Simple Text Message// Michael Clifford [Slow Updates]

19

Before you can read this chapter, I need to ask you for a favour. I've been the co-owner of an update account on twitter since Saturday. Unfortunately it has been hacked. It would mean a lot if you could report @/petunia_updates as hacked. They started posting things on their, acting like nothing has happened. When you have done that, please follow the new update account @/updating_petunia. Thank you so much!

I'm getting ready to meet Michael cause it has been three weeks since I last saw him. I haven't told him about my autism and I'm not planning to, the timing is not right because we are getting to know each other.

Something else that's on my mind is that I want to stop going to college. I love the thing I'm doing, but I feel like I will never get through college because of the autism and social anxiety. I'll probably won't find a good job that's well paid, but I will have a lot of free time.

I leave my flat and get into the car, driving off to the guys' house. I park my car nearby and ring the bell. "Ray, it's been so long." Ashton opens the door, only he has no T-shirt on and is wearing swimming trunks. "Come in, we're outside at the pool." He says. "You have a pool?" I ask shocked and he nods, while he closes the door behind me.

He leads me outside where the others are in the pool already. "Guys, Ray's here." Ashton tells them and as soon as he did, Michael looks at me and smiles. He swims to the side of the pool and gets out.

He pulls me into his arms, not caring he's wet because of the water. "I missed you a lot." He says into my ear, making me forget the others chuckling. "You should go into the pool with us!" Calum shouts and gets dumped under the water by Ashton. "Is everything okay?" Michael asks and I nod. "I'm just thinking." I say, I still have no idea if I really want to quit college or not. "Should I be worried?" Michael asks. "No, no, of course not." I reassure him. "Oh good." He says relieved.

"I want to quit college." I tell him. "Is this a joke?" He asks, laughing. "No, I'm serious." I say. "Wait really? Ray you cannot do that, I mean look at us." He says. "You guys are famous." I say, but feel guilty immediately because I remember that Michael doesn't really want to be. "Right, I'm sorry." I apologise. "Please don't do that. It will be one of your biggest regret." He says. "No, my mind is set." I tell him. "Don't try changing my mind." I say. "Fine." He says and takes a towel to dry himself off.

He takes my hand and leads me inside into the kitchen. "Will you tell me what was wrong last week?" He asks, taking two bottles of water out of the fridge and giving me one. "I'd rather not." I say. "Will you tell me one day what's wrong with you?" He asks and I nod, taking a sip of the water.

•••

"So this is where you live?" Michael asks, we left his and the guys house because it's too loud there. Plus, he wanted to see my flat. "Yep, don't mind the mess. I never have guests around so I'm not bothered to clean up." I say. "It's okay. My room is a mess, I won't mind." He says. "Well, make yourself at home." I say, he nods and takes a seat on the couch. I take a seat next to him and we sit in silence.

"I have to tell you something." Michael breaks the silence. "The guys and I are leaving in two weeks." He says. "What? No, you cannot leave me alone." I say, I started to love being around them. "We have the American leg of our tour." He says. "But hey, it's only a month and a half and then we have a break and I can come back here for the week." He says. "That's so long." I say. "I know and I'll miss you when I'm gone." He says, for some reason a tear escapes my eye.

"Ray, are you crying?" He asks, I shake my head and let out a sad sigh. "I don't know." I say and feel arms wrap around me. "Don't cry please, I promise we'll see each other again soon." He says, as he pulls me closer. "I don't want you to leave." I cry on his shoulder. "Honestly, I don't want to leave and I'd rather stay with you. But I have no choice, the fans are counting on me." He says, his hands are moving gently across my back, comforting me.

We get interrupted by Michael's phone, he lets me go out of his arms. "The guys found out we're gone." He says, looking at me. "Will you be okay?" He asks, wiping of the tears with his thumb. His hand stays on my face, which is warm and feels soft. "Will you come with me to the guys?" He asks. "I'll stay here." I tell him and he nods. He plants a kiss on my forehead, making my heartbeat faster, and he leaves me alone in the flat.

I don't know what he's trying to do to me, but I love every minute I spend with him.

I liked this chapter a lot. It's so cute and all.

Happy 4th of July everyone in America!

4th Of July 2017