This Year's Love // Michael Clifford

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

Brittany Dawson

I stare at my reflection in the long mirror, examining the outfit I picked out for today. You see, Michael invited Becca and I over for Ashton's birthday. Apparently, we'd just be swimming, eating food, and just hanging out in general.

I was nervous, though. Why? You ask. Well, today would be the first day I'd be meeting Michael's other friends (Luke and Calum). It was odd that I hadn't met them in the four and a half weeks that they've been here, but I hadn't. And I'm not entirely sure as to why I'm nervous to meet them. I'm just scared they won't accept me, I guess.

I chose a simple outfit, much different than my normal style. Since we are going swimming, I decided on a simple, floral romper over my swimsuit, paired with a pair of black flip flops. A bit more girly than I usually dress, but I didn't mind it so much since it's comfortable.

"Hey, you ready?" Becca asks, stepping into my room and swinging the ring of her car keys around her finger.

"Yeah." I nod, grabbing my phone.

We both make our way to her car, making sure to lock the door of our shared home first. I immediately plug my phone up to the aux chord, ready to get the tunes going on this short, fifteen minute drive.

"Hey, what do you know about Michael's band?" Becca asks out of nowhere.

"Not much," I answer. "Just the basics, like their band roles and names. Why?"

"Let me rephrase that," she says, "What can you tell me about Calum?"

"Calum?" I repeat. "Uh, he's the bassist, he's like twenty, he's unconvincingly single."

"Okay, and what do you mean by unconvincingly?" Becca questions.

I stare at the side of her head. "Michael said that he's been seeing this girl but he won't tell any of them about her, including her name. In fact, a lot like you've been with me over your mystery guy."

"Yeah, about that," she trails off.

"What?" I groan. "You're not pregnant are you?"

"Ew, no," Becca protests, scrunching up her nose. "It's just that, well, erm, I may or may not know who Calum's secret lady is."

"There's only one way to go about that, Becca," I state. "You either know or you don't."

"What would you do if I told you that I'm Calum's mystery girl," she renders.

My mouth drops open. "You're shitting me, right?"

"No?"

I slap her arm. "Oh my God, Becca. Why'd you keep this from me?"

"We just didn't want to let anyone know until we figured things out for ourselves," she says.

"Figure what out?" I exclaim.

"Until we knew if we'd make it as a couple or not."

"And now?"

"We're trying it out," Becca says, "being a couple."

"Wait, so you mean to tell me that you've been seeing Calum behind my back for as long as Michael and I've been friends?" I ask, obviously bewildered.

"Kinda?" she questions.

I throw my head against the seat, groaning, "You totally suck right now."

"I'm sorry!" she whines. "I just didn't want you to be clueless when we got there and Calum was being all touchy with me."

"Woah, you guys get touchy?" I wiggle my eyebrows.

"You're repulsive."

"You know, everyone keeps telling me that, but I don't see it."

/////

"Did Becca tell you about Calum?" Michael whispers in my ear as we sat across from the two.

"Yes." I nod. "Super weird."

"Agreed."

At that time, Ashton walked in the room. Everyone chanted Happy birthday!, all of us taking our turns to give him hugs (besides Becca, who had yet to meet him).

"I can't believe you're twenty-fucking-two, man," Michael says.

"Me either," Ashton says.

We then all decide to venture outside to the pool. Calum and Michael take to the barbecue, while Becca and I sit out on the lounge chairs. Luke and Ashton jump in the pool almost immediately, gaining curses from Becca and I for getting us wet.

"I can't believe you're going out with Calum," I say, sliding my knock-off Ray Bans over my eyes.

"And I can't believe you're not dating Michael yet," she retorts, doing the same and pulling her sunglasses down over her eyes.

"I don't like him like that," I lie.

"And I'm turned off by Dylan O'Brien," she claims. "You and I both know that what you just said is complete and utter bullshit."

I ignore her comment, not wishing to push the subject further. Mostly because I wasn't sure about my feelings towards Michael. I like him as a friend, definitely, but I don't know if I'd ever be willing to risk more.

"Food's 'bout done," Calum hollers over to us.

"Already?" I ask.

"Fantastic! I'm starving!" Ashton exclaims, climbing out of the pool.

I had to tear my eyes away. He is super hot, no doubt about it, but he's Michael's best friend. That's like a no-zone basically.

"Hey," Michael says, appearing in front of me with two paper plates piled with food in his hands.

"Thanks," I say, grabbing for the offered plate.

Everyone gathered around with their food. We all ate and enjoyed the barbecue, cracking jokes. They were mostly made on Calum's behalf, being either dirty or racist. Becca slapped his arm multiple times.

Around four-thirty, we all gathered back inside since it began to drizzle. Apparently the guys already gave Ashton his gifts before we got there, so we skipped that whole bit and went straight to the birthday cake (well, cherry cheesecake because that's what Ashton requested).

"It's kinda weird," Ashton speaks up, "how you know a lot about us and where we're from and what we're all about, yet we know hardly anything about you two."

"What would you like to know, birthday boy?" I joke, taking a drink from the chocolate milk I begged Michael to make me.

"Are you guys from here in St. Louis? Or?" he asks.

"No, we're actually from a small town about an hour and a half from here," I answer. "We just moved up here after we graduated high school."

I told Michael most of the answers to the questions that Ashton was bound to ask. I figured Becca also told Calum since they're dating and all. Nonetheless, I still responded to Ashton's (and sometimes Luke's) questions.

"Are you in college?"

"No," Becca scoffed. "We just have a job at this really cool CD and record shop."

"That's where I met B," Michael inputs, throwing his arm over my shoulder.

I lean into him, sinking into the plush couch even more. I kind of wanted to stay there forever. Not just because I was cuddled up to Michael, but the couch was also way more comfortable than mine and Becca's.

"Aw, you guys are so cute," Calum coos.

"Fuck off," Michael snaps.

"Who's up for a scary movie?" Luke asks, jumping up from his spot beside Ashton on the love seat.

"No," Becca says.

"Yes," Calum adds.

"The Conjuring?"

"No!" Becca and I yell at the same time.

"Oh, yes."