Masquerade (Michael Clifford)

Chapter 8

It's Sunday now, three days after the All Time Low Concert, and three days since I snuck out with Michael. On Friday in school Michael kept winking at me in the halls, and I figured out we have two classes together, Trigonometry and Physics. He doesn't talk much during them, he sits in the back, in a corner and goes on his phone.

"Do you think I should get a job? I mean, I love when Michael and my friends buy me things, but I can't help but feel guilty for taking the money they worked for. I'll probably be waitress, ooh ooh or a clerk at Hot Topic! I'd love to work at Hot Topic because, ya know, employee discount! But seriously, do you think I should get a job or not?" Ariana finally finished off her ramble. She looked at me, head slightly tilted with wide eyes. We are in my room, sitting on my bed. I had invited her over to give her back her clothes, but its been three hours and she still hasn't left. Not that I minded though, it was nice having new company over.

"I guess if you want to. I can see where you're coming from about the money. I don't want to live off of my brother and his girlfriend's money all of my life. Maybe we can job hunting together!" I said with a smile. She squealed and nodded her head.

"So the Prom slash Masquerade is in two weeks! Who are you going with?" she asked.

"Oh, I'm not going. Who are you going with?" I asked the girl bouncing on my bed.

"Oh! I'm going with my boyfriend! He asked me a couple days ago. In a song too! It was so cute! He is so cute! He played the guitar and it was like really cheesy. But a cute cheesy ya know?" she said bouncing still. My eyes widened.

"You have a boyfriend! And you didn't tell me?" I said putting my hands on her shoulders to get her to stop bouncing. She did, but then her eyes widened.

"Oh shit." she said.

"Yeah 'Oh shit'! This is a big deal!" I said raising my hands, only to put them down to get my phone out of my pocket because it was vibrating.

"Well, no one actually knows we're together. Well besides Michael and I guess now you. But you don't know who he is so I guess that's ok. So yeah." she said fidgeting with her fingers. I unlocked my phone to see that I had a text from Michael. We exchanged numbers the day he drove me to school.

Michael Clifford:

hey bestest friend ever. do you wanna maybe hang out later. with me of course.

"Woah, ok. Um, don't you think that's a little bogus? I mean you're hiding your relationship from people. Wouldn't you want people to know you're together?" I asked her. She frowned a little and began fidgeting with her fingers more.

Me:

sure! what time, and where will we be going?

"Well, we're hiding it because...because, just because." she said letting out a sigh. I frowned at my new friend. I kinda felt bad for her. She couldn't show acknowledgment to her own boyfriend until they were alone. That's kind of sad don't you think?

Michael Clifford:

mmm i don't know yet, we can go to the park? i was kind of hoping you would think of something. aannnd is 6 ok?

"Alright. If you don't want to tell me it's fine. It's your life and you can do whatever you want with it." I told her with a small smile.

Me:

park it is! 6 is fine c: are you coming here or should I meet you there?

"I wanna tell you but it's, I don't know, weird? But I promise I'll tell you one day. Friends tell each other everything right?" she asked with a big smile.