Saving the Reject | Michael Clifford | Editing

f o u r t e e n ;

Charli

"What time do you want us there?" Michael asked over the phone.

"Four-thirty at the latest. Everyone should start showing up around five, so maybe even come earlier if you guys want to practice a couple times." The phone was pressed between my ear and my shoulder, my hands occupied with pinning up a poster of The Coliseum.

"That's a little early for a party."

"It's a barbeque, Michael."

"A what?" he said, surprised. "Why were you giving us the impression that this was a high school party?"

"Do you know me at all Michael? Do you seriously think I would plan one of those?" I asked him rhetorically. "Do you think I would even go to one of those?"

"No, but I was kind of hoping you'd have a bad side like that," he said cheekily, causing me to roll my eyes.

"Well, I don't." Not like that, anyways. "You're not - you're not backing out, right? Because it's not a high school type party?"

"No, it's still our first gig, and we're not getting out of it because it's a barbeque," Michael said, allowing me to breathe again.

"Good," I breathed. "Because Scarlett's stepdad's old friend is coming, and he's a music producer."

"You've gotta be fucking kidding me!" I laughed a little bit, knowing I'd get that kind of reaction out of him. "I swear to God, Charli, you are a fucking angel!"

Still laughing, I said, "Well I wouldn't go that far - "

"Shut up," he cut me off. "You're an angel, deal with it. We'll be there."

"Oh, and Michael," I said, stopping him from ending the call. "The party is open to anyone, so if you'd like to bring Harper - "

"Harper?" Michael asked. "Why would I bring her? I thought you didn't like her?"

Okay, yes, I don't exactly like her at the moment, but I don't know her. The only time we met, she thought her boyfriend was cheating on her so she was upset. I'm sure she's a perfectly nice person, and I honestly feel terrible for putting her in an awkward position with Michael. "Well, she is your girlfriend - "

"Oh, you don't know."

"Don't know what?"

"Harper and I broke up." No remorse could be heard in his voice, but that didn't stop me from feeling terrible.

"No," I said. "No, no, no, please no! Was this because of me? Please don't tell me you broke up with her because of me!"

"It wasn't because of you, Charli," Michael said with a chuckle. "Remember that phone call I got when we were at the library on Sunday? That was her. She wanted me to meet her parents, and when I didn't want to, she broke up with me. It had nothing to do with you, I promise."

She broke up with him before she even walked in on Michael and I? "Are you okay, then?" I asked him, my voice soft. I'd never been in a relationship, and I'd never gone through a break up. I didn't know if he was upset or not.

"I'm amazing, actually," he said happily. "I never really liked her, honestly."

"Then why were you with her?" He just wasn't making sense.

"She has experience." I could hear the smirk in his voice.

"I didn't need to know that - why did I ask - I - " Michael was laughing on the other end of the phone. "I'm gonna hang up now. See you when you get here."