't looking forward to it but I had my first counselling session today. I was tempted to tell the boys but I didn't want them to worry, I was the oldest out of all of us and I wanted to be the one keeping an eye out for them, especially Ashton, there's just something about him that makes me want to protect him.

Not long after the conversation I had with Ashton, I was knocking on the therapists door who opened it with a smile "hey Michael!" he greeted me cheerfully "hi..it's nice to meet you" I said shyly, I've often thought about it but I hadn't been to counselling before but I decided to start taking it while studying here at university, I can't put it off any longer "it's lovely to meet you, I'm Tyler. Please take a seat" Tyler said while sitting down "I think I'm on time?" I said and took a seat, I wasn't really sure how all this worked. "Perfect timing! so what can I help you with?" I took a deep breath before responding "so...I feel like.. I'm gonna struggle making friends. The boys in my dorm are lovely but...my old friends at school stabbed me in the back. My friends at college betrayed me. My ex girlfriend cheated on me and spread rumours. I feel like I'm never going to be able to trust anyone ever again...." I admitted, it felt good to finally get some of this off my chest "throughout life, there will always be people that are going to do wrong by you but it's important to keep moving forward. The old friends and relationships are something you have to leave in the past, not everyone is going to treat you like that, I know it's hard to believe but others, just like your roommates I'm sure, want you to be happy, I've only just met you but I can already tell anyone would be lucky to have you in their life, they'd be fool to let you down" Tyler said with a friendly empathetic smile "I guess you're right..people change and people grow up but..why so many times? what's wrong with me? why do so many people betray me? am I just gullible..am I just..a complete idiot? I don't know what's going on.." I said, feeling a single tear roll down my cheek, Tyler passed me a box of tissues "nothing is wrong with you Michael, people are a fool for betraying you. You aren't the idiot, they are" "I guess so.." I looked down and wiped my cheek with a tissue "I'm so sorry for crying Tyler.." "don't be silly, it's good to cry and express yourself" he replied with a smile "what should I do if the boys in my flat fuck me over? if they don't want to be my friend, or if they don't even want to be around me? I shouldn't have come to university..I'll never go far.." I said and started to feel myself cry again "how do they act around you? I'm sure they enjoy your company, you did the right thing by coming to university, it's a new change. Sounds like that's what you need" "they seem to like me..but friends are only one of my problems. What if I meet a girl who fucks me over? I'll never find love" I said, starting myself to go into a pit of despair "love comes to one's self in the most unexpected ways, you'll see that. Could even be the person you least expect" "maybe..I guess I'll have to keep positive. Thanks sir.." "definitely, I've got faith in you and I know deep down you have it too" Tyler said passed me a btec looking leaflet across to me with the word 'trust' written like fifty times."here, give this a look. It's got some helpful tips" "thank you Tyler" I said and gave him a smile, putting the leaflet in my denim jacket pocket "I'll have a look when I get to my room" "please do!" Tyler said as we stood up and him opening the door for me, I gave Tyler another smile and jogged out, ready to head back to my room but bumping into another body as I went around the corner, I was about to apologise but was shocked to see who it was.

Ash, it was Ashton. I was very surprised to say the least, he always seems so happy and confident so why is he going to counselling? I felt worry build up in my chest as the thought kept going around in my mind "oh hi.." I eventually said after we stared at each other for a few seconds "great timing Ash!" Tyler said cheerfully waiting at the door, I saw Ashton's facial expression change at the mention of his own name, clearly wanting to hide this like me "um.. alright?" Ashton slowly said to me with his famous greeting term but with hesitation instead of a smile "yeah..um..I best get back to my room.." I said and gave him a smile, hoping it would make him feel a bit better before I awkwardly walked away. "Come in Ash!" I heard Tyler say as I walked away and a hopeless sigh come from Ashton's mouth.

I couldn't help but feel my heart sink knowing that Ashton is going to counselling, he doesn't deserve to feel so low.

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