roommates ♢ muke ✔️

xxvi

"then he left? without saying another word?" calum asks, looking outraged.

through my heavy flow of salty tears, i manage to nod. i'm crying so hard that i'm beginning to hiccup, my face is a blotchy red.

no wonder michael doesn't love me, i'm a mess.

"we have to get back at him," ashton decides, rubbing my back encouragingly.

"but how?" i sob, wiping away my tears furiously.

"give him a taste of his own medicine," calum smirks.

"i like the way you think," ashton smiles knowingly.

i, on the other hand remain lost. "fucking clarify you piles of shit. not everyone's smart, don't be insensitive!" i yell at them.

"he's getting you all worked up over tyler right? and when you confront him about it, he reminds you that the two of you don't have any ties?" calum restates, raising an eyebrow smartly.

"yeah," i confirm, feeling empty inside.

"well then, all we need to do is get him worked up a little. make him feel sick to his stomach; make him cry." ashton finishes explaining the plan.

i gaze at the pair of schemers thoughtfully. michael definitely is the jealous type, but i don't want him to go through the heartache that i'm going through. he's too pure and good for it. then i remember, he's the reason why i'm feeling this way.

"there's only one problem. i need a guy to flirt with me," i bite my bottom lip. "there aren't any guys interested in me."

"oh that part's easy. we'll just get ashton to pretend," calum shrugs simply.

"oh hell no! i don't want to die! he'll actually beat me to dust if he sees me breathing the same air as luke!" ashton wails, pushing himself further away from me.

"you have to do it," calum frowns.

"i'm too young to die!" ashton protests.

"i'll kiss you," calum offers.

ashton thinks it over and a begrudging frown rests on his pink lip. "fine."

"good!" calum smiles cheerily. "we have everything settled! now all we need to do is find michael and put the plan into action!"

"he always leaves the campus to grab coffee around four o'clock," i blurt randomly. "we can catch him before he leaves."

calum looks down at his lit phone screen. "it's three fifty. c'mon, let's go."

-

"there he is," i whisper, pointing out a tall, slim figure walking briskly across the itchy grass.

calum ducks behind a tree and shoves ashton and i into plain view. immediately, ashton tensely rests his arm over my shoulders and pulls me into his chest.

he goes on his tippy toes to whisper in my ear. from michael's perspective, it probably looks like he's kissing my temple.

"if he kills me, i'm making sure you die too," ashton mumbles delicately.

"thanks ash," i reply sarcastically.

"he's walking over," ashton clams up. "please luke, i like my face. he's going to bash it up, just tell him i'm only a friend. please."