End Up Here (Michael Clifford a.u.)

Chapter 18

- Months Later -

Summer finally comes along, and school lets out for break, meaning three long months to spend doing everything. Though I'll be spending most of it with Michael, I'm still determined to have the time of my life.

"So the concert is next week," Michael says as he spins around in his desk chair of his room. "Are you excited?"

I look up from my phone, seeing the smug grin on his face. I hit the pillow on his bed and squeal a little.

"Don't get me started, Michael."

"I take that as a yes."

He stands up and over me. He takes my phone from my hands. I smack him.

"Don't touch my phone you ass," I mumble, snatching it back from him.

He gently takes it again, holding my hands back. "I had a good reason to take it."

Michael sets my phone on his desk along with his own. He climbs onto the bed, getting on his knees at my feet.

"What are you doing?" I ask, still irritated he took my phone.

"I'm so glad it's summer," he says, ignoring me. He puts my feet on his shoulders, bending my legs and running his hands up and down my bare legs, stopping just under my shorts.

"Why is that?" I ask.

"Because you look really hot in shorts."

He kisses my knee before laying on top of me and kissing my face. "Michael," I mumble. "You're so cuddly. What did you do?"

"Can't I be cuddly with my girlfriend?" he asks defensively.

"You usually don't get this clingy unless you did something."

"I'm sorry if I just love you too much."

"I love you too much too."

He smiles in this completely indescribable way. I can't help but feel my heart flutter in my chest when I notice how he's looking at me. I've never felt like this.

"Do me a favor," I say quietly. "Put some music on and come back and make out with me."

Michael smirks before getting up and turning music on. He comes back and lays on top of me, kissing me slowly.

-----

"I can't believe this," I mumble.

Michael grips my hand tightly as we walk through the halls of the venue in which this concert is being held.

The fact that we'll be super close to the stage has me so excited that I can barely contain it.

"I can't thank you enough," I tell him, gripping his arm.

"Same," he agrees.

"What do you mean? I haven't done anything for you. You brought me to a 1975 concert."

"Yeah, but you wore my favorite black shorts today." He glances down and smirks, seeing much more of my legs due to the weather. But he never complains.

"You're such a guy," I say as I roll my eyes.

"But you love me."

"I do. But I'd love you even more if you'd walk faster."

I practically begin jogging due to my excitement. Michael laughs as he tries to keep up. We pass a group of girls, and I noticed they had been looking at us. They laugh as we pass.

"You guys are so cute," one of them says. I slow down and smile at her.

"Thanks," I reply.

"Are you married or engaged?" another asks.

Michael laughs as he glances down at me. "No!" I say hastily, blushing at the thought. "We're just dating."

"I wouldn't mind though," Michael says.

The girls burst into high pitched "aw's" while my blush gets deeper in color and burns my face.

"We better get going," I mumble.

"It was nice talking to you!" one of the girls say.

"Bye!"

I walk away quickly, dragging Michael with me. "Did I embarrass you, Makenna?" Michael asks.

My heart flutters in my chest. I love when Michael says my name. I'm not sure why, but it hits me harder than it should. And I love it.

I lean my head on his shoulder as we continue walking and holding hands. "A little," I reply.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

We finally get where we're supposed to be, and eventually I find us standing super close to the stage.

Finally the concert starts. The opening act plays and finishes before I know it. The lights dim again, and the crowd's energy increases. People scream louder, and I grip Michael's hand even tighter.

Lights begin flashing and stop, illuminating the band's silhouettes. The lights resume flashing as the first song is played.

The whole time I can't help but sway or move to the music and sing as loud as I can. I almost forget that Michael is even beside me.

As they play Robbers, I get so into the music. The lights continue to flash as they have several times before. Michael suddenly spins me around and presses his lips to mine.

It's as if time stops.

Michael and I are the only people in the world in this moment. Usually his kisses leave me dizzy, but this is different from all the other times. I feel something new.

His hands grip my waist, and he smiles into the kiss. I pull away and put a hand on his cheek. I sing along as Michael slightly sways me back and forth.

"'She says, "Babe, you look so cool...'" I sing, rubbing my thumb across Michael's cheek.

He laughs at me as I sing along over dramatically. As the song starts to end and the crowd cheers, I pull Michael down towards me, wrapping my arms around his neck and hugging him.

"'You look so cool,'" he sings quietly. I chuckle and kiss his cheek before we separate and cheer along with the crowd.