Boy Next Door (Michael Clifford)

Chapter 1: The Night Of The All Time Low CD

Chapter 1: The Night Of The All Time Low CD

“Come on, Ev, I’m bored,” Michael whined, as he flicked one last scrap of paper into my hair.

“Stop it, give me five more minutes. I have to finish this.” It was a Tuesday and I was writing an outline for my speech class when Michael came over asking to go for a drive with him. Since he got his license a few days ago, that’s all he ever wanted to do.

“Okay, finished.” I clicked save and spun around in my chair to look at him.

"Finally," he got up from my bed and dragged me through my house and across our lawns to his car. We’ve been neighbors since my family moved from America to a little town called Quakers Hill in Australia when I was in 7th grade.

“Where are you taking me?” I asked after he started the car.

 “Just around,” he smirked. He wasn’t a bad driver but he also isn’t afraid of breaking the rules, which made me nervous. I always find myself gripping my seatbelt when he’s driving.

 After four songs played on the radio, we stopped in front of the little strip mall. He is so predictable. We only ever go to two places: the frozen yogurt shop and the book store. Unless he’s dragging me to hear his band practice at their drummer Ashton’s house.

 So here we were at the used book store and, as usual, we go straight to the music section, looking through albums and CDs. There’s never much variety and there’s rarely anything new, so when there is something new, we’re always the first to catch it.

 “Yes! Look what I found,” Michael exclaimed from just a few feet away. He held up All Time Low’s CD “Don’t Panic,” which neither of us had yet. Ever since I played them for him when we first met, he’s been obsessed. “We’re getting it, let’s go.”

 I laughed and followed him to the register to pay. “I can’t believe someone would just give this away.”

 “Oh, come on, Mikey, they’re not even that good,” I joked.

 “Don’t say that,” he glared at me.

 He played the album in the car and we drove around for a while before stopping in front of the beach. A few surfers were still out there even though it’s getting dark and there are hardly any waves.

 “I love them so much,” he said quietly as he leaned his head back and closed his eyes, the music still playing. His infatuation with this band was humorous to me.

 “You are so welcome that I shared them with you, then,” I said, still trying to take credit for it.

 “Shhh, this is a good song,” he said after listening to “Outlines” halfway through. He started the song over, turned it up, and got out of the car to lay on the hood. I did the same, our arms touching so we wouldn't be too close to the edge.

 “I want to be this band.”

 “Michael, shut up, you’re ruining them for me.” He sometimes pretends to obsess over them just to annoy me. This is one of those times.

 He chuckled and started to play with my hand, which I thought was totally innocent at first, until I felt his eyes burning a hole in the side of my face. I turned to look at him and his lips caught mine. Shocked, I sat still for a moment and then kissed him back. 

 Kissing him made me feel light-headed. His hands left trails of goose bumps on my sides. The back of his neck warmed my cold fingertips. We made out until the song ended. He asked what time it was and I pulled out my phone to see it was already past 8pm, and since it was a school night, my curfew was at 9. “We have to go,” I said.

 He rolled his eyes and muttered, “goody-two-shoes,” referring to my habit of obeying my parents.

 “Shut up,” I pushed his chest, and he didn't even budge. He just laughed and slowly rolled off the hood and back into the car.

 The drive home seemed so quick I hardly had time to wonder whether or not our silence was awkward.

 “I’ll text you later, Eva,” he squeezed my hand, and then we got out of the car and left to our separate houses.

I hadn’t thought about him that way in a long time. Of course I had a crush on him when I met him. Everyone has a crush on Michael at some point in her life, it was normal. He was so charming, you know, the literal boy next door. But we were always just friends. Maybe it was just the lighting and the music, but maybe we truly were into each other. Right now, I couldn’t tell. 

After letting my dad know that I was home, I went straight to bed with my phone under my pillow, as usual.

Michael: Yoooo

Me: I couldnt help but notice you left the cd in your car

Michael: Dammit

Michael: Go get it for me

Me: No way im already in bed

Michael: Pleeeeease

Me: But im tired

Michael: Nice to meet you tired im michael

Me: Youre an idiot

Michael: No im michael

Me: Night mikey

Michael: No its mICHAEL 

Michael: Fine getting it myself

Michael: But your not allowed to borrow it

Michael: Im just kidding dont be mad

Michael: Ok i guess you fell asleep

Michael: Night babe

HE CALLED ME BABE. Okay, Eva, chill. He calls you that all the time, remember?

I still had a feeling what happened tonight was just a one time thing. Since I dated his best friend Luke last year, wouldn’t this be breaking bro-code or something? But we only dated for a few months, and it didn’t end badly or anything like that. I was over thinking this. Luke probably has nothing to do with it, because Michael probably doesn’t even like me anyway. And I don’t even know if I like him.

 Fuck, maybe I do like him. He is a really good kisser. Fuck.

~~~~~~~~

Author's note: My knowledge of the Australian eduaction system is limited.. sorry if I ever mess things up. Also, her name is pronounced "eh-vuh", not "eee-vuh" or "ay-vuh", if that makes sense.