Stay Together For The Kids - Michael Clifford Fanfiction

Work Part 2

I cringe as Caroline heavily places a piece of cake on my desk.

"Ugh." I say, pushing it away towards her.

The past 24 hours have sucked. From being determined to be strong and face all my problems, I have spiralled into a pit of self loathing. Everything just seems exhausting now.

"Come on, Lily!" Caroline rolls her eyes as I'm slumped over my desk. "Hurry up." She has taken it upon herself to try as lift me from my chair.

Grudgingly, I half stand/lean on her.

"Who's birthday is it anyway?" I say quietly, following her toward the big crowd of people I don't want to deal with.

"Do you not pay attention at all?" She scolds. I can't see her face as she's walking in front of me, but I know she's trying hard not to roll her eyes again.

"We hit our sale mark this morning, Doug went to go get some champagne and cake to celebrate." She continues.

Champagne. Alcohol. Fatty food. I'm almost sold. If only people weren't there.

We manage to squeeze our way into the tight group. No one seems as bothered by everything as I am, and as I look around the circle I can see mostly smiling faces at me. It cheers me up for a split second until my eyes rest on, Paul.

We make brief eye contact before Doug, out supervisor calls our attention.

Doug, gotta love him. He's an old musician from way back in the day who never really knew what he was doing with an instrument. But he could make friends instantly. A trait that didn't go unnoticed by major record labels, drawing him in to work for them to recruit new talent. His hay days were long gone, but he still kept everyone in the office entertained.

"Ladies, gentleman." He speaks to the small group. He talks with such vigour you can tell he's a show off. That's why everyone loved him though.

"I am proud to present to you, our next greatest band." He moves slightly to the left to reveal the mock up EP covers on the board. A band that I knew we had been fighting for management of, we had secured.

Everyone claps, and Doug took no time in thanking us and taking a bow.

"Now, let's celebrate out greatness and fat paychecks with free champagne and cake." He declares, now climbing to the top of the table, as if declaring himself king of the office.

We all scatter for the drink table, an I quickly help myself to two glasses, passing one to Caroline. She's already got me cake. We make a great team.

"I wonder how Doug got them to agree to us?" Caroline says quietly in my ear.

I have to wonder too, as I look more closely at the band.

A four set ensemble, teenage looking boys with a slight punk but definitely pop look about them. The more I stare the more I feel I know them from somewhere.

The lead guitarist looks no older then 16/17, and he hold his guitar as a shield, like a shy boy but a definite attitude behind him.

And then I realise what I'm staring at. It's the boys, all those years ago. But it's not them. It's a new version. A new generation for all the girls to scream and love. It makes me realise how much 5 Seconds Of Summer are really gone. There's somebody else in there place now.

"Lily." Caroline nudges me. I turn around and see Doug standing on the table, a champagne in his hand, obviously about to have a toast.

"Here's to Lily." I must look as shocked as I feel because Doug's eyes twinkle and I swear I see a small wink. Doug turns to face me and in the corner of my eye I see Paul turn away from the group.

"Here's too old family becoming new family, and old friends becoming new friends, and new friends making us rich!" He cheers toasting the group.

A scatter of laughs and clinks of glasses fill the room, and the resume of talk. Doug smiles down at me, while Caroline leans in my ear.

"Welcome back." She laughs, before walking off to join everybody else.

I stand, in stunned silence, but also with a warm feeling. Yeah, I was really back. I had felt like I had to prove myself the past week, but maybe I didn't need too.

I turn to go join everyone else, but before I can, my arm is yanked in the other direction.

I turn, and see Paul dragging me into his office by my elbow.

"What are you-" I go to ask, but he shushes me.

We get inside his office and I look around awkwardly. There is a picture of his child on his desk, and his office is much bigger then mine.

"What was that about?" I ask, as Paul shuts the door.

"Sorry, didn't mean to be so dramatic, but I didn't want to do this on front of anyone else." He sees, turning back to me.

He looks the same, his business like attire but kind face. But now it was different to me. I thought he was my friend. But he left me, because of Michael.

"Do what?" I ask, crossing my arms in front of my chest.

"Apologise." He says quickly, his eyes looking straight into mine.

I'm taken aback, and I open my mouth to say something, but words seem to falter.

"I'm sorry. I should of been there for you as a friend. Especially through a divorce, I know how difficult they are." He says this all pretty fast, but his eyes don't ever leave mine.

To be honest, I feel shocked. I wasn't expecting this. With Calum clearly choosing a side and Paul barely speaking a word in my direction for so long, it completely took me from the side.

"Oh." Is all I can manage right now.

"I just, I want you to know, I'm here for you. Everybody's here for you. We all care about you. Maybe I had a bad way of showing it but I do." Paul steps slightly closer to me. "Can you forgive me?" He asks quietly, bending down slightly so he can look in my eyes.

I hesitate for a second, but I know what I want.

"Of course." I say, smiling slightly. I'm still very shocked and quiet, but the relieved grin that spreads over Paul's face makes me relax slightly.

I look down, unsure of what to say or do now.

"Hey, are you ok?" He asks me, gripping my shoulder.

I look back up to him.

"Yeah, it just means a lot to know that you're here for me." I say quietly.

Paul smiles slightly, and pulls me into a hug.

I hug him back and feel instantly relieved. If the new band we had signed was anything to go by, Modest Management were moving on from 5 Seconds Of Summer. Maybe it was time I did the same.

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Short chapter, I know. Thanks for getting over 6k you guys are all amazing :) btw I'm going to see the one direction wwa movie in melbourne tonight! :) ❤️ so if anyone will be there/has seen it already let me know what you think!