"Please tell me you aren't getting something nasty again." Michael pleaded the next day, arriving up next to Calum for his daily drink.

He bit his lip and looked at Michael. His hair was now a bright bubblegum pink, and suddenly he had a change in mind of what flavor he wanted to get.

"Nah, I'm not trying to have a stomach ache again today."

Michael laughed. "It teaches you to mess with me. That was karma."

"What can I get for you boys today, Love?" The barista asked as they reached the counter.

"Uhm... Can I get two Cotton Candy's? Large, please. I'm getting both today." He said, gesturing to the boy next to him. He was planning on paying for both of theirs?

"Calum, you don't have to do that, I can get it."

"Shush, I got this. Let me pay, it's the least I can do to make up for yesterday."

Michael didn't argue after that, because that green monster of a drink was just torture.

When the drinks came out, they were a vibrant pink, which Michael wasn't expecting. Most cotton candy flavored things we're baby blue.

"Oo, these are a pretty color." He said.

"Yeah, I thought you'd like it, considering it matches your hair, which I also like."

Michael blushed at the compliment. 'Man, I'm so whipped, the boy literally just said my hair was nice, it's not that big of a deal. Calm yourself, Michael.' He thought to himself.

Against routine, Michael decided to follow Calum over to where he normally sat instead of separating himself a few rows back. Calum didn't say anything about it, just let it happen, and he was thankful for that.

He took the seat right across from him before looking down at his drink. He could smell the sweetness of it before even tasting it. He took a sip and it was just as expected, like pure sugar.

"This is so sugary, you're probably gonna get a stomach ache from this too." He laughed softly.

"Nah, I'm used to it, I've got quite a sweet tooth," Calum replied, happily sipping on his diabetes-waiting-to-happen in a cup. Somehow, Michael expected nothing less.

"It suits you."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Calum smiled, tilting his head curiously.

"Nothing."

"Are you trying to flirt with me again?" He smirked.

Michael's nerves picked up. This was the first time Calum openly acknowledged what was going on between them.

Calum must have caught on though in his silence because he was quick to reassure him, "I never said I didn't like it."

This was different. Mikey teased him all the time, and Calum up until then was always blushy and rejecting him subtly. But he realized then that never once did Calum ever tell him to upfront stop.

And that gave him a little hope and made him happy inside.