Boy Next Door (Michael Clifford)

Chapter 4: How Many Apple Pie Shots Is Too Many

Chapter 4: How Many Apple Pie Shots Is Too Many

Author’s note: Back to Eva’s POV !!

The show was at a bar with a room in the back that acted as the ‘stage’. Jaycee and I were still only 17, so the bouncer drew X’s on our hands in black sharpie so the bartenders would know not to serve us. How lame. They’ve played here a couple times before, but it’s never been this crowded. Their YouTube covers definitely broadened their fanbase.

We sat at a little table off to the side and Kristina joined us after she ordered a drink at the bar. The guys came out to set up before playing and a few squeals could be heard from the audience. Luke smiled and waved to the girls in the front.

They opened with Out of My Limit, then played a cover of Teenage Dirtbag. The third song was Unpredictable, and Ashton introduced it by saying “This song is dedicated to the girls at that table over there-” he pointed to us and we shouted, he continued “-because we love them no matter how distracting they are at band practice.” They closed with Try Hard, which is probably their most popular original song.

The audience thinned out, some people stuck around to take pictures and talk to the band. We stayed back at the table and waited to go over to Ashton’s. A girl asked Michael for a picture and he kissed her on the cheek, which I’m sure made a really cute picture because I had a few on my phone just like it.

We went up to help put Ashton’s drums in the back of his mom’s minivan that he was borrowing. I heard Calum telling a few people to follow them to the party.

The party wasn’t officially starting for about an hour, so it was just us and the few people from the bar. They introduced themselves but I already forgot their names as soon as they said them. The girl that took the picture with Michael was there and I think her name is Melanie or something.

There were two kegs set up on the porch in the back and when people started showing up, they brought drinks into the kitchen. Whoever brought apple pie shots is my hero.

I don’t know how many people showed up, but it seemed like more than Ashton predicted. The music was playing from the basement and can only be faintly heard from the kitchen, which is where I was most of the night. It was the perfect spot because everyone went through there to get drinks so I got to talk to pretty much everyone I knew.

I didn’t realize how much I drank until I had to stand up to go to the bathroom. Someone was in the downstairs one so I went upstairs, saying hi to people I knew on the way there.

When I came out of the bathroom I recognized Michael’s faded blue hair. He was being backed into Ashton’s bedroom by Melanie, who was attached to him at the face. I spun around as fast as I could without falling and tried to forget what I saw, but on my way down the stairs I, literally, ran into Luke.

“Woah, Ev,” he said as he reached his arms out to steady me. “Hey, are you crying?”

I didn’t notice the tears before he wiped them away. “Um, no. I don’t know,” I said.

“Come on,” he said and grabbed my hand to lead me the couch in the living room, weaving between people. There was a couple sitting at one end of the couch and we sat at the other.

“Tell me what’s wrong,” Luke said.

“I don’t know,” I said. “I’m drunk.”

“Yeah, I can tell,” he laughed. He wasn’t nearly as drunk as me. “What happened?” He wasn’t going to let up.

“Michael and Melanie were upstairs,” I said with my eyes closed. I still wasn’t sure why I was so upset. I was just feeling emotional.

“Who’s Melanie?” he asked, confused. “Wait, you mean Melissa?”

“I don’t know her name,” I said defensively, which made him laugh, probably because I was slurring my words a bit. I brought my legs up over his lap and leaned against the armrest of the couch. I watched Luke as he people-watched and brought his lip ring between his teeth.

“Please don’t tell Michael,” I said.

“I won’t,” he said, and I mindless reached up to touch his lip ring. “What are you doing?” he asked.

“It looks like fun, maybe I’ll get mine pierced, too,” I explained.

“You should get your nose pierced,” he said.

“Yes!” I said. “You have to come with me to hold my hand though because I don’t like needles.”

“Ew, I don’t wanna hold your hand, you have cooties,” he said.

Maybe it was just the apple pie shots, but I grabbed his face and kissed him right on the mouth and said, “There. Now you have cooties too.”

“You’re funny, Ev,” he said.

“You’re cute, Luke, why did we break up?”

“Because we were basically just friends anyway,” he said.

“Friends,” I said and scrunched my nose. “Like me and Mikey are just friends.”

“No, you guys are different. He doesn’t shut up about you, you know.”

“Then why is he with Melanie?”

“He’s with Melissa because he’s stupid when he drinks,” he said. “Do you want me to talk to him?”

“No,” I said stubbornly, but after a moment I said, “Tell him how funny and cute I am.”

“I will,” Luke promised. “But you should probably get home. It’s late.” He got up from the couch and pulled me up with him.

“I told my dad I was sleeping over at Jaycee’s. I was gonna stay here but I don’t want to anymore.”

“Jaycee already left, but I can walk you to her house if you want,” he offered.

“Okay,” I said.

“Alright, let me find Ash and tell him we’re leaving. Go wait by the door, I’ll be right there.”

I did what he said but when I was passing the stairs I heard my name being called.

“Eva!” It was Michael and he rushed down the stairs to catch up with me. “Where have you been? I haven’t seen you all night.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” I said, avoiding his eyes.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Yeah, I’m leaving now,” I said.

Right on cue, Luke was back. “You ready to go?” He glanced at Michael, unsure if he was interrupting something.

“Yeah,” I said. “Bye Michael.”

“Bye Eva.”

Luke and I left and I texted Jaycee to tell her to unlock her door so I don’t wake anyone up when I get there. I’m glad Luke walked with me because this area of town always confused me.

“Drink some water and go to sleep,” he said as he hugged me before I went in.

“Thanks Luke,” I said.

“Any time,” he said, and he continued on his way to his own house.