firsts ➳ clifford A.U

prologue.

"Luke's here!" McKenna squealed, jumping up and down. She grabbed my arm and pulled me to the edge of the locker room hallway. We peaked our heads over the side, and sure enough, Luke Hemmings and his friends were sitting in the middle of bleachers. I sighed, and walked back to the end of the hallway. Why they were here for the volleyball game, I had no idea.

McKenna and I were both on Tinley High's volleyball team; how I made the team would never be known. I sucked. Which is why Coach Megan always had me sit out. But McKenna was really good. She was tall, so she could hit the ball, and she could run fast. I, on the other had, was short and hated running with a firey passion. So I respected the decision to have me sit out every game.
"Does my hair look okay?" McKenna asked, fluffing her reddish blonde ombré hair.
"It looks great, Ken," I said. She peaked her head of the side of the wall again, and came back squealing.

"Oh my God! He looked at me and waved!"

"That's great, Ken," I said, not really paying attention. McKenna had the hugest crush on Luke Hemmings; she had since freshman year when he helped her find her locker on the first day. McKenna was always talking about all the cute things Luke had done during class, and honestly, it made me want to gag.

"What's wrong, Hailes?" she asked, coming over to me.

"Just nervous," I lied

.
"Bullshit," she laughed. "You don't play, so you have nothing to be nervous about."

"Okay, girls!" Coach Megan called, clapping her hands. The fourteen of us--fourteen because I didn't play, and the water girl, Kacey, was considered part of the team--gathered in a huddle.

"Now, we're going to beat the Wolves to death! Get out their and make me proud!" We put our hands in the middle of the circle, did the chant, and ran out to the court. The gym erupted into cheers, only a few boos came from the Wolves fans. McKenna and I stood off to the side, bouncing a ball between us. She bounced it to me, and gave a flirty wave to Hemmings. I rolled my eyes and sighed, bouncing the ball back to her.

"What?!" she screeched, a smile on her pink lips.
"You're disgusting with this flirting," I told her. She giggled.
"Why do you think they're here?" she asked, closing the space between us. I held the ball between my arm and side and she whispered in my ear.

"Hmm, I don't know. A bunch of girls walking around in super short shorts. Why, oh why would Luke Hemmings and his friends be here?" I asked, walking to the other side and throwing the ball at her.
"Shut up! He's not like that, Hailey."

"I know, I know. He's a sweet, genuine guy who would be the best boyfriend in the world. Blah, blah blah, blah blah."

She threw the ball at me and it hit me in the face. "Hey!" I screamed.
"Sorry," she laughed. I looked up for a brief moment, and saw two of Luke's friends, Calum and Michael, laughing at me. I scowled.

"You're making your boyfriend's friends laugh at me," I stated.
"He's not my boyfriend," McKenna said, crossing her arms over her chest. "Yet." She smirked. I rolled my eyes and the whistle blew.

"Play like the karate kid," I told her, giving her a high five as I took my spot on the bench. The bench was in front of the bleachers, in the middle. Unfortunately, the spot right in front of Luke Hemmings and his friends.

"That ball just came out of no where," someone said in to my ear, a hint of humor in their voice. I turned and came face to face with Michael Clifford. I rolled my eyes. "Now I understand why you never play."

"How would you know that I never play? Are you stalking me?" I asked, annoyed with him already.
"I wasn't aware coming to a school function you just so happened to be a part of was considered stalking, Hailey," he said, smirking. I rolled my eyes. "Besides, we usually come to all of the games. Luke makes us."

"I wasn't aware that Luke had control of you," I said, smiling tightly. His smirk never faultered.

"Well, it's not like I'm one to pass up an oportunity to see girls wearing practically nothing. I mean, those short shorts? Those tight shirts? Come on, half the male population of this school is here."

"You disgust me." I turned back around, and watched as McKenna spiked a ball effortlessly.

"Besides," he said in my ear. "Luke has a thing for your friend."

"Great," I muttered, closing my eyes and leaning my head back.

"Hi there," a guy said, laughing a little. My eyes popped open, and I saw Ashton looking down at me. I realized that I had leaned my head back on his knee.

"Oh, sorry," I said, abruptly sitting my head up. I could feel my face heating up. I heard Michael laugh, and I rolled my eyes.

This would be a long game. Why did they have to be here? Why did Luke Hemmings and his stupid friends insist on coming to my volleyball game? More importantly Why did Luke Hemmings have a crush on my friend? I mean I knew that McKenna had always ahd a thing for Luke but I always had thought feelings between the two were unrequitted. I just secretly hoped McKenna and Luke didn't date because I wouldn't be able to take dealing with Michael. He's pretty much the downside to Luke.

Michael was loud, obnoxious, perverted, and sexist. All things my mother told me to resent in men. Especially in preteen boys. Which was a sign that I needed to stay away from this Michael Clifford kid. Michael also changed his hair color more frequently than I changed clothes. Today the color Michael was sporting was blonde with some brown. Which, I will admit isn't the worst hair choice Clifford's made in a while.

The bottom line is, I didn't like Luke and I didn't like his friends. Ashton was cocky. He thought he was some chick magnet just because he'd managed to sleep with Lauren Grant, a senior when he was just a freshman. Calum Hood thought he was better than anyone because he was good at soccer. Luke I'd never had a problem with. He was probably the one out of this group that I could actually tolerate.

"And then, this girl was going down on me during bio and Mr. Giamana just completely ignored me. He was like yeah Michael, you're the man."

I turned around disgusted by Michael's obviously untrue story,

"I'm calling bullshit, Clifford."

Michael smirked, "You'll be the next one to do that to me, Nicholson."

I shook my head, "disgusting."

I then stuck my middle finger up at Michael. I didn't want to deal with his childish behavior. Michael wasn't even going anywhere in life. At most he'd probably work some shitty job in a salon.

"You're such a bitch Nicholson did you know that?"

I shrugged, "Thanks I take pride in that."

FIRST LOVE REWRITTEN LOL AND I WANTED TO MAKE IT A MICHAEL STORY SO YEAH HERE IT IS HOPE U LIKE IT.