thunder -- michael clifford

chapter eleven

>> eleven.

"Come on, Lia!" Ashton called from Michael's car which was parked in front of my house. The guys, Beau, Anna, and I were headed to the beach for the day to celebrate the completion of one of the boys' songs.

I threw a big Nirvana tank top over my black bikini and wrapped my dreads into a bun on the top of my head. I shoved a pair of black sandals onto my feet, then skipped out of the house.

Beau, Anna, Calum, and Luke were in one car, and Michael, Ashton, and I were in the other. Luke apparently didn't wanna see us being all mushy and cute, and of course, Calum decided to stick with him. Beau still wasn't completely sold on the idea of Michael and I being a thing, and Anna didn't trust him driving her car. Ash was the only one who would ride with Michael and I. 

Anna had left about five minutes ago. It was an hour's drive to the beach we were going to, the same one Michael took me to for our first date.

It had been almost three weeks since my first date with him. Needless to say, I was head over heels in love with him. I really considered it love. I couldn't think about anything but Michael Clifford. He would stay over at our house, and I would stay at theirs at least four days out of the week. We were together all the time. I couldn't bear being away from him for more than a few hours.

As much as I enjoyed the feeling of being in love, I realized the danger in it. In a mere month and a half, Michael and the boys would be back to Australia. I would begin school again. We'd be apart always. I was still unsure in how I would function without him, but I decided to push it out of my mind for the time being. After all, it was still seven weeks away. It wasn't like it was tomorrow.

I climbed into the passenger seat, beside Michael, and turned up the radio, blaring Sublime.

"Well, glad you could make it, princess," Michael joked, smirking.

I rolled my eyes. "Shut up. Let's just go."

Michael pulled out onto the road and headed in the direction of the beach. We all rolled down our windows and turned the radio even louder, all singing along to Santeria.

***

Although the ride lasted an hour, it seemed to go by much faster. We passed the time with various bands like Smashing Pumpkins, Queen, Sex Pistols, and even a little Mayday Parade. Halfway through the drive, we began hearing light snores from the backseat.

"Is Ashton asleep?" Michael giggled.

I unbuckled my seatbelt and turned around to look. "Yep." He was sprawled out across the seat, his head resting on his hands.

Michael tugged on my hand, pulling me to rest on his shoulder over the armrest in the center.

"This is totally illegal." I said jokingly.

"I don't care." Michael kissed my forehead. He untangled his hand from mine and began pushing buttons on the radio until some CD began playing. The song Thunder by Boys Like Girls hummed through the speakers as Michael's hand locked with mine again. "I was gonna give this to you some other time, but I couldn't wait. I wanna be with you when you hear it."

I furrowed my eyebrows. "Give me what?"

"This. It's a mixtape that I made for you." He smiled.

I felt my cheeks burn 300 shades of red. "You didn't!"

"I did!"

"You're the sweetest in the whole world." I grinned widely. 

"I know, I know," he replied. "And, uh, there was something I kinda wanted to do when I gave this to you, so I guess I'll go ahead and do that now."

"What is it?"

"Well, we've been seeing each other for awhile now, right?"

A small smile formed on my face in realization as to what he was gonna do. "Yeah.."

"And you know how I said.. that I wanted to wait awhile before committing, right?"

I nodded.

"Well, I think we've waited long enough, and I don't think I can wait one more day. Lia, will you be my girlfriend?" 

"Did you even have to ask?" I beamed. He turned to me, also smiling, and pressed his lips to mine for a moment before I pulled away. "You're driving. Wait until we get there."

Michael sighed. "Fine."

"That was the cutest thing I've ever seen." A voice said from behind us.

I jumped up and shrieked. "Jesus Christ, we thought you were sleeping!"

"I'm not Jesus Christ, I'm Ashton." He giggled. "And I was sleeping, but I woke up."

"How much did you hear?" Michael asked.

"Well, I think I woke up when you told her about the mixtape. I didn't wanna ruin anything, so I didn't move or talk or whatever."

"Thanks for not ruining it, Ash." I chuckled. 

"Anytime!" He chirped. "It was adorable. I couldn't even if I wanted to."

Michael grinned and I blushed lightly. "I know we are." Michael leaned over and kissed my temple.

We were left in silence other than Green Day for the remaining minutes of the ride. Michael turned down a small road that ended in nothing but sand. Anna's car was the only thing around other than ocean and rocks. I saw my sister lying on a towel tanning while the boys were running around in the sand. There was a large stereo beside Anna that was blaring 80s pop music.

Calum noticed our arrival as we pulled up beside Anna's car, and he, Luke, and Beau rushed over to meet us.

"It took you long enough! Damn!" Luke cried. "You and Mike didn't stop for a quickie, did you?"

I rolled my eyes. "No! I had to get clothes. Why does everyone think we're fucking?"

"Leave my girlfriend alone guys, god." Michael said as he came around the car, wrapping an arm around me.

"Girlfriend?" Beau asked sternly.

I glared at him. "Yes, Beau."

He took a deep breath. "Fine. Happy for ya, sis." He pulled me into a hug before glancing over to Michael. "Be good to her, or I'll kill you. She's all I've got."

"Wouldn't dream of treating her any differently." I noticed Michael smiling, as if my brother's approval meant the world to him.

"Okay, can we go play volleyball now? We've been waiting for you guys to get here." Calum interrupted.

"Woo! Volleyball!" Ash cried, running down the beach, with Luke, Calum, and my brother following. I laughed softly to myself. Michael pecked my lips once before taking my hand and running after his friends, pulling me along.