Curiosity || Michael Clifford

Chapter 10

I had tickets to see them. They were in my home town again. I needed to see the people I had been missing. Not like I was going crazy without them. I just wanted to get lost for a night again. Even though I hated the idea of standing in a crowd of screaming girls. I would do it to get lost for the night.
I was going to go at it alone. I showed up early to the show. It was in my home town so it wasn't a drive. I wanted to just hang around the stadium to see what crowds would appear. I also had to keep in mind that my face was now known by people. I tried my hardest to keep it hid behind sunglasses. The more my face was covered the better.
Not too much surprise they hung out with their fans before the show. I watched from a distance wondering if they even remembered I existed. I watched fans walk away happy. As much as I hated the fangirl lifestyle. The genuine happiness that read all over their faces meeting people that inspired them was satisfying. It hit happiness in all the right places.
As show time approached it was time to make my way into the show. This meant being surrounded by hundreds of people who probably knew my face. As soon as my sunglasses left my face it was instant acknowledgement. It caused quite a commotion. Something I didn't want or expect. The comments were honestly unacceptable. I just wanted to enjoy the show but that couldn't happen. Security got involved.
"Ma'am you need to come with me." A security man said as he approached me. I stood up and looked at the people who had been rudely saying things to me.
"She's going back stage! That's not fair!" Someone said loud. I closed my eyes to take a deep breath before walking off with the security man. He pulled me out of ear shot and sight of everyone.
"I'm going to have to ask you to leave if this continues."
"I can't control them. This isn't my fault. I spent time with the band last summer and things got leaked. I can't control how their fans feel about it. Listen if I had it my way I wouldn't sit with them but I haven't spoken to the band in a year. I want to watch them play. I paid my money to be here I deserve to stay." I crossed my arms.
"Give me one moment please." He walked off. I looked around realizing the band was right in my sights. I hadn't paid much attention to them in the year I didn't see them. I didn't know how much they had changed. I didn't know anything at all really. They hadn't changed much. The security man walked over with another man.
"Indie Callingsworth?" The man reached out with his hand. A puzzled look was all over to face.
"Um yes."
"Nice to meet you."
"How do you know my name?"
"I'm the boys tour manager. I vaguely remember you from the few dates from last year mainly because I remember your sister." I nodded my head.
"I'm not leaving if you are coming here to tell me to leave."
"You can't sit with the fans with the commotion that is happening. But you aren't allowed backstage either. The rules are stricter this year for obvious reasons."
"You mean me." I nodded.
"The only option we have is having you sit with the boys families. Today is a bigger show for them therefore their families are in town. So if you don't mind sitting with them you can stay."
"That's going to be awkward."
"It's your choice." He held out a paper in his hand. I went with his option. I didn't know what I would dislike more. Sitting with their families or the fans.
I sat where I was told to and stared at the stage. The opening acts performed and it was set up time for 5sos. I heard noise behind me. I turned around to see people entering. Working at the movies taught me to be extremely polite. It was time to introduce myself if I was going to spend the night with them.
"This may be awkward but I'm Indie."
"I know you." A mother said to me. I was confused. Everyone introduced themselves. I needed to know how this woman knew who I was.
"Excuse. How do you know me?"
"You were supposedly hooking up with my son. He told me otherwise."
"Michael's mom?" I questioned her and she nodded.
"Otherwise is correct. This really isn't my thing." I pointed to all the girls in the crowd. "But I needed to see them while they were here. Michael got me through a really hard few days."
"He's a good man." I nodded.
"All the boys are extremely nice. I kind of just stumbled upon them."
"Michael told us. His father and I. He checks in every few days while on the road. You were definitely something well someone he told us about."
"I mean I'm pretty cool." I couldn't believe I said that aloud to his mother. That was the worst thing I could have said. I went quiet in embarrassment. Thankfully the boys walked on stage just seconds later. Nothing like perfect timing.
I watched the boys as I did back stage. I swayed to their songs. I sang along to the songs I knew, quietly to myself. I was enjoying the moment. I blocked out the fact that their families were around me. It would have made the entire night uncomfortable.
As I watched them perform I found myself watching Michael. I could care less what the others were doing. I was mainly there for him. I meant that in the least romantic way possible. I'm pretty sure as I watched I had a smile spread across my face. A stupid huge smile that could be seen for miles. I was embarrassing when I was happy.
The show came to end and I found myself being like the fans I had always watched leaving. I didn't want it to be over. I didn't have the option of staying and hanging out with them this time. They didn't even know I was here. I waited until the stadium cleared out and so did the families. I spoke a bit more with Michael's mom while waiting.
I felt a light tap on my shoulder which caused me to turn around. In front of me was a showered Michael. As much as I didn't want to act like a crazy fan I couldn't help my actions. I felt myself urging to hug him and that's exactly what I did. My arms wrapped around him quickly.
"Hello Indie Callingsworth."
"Hello rule breaker Michael." A sweet smile spread across his face.
"I have a question for you."
"How long have you been thinking of the question? We haven't spoken in a year."
"Since I got to the dressing room to read a text from my mom that read 'That Indie girl is here.'"
"That's awkward."
"How much did we suck?"
"You sucked as much as I did last summer." I joked.
"So not much." He joked back with me.
"Worst groupie ever." I pointed to myself. "I'm surprised with everyone you meet you'd remember the loser who you met twice."
"You were an exception to a rule how could I forget you? The girl who I had to prove myself to. The one who challenged me."
"Preforming for you is hardly a challenge." Things felt different from the first times we met. It felt different in the best way possible. I felt all this happiness rushing over me again. He shrugged his shoulders at me.
"I'm guessing fans didn't really forget who Indie was did they?" I shook my head.
"That's how my ass ended up here. Your manager wasn't having it any other way. Neither was security. I wasn't going to throw away all the money I spent. So here I am."
Michael's mom walked over to the both of us. Michael gave his mom a hug and I watched.
"You did good sweetheart." I laughed. I thought it was funny she called him sweetheart. On the outside you would never think that Michael was just a huge teddy bear. It's all he was though. I stood looking out at the stage. I hadn't seen things from this angle before. I was taking it all in. Michael spoke with his mom while I did so. We got the go ahead to leave but I didn't want to.
The parents are started to leave and so did Michael. I didn't want the night to end. I never wanted the night to end after the concert. All the adrenalin would keep me up for hours. I was a total night owl so that didn't help either. I had taken two weeks off from work and planned my days around their concerts. I was going to see them as much as possible before they took off across the country.
"You coming Indie?" Michael said turning back to me. My eyes moved from the empty seats and glanced at him.
"If I come I have to leave and I don't want to." He laughed.
"Says who?"
"Your big boss man."
"This is how I feel about you leaving." He grabbed my hand and pulled me with him. "What's a place that's open all night around here to eat?"
"Um, there's a diner a few miles away no one ever goes there. It's always been Kate and I's hide out. It's an old people place. A bunch of regulars all day every day."
"Who's down for a late night dinner snack?" Michael called out to the families. "Not catering, some real food."
"Please!" Luke called out from the front of the pack.
"Looks like someone needs to show us where to go get some delicious food." He looked at me. "Looks like you're stuck now."
I smiled.
"Damn it." I shook my head and laughed.
We piled into cars and drove to the diner. I directed the way. Not that it was difficult to get to. I knew this town better than most. I would find myself wandering the streets at night to get away. It was a mind clearing experience. It's how Kate and I stumbled upon the restaurant.
We parked the cars and headed inside. I walked in and got instantly recognized. "Indie!" I was greeted with a hug as I always was. "Where's Kate tonight?"
"I have some other friends with me tonight. Get ready there's like 30 of us." I smiled. "Oh and they're Australian so make a good impression got it?"
"Always."
We all got seated on one side of the restaurant. The mom's all sat together. Luke, Calum, and Ashton all sat with their siblings. That left Michael and I sitting alone. Which I wanted to just talk. We always were so quiet with each other. We enjoyed the silence. Tonight meant lots of talking.
"Indie what do you recommend?" Calum said from his table. It was right behind Michael and I. Our waitress walked over. It was Kate and I's usual waitress.
"She only ever gets chicken." I nodded. "She's the wrong person to be asking." I nodded again.
"It's free sailing from here out. Kate's tried almost everything and has loved it all so it's up to you. Whatever your heart desires Calum." Everyone ordered and it was now talking time.
"You seem in a better place than you were last summer." I said to Michael. Something about him just glowed. His mind seemed to be in such a happy place. I heard rumors about him being down and just unhappy with a lot of things but I didn't see it as I sat across from him. He just sat there looking like a ray of sunshine.
"I am, last summer was weird."
"Tell me about it. Last summer was hell. It was like a never ending thunderstorm. It was like a bubble of sadness." He nodded.
"I just stirred the pot of hell back up showing up here tonight." I looked at him and took a sip of my drink. He gave me a look. "Your fans just don't like me. It's going to pop up that were something again and all the hate is going to start again. I mean I've learned to not let it affect my day but still sucks to see it."
"If they're going to talk might as well give them something to talk about." He raised his eye brow at me. I pulled out my phone. "You know exactly what I mean."