thunder -- michael clifford

chapter twenty-three

>> twenty-three.

Michael's fingers fiddled around with mine as we sat on a tabletop in one of the rooms backstage. Beau, Anna, and the other boys were wandering around, doing what, I'm not sure, but they apparently wanted to leave Michael and I alone.

"You alright?" I mumbled to him.

He looked up, into my eyes, and grinned widely. "I've never been better, love."

I played with the ends of his dark red and black hair, twirling them around my fingers.

"Do you realize how happy I am?" He asked.

"I can imagine. This place is filled. You've got so many fans now, Michael."

He shook his head. "No, no. Not because of that. Because of you." His fingers released mine and made their way up to my face. He brushed a lock of hair out of my eyes and cupped my cheek in his hand. "I didn't really know how much I'd lost when I left until about two hours into the flight. But I knew how much I hurt you, so I couldn't bear to call and risk that again. I was terrified to come back here. I was so afraid I'd hurt you again. But I also realized while I was away how much I needed you, how without you, even with everything else I have, I couldn't ever be happy. And I never was. We played shows for thousands, met so many lovely people, made so much money, but none of it compared to you."

"Michael, you're seriously perfect. I thought maybe I'd be able to get over you, you know, moving on with Oliver or whatever. I mean, when you left, I didn't get out of bed for days. I don't know.. I didn't think you'd come back. I thought I was happy.. But when I saw you come in the shop yesterday... Shit. I can't even describe how I felt. Sadness, emptiness, but also I felt every feeling of love and happiness I'd ever felt with you all at once. It just drove me crazy, Mikey."

"I'm so sorry I did that to you.. I really- It wasn't my intention. I thought it was for the best. Me breaking up with you, that is. And I want you to know that you've made me the happiest I've ever been by taking me back. I didn't deserve it at all, but you gave me one more chance, and goddamn, it's the best thing that's ever happened to me."

I smiled. "You're seriously a blessing for me. I mean, you came in, made me fall for you in days, and you've made me feel like I never have. And I love every single inch of your skin, hair on your head, and every breath that leaves your lungs, Michael Clifford."

"Good. Because I'm in love with all of you, too," he said, his lips pressing against mine.

I took in his scent, cherished every second I had with him. His hands rested on my waist, and he pulled me closer as I threw my arms around his neck. He kept a tight hold on me and his lips moved carefully but urgently, as if I'd vanish any second.

"Mikey, we have to go-Whooooa, okay." A voice said from the doorway. The two of us turned around and found Luke covering his eyes. 

"We were just kissing, Luke, calm down." I giggled.

Michael jumped down from the table and grabbed my hand, pulling me along to the door.

"You know, as gross as it is and as much as you hate to admit it, I've missed this." Luke admitted, smiling.

"Me, too." Michael and I said simultaneously. 

Luke led us to a wing sidestage where Anna, Beau, Ash, and Cal were waiting.

"So, you two.." Cal said, raising his eyebrows, "Where've you been?"

"We were just talking." Michael replied, a little too quickly.

"I don't think swapping saliva is the same thing as talking, Michael." Luke said, causing Mikey and I to blush and chuckle nervously.

"Anyway, we have to go play, so let's stop focusing on the newly rekindled Mia and focus on the show." Beau said.

"Mia?" I questioned.

Ash giggled. "Yeah! Michael and Lia? Mia? Get it?"

"Aw, that's so cute." I grinned.

"Um, guys, can I talk to you for a minute?" Michael requested as he backed away from me. My face filled with confusion as Ashton, Luke, and Calum followed him and began whispering. They talked for a few minutes before their manager warned them all they had one minute.

"Come on, boys!" He cried with urgency.

"We're coming, we're coming!" Michael called. He grabbed his guitar and ran toward the stage, pressing a light kiss on my cheek. Luke whispered somehting to my brother, who nodded with a smile, before also going out with an acoustic, followed by Calum and Ashton. 

Screams erupted as the four boys stepped out onto the stage and took their places. 

"Hello, Los Angeles, we are 5 Seconds of Summer!" Luke yelled into the mic, bringing more screams. 

"Tonight we're gonna kinda switch things up a little, for someone special who is watching." Calum grinned and looked to me.

"This first song is one that, uh, I wrote about this person, while I was away. I kinda realized I made a huge mistake, but I'm happy to announce that everything has worked out, and I'm able to call her mine again. Just for tonight, we're adding it to the setlist. This one is for my beautiful girlfriend, Lia, and it's called Wherever You Are." Michael pulled a wooden stool over, and Beau carried two out for Calum and Luke. They each adjusted their mics after sitting, and Luke began strumming as the lyrics rolled off his tongue.

"For awhile, we pretended that we never had to end it, but we knew we'd have to say goodbye. You were crying at the airport when they finally closed the plane door, I could barely hold it all inside."

Michael joined in, harmonizing with Luke's voice. "Torn in two, and I know I shouldn't tell you, but I just can't stop thinking of,"

"You, wherever you are, you, wherever you are. Every night I almost call you, just to say it always will be you," All four boys sang.

"Wherever you are." As Luke finished this line, he jumped off the stool and rushed over to me. He grabbed my hand, pulling me onstage, as Calum began the second verse.

"I could fly a thousand oceans, but there's nothing that compares to what we had, and so I walk alone."

"I wish I didn't have to be gone, maybe you've already moved on, but the truth is, I don't want to know." Ash sang along. As Michael and Luke picked up again, Beau brought out a fourth wooden stool beside Michael and motioned for me to sit down. The four boys sang the chorus, and instead of Luke taking the bridge, Michael did, and he looked straight at me the entire time.

"You can we'll be together someday, but nothing lasts forever, nothing stays the same, so why can't I stop feeling this way?"

"Torn in two, and I know I shouldn't tell you, but I just can't stop thinking of-"

"You, wherever you are, you, whereve you are. Every night I almost call you, just to say it always will be you.."

"Wherever you are," Michael finished with a smile. He lifted a hand and wiped the tears away that had fallen from my eyes.

"I love you so goddamn much, Michael Clifford." I choked out, grinning.

"And I love you so goddamn much more."