On the Road

3: Back Stage

When I called Anissa and told her I had come across some tickets for the 5 Seconds of Summer show she just about cause permanent deafness in my right ear. "Yeah yeah just get here would ya? Gates open in 20 minutes." I laughed and hung up the phone. About five minutes later my favorite ball of sunshine and rainbows came bounding up the steps to the front door. "Hey I made it sorry it took so long." I laughed again. "Dude it was five minutes chill out." The line of girls was rediculously long, but I was at the front. "So since when do you care about 5sos?" She fixed her hair behind her ears. "Ha, I don't but it's your birthday. Well in a couple days." She squealed and hugged me. If only she knew. We waited a bit longer for the doors to open. Once inside I walked over to the ticket booth marked On Hold. "Two tickets for Sherri." The teller handed me the tickets and Anissa gave me an odd look. "How long have you had the tickets?" She asked as I handed them to the usher. "Not long, come on. We're front row." Her eyes bugged. "How much did this cost?" I smiled and ignored her. We walked to the front row where girls were already lined up. They were decked out in 5sos tshirts and skinny jeans. "You know. You are particularly dressed up very nice this evening." Anissa eyed my dress and updo. "I wanted to look nice for my best friends birthday gift." I shrugged off her scrutiny. The show started and Anissa started screaming and chearing. She sang to every song and I sang the ones I knew. Through the entire show I could see Michael look at me and smile. "I swear to god it looks like Michael Clifford is looking at you dude!" I laughed at Anissa enthusiasm. I also couldn't help but notice Luke also glancing my way every once in a while. "Thank you some much for everything you guys have done for us!" Calum started. "Yeah thank you for buying our album thank you for buying the tickets for tonight and thank you for being here!" Ashton yelled from the drum set. "You guys mean the world to us every single one of you!" Michael added in with a glance my way. I looked down and blushed. Anissa noticed. "Yes, so thank your so much. We are 5 Seconds of Summer!" Luke finished off. The boys bounded off stage and the girls screams died down. Slowly the crowd began to filter out. "That was amazing! Your the bestest friend ever Sherri!" Anissa hugged me and started to walk off. "Wait! I'm not done yet." I took Anissa by the hand and led her toward the left side of the stage. There stood the most punk rock kitten I'd ever seen. "Oh my god..." Anissa tensed up. Michael walked forward and hugged me tight. "Michael this is Anissa. Be gentle." Anissa was shaking and her eyes were wide. "Hello Anissa, I'm sure you know who I am but for the sake of awkwardness I'm Michael Clifford." Anissa glanced at me then back at Michael. "Hi..." she whispered. "May I?" He asked with his arms stretched wide. Anissa nodded her head. He wrapped her in a hug and she looked like she was about to pass out. "Come on guys." We followed Michael backstage and to a large room full of clothing, turned over furniture, and food. "Living the Rockstar life. I like it." I plopped down in a chair and Michael laughed. Anissa stood motionless by the door. "Who's the statue." Calum giggled when he noticed Anissa. "I don't know but she's pretty!" Ashton piped up from the other side of the room. Anissa turned twenty different shades of red. "Guys this is my amazingly wonderful friend Anissa and she is y'alls biggest fan. Also I think y'all are scaring her." Luke stepped forward. "Hello sweetheart. How are you?" Her eyes got bigger. "Good. Frightened. Confused." She squeaked out the three words. I didn't think this through. "Relax. We are four normal dudes who are in a band that kinda really sucks." Luke winked at her and she giggled. Her shoulders relaxed a bit. Luke sort of took over at that moment making sure that Anissa was comfortable and happy at all times. I think he likes her. "I think he likes her." Michael whispered in my ear. "I was thinking the same thing." "So I have a question for you." Michael sat at the foot of my chair. "Sure." I ran my fingers through his hair. He had showered and it was all wet. "So I know this is sudden but I'm only here for another day and a half. So I was wondering. Would you be my girlfriend? If you say yes I can fly you out to my shows and try and spend as much time as possible with you." I stared at Michael. Could this actually be happening? I looked up and Luke made eye contact with me. He had his arm loosely draped around Anissa's waist. He smiled and nodded his head in a sort of hello. I looked back down to Michael's waiting green eyes. "Yes, yes I would love to be." I leaned down and met his lips with my own. "No way! Way to go Clifford!" Ashton hooted from the food table. We both laughed and the guys clapped and hooted and hollered. This was about to be the most interesting next couple days of my life. And who knows, maybe a long time after too. Anissa had not left Luke's side since she got here and I wasn't about to take her away from him. She was in total love with Luke Hemmings. I looked around the trashed room and sighed. I got up and Mikey looked at me curiously. "What are you doing?" He asked as I righted a chair. "Cleaning up. You guys are total pigs." I laughed and picked up some chip bags off the floor. "You don't have to. We have people for that." Calum smiled at me from the corner he and his food mountain inhabited. "Okay that sounded so snotty Cal. Sherri's right we shouldn't leave it this bad." Ashton got up and began picking up clothing that had been thrown every which way. Sooner or later all four guys and myself were up and picking up the room. Anissa helped too but Luke kept distracting her. In about fifteen minutes we had the entire room picked up and all the furniture righted. "There doesn't that feel better guys?" The boys gave me a collective look. "I'm tired." Luke and Calum said at the same time. "Jinx! Jinx again!" The boys yelled tiredness forgotten. "Fuck you Calum!" Luke yelled as Calum pushed him over. "Awww come on baby you know you love me." Calum winked and Luke. "Oh Cake! It lives!" We all laughed at Anissa's little outburst. After about an hour or so some guy with a headset showed up and told the boys they had to get going. " You're welcome to come by the hotel if you'd like." Mikey said as he tucked a loose hair behind my ear. I had pulled out my bun earlier in the night. "I'd have to bring Anissa." I told him looking over at my giggling friend. Luke was pulling a bunch of stupid faces making her laugh. "It don't think Luke would have it any other way." Michael laughed. "I'll meet you there then." He wrapped me I'm in a huge bear hug and nuzzled his face into my neck. His slight scruff tickled and I pulled away giggling. "Sorry that tickled." I explained. "Sorry." He smiled and kissed my cheek. "See you soon." Calum and Ashton had already gone and Luke was hugging Anissa goodbye. "This was literally the best day ever!" Anissa said when the two boys dissapeared. "It's not over yet. Michael us invited to the hotel." I winked at Anissa and she paled. "Wait... for what?" I laughed at her uneasiness. "Dude chill. Just to hang out." She breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank god I thought you were trying to kill me!" We walked out to my car and headed out to the hotel.