catfish // mgc

☼ s i x t e e n ☼

/// sad looking michael gif to fit with this part i'm soRRY ///

My entire body and fucking soul went completely numb.

He knows. Ashton fucking knows.

How the fuck did he find out?

Do I deny it?

Is he mad?

Has he told Michael?

"No, I haven't told Mike," he deadpans, answering my unasked question.

"How..." My breath shakes with fear. Ashton sighs.

"I came across the girl on Tumblr."

"I'm sorry," I choke, trying to hold back my sobs.

"Can we talk about this on FaceTime?"

"I-I-"

"Please, Mae. It's just me."

I bit my lip, trying to center myself and calm down.

"Okay, give me a second."

Ashton doesn't reply, he just hangs up and I drop my phone on my desk, burying my face in my hands and crying.

"Okay... okay... Mae you can do this. It's just Ash. Just Ash..."

I took several deep breaths, deciding I'd call him from my iMac PC instead of my phone. I pulled up FaceTime and called before I chickened out. Just Ashton, Just Ashton... I tried to clean up my makeup in the screen before Ash answered, but I only had a few seconds.

Ashton Irwin himself appeared on the screen, his hair swept to the side. I probably would have fangirled if I wasn't so damn upset. He situated himself on a couch, sighing.

"Is he around?" I asked so quietly I barely even heard myself. He shook his head and I fixed my eyes on my hands in my lap.

"Playing FIFA with the lads in the other room."

I nodded and swallowed the huge lump in my throat, not knowing what else to say. I fidgeted, tugging in the sleeves on my hoodie.

"Are you mad at me?"

"A little," he admitted. I could feel him staring at me. "I can't say the same for how Mike is gonna feel."

"I'm sorry," I told him again, playing with the ends of my blonde hair.

"Why are you doing it?"

I shrugged, sniffling. "Cause I'm stupid."

"You're not stupid, Mae," he scoffed, rubbing his face. "Is your name even Mae?"

"Meredith Grace Robins," I nodded. "Or just Mae. Everything I've told Michael is true, except for my... my looks."

"Pretty name for a pretty face," Ashton smiled at me, his little dimples showing. I smiled back slightly. "So what's the real reason?"

I looked down at my hands again, picking at my pajama shorts. "I just really hate how I look."

"What's wrong with how you look?" He asked, his voice squeaking. I scoffed.

"Are you kidding me? Look at me!" I said loudly, my hands flying up in frustration.

"I am. I see nothing wrong with you. In fact, I think you're prettier than the girl in those pictures."

My face got hot and I put my hood on, ducking my head down. "You don't have to lie."

"I'm not," he said in disbelief. I peeked up at him and found him scowling at me.

"Sorry," I mumbled.

"It's not me you should be apologizing to, Mae. You have to tell Michael-"

"Tell Michael what?" Someone in the background said. Ashton jumped and dropped his phone onto his chest, then, from what it sounded like, dragged the phone and shoved it somewhere so it was hidden.

"Are you talking to Mae?" The person asked, confused. And I could tell it was Michael.

"What?" Ashton bluffed.

I then heard more shuffling and a few grunts and right as I was about to hit the end button, Michael's face popped up on the screen.

////////

(a/n)

oh god what have i done what am i doing i regret nothing

hey hi hello all how is everyone I am currently in Florida visiting family and such and I've already got a sunburn woo!!! :-)

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