damage control

Mike sighed and followed after Ash, pushing through the curtain in what is clearly a women's changing room. "You can't be back here." Ash snapped.

"Neither can you, bro!" He emphasized bro heavily, trying to remind Ash he was a guy.

"You're a jerk!" Ash found the stall he came out of and slammed the door and locking it loudly.

"I'm a jerk? I took you to the mall when I didn't have too, I met you like an hour ago dude. And I even came with you to make sure no one messed with you and you throw a fit cause I talk to someone else and I'm the jerk?" There was a long, heavy, silence as Mike momentarily considered just leaving him. He didn't even know this guy so why should he? Instead, he sat down on one of the couches set there for husbands and boyfriends.

Ash looked like he had been crying when he finally opened the door. "You're right. I'm sorry." Ash wiped his eyes, looking even more like a hurt kitten than he did in the cafeteria. "I didn't have many friends at my old school. I get it if you don't want to be my friend anymore."

Mike stood up and realized how frail Ash was, he just wanted to make him feel better. "I'm still your friend." Ash threw himself at Mike and hugged him tightly. Mike slowly hugged Ash back. His hands caressed the smaller boy's back slowly.

The boys separated and Ash smiled sweetly at Mike. "You never did tell me what you thought about my outfit." Ash took a step back and slowly turned around so you could take him in. The shirt he was so excited about was a pink shirt paired with a black miniskirt.

"You're dressed like a girl..." Ash looked confused, "You look good." Ash smiled happily and jump up and down. Mike told himself he was lying, that he didn't think a boy looked good dressed as a girl or that he wasn't pretty.

The pair spent the next two hours shopping, well Ash shopped while Mike held his bags. Ash insisted on Mike's approval of every item of clothing much to Mike's confusion. Why did Ash care what he thought about his clothes? When Ash pulled him closer during one trip through a store after having a very pretty store clerk approach Mike he figured it was to keep women from approaching him. Which confused Mike more since the only people who ever did that to him were past girlfriends. "He doesn't think we're together, does he?" Mike asked aloud as he sat on the boyfriend bench outside of a changing room.

An older woman in her forties strolled through the doors and entered a changing stall while a man about the same age sat next to Mike. "They really ought to add more benches." He remarked as he placed the bags he was carrying to his side.

"Yeah."

"I'm Gerry." The old guy offered his hand and Mike shook it.

"Mike."

The pair sat in silence until Ash come out into the hall and twirled in capri jeans and a half top and half jacket. "What do you think?" Ash cooed.

"Why get a jacket if it's not gonna keep you warm?"

"Cause it's cute!" Ash stuck his tongue out.

"I guess so." Mike tried to pretend he wasn't staring at Ash's flat and smooth belly as he bounced from side to side.

"I knew you'd love it!" Ash returned to the stall leaving the two men alone once more.

"Women," Mike was about to correct Gerry when he continued, "they just make no sense." Mike decided not to say anything. "Is she your girlfriend?"

"Nah, just a friend. We just met today actually."

The man smirked, "Yeah, I had a friend once. Twenty years later we're married and I'm carrying her shopping bags."

"No way, it aint like that."

The old man chuckled, "Trust me, it is." The older woman stepped out of the stall wearing a tight red dress that flattered her natural curves and gave a little twirl like Ash. "You look gorgeous sweetheart." The woman smiled and turned to the stall door, taking a moment to look over her shoulder at her husband before entering. "Remember that kid. Women love flattery."

"I'll remember that." He knew from his own experiences with women this was true, but once again Ash stepped out in a dress similar to the one the older woman wore. Surprisingly Ash had breasts! "Wow."

The old man leaned over and whispered, "You can do better than that."

"Uh, you look gorgeous," The old man nudged the still stunned Mike. "Sweetheart." Ash beamed at Mike, he could practically see the little floating hearts over Ash's head. [Crap.] Mike thought. He was too stunned to argue with the old man and now he might have given Ash the wrong impression.

After an exhausting trip to the mall, Mike and Ash finally returned to the dorm, in the hall he met a few guys like himself looking lustfully at Ash and suddenly felt very protective of Ash. Ash seemed to be naive of the effect he had on guys, it's probably why guys hassled him at the mall before. "Thank you for taking me shopping today."

"It's not a problem, really." Mike said as he watched one guy staring at Ash's ass out the corner of his eye.

"No, I really want to find a way to repay you." Ash cooed as he bounced slowly trying to **** the key into the doorknob. He grunted in frustration as he struggled, finally giving up and turning to Mike. "Mike," he whined, "can you put it in me?" Mike's eyes widened in shock. "I mean for me." Ash giggled. "Don't you hate when that happens?"

"Uh, yeah." Mike struggled with the bags and the keys while he tried to reach around Ash who didn't even bother to move. With the bags in both arms he tried for the door he was **** to stand behind Ash. Ash looked behind him, flipping his hair back and exposing his bare shoulder.

"Deeper, you're almost there." Mike swallowed hard as he stepped closer to Ash, practically grinding against his butt. Why wouldn't he move? Finally, the door opened and the two fell forward onto the floor. Ash groaned under Mike's sudden weight crashing down on him. "Oh, Mike." Ash moaned in pain and wiggled underneath him.

"Sorry." Mike sat up letting the smaller boy free.

Ash rolled over and looked up at Mike and smiled warmly, almost seductively. [Is he doing this on purpose?] "Looks like you're falling for me." Ash giggled.

"Puns? Really?"

"I know, I should be PUNished." Mike groaned as he stood and carried Ash's bags to his bed. "No, the black one is yours. I got you a little something to say, thank you."

The bag may have been black but the box was pink, when Mike opened it, inside he found a bracelet. "Oh. Uh."

"It's a friendship bracelet," Ash explained. "I have one too, see?" He held up a similar one already dangling on his slim wrist.

"Thanks." Mike slid the bracelet on much to Ash's approval.

"You look fabulous." That's what Mike was afraid of as he pulled at the rainbow colored bracelet. "So, what now? Mike looked at his phone and saw it was getting close to six and he should call Lois so they could meet up for their date. "Oh yeah, you promised to show me a college movie." Ash jumped onto Mike's bed and excitedly patted the bed calling for Mike to join him.