Dad takes his kid to a zoo,

the only animal there is a dog;

it's a shitzu.

✌(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)✌

+

my left hand clutches my phone as my nerves rise with every ring. i occasionally switch hands so i can wipe the sweat oozing from each one. i'm a tad bit nervous, but that small amount of nervousness raises to me wanting to puke when i hear a groggy hello? come from the speaker of my phone. it seems like my throat actually locks for a couple seconds, but i manage to answer.

"hey, bud."

i'm not sure, but i think hear him gasp softly; i know i hear some movement. i silently pray to god that he just doesn't hang up. that's the reason i smile so big when i hear him answer me.

"ashton? oh my fuck- i mean, hey."

"what did i tell you about swearing, harry? you're too young."

by the tone of his voice, i just know he's rolling his eyes, "yeah, yeah, i know." he says. i smile when i hear him laugh a bit, but it quickly stops. "ashton, you can't be calling me. it's late and mom said-"

"i don't care what mom said. you're my brother and i'm gonna talk to you wether she likes it or not, damn it!" the sterness in my voice even shocks me a little. the line falls silent, leaving me with a guilty feeling in the pit of my stomach. i never yell at harry; he's my little brother, i love the kid, why should i yell at him?; i've never had a reason to. especially since i haven't seen him in so long.

see, when i told my mom i was gay, she practically disowned me. she literally gave me a day to pack my things and leave. she wouldn't let my siblings near me because they might 'catch my disease.' that was about a month ago. i stayed with my aunt for about a week until i got this place; haven't talked to harry, or lauren, since.

"harry, look. i know mom probably says terrible things about me, and i know she does, but i just want you to know that i love you. you're my little brother, and i'll always be here if you ever need anything. lauren too. you guys are my family, and i'm gonna be there for you wether you like it or not. you're gonna grow up and she won't be able to control you anymore. for fucks sake, don't listen to her!"

the only thing i hear next is the buzzing of a dial tone.

+

"i called my brother the other day," i say, my fingers fiddling with the chains of the swing set as my feet slightly dangle from the ground. michael's attention suddenly goes to me. he tries stops swinging, earning some dirt to stain his shoes, and smiles at me; his newly colored, purple fringe obviously needing to have a comb or a brush ran through it, but he still looks nice with his large jumper thrown over his shoulders and his skinny jeans, slightly damp due to the drizzle of the rain, sticking to his thin, long legs. i find the fact that he has sweater paws very adorable.

"you called harry? -it is harry right?" he asks, his voice, and even his eyes, filled with excitement. i told michael about my family a little after a week i moved in. he was completely understanding; his family practically did the same thing to him. michael lives alone, and he said that when i moved in, he wasn't so lonely anymore. that's why he comes/sleeps over so much. he says, and i quote, 'yeah, i have a boyfriend and i love him very much, but its nice to just have a buddy.' i find that amazing. i quite like michael. i care about him very much and i believe he's my new best friend. i trust him. he's just trustworthy.

"yeah, it's harry. it didn't go too well." i say, glumly. a sigh escapes from my lips as i pull my hoodie over my damp hair, as the rain seems to be picking up. michael looks up at the sky, squinting his eyes and flinching when a rain drop lands below his left eye. he giggles and sticks out his tongue, which makes my adoration for him grow.

i let out a chuckle. "what are you doing, mikey?"

he opens his left eye, looking over to me and smiling, even though his tongue is still out and his head is still held high. he closes both eyes once again and starts swinging, but very softly.

"living." he answers. for some odd reason, that sends chills throughout my entire body. it's then that i realize that michael and luke are very similar. it's then that i wonder if michael and luke both shared the same amount of love for each other; i wonder if luke ever thought about michael while sitting in class, or doing the dishes, or even simply lying in bed alone at four a.m. i wonder if luke loved michael. i wonder why it ended.

the rain starts to pour down harder, and i decide that it's best if we leave this abandoned park. i suggest we go make a run for the nearest gas station, as the busses have surely stopped running by now. michael nods, quickly making his way up the dirst roads of the park and onto actual sidewalk, me following closely next to him. i can feel my shoes get wetter and wetter with each step. we soon get to a random gas station, not too far from my house, and decide to sit out the rain. the wooden bench outside the doors of the gas station aren't the comfiest chairs in the world, but they work. michael pulls out his phone, which is a little wet, and checks the time. 12:17 a.m.

damn.

"want a soda or something? on me."

"nah," i shake my head, "i'm okay... but a candy bar wouldn't hurt." i mumble.

"candy bar coming right up!" he laughs, sending me a smile before entering the gas station. a breathy chuckle escapes my lips as he skips through the doors. i patiently wait for him to return with the candy bar, and out of pure boredom i pull out my phone. it's then i remember i have luke's number. i haven't texted him yet. it's been a week and i haven't texted him. good one, ashton.

i quickly type away on my phone, just sending a casual hello it's ashton (: to luke. i don't expect him to answer, as it's very late and i don't expect him to actually be awake.

three minutes go by and no answer from luke, but that small amount of hope is still there. michael comes strolling out of the doors of the gas station. he sits next to me, handing me a twix candy bar. "this okay?" he asks, i nod, my stomach growling at the actual sight of food. i take one bite of it, letting the sweet taste of the chocolate glide on my tongue for a second. i hear michael cough a little louder than usual, so i look over at him. he's staring at my, giving me his best puppy eyes. i chew and swallow the piece of chocolate in my mouth, and scoff when michael pouts his lip. i can't lie, he looks very adorable. you know, for michael. i scoff, but smile, and break the twix in half and hand michael a part. he smiles and takes a bite. cute.

"so," i say after a bit, "i, uh, i got luke's number." i glance over at michael. he physically tenses up, but i don't think he knows that i noticed because he coughs and takes another bite of his chocolate bar and tries to act very casual. i can see right through it, though.

"did you?"

"mhm."

"i'm not trying to be rude, but, how the hell did you get his number?" he chuckles. i try my best not to find any offense in his question.

"he just walked up to me, grabbed my phone, and put in his number."

"seriously? huh."

it stays quiet for a good five minutes, only the sound of the rain hitting the pavement surrounding us. i actually start to doze off, but i'm shaken awake when my phone buzzes in my hand. i sigh, slightly annoyed that whoever is texting me had to interrupt my half sleepy state. those feelings of dread soon turn into excitement when i see i have a text from luke.

hi ashton. how are you?

even though it's such a simple message, it makes me smile.

hi, luke. i'm good, you? x.

i'm okay. (: don't mean to bother you, but what are you doing awake? it's almost one a.m. :o xx.

i chuckle at his text, making michael turn to me. "what are you giggling about, irwin?" he smirks, leaning over to try and take a look at the screen of my phone, but i shove it in the pocket of my hoodie before he can. he squints his eyes and i think it hits him as to who i'm texting because he mumbles oooh in realization and nods before going back to looking at his screen. i let out a breath and pull out my phone, texting luke back right away.

me and my friend got stuck in the rain; we're at a gas station waiting for it to lighten up so we can walk home. /: x.

what gas station? x.

my eyebrows furrow in confusion, but i tell him the name. he texts back almost instantly.

don't move. i'll be there in 10. ;) xx.

oh.

"uh, michael?"

"hm?" his attention is still on his phone.

"luke might be, sorta, on his way to pick us up."

he actually chokes on his saliva and has a coughing fit for about five seconds before he starts screaming at me. "ARE YOU INSANE?!"

"dude, it's just a ride. you'll be okay."

"I AM NOT GETTING IN A CAR WITH HIM!" he screams. i'm just glad there's no one around to stare at us.

"it's like a 15 minute drive! c'mon, mikey. i don't wanna stay out here all night when it's pouring," i whine, desperately pulling on the sleeves of his hoodie. he sighs.

"fine. but i'm not talking to him whatsoever."

"great!"

+

exactly twelve minutes go by and i see luke pulling into the gas station. i glance over at michael and see him tightening his hoodie, like to try and hide his face or something, but you can clearly see his bright, purple hairs poking out of the hoodie. i seem to get a little nervous when luke smiles at me through his car window. i can't really see him, since it's dark and the windows are lightly tinted, but i still see him smile. luke parks and motions for both of us to come to his car. i hear michael take a deep breath beside me as i grab a hold of his forearm and drag him to the car. i sit shotgun, of course. michael doesn't seem to have a problem with it.

"hi." i say, buckling up. once i'm done and settled and actually look at him, my breath hitches in my throat. he looks extremely hot. his blonde hair is spiked into a quiff, showing off the blue eyes that always seem to cross my mind. he's wearing a pink floyd shirt with a red plaid button up; along with his usual ripped up, black skinny jeans. he just looks hot as fuck and i'm surprised that i'm not jumping on him here and now; the whole look just suits him so fucking well.

he smiles, showing off his beautiful teeth as his lip ring sits perfectly on the corner of his bottom lip. it actually surprises me that i don't see one flaw in him. even his acne just makes him more adorable.

"hey." he says. his voice makes my head spin, his face is so close to mine i actually smell the mint in his breath. it takes everything in me not to collide my lips with his.

i awkwardly cough and back up and look forward. i curse silently when i feel my cheeks start to heat up. "uh, thanks for picking us up." i mumble.

"no problem." luke says. what i find odd is how his voice sounds very similar to the one i've dreamt about. but that can't be because this is the first time i've heard his voice. odd imagination i've got.

the car ride is silent. as soon as we pull up into my driveway, mikey is zoomed out of the car. i roll my eyes and apologize to luke for his behavior. i don't think he noticed that it was actually michael in the back seat because he just says a quick it's okay, and smiles.

"so, um, thanks for the ride." i say, "i'll give you gas money if you want it."

"no, it's okay. just text me more often and i think we'll be okay." he sends me a soft smile, but what he doesn't know is that, that sentence just made my heart beat faster than ever before and my stomach go wild; like there's some sort of party going on in there. i nod and give him a smile before exiting the car.

"thanks, luke." i whisper. the rain falls harshly onto my hoodie but i honestly don't care.

he smiles at me. "no problem, ashton." the way he says my name is so warming, so nice. i really like the sound of his voice. hell, i could listen to him talk all day. just the sound of his voice makes my heart race, god.

and that, ladies and gents, that's when i realize i'm in pretty fucking deep.