thunder -- michael clifford

chapter thirteen

>> thirteen.

"So wait a second," I began as Michael drove down the street. He'd dropped me off at my house for awhile, to allow me to get ready for our day, then came back to pick me up. "how'd you find out my birthday, anyway?"

He grinned. "Your brother. He'd been talking about how excited he was that Karly was gonna come in for his birthday for the past week, and it wasn't that hard to put together that if you two were twins, your birthday was the same day his was."

"Ahhh. Damn."

"I don't know why it's such a problem, though!"

"I just didn't want you to have to worry about getting me anything or doing anything for me!"

He chuckled. "Love, do you really think I wouldn't want to get you something or take you out for your birthday? I want to! I want to be able to spend your birthday with you and make it the best and most memorable day of your entire life."

I smiled at him and took his hand that was resting on the armrest between us. "You're perfect. Really. But, everyday with you is the best day of my entire life."

He pulled my hand up and kissed it softly. "But you don't even know. Today is going to be so fantastic that you won't even remember anything else."

"Will you tell me what your plans are, now?"

Michael sighed. "Fine. You're into the whole 90s alternative scene or whatever, right?"

"It's my favorite."

"Okay, so there's this concert tonight at the Wiltern, and Everclear, Live, Filter, and Sponge are performing. So, I got tickets to that. And right now, I'm taking you to the park, then to dinner, then the show. And after that, I thought we'd stay out all night and do crazy shit that's pointless and stupid just so I could spend more time with you, then we'd go to breakfast at 4am, then you could come back to mine, or I'd take you home, whichever one."

"Holy shit. This is perfect. You're perfect. Oh my god. Fuck, I'm seeing Filter."

"We're seeing Filter. I heard about it from Anna, down at the studio one day, and I knew you said you were into that kind of music, so I thought it'd be perfect. When I got the tickets, I actually didn't even know it was on your birthday, then I found out from Beau. And it made everything even better. So I decided  to just add some other little things to make the day perfect."

"I don't think today could get any better. I'm fucking stoked." I grinned widely.

"Good. Hey, here's the park I was looking for." He said as he pulled into a parking spot. The two of us got out of the car, and Michael took my hand and lead me over to a swingset. He and I sat down in two swings next to each other as we watched the young kids play on a playground nearby.

I giggled. "I remember being that small. Beau and I used to go to this park near our house, Holliday Park, all the time. It was so pretty. As a kid, it was the most amazing place in the whole world."

Michael just sat there, smiling at me.

"I was so happy then. I didn't know what it felt like to be sad or anxious of brokenhearted. The world was beautiful and I was beautiful and everyone and everything was beautiful. I giggled at everything and kissed everyone I met because no one or nothing could ever hurt me. I didn't have a care in the world." 

I looked over to see my boyfriend, staring at me lovingly. 

"What?" I chuckled.

"I just love listening to you. I don't know. You make me happy. Like every little thing you do makes me smile, even if I feel like crying or punching a brick wall, just the mention of your name calms me. Your existence gives me comfort. Is that weird?"

"Not at all. I'm the same way. You give me peace of mind. And I can't ever remember a time when I was as happy as I am with you."

"Not even when you were young, playing at that playground you just told me about?"

I shook my head. "Not even then."

"You don't realize how fantastic that makes me feel. To know that I can give the most beautiful, most amazing girl in the entire world even the slightest bit of happiness is everything I strive for."

I blushed violently. "You really know how to sweet-talk a girl, huh?"

"Only the girl I love." Michael's smile faded quickly and his eyes grew twice their size. I could see he was mentally cursing himself for letting those words slip out of his mouth.

I looked down at my feet for a moment. Did I love him? Was that even a question? Of course I did. I was completely head over heels for the guy. It had taken all of my strength not to let it slip myself. When wishing him goodnight, when telling him goodbye, when even sitting on my own couch next to him doing nothing but breathing, I'd long to utter those words. Michael, I love you. I love you, I love you, I love you.

"I, uh, I'm sorry, Lia. I didn't mean to say that.. I mean, I meant it, but, um... You don't have to, uh-"

I reached out to grab his hand. "Hush, Michael. I love you, too."

His face erupted into the biggest grin I'd ever seen. "Honest? I mean, you don't have to say it just because I did. No pressure, really."

"I promise. I love you to the moon and back, and I don't care that I'm only 18, I can't imagine my life without you, Michael Clifford. I love you."

Michaell pulled my hand, causing the swing to move and me to end up at his side. He leaned in and kissed me softly. "Good. But, I love you more."