Rose attempts to keep her head down so Michael won’t notice her, but seeing as there is a total of five people in the shop, she has no luck. They lock eyes and his seem to light up. “Hey, what are you doing here?” his voice is full of shock.
“I work here.” She states trying to brush off the conversation. Luke, Ashton, and Calum look between the pair with confused expressions. “Why are you here?”
“I uh um well,” he stammers over his words both flustered by her and the on looking crowd. “Music, it helps.” Though he doesn’t say it, she knows what he means. Rose nods her head.
“Yea, me too.” She waves her arms around gesturing to the store with a small smile. Michael and Calum start to look around the numerous aisles of music quietly conversing.
“Uh who was that?” Luke wonders, watching Rose back at work.
“Michael,” she states as if it’s common knowledge.
“Oh is that the new guy you were mumbling about last night? What did you call him? Damn attractive?” Luke smirks knowing he said it loud enough for Michael to overhear.
“Lucas Robert!” she hisses at him. He chuckles at her embarrassment.
“What? Ok, ok.” Luke backs away with his hands up. “I’m leaving! I’ll pick you up later!” With that the blonde boy is out the door, leaving Rose alone in the store with Ashton, Michael and Calum. She finishes sorting the CD’s and wanders back over to the cash register to sit next to Ashton.
“How are you doing?” he asks awkwardly. Rose and Ashton used to have a thing, but it fizzled out as fast as it started.
“Um alright I guess. You?” their idle conversation is paused momentarily by Michael and Calum approaching. Michael places three CD’s on the counter; Green Day, Metallica, and Nirvana. “Wow. Your music taste is perfect.” The words slip from her mouth before she can grab them.
“Thanks,” Michael chuckles. He slides his money to Ashton who punches buttons and returns the change with an air of attitude. “Are you going to tell me your name?”
“Like I said, come to the meeting and find out.” Michael sighs, knowing now he has to go. He has to know more about the girl with the neon pink hair.
“So that guy is a, um has,” Ashton stumbles over his words attempting to reignite the conversation with Rose.
“Yes, Ashton. He is an alcoholic. He just started coming to meetings.” Her addiction was what drove Ashton away in their relationship. He never knew how to handle it when she drank. They lasted all of three months.
“Right. How’s that going?”
“I relapsed,” Rose hugs her sweater closer to her body while her voice goes uncharacteristically quiet.
“Oh,” is his only uttered phrase. Unknown to Rose, Ashton was just scared for her more than anything. He was fearful of saying the wrong thing and upsetting her. The day progressed slowly, like time being watched. But it kept Rose busy. On her way home she thought about Michael. She wanted to know all about him. What made him laugh, why he drank, his favorite food, everything. Back at home Rose began packing, knowing there was no way she was getting out of staying at Luke’s.
“You gonna tell me who that girl was?” Calum grills Michael on the way back to their apartment.
“Just a girl I met at the meeting yesterday.”
“Just a girl? Dude you were basically drooling when you overheard that guy say she called you attractive!” Calum laughs.
“Shut up man!” Michael shoves his friend’s shoulder. They pull into a spot in the parking lot and walk up three flights of stairs to their door. “FIFA?” Michael suggests.
“Duh! But way to change the subject, this isn’t over I can tell you like her!”
“I don’t even know her!”
“So? Another reason to keep going to the meetings and get better.” Calum was right. Michael knew it, but he wasn’t ready to admit it.
just cause I'm procrastinating :) So yea, what do you guys think of Michael and Rose so far? Comment a ship name for them! xo -Rachel
![drunk // m.c [a.u]](https://img.wattpad.com/cover/15213454-64-k963407.jpg)