Fame // Michael Clifford

1.

"Okay, but why 'Rock Out With Your Socks Out'?" I asked, my bare feet resting on my best friend's lap.

Michael and his bandmates had just returned to Sydney a few days ago, and they were already planning the next big step in their career in order to be the best band they could possibly be...The band that I knew they were. The five of us were in Michael's living room now, catching up on everything that was happening.

"Not sure," Michael responded, even though Calum had clearly mouthed the word 'cocks' behind him. I held back a laugh, and simply rolled my eyes. What immature boys. "It was just one of the only things we could all agree on."

Michael typed something on his phone, smiling like a complete idiot.

"Hey, Romeo," I joked, nudging him with my foot. "What's up?"

"Angie wants to come over. It'll be the first time I've seen her since we were last home." His smile lit up the room, and I smiled back. It was contagious. I was happy to see him so happy.

"Maybe I can meet her this time?" I asked, jokingly. "Someone's gotta talk to this girl. Give her the verbal beat-down of what happens if she breaks my little Mikey's heart."

It had been almost two years since Michael and Angelina had started dating, and believe it or not, I still hadn't met her. She didn't go to the same high school as me, and every time Michael had been home and wanted to introduce us, I had either been grounded, sick, studying for a big test, or out of town with my aunt. I told Michael I could have just invited her over while he was gone, but he insisted that he was there when we met.

"I just really don't want her to get the wrong idea, you know? I want to make sure you two get along okay. You're like my sister, Dawn. You and Angie need to be best friends," He had paused, thinking over what he had just said. "I mean, as long as I'm not replaced."

"Wait, Dawn hasn't met Angie?" Luke asked, seeming surprised.

"Not yet," I laughed. "Why, have you?"

"Well, yeah," Luke responded, as if it was completely obvious. "We all got together for lunch the last time we came back to Sydney."

"Oh." I mumbled awkwardly, looking down at my hands and picking at my nails. I don't know why it bothered me that they had all hung out while I was busy, but it did.

"But today we'll all be together!" Michael cheered, noticing my nervous habit. He had picked up on all of them through the years - whether it was nail biting, nail picking, stuttering, or just avoiding eye contact. "All six of us! She said she'll be here in half an hour."

I shouldn't have been nervous to meet my best friend's girlfriend, but for some reason, I was. Michael expected us to get along really well, and I truly hoped we did. But it's one thing for his girlfriend to meet Michael's best guy friend, and another thing for her to meet Michael's best friend who is also a female. What if Angie is the jealous type?

I spent what only felt like a few minutes overthinking it, but apparently, it was the whole damn half hour, because soon enough, there was a knock on the door. Michael stood up faster than I'd ever seen, my feet being pushed onto the floor with an unexpected thud!

"Thanks a lot, asshole!" I shouted, but he had already raced to the front door, running a hand through his hair as he vanished around the corner.

"I've only seen Michael move that fast for the pizza delivery guy," Ashton laughed. "You can tell he really likes Angelina."

"I remember how nervous he had been to ask her out. I'm expecting a lot from this girl." I responded, folding my legs on the couch. I already missed my personal footrest, but I doubt Michael would want me to do that while Angelina was in the room.

"You'll like her. She was super nice when we met her." Ashton beamed.

"There's someone I really want you to meet," Michael's voice chirped as he came back into the room. He was holding Angelina's hand. I don't know what I had been expecting, but it wasn't this. She was drop-dead gorgeous. She had long, silky light-brown hair styled in perfect beach waves, and she had big, sparkling blue eyes. Her skin was flawless, her makeup was done perfectly. She dressed modestly, but the outfit was still one of the most-expensive-yet-casual-looking ones I'd seen. I wondered where she'd gotten it. "Angie, this is Dawn. Dawn, this is Angie."

I stood up awkwardly, cursing myself for wearing sweatpants over to my best friend's house. I had been planning on staying over, so my overnight bag with real clothes was upstairs in Michael's room.

Angelina reached out with her right hand, and I noticed the shiny, pale pink that was perfectly painted on her nails.

"Dawn, Mikey has told me so much about you! It's so nice to finally meet you!" I blinked. I'd never heard any other girl but me call him 'Mikey', and it caught me off guard. I made a mental note of that, but dropped it immediately, taking her hand and shaking it.

"I've heard so much about you too, but Michael didn't tell me he was dating a model!" She laughed, displaying her perfect white teeth.

This girl was not even real.

"Me? Look at you! You're so pretty!" I looked down. Sweats. An old band t-shirt. I couldn't even remember if I'd done my makeup today.

"Oh gosh, no," I laughed. "Thank you, though."

"Dawn, you're beautiful," She smiled, honesty laced in her voice. "Michael, do you not tell your best friend she's pretty? So much natural beauty. That's key."

Okay, so apparently I wasn't wearing any makeup either.

"She knows she's beautiful," Michael smiled, but he kissed Angelina's cheek. "Do you guys want to go get lunch or something?"

I smiled. A pizza sounded great right now.

"Maybe we could order a-"

"No, Mikey, I ate before I came. I'm not hungry just yet. Thank you though," Angelina cut me off, and I frowned slightly. I hadn't eaten lunch yet, but if no one else was hungry, I'd survive too. "You know what I'd love to see, though? I've been watching all of your performances online, but I'd love to see the real deal. Wouldn't you, Dawn?"

I smiled, nodding. A lot of their fans recorded their opening performances and posted them online, but I hadn't seen them practice during a rehearsal in what seemed like forever.

"What do you say, guys? Will you put on a show for Dawn and me?" She asked with such confidence, she practically demanded it, yet still managed to be polite and give them an option of saying "no".

A chorus of "sure" and "okay" came from the four boys in the room, and Angelina and I both cheered. She took Michael's hand, rushing towards the hallway, to the door that led to the basement. It made me wonder just how many times she'd been here.

"Hurry, Dawn! Last one down is a rotten egg!"