The 5th Sauce | 5SOS | Michael Clifford

Chapter One: The Impetus

"I'm just going to be honest with you boys, you're in a lull."

Despite Jeremy's frank approach he had failed to get a rise out of any of the four young men before him. Calum was still strewn across the sofa, long skinny jean clad legs reaching past the sofas length. He continued tossing and catching the bouncy ball he had found without missing a beat. Ashton still stood looking vacantly out the window at busy city streets. His face seemed empty without its usual hint of a smile or humor. And Luke, who's quite aura lacked it's usually sense of life and energy, seemed more interested in the chip in the desk in front of him than what it's owner had to say. Michael, at least was looking at, or maybe through, Jeremy, though his features were all distorted from resting his cheek on his fist.

Jeremy decided to push further. "After the flop of the last album we really needed this new single to do well. Grab the audience, ya know? Well, the early reviews are in and they're nothing short of abysmal."

This placed the remnants of a spark in their eyes...almost.

"That's a bit harsh," Michael mumbled, half-heartedly.

"Yeah, well, it's the truth and, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that really surprises any of you. The fact of the matter is that your hearts just haven't been in it lately."

Jeremy looked at each of them individually. He took the lack of disagreement to mean that they knew he was right.

After a moment he sighed and pinched the bridge of his long nose, "Look guys a lull isn't always a bad thing. So what if you've hit a rough patch? Plenty of bands go through this and come out the other side stronger than ever. What you need is something to pull you out of this."

Jeremy had began walking around his desk to sit on the arm of Calum's sofa.

"An impetus. A spark."

On that last word Jeremy caught Calum's bouncy ball mid-air, causing Calum to sit up and focus on what he was saying. In fact, Jeremy had all of the boys attention now.

"An impetus?" Calum asked.

"Like what?" Ashton followed.

Jeremy paused for a second, reveling in the small amount of their interest he held, "Fresh blood."

*****

6 Months Later in a Suburban Home of Average Size and Quality

Haley let the blood rush to her head as she channel surfed. When the monotony of life had overcome her on this particular Tuesday afternoon, she thought that a change of perspective might ease her boredom. Now her legs from the knees down hung over the couch's back and her brown wavy hair pooled on the floor at the couch's feet all so that Haley could watch the channels rapidly flip by upside down. Two mom legs entered her field of view just as she began to consider a repeat episode of Cupcake Wars.

"You can't be a mindless summer zombie already. School hasn't even officially ended."

"It basically has. All that's left is the graduation ceremony and that's just for show," Haley spoke as she tried to maneuver her head to see the tv screen.

"Just for show? If you haven't done the graduation walk you are still a high schooler. Just ask Uncle Declan. He slept through his ceremony," Haley's mom laughed at the memory as she sat down next to her daughter and patted her shoulder, which was where her knee should be.

"You need to get a job or something this summer. You do weird things when you are bored." Haley's mom teased.

Haley rolled her eyes, sat up, and pushed her large glasses up her nose all in one motion. One can only take so much upside down, especially when your mom is distracting you from the sugary entertainment.

"I do not."

Haley's mom held up her hands in mock defense. "I'm not saying weird is bad. It's good to be a little odd sometimes, mix it up. Though weird for most people is normal day-to-day stuff for you."

Haley poked her elbow into her mom's side but smiled despite herself.

"What are you watching anyway?" Her mom asked.

"Cupcake Wars but it's a commercial now."

Currently, four ridiculously (in Haley's opinion) fit and attractive boys where shown in a sort of montage of clips of them playing music on stage, clips of them goofing around, and shots of crowds of girls screaming their lungs out. An overly enthusiastic voice over spoke:

"5 Seconds of Summer is looking for their newest member and it could be you! Yes, you! If you have ever dreamt of being a star now is your chance! This summer an epic competition will ensue where one lucky winner will be deemed talented, creative, and charismatic enough to be the fifth member of 5sos! And it will all be shown on national television! Apply online now at The5thSauce.com!"

The commercial ended on a shot of the boys winking at the camera.

"Oh geeez another reality show? And how cheesy was that voice over guy?" Haley's mom asked.

"Hah yeah, so cheesy." Haley responded, though secretly she reached for her laptop on the table next to the couch.

//author's note:

Hi! Thanks for reading this far, though I doubt anybody has. So I'm not sure if I'm going to be continuing with this. If anybody shows any interest I could definitely see myself getting really into it. If you have any comments or suggestions (or even just if you read this far) please comment and tell me, 'cause I'll get really excited. The story is pretty open ended right now and there's a lot of diff places I could take it soooo... idk what I'm saying anymore just please vote/comment if you want me to have incentive to continue.

xoxo

toothpasteface