Don't Stop | Michael Clifford

Chapter 31

"So, as you probably know, 'cause I would find it weird if you didn't, Michael's birthday is coming up, and I have no idea what to get him," I tell Maddie as we sit at a café, her eating some nachos while I eat a salad. Stupid modeling career.

"Yeah, I know, but his birthday is while they're on tour, and you're only going with them for the first gig because of your job," Maddie says, putting a nacho in her mouth.

"I know, I'm thinking of just flying over to surprise him for the day," I say, looking down at my food. They were leaving for tour next week and had a busy few days, so Maddie and I took that opportunity to have a girl day, 'cause both of us wanted to be with them as much as possible while we could.

"It's on a Monday, can you really do that? I mean, didn't you say you were already on the bad side of your boss?" (A/N: btw, I checked, when Michael turns 22, it's a Monday) I sigh, nodding.

"Yeah, I am..." I sigh, leaning back. "And the weekend up to his birthday, I have so many things to do that I really can't decline."

"Well, you should at least try and see if you can surprise him. And for a present, I don't know, you're his girlfriend... birthday sex?" I roll my eyes, leaning back.

"What about you, what are you going to do while they're on tour?" She smiles, shrugging.

"Actually, I might have a job," she tells me with a smile, me leaning my head on my hand as I look at her, waiting for her to speak. "You know how I've always loved to take photos and stuff? Well, I might get a job as a photographer."

"What kind? Like, photoshoots?"

"All kind of things. Not really photoshoots, but at baseball games, action pictures and stuff. I've shown them some of my work and they love it." I smile, feeling excited for her.

"That's amazing Maddie."

"Yeah. And I might take pictures of the boys, at their concerts. So I might go on tour with them for a while," she tells me with a smile, but still kind of sad. Happy because she could go with Luke, sad because she knew she would be leaving me here alone, being where my boyfriend is. And to give up my own career to go with him would be stupid. If we couldn't keep our relationship while he was on tour, it's not worth it.

"That's great."

"Yeah, the guys were talking about making a new book and they need someone to take pictures. I don't know if I'll do it though," she says, looking down at her hands.

"Why?"

"Because I want to know I have a job because I'm good at it-"

"Maddie, you're amazing," I interrupt, her sighing.

"I want to have a job where I have to show how good I am, not because my boyfriend wants me around, it just being good I can take pictures for them as an excuse. You get what I'm saying?"

"You don't want special treatment. You want to show you can do it every day." She nods sighing.

"Although having an excuse to take pictures of Luke would be amazing. I mean, having a job on their tour would just be amazing, but... I feel selfish if I chose that." I sigh, taking my hand over, giving her hand a squeeze.

"Sometimes when it comes to love, we have to be selfish," I tell her, meaning it. Sometimes, it's alright to be selfish. You can't always be selfless, and love is a good reason to be selfish.

"Maybe," she sighs, looking down at her nachos. "I guess I'm just scared of Luke and me getting too far apart. We haven't been together as long as you and Michael."