There was 3 hours until Anna's birthday party, and I still didn't know why I was going to wear. We had decided on a small party with just our closest friends. We had everything set up in the beach house that we rented for the weekend, now all that needed to be done was everyone to get there. Luke had taken Anna out so we could suprise her, and I'm super excited to see her reaction. It was pretty hard keeping this all a secret from her because she's a really nosey person and always has to know what's going on, but I'm almost positive she has no idea what's happening.
I was frantically searching through my closet for something to wear but had no luck. We had agreed that it was nothing super fancy, just casual, but I knew that the other girls would dress up at least a little, even if they were told not to. Miranda had chosen a slightly flowy black dress and her infamous doc martens with her hair braided back, and Emily had on a floral skater skirt with a lace crop top and sandles. I was pretty proud of how well I had straightened her hair, to say the least. We had dressed Anna in a black and white trible romper with lace up boots and a leather jacket. Having pretty bestfriends is a curse and a blessing for sure.
In the end I decided on a pair of light wash high waisted ripped jeans and a grey crop top with a flanned around my waist. Once I was done getting ready, I hurried down stairs to meet my overly excited friends so we could get to the beach house on time.
"Hi guys." I huffed throwing my converse on the counter.
"Hi Ella" They said together. They both had their
faces glue to their phones, so I didn't bother trying to talk to them at the moment. I poured myself some water and scooted onto one of the stools.
Miranda looked up from her phone and smiled at me. "You look ravishing." She said over dramatically. Look who's talkin miss perfect pants.
"Oh please, you both look stunning." I laughed. They both had their hair nicely done, mine was thrown messily into a bun.
They both blushed a thank you and started getting their stuff together.
"Wait, I thought we didn't need to leave for another hour?" I asked.
"No, we need to pick up the cake and some balloons. Ya comin?" asked Emily.
"Yeah." I slipped on my shoes and grabbed my bag.
We thought it would be funny to make Anna's cake something really weird, just like her, so we went with a cake shaped as a ostrich, because that seems to be how she walks.
I was really thankful that Miranda and Emily hadn't brought up anything about my weight loss because I honestly wouldn't know what to say. I could tell there was sw tension between us, though.
"What do you think Luke took Anna to do?" Miranda asked.
"He took her to his parents house, he told calum and calum told me." Enily smiled. "I swear they're so cute togehter."
"Almost as cute and you and Calum." I winked playfully at the small girl next to me. Emily blushed and looked down in embarrassment.
"We are really cute aren't we." Emily giggled looking up. "We're just the cutest couple ever!" She screamed. People stared at her, including Miranda and I. Enily was usually so quiet and reserved, this was a true act of love.
We all laughed as we put the ostrich shaped cake in the trunk and hopped into the car.
Once we got the balloons, we made out way to the beach house. It was a decent size and over looked the beach perfectly. We met Calum, Michael and Ashton there and began to set up.
"Why are we even doing this?" Ashton huffed and he finished putting the "happy 20th birthday" sign up.
"Because we love Anna, stop complaining." Mirada giggled, lightly smacking her boyfriends butt. Ashton made a sound that resembled a little girl and kissed her cheek. "I love you." He emphasized.
Calum and Emily were blowing up balloons and I was left with the painful job of setting up the food. Everybody noticed how hesitant I was to accepting the job, but brushed it off.
Once everything was finished, we plopped onto the couches and engaged in conversation until Luke texted us that they were here.
All day today I had pushed this feeling of emptiness aside and I was truely happy to be surrounded by my friends. But I knew that if I stayed quiet too long the sinking feeling in my stomach would creep up on me again. As Ilye feeling began, I sunk further I to the couch and focused on the things that make me most happy in life, but the only thing that popped into my mind when I thought of happiness was Michael.
-
"Luke's here! Finally, it only took him 2 hours!" Calum exclaimed.
"Okay get ready everyone!" Emily squealed. It's cute how excited she gets.
We all got behind the couch after we switched off the lights. We could hear Luke unlocking the door and Anna askin what's going on. You would think she got the hint.
"Suprise!" We yelled after the door was open. Anna fell back onto luke and screamed.
"What the fuck you guys!? How did I not know this was gona happen? I know everything!" Anna laughed as she hugged us.
"We're good at keeping secrets." Miranda shrugged.
"Well played Luke. Going to dinner with your family." Anna muttered. "I'm hoping you guys got me food?" She asked, tripping as she made her way to the kitchen. After getting lost and running into a few walls, she made it to the kitchen and saw the ostrich cake.
We all started laughing like crazy when she started crying, that's when I realize t friends make me the happiest.
-
"Why have you been so quiet Michael?" I asked.
"I can ask the same to you." He muttered in response. It's true, we've both been really quiet all night.
"I asked first."
"Just thinking." Michael laughed at my sassy comment. Everyone was currently either talking or cleaning, an michael and I ended up sitting next to eachother.
"What are you thinking about?" I was genuinely curious, Michael was hardly ever this quiet.
Michael laughed nervously while scratching the back of his neck.
"Guys it's late, let's head off to bed." Anna yawned, causing me to yawn.
"Okay. Anna an Luke can share the big room because it's Anna's birthday." Miranda winked. "And Emily and Calum can have the room right there," She pointed to a slightly smaller room across the hall, "ashton and I can take the small room in the back and-" Miranda looked around awkwardly and sighed. "Michael and Ella you're sharing the pullout bed on the couch goodnight." Everyone rushed to their planned destination like it was planned.
"Well." Michael laughed. "You don't mind sharing a bed with me do you? Or do I smell?"
I crinkled my nose, "you smell." I lauged. "No Im kidding, let's do this." The pullout bed was right infront of the glass door overlooking the beach, so that would be the first thing I see when I wake up.
Michael and I awkwardly shuffled around on the slightly small bed a bit before getting comfortable facing eachother.
"So, I was actually thinking about you."
WHATTTTTTTTTT THIS SUCKS SORRY IM TIRED
I got the beach house idea bc I was just staying at one in Oregon lul
anyway whatever I'll try to make the next chapter decent
YOU ARE READING
strike a pose ||| michael clifford
Fanfiction"behind every pose was a insecurity and behind every photoshoot was more hatred she had for herself"
