Secrets [m. clifford]

- 27 -

Ashton is finally coming home today, and I'm scared of what he might say to me later.

"No, Ashton, honey, go lay down." I hear my mum call, clearly frustrated with him.

I get up and leave my room to see Ashton laying across the sofa, and my mum is in the kitchen.

"Mum, hey, what's going on?" I ask.

She sighs, "He's just not in a good mood."

"Has he said anything? About me? Or Michael?" I ask, nervously biting my lip.

"He's not really talking about it, he said he's the reason you two broke up, though." She replies.

I groan, "I don't know if I should go talk to him or not."

"If you think you should, go ahead." She says, giving me a weak smile.

I sigh, making my way over to Ashton.

"Mum, please just go away-"

"It's me." I mumble, making him look up at me.

"Oh, uh, hey." He replies, looking away from me.

"Please don't be like this..." I beg.

"Well you were kind of fucking my best friend behind my back, then you blame me for your break up and tell me I'm the reason you're upset, so-"

"Can you blame me for being upset?" I quietly ask, not wanting to start a loud fight.

"Grace, I just can't let him hurt you." He whispers, still refusing to look at me.

"He wouldn't, Ashton."

"I thought he would've never hurt his ex, but it happened."

"Do you not understand people can change?"

"And do you not realize that history can repeat itself?" He questions.

I roll my eyes, "He wouldn't do that to me!"

"If he wouldn't do that, why aren't you with him right now!"

"Because you don't approve! If you or Bec or mum ever says they don't like the person I'm dating, I'd seriously consider breaking things off. You almost fucking died because you were so upset! Bec and mum both love Michael and I know he's your best friend, so you love him too. I fucking love you and Bec so much that your opinions will always matter. You hate Michael with me so much that, like I said, you almost died."

"Fuck, just get back together with him! I don't want to be the reason you're both miserable! And I have to work with Michael! I can't have him hate me!" He exclaims.

"I can't, Ashton. It's too much. We've broken up before and it's just- I don't know." I choke out.

He sighs, sitting up, "Grace, come here."

I go sit next to him, and he wraps his arm around me.

"I want you to get back together with him, okay? Just because I'm saying this doesn't mean I support this, but I need to see you happy. Please, just, go see him." He says.

I give him a small smile, "I think you're a great brother."

"And you're an amazing sister. Now I want you to go see Michael!"

I nod, "Thanks, Ashton."

He smiles and I quickly head out to my car, and make my way to Michael's.

I get there quickly and when I knock on the door, Michael's mum answers.

She smiles, "Grace, hello."

"Hey, is Michael here?" I ask.

"Yes, he is. He hasn't left his room in days and he won't tell me what's wrong." She sighs, letting me head to his room.

"Michael, baby?" I knock, slowly opening the door.

"Grace? Is that you?" He questions, quickly sitting up.

"Hey." I mumble, walking in.

"Come here." He says, holding his arms out.

I quickly go over to him, hugging him.

"I thought you hated me." He chokes out.

"No, I couldn't. I can't hate you." I whisper.

"I love you." He cries, holding me tighter.

"I know, I love you too. I do." I tell him, not sure how to get him to calm down.

He just continues crying and I sigh, pulling away from out hug, "Michael, what's wrong?"

"I don't want to lose you I didn't mean it when I said we should break up and I just want you to be with me and-"

"Hey, I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere." I tell him, using my thumbs to wipe away some of his tears.

"I'm so sorry."

"It's okay. You can cry, you're allowed." I say, giving him a weak smile.

"I love you and I just don't want Ashton to hate me and I don't want you to hate me if Ashton hates you and I feel so bad about everything and-"

"Michael, hey, it's okay. Everything's okay." I softly say, pulling him close to me.

"No it isn't. It isn't." He cries.

I sigh, "I don't understand why you're so worked up, everything will be okay, I promise you."

"I don't want to end up hurting you." He whispers.

"Babe, I'm telling you, we'll be fine." I reply.

"I love you so much, oh my god." He sobs, holding onto me tightly.

"I know you do, Michael. You don't need to keep telling me, you don't need to cry." I mumble, running his back.

"Never leave. Please never leave."

-

"How's Michael?" Bec asks, sitting across from me on my bed.

"Uh, emotional, I guess? He, like, cried the whole time?"

"Is he okay? What's wrong?" She questions.

"He just, I don't know. He loves me so much. He was just making sure I loved him, that I know he won't hurt me and he asked me to never leave."

"Aren't you leaving though? Aren't you going to university?"

"I talked to mum, she okay with it. Bec, this could really happen." I smile.

"But Michael..."

I frown, "My Michael."

"He'd be okay with it, right?" She asks.

I sigh, "I don't know."

"I think he would. You've accepted the fact he's in a band and that he'd leave, he should understand you moving. He'd still be able to see you." She replies.

"I think I might just cry for a bit, is that okay?"

"Grace-"

"It's okay, Bec. Everything right now is just, confusing. I don't know how to deal with all of this." I reply.

"Come hang with me and Ashton." She smiles.

I sigh, "Okay."

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happy sgfg release day!!

how many of u are seeing them for slfl. let me know.