twenty six

   He's lost it. Calum's lost it.

   There was no life in his face anymore. Permanent dark circles were under his eyes.

   Ashton, his best friend of seven years, noticed. Obviously. Calum always had this sparkle of happiness in his brown eyes.

   He always looked well rested and had a smile on his face for most of the time. But everything's changed, and Ashton is afraid that he's watching Calum fall into a blackhole.

   He has gotten over his crush on the brunette. Nine months was long enough to develop the smallest feelings for this other boy in his higher level science class.

  Nonetheless, Calum was still his world.

   It was a week until graduation and it was definitely not what Ashton was imagining it like.

   Graduation time was supposed to be full of happiness and relief.

   Calum wanted to smack himself for being so distracted all the time, therefore not having studied properly for finals.

   Everything was just going wrong with the brunette.

   Meanwhile, Michael was working hard.

   He realised he couldn't get a degree in psychology if he's going to lay around and mope all day.

   Sure, he'd have breakdowns some days. His mind easily wandered to Calum.

   On this particular day, he was easily getting his study work done. Mind focused and everything. That is, until he received a message.

calum: I need help

calum: please

   His heart thumped violently, being the only thing he was hearing at the time. Staring at the message for a minute or so, he felt his eyes start to water.

michael: With?

  He sighed, rubbing his forehead and loosening his shirt around his neck, feeling the temperature of his body increasing rapidly.

   Hands shaking, he read the reply.

calum: Actually nvm it's ok, Ashton can help me

   And that was it. The conversation ended so easily, it made Michael sick to his stomach.

   He let out a breathy sob, trying to pull himself together. His arm supported himself as he sat by his desk.

   Michael immediately knew he wasn't going to get any other work done. His phone vibrated again and he almost didn't want to read the message.

calum: I miss you

   That didn't help his tears that were already falling onto his desk.

calum: and I'm so sorry

   Immediately, he threw his phone onto his bed and grabbed his coat that hung from the chair he was sitting on.

   He grabbed his phone again and head out of his door.

   There was only one thing that gets his mind off of the younger boy. As he stopped his car at the red light, he typed out a message.

michael: i'm on my way

    His eyebrows knitted together and he backspaced the message, deciding not to send it after all.

   Not going to his planned destination, he went to a bakery instead. He was going to eat his sorrow away with cake.

+

   "Michael?"

   The red head's eyes lifted up at the mention of his name. There he stood.

   "Ashton."

   The brunette sat down immediately, desperately looking into Michael's eyes. The older man swallowed his mouthful of cake, wiping his mouth with his napkin.

   "Yes?" He leaned back and knitted his eyebrows together.

   "Listen, I'm not mad at you," Ashton began. He pushed his curls out of his face. "I mean, I was. But it's gotten to the point where I just wanted to see you and know that you're even alive."

   Michael found his words a bit creepy, but he didn't say anything as he noticed that Ashton didn't look too well.

   "Calum misses you."

   The waitress placed a coffee down in front of Michael and before she could go, he stopped her. "Get another one for my friend here, please."

   Ashton looked like he needed coffee.

   The red head sighed, taking a sip of his coffee. He folded his hands on the table and nodded as he looked down at his fingers.

   "I know he does."

   Ashton nodded, "Do you?"

   The older man wasn't sure if he was allowed to spill his feelings, so he kept his words to a minimal.

   "I feel like I should."

   A cup of coffee was placed in front of Ashton, Michael thanking the waitress.

   Ashton gave a grateful smile before taking a sip of the hot beverage.

   "Graduation is in about a week."

   The older man frowned at the words. He cursed himself for missing out Calum's last year of school.

   "How's Calum doing in school?"

   Ashton looked out of the window they were sitting next to, seeing small drops of rain hitting against it.

   "Horribly," he breathed out.

   Michael felt his lips tug into another frown. He pressed his lips into a thin line and closed his eyes to calm down.

   He was not going to cry in front of Ashton.

   "Mate, it's okay. You're okay," he felt a hand on his shoulder, concerned hazel eyes looking into his.

   That was when he realised he was, in fact, crying. 

   He quickly pulled himself together, sniffing and sitting up straight. A sad chuckle escaped his lips as he wiped under his red eyes. 

   Ashton looked sympathetically at the broken man in front of him.

  The rain hit harder against the window, the storm growing bigger outside. Michael looked into the distance, swearing that he saw lightning strike.

   But he wasn't sure if he was imagining it. He can't tell what's real or not anymore.

   "How much sleep have you been getting? You look, no offence, horrible."

   Ashton hesitated before he placed his large hand softly on top of Michael's, just to show that he's not alone. 

   "Offence not taken," Michael laughed, turning his hand over and intertwining his and Ashton's fingers, making the younger boy's breath hitch.

   "I don't know," Michael looked deeply into his eyes. "3 hours average. Some night's not even a minute."

   The younger boy noticed Michael's eyes were dull, much like Calum's were.

   He thought at a time that one gets over heartbreak over time. But soon, he realised you only get over it if it really wasn't true love.

   "Why are you having trouble sleeping?"

   Michael internally laughed. Because, really?

   Instead, he only shrugged. "My thoughts consume me most of the time and I end up having nightmares without even being asleep."

   "Not because you're alone?"

   Guilt flushed through Michael's system. "That too."

   The two finished their coffees and it made both upset that their conversation had to end. Mostly Michael though. He hasn't had a proper conversation in months.

   "Hey, um," Michael stopped Ashton from crossing the street. The younger boy turned around with a curious expression, a slight smile on his face.

   Michael pulled his coat off and placed it over Ashton's shoulders, seeing as the younger boy was only wearing a wifebeater.

  "Thanks," he snuggled into the much too large coat before adverting his attention back to Michael.

   "No," Michael sighed, "Thank you. You don't know how much I needed someone to talk to."

   Ashton was taken aback, but was also upset with the words that left Michael's mouth.

   He awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck, chuckling. "We could still talk more if you'd like?"

   Michael stood in thought for a bit as Ashton continued talking. "Obviously not at my place. My sister will freak if I bring a guy home."

   The younger boy laughed at the thought. "She'll probably want you for hersel-"

   "C'mon," Michael's hand wrapped around Ashton's wrist. The older man leaded him to his car, Ashton trudging along behind him. 

+

   "Nice place," the younger boy commented, hanging up the large coat onto the coat hanger that was situated at the front door. 

   "Cheers," Michael thanked, immediately walking into his room as he pulled his shirt off. 

   Not even ten seconds later, he came back out with a fresh and dry shirt on. 

   "Coffee? Tea? Hot chocolate?" he desperately asked, leading Ashton into the kitchen. 

   The older man turned on his kettle and waited for his reply. "Tea, please."

   "You got it," Michael commented, starting to make the hot beverages. Ashton cleared his throat, the older man keeping his back turned. 

   "I owe you an apology."

   Michael stiffened, stilling his actions. 

   "I know it was a long time ago but I'm sorry for, you know, taking Calum away that one night. I was just mad."

   The red head nodded, pouring the boiling water into the mugs. "Why were you mad?"

   He turned around and handed Ashton the mug, sitting across from him at the counter. 

   Ashton laughed. "That's a story for another time."

   Michael gave a tight smile, sighing at the hot liquid running down his icy cold throat. 

   "I don't hate you, you know. I always thought you were trouble, of some kind. Always had some mixed feelings of you. Now I know you only intend well."

   The older man smiled at that. "Thank you, Ashton."

+

   Ashton was passed out on Michael's couch and it didn't bother Michael as he walked into his room, ready to sleep for the first time in months. 

   And he sure did fall asleep twenty seconds after closing his eyes, dreams of his former baby boy filling his night's unconscious thoughts.

-

a/n: mashton makes my heart warm 

thoughts on ashton being kind to michael?

thoughts on calum asking michael for help?

thoughts on michael being on the way to someone's house before changing his mind?

ily all, this story's ending is going to be SO amazing! Also right when the book is finished, I will have two new stories out. 

After Class - malum:

Teacher!Michael often keeps student!calum after class.

Red Roses - cake:

Luke is determined to find out who his secret admirer is since his locker is overflowing with red roses.

xo, 

pokemom

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