Labels [lashton/malum]

Chapter 9: Sunshine Park

Edited May 2021

"You don't have to walk me home," Michael said in a soft voice as they started waking down Luke's driveway. Michael's footsteps were quick and hurried but Calum's legs were much longer so he kept the pace with long, even strides. Michael was at least one or two feet shorter than Calum, his body petite and his face soft. Calum had never noticed before just how small Michael was. Especially with the way the boy tries to cave into himself. He covers his hands constantly with the sleeves of his sweaters, he wears tight jeans that melt into his thin legs, he lets his hair fall against his forehead, and his pale ivory skin makes him easily undetectable.

Walking this close to him, Calum notices that Michael's eyelashes are really long, they frame his green eyes perfectly and they offer a beautiful contrast to his pale eyelids. His lips are also much fuller than Calum had ever noticed, plush and pink and soft looking.

"I kind of just wanted to get out of there," Calum responded, chuckling a bit. Michael gave no response as he crossed the street. "So, who called you?" Calum asked curiously

"Um, my aunt," he shrugged. Calum slid a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket, fishing a lighter out of the other.

"You smoke?" He asked the pale boy beside him. Michael wanted to ignore the question as he rounded another corner, but decided against it.

"Sometimes but I, I have to get home, just, just stop following me," he rushed out, turning another corner and walking faster. Calum paused, his feet stilling on the pavement as Michael hurried away from him. Calum continued to walk after him, keeping his footsteps light as he lit his cigarette. He walked seemingly undetected by the other boy, vaguely aware of the fact that he was now stalking him.

He followed him all the way to a bus stop and slipped in behind a crowd of people. Michael's leg jiggled and his foot tapped incessantly against the bus floor for the thirty minute drive downtown. Calum got off of the back entrance of the bus and continued following Michael down the street. He paused when Michael walked into the entrance of a trailer park. He watched from across the street as Michael walked to the first trailer in the park and tapped on the door.

A woman well into her thirties, wearing nothing but a cotton robe that was slightly falling from her shoulders, swung open the door, barely missing Michael's face. Her curly, shoulder length hair was a mess atop her head, sticking out in all directions and patchy with red dye. She grabbed Michael's arm as she said something to him, yanking him into the trailer without allowing him to get his balance. She slammed the door shut with a snarl on her lips.

Sunshine Park

The name was a bit ironic seeing as the trailers were all vine infested and dull. Calum took another drag of a newly lit cigarette as he walked away, taking one glance back before slinking back to the bus stop.