This Year's Love // Michael Clifford

Chapter Four

Chapter Four

Brittany Dawson

"No!" I squeal, dashing away from Michael before he can attack me with the water hose.

"Face your fears!" Michael yells from somewhere behind me.

"I'm not afraid of a water hose," I growl, turning around and chasing Michael instead.

Just as I'm about to latch myself onto him, I slip beside the pool and fall into him instead. We both topple to the grass, me landing on top of Michael.

"I hate you," he groans, but makes no move to push me off of him.

I roll my eyes. "The feeling is mutual, Clifford the Big Red Dog."

"I super hate you," he adds.

"Did you just quote The Lego Movie?" I ask, sitting up so I was sitting on him as he was still lying down.

"Maybe." Michael smirks. "I'm impressed that you've seen it."

I scoff, "It's only the best movie ever."

"What's your favorite part?" he asks, putting his hands on my bare hips (I was in my swimsuit).

"Everything is awesome," I sing, dancing around on Michael's lap. "Everything is cool when you're party of the team."

"Everything is awesome when you're living the dream," Michael sang with me.

We both laugh, then it quickly dies down when I feel something being pressed into my thigh. I look down, then back up at a blushing Michael.

"Sorry, you, um, gave me a boner," he chuckles.

"I'm sorry." I blush, climbing off his lap and standing up.

Michael awkwardly joins me in standing up, then dismisses himself to the bathroom to fix his, uh, problem.

While he does so, I sit on the edge of the pool with my feet dangling in. I sit, leaning on my hands and letting my skin soak up some sun. So far, our second date was going swell.

"Woah, who are you?" a male voice interrupts my leisure. "And, trust me, I'd know a pretty girl like you's name."

I turn around, rolling my eyes at the sight of, obviously, one of Michael's band members. I recalled him as Ashton, the oldest member and also the drummer.

"Um, Brittany," I answer, awkwardly scooting away as Ashton sat next to me.

"Are you a friend of Calum's? He's always bringing home random girls," Ashton asks, chuckling.

"No, I'm-"

"What are you doing here?"

Ashton and I turn around, finding Michael in the doorway with two Gatorades in his hands.

"I just got here," Ashton replies.

"Oh, um, I wasn't expecting you today," Michael says, walking over and taking a seat beside me (so close our legs and arms were touching).

"I decided to come early," Ashton informs. "Mum's birthday had already passed and I had nothing better to do in Australia since the rest of you boys are already here."

Michael just ignores Ashton, handing me a blue Gatorade. I thank him, opening the bottle immediately since I was dying of thirst.

"Aren't you going to introduce me?" Ashton asks.

"Ashton, this is Brittany, my... friend," Michael says. "Brittany, this is Ashton, my annoying bandmate who should go away so we can have some alone time."

Ashton rolls his eyes and my cheeks, once again, heat up. Much to Michael's relief, Ashton gets up and makes his way into the house.

"I hope he didn't hit on you too much," Michael says, nudging my shoulder with his own.

"Nah." I shake my head. "He called me pretty, though, and asked if I was Calum's girl."

Michael groans, "I told him about you, though, and he knows you're my girl."

I bite down on my lip so the smile wanting to fall on my cheeks wouldn't. I was extremely flustered and I've only known Michael for three days (today marking our second date).

"B?" Michael speaks up after I don't reply.

"Hmm?"

"I didn't mean to call you that," he says. "My girl, I mean."

"If I'm not your girl, then who's am I?" I tease, pulling the shades on my head down over my eyes and looking up at him.

Michael shrugs. "No one's."

I turn back towards the pool, ignoring the pang in my chest when he said this. I slip my body into the clear, blue water. It comes to just above my belly button at this spot.

"I-I mean, you could be my girl," Michael stutters, "someday, if you want."

I chuckle, turning around and facing Michael. "Maybe."