Chapter Text
Michael wished he could say it came as a shock to him. The words a slightly-drunk Calum Hood uttered to him on the crowded back porch of a house party.
“Mikey... I love you.”
He also wished that he could’ve told the dark-haired boy the truth. But he didn’t.
“I love you too.”
He was just so broken at the fact that Ashton had to go and move to stupid Melbourne with his family, what’s so great about Melbourne? All of his friends were here, in Sydney. His whole life was in Sydney. Michael was in Sydney.
But of course, nothing ever worked out for Michael. Of course the love of his life had to move away.
The truth was, Michael was broken. He didn’t admit it to anyone, but he knew his mother could tell. He could see her pitying stare out of the corner of his eyes when he assured her he was doing fine.
Of course he wasn’t fucking fine. Ashton was all he had.
He’d always had Calum, more recently Luke, but with Ashton it was different. He loved Ashton. And Ashton had loved him.
So why’d he have to go and move to Melbourne?
Michael guessed that was why he lied to Calum. Deep down, he knew Ashton and him would’ve never worked out, but Calum had always been a constant. He was always by Michael’s side.
He’d lived right down the road since primary school, and they’d been best friends ever since they’d met.
Truth was, Michael had always had a bit of a hunch.
He saw the hope burning in his chocolate brown eyes when he’d come out to him.
The disappointment in his face when Michael had mentioned to the boys he found someone.
The pain when Michael showed up to band practice holding none other than Ashton Irwin’s hand.
But he had always chosen to ignore it. It’s only Calum, after all. It’s his best friend. It must’ve just been a little crush he’d get over in no time.
Perhaps he was naïve to think the tan boy couldn’t possibly ever love him, not when he knew he had Ashton.
But Ashton left.
What choice did Michael have?
So he leaned in, and his lips met Calum’s.
His lips were a bit chapped, and his tongue tasted of cheap beer, but it was nice all the same.
Although it was nothing compared to Ashton.
Michael knew this was a horrible idea, but he was broken. Drunk, broken, and sad. But here Calum was, right in front of Michael, with his warm hands, soft lips, and desperate eyes.
How could he refuse?
When he pulled back for air, Calum had the brightest smile on his face, eye crinkles and all.
“I’ve wanted to do that for the longest time,” he giggled.
“Me too,” Michael lied.
The smaller boy leaned into him, and pressed his still-smiling face into Michael’s neck as he hugged the red-haired boy.
Calum suddenly pulled back from the hug, “Wait... what about Ash?”
“We’re over,” Michael explained, trying his best to cover up the disappointment dripping from his tone.
“Oh,” the tan boy giggled again, and pressed back into Michael’s neck.
Maybe he was a bit drunker than Michael thought.
“Hey, Cal?” Michael asked softly.
“Yes?” Calum murmured, face still pressed into Michael’s neck.
Michael gently pulled back from Calum as he let out a soft whine, “I promised my mom I’d be home by midnight, I’ll text you in the morning, okay?”
“Okay Mikey, I’ll walk you home.”
“No, Cal, you stay here. Go and find Luke, you two keep having fun, okay?”
Calum giggled again, “Okay, Mikey. Always so thoughtful,” he smiled, “bye.”
“See you around, Cal,” Michael said, and tried to turn around, but not before a familiar hand wrapped around his wrist, and pulled him in for another peck on the lips.
“Bye.”