Stare At the Photograph - A.F.I.

1

ALYA

Michael and I met through mutual friends at a party. It was like the second we met we had this undeniable attraction to each other we just hung out that entire night. I had no idea who he was.

He had spiky black hair under a baseball cap and a Harley Davidson tee with his arms littered with tattoos.

When he told me him and his friends wrote that underwear song, I was shook. Like he's actually famous. Like I knew his songs. Another one I knew was "she's kinda hot".

I found out when we were listening to the radio on the way back from our first official date. Some throwback station played "She Looks So Perfect" and he tried to change it, but I wouldn't let him and he asked if I actually knew and liked the song. Of course I did! It was so catchy and it reminded me of high school. That's when he told me he was a part of 5 Seconds of Summer, the band that wrote it.

I always thought 5SOS was Ross Lynch's band. Don't blame me! I don't keep up with music like that. I obviously googled him and there he was. Along with three other guys. You would not think that Michael was friends with these guys.

When 5SOS released their third album, Youngblood, they went on tour. Obviously I was supportive about it. What was supposed to do? Tell him to stay?

At this point, we had been dating for a year now, so I bought a flight ticket for their New York show. I made sure to not have work for the two days he would be there and it was set.

So he left and we did long distance, but as time went on, he called and answered less. I knew he was busy, so I didn't think too much of it.

By the time it was time for the New York show, Michael did call me and we talked on the phone for hours.

When I landed in New York, Ashton, the drummer, picked me up. Michael was busy with something. He didn't even tell me. I only recognized Ashton because of Twitter.

He had long brown hair that he kept pushing back with his hands and wore a red button up with the top few buttons undone.

He called out and waved as he walked towards me.

"Are you Ashton?" I asked confused looking around for Michael.

"Yeah," he answered with his Australian accent. "Michael was busy with something, so I had to come instead. Hope you don't mind."

"Not at all." I say with a smile. I was disappointed. I wanted to walk out of the gate and spot Michael and kiss him. Like those movies.

We head to his car, a red Porsche. He opened the trunk and put my suitcase inside. Then he walked over to my side and opened my door.

"Thanks," I say, getting in. He shut the door behind me and answered his phone.

Ashton stepped away from the car, but I could still see his expressions. He seemed... stressed?

After a couple of minutes, he came back into the car.

"Sorry about that," he said. "Let's get going."

He plugged his phone into the car and played some rock song.

"Hold on. Lower the volume. Let me call Michael." I say. My phone is still on airplane mode.

"Wait!-" Ashton says grabbing my phone.

"What the fuck Ashton?" I yell. This whole situation is so sketchy. Is this actually Ashton? Is Michael waiting for me at the airport?

"Uhm-" he mumbles. "You must me hungry! What would you like to eat? It's on me."

"What's going on?!" I yell. "Did Michael actually send you?"

"I'll explain it over food. Panera sound good?" He asks nervously while pulling over to the next exit.

"How was your flight?" Ashton asks as checks his phone while we walk into the restaurant.

"I'm not talking until you tell me what's going on and give me my phone back!" I say, attempting to dig through his pockets.

"Not gonna happen." He says, holding my hands together.

"Let go!" I say, struggling to take my hands out from his much larger ones.

"Only if you promise to not go through my pockets." He demanded.

After a few more seconds of attempting to break free, I gave an insincere "fine" and he released my hands.

Later when we ordered our food (and fought for who was going to pay), we sat down with our food.

"Can I please have my phone back?" I beg. "I want to call Michael."

"He's busy." Ashton says, taking in a mouthful of his sandwich.

What if this whole time Michael was planning a surprise for me? It would explain everything.

"Ashton..." I say, dragging his name. "Do you have a girlfriend?"

"I do." He says bluntly.

"Really?" I say, running my foot up his leg. "We'll that's too bad."

At this point, Ashton's eyes are wide open and is hyper fixated on my leg. While he's distracted, I grab his phone off the table, run into the bathroom, and lock the door.

"Alya!" He yells, banging on my door. "You don't even have my access code!"

I ignore him and turn the phone on and on the lock screen there are notifications from Luke, Calum, and Twitter. Luke and Calum's messages were only visible when you unlock the phone, but Twitter, was not.

"MICHAEL CLIFFORD SPOTTED WITH A NEW LOVER"

Seeing the words flash on the screen made tears flood to my eyes. Ashton is banging on the door to let him in and I swing the door open in his face.