Terrible Things || muke || malum

walls

Calum watched as Michael sped out of the rec center lot before getting in his own car, two rows over. He pulled out of the lot and turned left, the car trudging down the few blocks to get to the small pub where his friends waited for him. He parked between two cars (both significantly shittier than his) and turned off the engine, slipping out into the night. He crossed the hood of his car and opened the worn green door of the bar, eyes adjusting to the dim, yellow lighting. The smell of cigarettes hung thick in the air, like a choking blanket. Calum made his way to his usual table, Ashton and Matty already sitting there laughing. They seemed to be the only one's laughing in the whole bar, but that wasn't exactly surprising considering the other options were a man as old as dirt with a bottle of whiskey beside him and the bar tender, who was secretly scoping out the now three boys at the corner table. They were curious to her, because what kind of young, attractive dudes be doing at a shady ass pub that was only good for alcoholics and wash outs? But they always seemed to be having a good time and they never were late with their tab debt, so she let them go.

"Hey, Cal, how was support group?" Ashton asked as Calum pulled out a stool from under the table. He took a seat and made grabby hands to the bowl of peanuts on Matty's opposite side.

"Fine. I met a nice boy there. He had really cool hair and seemed to be the only slightly sane one." Calum said, thinking about Michael. The boy in the leather jacket did seem sane. But outside appearances were something Calum never really liked to trust, because Michael could in fact be a sort of sociopath that was already plotting the Kiwi's death. But as Calum said earlier, his hair was cool and he had pretty eyes. So why not give him a chance, possible plans of murder or not?

"Really? Who was he there for?" Matty asked, taking a drink.

"His boyfriend died a few weeks ago. Apparently he's becoming a social recluse, so I invited him here."

"Why didn't he come?"

"His dog was hungry and he needed to feed him. But Michael didn't really seem li--"

"Did you just say Michael?" Ashton asked, immediately perking up.

"Yeah. But as I was saying, h--"

"He was one of my employees at the library! I told you about the one dude that quit, right?" Calum shook his head, Matty doing the same. Ashton continued, "Well his boyfriend had cancer for like six months and when he died, Michael kind of fell off the wagon. Like, when Luke -- his boyfriend -- was alive, Mike was still kind of funny in the crazy way, but he wasn't bad. Luke was the love of his life. I understood, but after Luke died Michael's life just kind of stopped. He quit and totally trashed his apartment. I'm glad he's going to support group now, but I'm positive Michael doesn't have a dog. He's more of a cat person anyway."

Calum pursed his lips because the more information he got on Michael, the more the concept of him being a sociopathic murderer became plausible. But if he was friends with Ashton he should be okay. 

Matty spoke first. "Why did he lie about having a dog? Especially a hungry one? This isn't a cat, here. Dogs need love." 

Ashton rolled his eyes. "Matty, the dog isn't real. But you really should ask him, Calum. Text him or something. He hasn't answered any of my messages because I'm almost sure I'm dead to him."

Calum furrowed his eyebrows, eating another peanut. "Why are you dead to him? And I don't have his number anyway."

"He doesn't want help. Michael wants to think he can handle this on his own, but he really knows he can't. Luke was like his backbone. Without him, he's pretty clueless. When he lost Luke, he really lost his best friend too, because they had been unbearably close since high school. His life kind of revolved around Luke and now everything is out of whack for him. I tried to help, but he just quit and ignores me now."

Calum bit his lip. Matty's eyes darted between the two silent boys before him before chiming in. "Just text him, Calum. He sounds pretty alone and probably a little fucked up in the head. There's no telling what he could do right now."

Calum knew he was right as he pulled out his phone and got the number from Ashton. He sent a text to the unfamiliar number.

From Me:

Hey partner:) I hope u don't mind that Ash gave me ur number! totally understand if ur creeped out lol

Ashton looked disgusted with the grammar but okayed the message for Calum. 

"I really hope you're not expecting too much of him, Cal. He's not okay right now." Ashton had a protective brother thing with Calum, but the Kiwi wasn't concerned. He doesn't need protection against Michael. All Michael needs is a friend.

"He can handle himself, Ash." Matty said.

"I know Calum can. But I'm not sure about Michael."

--

Walls - All Time Low

it sucks when a chorus really fits a chapter but the rest of the song has nothing to do with it like tf m8

DID YOU GUYS MISS ME

anyway my birthday is on the 25th im :-)))))))

but really im sorry about being missing or whatever bc school is getting harder and PARCC testing is coming up and my grades are dropping and im weight training for track (im going to be throwing) and softball is here and i have soccer training and drama club and power of the pen and im writing a book for school and im fLOUNDERING

-katie