back in time || m.g.c.

chapter one

Michael stared into the distance of the sound check room, strumming his guitar to whatever song they were practicing. It's not like the boy with coloured hair needs to pay attention, he knows how the song goes. The room suddenly filled with the giggles of another member of 5 Seconds of Summer, and Michael's head sharply turned to the left, leaving a slight pain in his neck. He did a quick three-second massage on his neck before standing up and setting his guitar down. The sound producer called it a day, which left the cheers of three young lads to echo through the room. Michael grudgingly walked towards the changing rooms and felt an arm land on his shoulder.

"Michael, do you realise how big this concert is tonight?" he heard someone say, recognising the voice as Ashton's. The pale boy turned his attention toward the curly haired boy and forced a grin onto his face. "Of course man," he paused, thinking about what to say. As Ashton raised his eyebrows, anticipating the rest of the sentence, Michael finished it with "our families will be in the crowd. I can't wait to find mum." and smiled slightly. It seems as though Michael's mum and dad are the only reason he stays happy ever since he became famous.

An awkward silence filled the room, and the quiff boy known as Luke cleared his throat. "What's going on?" Michael questioned, feeling the uneasy tension of the atmosphere. "I'm not saying it!" Luke said quickly (and dramatically), leaving Michael to roll his eyes. "Of course you wouldn't." Michael groaned, running his hands through his hair and tugging at the ends. "What the fúck is that supposed to mean, Clifford?" Luke glared at the boy, causing all the lads to raise their eyebrows. Luke never snaps or sticks up for himself, he normally just walks to the beverages to get a cool drink. "Alright, calm your tits, dude. Just someone tell me what it is you're all keeping from me!" Michael stated calmly with a hint of anger in his voice. "Your uh... your parents aren't coming tonight." Calum mumbled, but loud enough for Michael to hear him.

Michael felt his heart break just that little bit more and ripped himself from Ashton's arm placed on his shoulder. "I knew this would happen." Ashton murmured as Michael paced around the room. His parents obviously love him, he knows they do, but they never seem to show it. Out of the six concerts they have done in their home city, only one his parents have attended. It wasn't even their first gig, it was their third. Now it's their seventh and it's another concert to put on the list of 'gigs Mr. and Mrs. Clifford haven't attended'.

"Why aren't they coming?" Michael whimpered, looking at Calum with big eyes. The lads knew how much it means to Michael that his parents make an appearance, and when they don't it's just as heartbreaking for them to see Michael hurting like this as it is for Michael. "I dunno mate. Something about a birthday party?" Calum replied, wincing as Michael started yelling. "What the actual fúck. So a birthday party is more important than their own sons gig?" the currently red-haired boy groaned, "You get 80 fúcking parties for your birthday, you don't get as many gigs! It's only the neighbour too! Oh for fúcks sake." continuing his rant. "Mate let's go take a breather." Ashton smiled warmly at Michael and received a nod in return as he patted his back and pulled him outside with him.

They left the room and went towards the exit section, and Michael whispered something about the fans. If there is one bonus to fame, it's how caring their supporters are. Michael heaved the heavy door open, the chorus of screams hitting his ears at once. Ashton smiled slightly, always blown away by the amount of fans they have. They both stepped outside, smiling at all the fans. Suddenly phones were out, snapping photos at the two boys. Michael glanced from side to side, and finally found a chair. He stood on top of it, and although still angry at the situation he was in moments ago, he managed to calm himself down slightly. "Alright here is the deal. If none of you scream Ash and I will gladly take photos with you. So all of you zip your mouths, and we'll try our best with photos." Michael yelled, but it was a good kind of yelling, not an angry kind. Ash grinned and patted Michael's back before they went through the crowd for about an hour taking photos and having conversations with the fans. They said their farewells and hurried back into the changing room, Michael feeling a lot calmer entering the room than he did leaving.

"You alright now mate?" Luke questioned cautiously, eyes darting to each boy in the room. Michael nodded slowly, trying his best to ignore the topic of his parents. He looked at the bright coloured clock that he's seen so many times, and quickly changed his shirt. "You're on in 10!" one of the managers barged in the room, saying it in a rushed tone. The lads completely forgot to watch the opening act but shrugged it off as they rushed to the main stage which seemed to take ages to get to. "Three minutes!" Michael picked his guitar up and watched Ashton twirl the drum sticks in his hand. Calum was running his fingers on the strings of his bass, and Luke just seemed as worried as ever as he kept himself occupied with running his long fingers through his hair. They can play a million gigs and they would all feel as nervous as the first time.

The lighted dimmed as soon as the manager said ten seconds, and made their way up the stairs. They did their routine where Ashton enters, then Luke, Calum and Michael last. A serious look was on all of their faces (all part of the act), as they began to play.

Michael had a banging headache by the time Amnesia began to play, and as Calum looked to the side and mouthed 'you okay', Michael just turned his head to the side and tried to pay attention to the crowd. It's not so much Michael is depressed as a person, he's depressed of being famous.

When it came to the end he just wanted to lie in bed and sleep. As he waved goodbye to the roaring crowd, he ran backstage and straight to where the lads were staying. In the middle of taking his shirt off, Calum threw him a new one. "Alright, I've been dying for this lads. Time to party!" the young, surprisingly chirpy 20 year old said ecstatically.