#mikey 5sauce

[passthe5sos]

“Try Hard”

Luke Hemmings

I remember her so clearly. I had been a junior when she was a senior, but I noticed her long before then. It probably was because her hair was always dyed elaborate colors. Red, pink, purple, blue. Sometimes more than one and they never seemed to fade, she was so colorful and bright in such a dreary place like school. I wanted her to notice me the same way I noticed her. I started to dress nicer, well attempted to at least. I had no idea what would make me seem more interesting. She doesn't even get dressed in the morning's much. She doesn't wear jeans or skirts or dresses like all the other girls. She wears sweat pants and hoodies, the hood up covering her hair to conceal herself. The one time we did meet, we bumped into each other at the store and I stood there like an idiot. She just smiled at me and apologized. I think I was in shock that she was just talking to me in general. She also asked me if we went to the same school and I said, "Oh yeah I was a senior a few year's ago. I'm twenty." I spit out. Which was an obvious lie, if she ever sees me at that school, then I'm done for. She's gonna know I lied. I'm sure she's seen me around school recently, but she just nods. Her hair was chopped, just above her shoulders now, completely different from what she had ever done before. It was mesmerizing. 

I wish I had been less of an idiot, didn't let her walk away from me but there was nothing I could do. I didn't have a job, and my mum's got no money to help me take her out either. I'm the worst fake twenty year old ever. Sometimes I wish that I could just change. Be exactly who she needs me to be. 

And then after that whole store moment, I went home and did nothing. Thinking about her. It's so obvious that she's out of reach for a guy like me. It's really hard to even come to terms with that cause she makes me feel like I'm trying too hard. I mean really? Aging myself up four years? She probably saw right through me. Dressing up? That's not me. I've never cared so much about what I wear, or do, or say, in front of a girl before. Even when I liked girls when I was younger. I never cared and I have no idea why this girl is making me want to try so hard. 

The next day at school was different. I hid in the library during my lunch period, which of course we had together. It's how I saw her for the first time. She came in alone, returning a book. Her shirt had slid up as she leaned against the counter engaging in conversation with the library. I hardly ever see her talk to anyone. I noticed it really quickly, a tattoo. The more I stared, the more I pondered over what it could be. The lines weren't dark or rough, but dainty and smooth against her skin, finished to perfection. I don't know why I never thought she'd have tattoos. She has a few piercings. 

I think it's a rose?

I can just barely make out thorns and vines. It's pretty, I decided it was. If it was on her, it couldn't be anything less than perfect. Leaning over to get a closer look, I narrow my eyes drinking in the details. My chair slowly slides closer to the floor before I lose my balance. I crash to the floor in a heap and a loud laugh comes from behind me. I turn and glare at whoever laughed at me. Oh, Michael Clifford of course. He's sitting with all his little loser friends. "You know she's into drummers, not guitarists mate." he laughed, standing up and walking over to me. He held his hand out to me but I just glared at him. "I don't need your help." I huffed, standing up on my own. He shrugs and picks the chair up. "Speaking of guitarists and drummers, I heard you've been posting youtube videos playing the guitar." he says. I felt like he was gonna annoy the shit out of me about it, probably bully me. "I don't." I turned, watching as y/n begins to leave but Michael laughs and sits down in my chair. "Yeah right, I've got this idea..." he trails off but I'm hardly listening to him, I've got bigger thing's on my mind.

She's not into guitarists?

Within the next few days, we see each other a lot more out of school. Y/n and I, not Michael he's weird. He keeps stealing Calum from me, and Calum thinks he's cooler than me which is not true. I asked my mum and she said no one's cooler than I am. Every time we bump into each other, twice now, I keep getting these nervous jitters. My mum sent me to the library when she was doing some extra work at home and didn't want to listen to me play the guitar anymore. I was kind of starting a band with Michael, but were trying to rope Calum in it with us, but he's too busy with football. No one cares about football mate, it's all about the music!

I wondered a lot if I should just give up guitar and buy a drum kit. Maybe she'd like me more? But then we bumped into each other at the library, two days in a row, and never once did she remember my name, or that she had even seen me before. I knew then, that something must have been wrong with me. I ripped my jeans. She didn't care. I started following her around a bit more, seeing what kinds of thing's she was into. She went to the movie theater a lot and I found out she spent a lot of time at a flower shop and the cafe across the street. I think this is called stalking, but it's all for good reason.

I followed her around for about six weeks. Michael and I practiced every single day to get better at guitar, when mum wasn't home or wasn't working of course or else she'd kick us out and I'd make him help me follow her around. She definitely thinks I'm a weirdo now. We roped Calum into our band at some point. And then Michael heard about this cool older guy named Ashton Irwin. He's a super cool, and well known drummer around here. I wondered if he had ever met Y/n. Maybe with him in our band she'd come to our show and she'd forget about drummers for once. It made me so insanely jealous. I kinda wished he'd teach me to play the drums so we could kick him out of the band and I could do it.

Our show went great though. Calum proposed to Ashton back stage, asking him to officially be in the band and Ashton agreed, however I don't really remember Michael and I agreeing to Calum being in the band. But we needed them both a lot if we were gonna make it big.

Then at school, with all the hustle and bustle, and people talking about our show and how they were sorry they hadn't been able to come. I guess some of these kids weren't allowed to come into bars. Like whatever, my mum would've talked to the managers. Through it all, during lunch, which I now mainly sat with Michael and Calum, Mike told me that Y/n had been talking to the librarian about dropping out. So I did too.

I pierced my lip, which hurt really badly. She's got tattoos and piercings all over, from what Michael has told me so I'm sure she'd think I was older, cooler. My mum was angry, but she wasn't as angry as the day I dropped out of school. I told her I was going to focus on music, but she was so angry with me that she made me be homeschooled. Mission accomplished I guess? But it gave me more time to learn about Y/n.

And then, while sitting at home again, I realized I was being an idiot again. I dropped out of school for a girl? For a girl to notice me? I've ruined my whole future for a girl? At least my mum was forcing me to be homeschooled, but I'm not even being me still. I was just trying so hard for her to notice me, but she doesn't even care at all. 

The longer Mike, Cal, Ashton and I practiced, the better we got. We practiced every day for hours on end until either of our parents decided that it was enough and we'd go home. It payed off though.

I hadn't forgotten about her, not once even when I got swept up into everything. We got scouted out by One Direction, the biggest boy band ever. Teenage girls were going crazy for them everywhere. But Y/n was not just some average teenager, she was mature, mysterious, serious. I almost didn't take the offer, we just didn't think our bands goals aligned with the One Direction groups. But we took the offer, eventually realizing that something as cool and as big as this might not come again. 

We moved out to London, working on music every single day. I always thought about what she was doing. Was she working at the flower shop still? Did she ever go to the cafe? Did she realize I wasn't around anymore or was she thankful I stopped following her?

But now, standing on the stage, I see her. She's surrounded by a bunch of teenage girls, all dressed up in One Direction merch and she's wearing my bands merch! Mine! She's in the crowd of my show, in the front row. Her hair, ruby red, shining in the flashing lights of the set while we play. Sometimes I feel nervous playing, and I always thought about her coming to watch my shows, and I would have been so nervous a few years a go, but now, now I'm excited and I know I'll play my best tonight because I have too. She's the perfect view to play to, to sing to. I needed her to know that, and I will. I was just surprised she had come all the way out here to watch me. Unless she's here for Ashton, but I'll pretend she's here for me. 

There comes a part of the song where Calum and Michael take over, so I hop off of the stage, swinging my guitar behind me. Girls start screaming, and I know I look like the coolest guy in the world. A guard follows over to me but I tell him not to. "You look pretty." I complimented. There were cameras all over me, taking pictures and videos, and I was sure some news article was going to eat me alive in a few days, but I don't care. "Thank you. I like your band." she complimented back. This is the longest conversation we've ever had with each other. "Yeah, we're pretty cool." my time was almost up so I had to end this quickly, even though all I wanted was to talk to her. "Listen, stay here after the concerts over with if you can. I wanna talk to you. I'll come find you." she nods silently, and I turn around, hoisting my guitar onto the stage, I pull myself up quickly, standing up and going to the microphone where I took over again. I can't believe I did that. I glance at Michael who's walking over to me and shaking his head, teasing me, but I don't care.

Sometimes being a try hard really pays off in the end.

[aussiexlovexaffair]

first time drinking with bestfriend!mikey words: 1.7k request fill: 🦊 genre: fluff! tw: drinking, your mother becomes the spawn of satan at the end :) and references to cheesy 5sos quotes author's note: i used good girls mv michael for inspo! also 600+ notes and 50 follows!!! yippie!! i love y'all!!! How he managed to sneak a clinking backpack into the house perplexed you more, though. You could hear him coming down the hallway. Before he even got to the door, you swung it open and jerked him into the bedroom, slamming the door behind the boy. “What are you doing?!.. Couldn’t you have wrapped the bottles or something?!...” 

Michael chortled a little at your paranoia. Setting the bag on top of your bed, he casually maneuvers in front of your mirror, ruffling up his bleached blond hair. “That’s too much workkkk…” He mumbles in concentration. “Besides, I got them in here— didn’t I?” His eyes meet yours through the mirror.

“Yeah, but what if they found them?” You stress, crossing your arms as you sit beside the bag. “I’d be grounded for life. Forever.”

“I’d still come over. We’d have our own fun here— no need to go out.” He retorts quickly. “They’d ban you from seeing me. No more Michael.”

“No more Michael?” You shake your head softly, your lips pulled tight in a grimace. “No more Michael...” Licking the tip of his finger and smudging the eyeliner coating his water line, he pouts. “Guess I should be more careful then.” The blond glances over to you through glassy eyes. “I don’t want that.” “Neither do I.” Your hands work at the zipper of the backpack until it gives. The beer bottles were laying at the bottom of the bag, disturbed from the walk over. Tossing one to him, you grab one for yourself and open it with the bottle opener he packed. “Have you ever drank?” He shrugs, “I’ve had goon with friends back home, but nothing else.” He gives you a side eye when he hears you laugh. “What are you laughing at?” He whines into the bottle as he takes a swig.

“What is goon?” You cackle out through gasped breaths. He smiles mischievously. 

“A philosophy.” Michael scoffs like the term is commonplace. “Don’t worry, I’ll take you back to Aus with me for the holidays and show you.” Your eyes trail down to the drink in your hand. You swirl it around and raise it to your nose to smell it. “You’ve never drank before? Like ever?” He’s given a head shake as a response.

��I haven’t had the chance to.” Pausing, you lift the beer to your lips and take an experimental sip. Michael leans in expectantly, waiting for your reaction. Your face scrunches up in distaste. “Eugh!” He giggles and recoils along with you as you reel back at the flavor. 

“It’s not that bad. You’re being dramatic.” He shoves your shoulder gently. He takes another drink for himself from your bottle. “I think it’s pretty great. But if you don’t like it, I got other stuff in the bag.” Peering into the pouch, you see two other types of alcohol: Smirnoff and Jack. You couldn’t complain though, you weren’t picky and you couldn’t be in your position. 

“What’s this one?” You raise the bottle of clear liquid to his eyes. 

“Vodka. It’s green apple flavored, though.” He answers as he raises his beer to his lips once again. You couldn’t imagine how he actually liked it— it was bitter and bland.

“Lemme try it.” He nods and takes tiny plastic cups out of his bag, setting them on your bedside table and unscrewing the cap of the vodka. He pours a bit into the red cup until it reaches the brim. “I can’t just drink it like beer?” He snickers, reeling back to look at you over his shoulder. “No, dipshit, you take shots.” Rolling your eyes at him, you slap him on the back. He keels over and collapses to the floor dramatically. 

“Fine, then you have to take a shot with me.” Shrugging, he pours another and hands it to you. He gives you a sly smile, excited to be experiencing this with you. “Bottoms up.” He knocks back the drink in tandem with you and instantly, you both are covering your mouths. The flavor didn’t dull the rubbing alcohol taste of the drink. “Holy fuck, that is awful!” You shake your head and cough. “No way. I’m not drinking if all of that shit tastes like that.” You toss the plastic cup into your trash can under your desk. “Uh— no way. You have to drink with me. You can’t just watch! We’re gettin’ legless, remember?” Crossing his arms, he travels back to his beer bottle and chases it down to remove the flavor. “Ugh.. fine.. But no more of that stuff. I’ll try the whiskey.” The cap on the Jack Daniels unscrews easily and after about half an hour, the both of you were a few drinks in. Being new to the feeling, it was hitting you both much harder than you anticipated. “Wanna do body shots?” Michael suggests cheekily, holding a plastic shot glass out for you. You giggle and nod, placing it wedged between your chest. Admittedly, you had to press your elbows together to keep the cup in place, but you were too wasted to care about being insecure and he was too drunk to even consider judging. Stooping over your body, he wraps his lips around the cup and throws his head back, wincing at the taste. 

“Shit— that was hot!” His tongue pokes out at the comment you make. Meanwhile, he grabs the bottle of Jack by the neck and nods towards the bed. 

“Lay down, I wanna pour a shot into your mouth.” His nose crinkles up as he suppresses loud giggles. 

“No way, you’ll waterboard me!” Your hands wave to signal you wouldn’t be trying that, but he raises his eyebrow and cocks his head to the side. “I mean— it would be pretty coolllll…” His eyes dance around the room coyly until you relent and lay down, your head at the edge of the bed. Quickly, he climbs onto the mattress beside you and taps the side of your face. “Open up.” You shake your head, barely containing your laughter. “C’monnn!.. Open uppp!...” He repeats. You both can barely look at each other without cracking smiles. Your lips part and you stare up at him playfully. “Just like— don’t die.” With knitted eyebrows, only a noise of concern leaves you before the liquid floods your mouth and he’s wiping the lip of the bottle on your lip. “Swallow.” He commands, using his free hand to close your jaw. You obey him without a question, nearly hacking up a lung when it almost slides down the wrong pipe. “Didn’t know you rolled like that.” You wheeze out as you catch your breath. His index finger collides with your ribcage. Poking you repeatedly, he laughs loudly at the dirty innuendo. “You’re dirty when you drink!” He shimmies his shoulder forward, his hand batting at your shoulder. “Well you’re dirty when you’re sober.” With a huff, his jaw unhinges childishly and he tackles you after letting the bottle rest on your nightstand. You squirm under his grasps, Michael’s slender fingers finding your most ticklish spots.

You needed to retaliate. 

Grabbing him by the shoulders, you sling yourself over until you’re straddling his lap, jamming your fingers in the crook of his neck. He lets out a girly squeal that immediately ceases your activities. A snort coming from you follows the silence and he covers his red face. His laughter was filled with an embarrassed tone. “I don’t know what the hell that was.” His hands raise to cover his face, but you quickly grab his wrists to stop him. “You sounded— you sounded like me!” You hound through drunken cackles. Taking the opportunity, he flips you back over onto your back and crawls on top of you, holding you in place by your shoulders. Your laughter dies down after a bit and the tension in the air suddenly becomes very apparent. Your eyes travel down to his rosy lips and his graze over your figure underneath his. Leaning in, he tilts his head to the side and dips down.

But then the floorboards outside of your door creak. The hallway light flickers on, the brightness shining through the crevice underneath. 

And of course, just your luck, the door swings open slowly before you and Michael have any time to untangle your limbs or hide the half-empty bottles. Your mother stands in the doorway. She makes direct eye contact with Michael, who is still pinning you down and lined up perfectly to kiss you. Faking a friendly smile, she takes a deep, shuddering breath in and closes her eyes. “Michael Clifford…. get off of my daughter.” Her eyes open and he can see the fire in her eyes.

Dear God. He scrambles up, clearing his throat and shoving a pillow over his lap. It was like all of the alcohol had been washed from his system. “Yep— won’t happen again, Ma’am. I’ll—uhm— I think I’ll take the couch.” He stands up and stumbles towards the door, glancing over his shoulder to watch you as he leaves. She places a gentle hand on his lower back and directs him towards the staircase, staring daggers into his back. 

“I think so too.” She grits out, her head shooting over to glare at you. “I’ll deal with you in the morning.” Narrowing her eyes, she follows the boy down the stairs, leaving you laying in silence surrounded by the bottles of alcohol. Your arms awkwardly tuck under the comforter beside you and you listen to the sound of your mother, who had been given permission by Michael’s mother to discipline him if he needed it, chewing him out for his behavior. And then you heard her footsteps returning upstairs and heading towards your bedroom again. When she showed her face again, the shadows casting an evil presence over her face and her eyes fuming with the fires of hell, she didn’t need to speak a word before you knew your fate. 

You were grounded for life.

[33-81]

[zeniblesstsu]

So, I haven’t wrote in a long time although I do enjoy writing. I started this and I feel really good about it. Plus having more support will encourage me to write more so if you chose to read it, then welcome!

A few disclaimers to being with:

I am very much American and have no clue what they do over there. This is all pretty much made up.

I like constructive criticism, but plz be nice. I am sensitive. I just a baby T.T

I don’t have an editor and I am horrible at grammar. Please forgive me. There will be mistakes.

This takes place after their tour in 2018, and I’m making up the timeline as I go along so none of this is really what happened irl.

I don’t own any 5sos members, their family, or anyone else that tied to them irl! But the rest of the characters scattered in this book are mine. Please don’t steal them, they are my babies.

Now, with all that said, please enjoy! And let me know if you’d like to see more.

-zeni

Cherry 🍒 | a.i

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

How did we end up here?

“Ash is my best friend. I can’t ruin what we have. If you hadn’t said anything we wouldn’t be here in the first place. Just please keep your mouth shut. About everything.”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Chapter 1:

November 20th, 2018

Spring

“If these walls could talk…” my hums bounce off the empty walls around me. “Cause we’d fall from grace…” the speaker blasting at it’s max, vibrating the windows, and definitely annoying my neighbors. I can’t help it though. Listening to his band was my guilty pleasure even if my name hasn’t fallen from his lips since the day he left. The text stop coming roughly a year later. What can one do when her bestie for restie becomes a world wide hit?

“Alright! That’s the last of the boxes! Where- can- turn that shit down!” Stells yelled over the music. A simple scoff bubbles up as I turn it down.

“Sorry, habit.” I take the boxes from her hands and set them in kitchen. Kass Stella is a classmate that I immediately clicked with in college. Now here we are, best friends and moving in together. Rent is to high to live alone these days.

“It’s okay babe. I know you miss him. It’s hard seeing your best friend move on without you. That’s why I’m here.” Her arm wraps around my shoulder, while her brown eyes land on my phone screen that shows the Youngblood album, and a very grown up Ashton.

“No, you’re wrong. It’s pretty easy. His mates just sing damn good.” I shrug causing her arm to fall. “Now, help me set up the living room.” I laugh while tossing a decorative pillow at her face. Stells grunts and does just what I ask.

Before to long the kitchen and living room are done and looking good. “Great! Now we can go our separate ways and get our things in order! See yah!” The girl disappears into her room, quickly turning on her own music. Even though we both know she loves the band just as much as I do. I follow suit, finally playing something different.

After a few hours of getting things put up, my phone chimes. I get up from my crop circle of clutter to check it. “How’s unpacking going? Xoxo mom.” My mom is so sweet and always caring. She did a lot for me and my older sister, no thanks to my father. I quickly ring her.

“Hey baby, how’s it going?” Her sweet accent floods my brain. “Hi mum! It goes. I have a lot of stuff yeah?” I pick at some books on the floor. “I told you to get rid of some that stuff!” She laughs. “But it’s out of my house now so I don’t have much of a say.”

“Nah, not anymore. Plus this cool super hero outfit that I definitely cannot wear anymore, is gold.” It was shoved in the box with some of my things. The red crumpled cape peeked out from under some heavy books.

“You and Ash used to play for weeks in those. I’m surprised it isn’t soiled.” She made a noise of disgust. The memories of us running around saving, really torturing, poor Dandelion, my cat, from the bad guys played in my mind. The red underwear he’d wear on the outside of his clothes would always cause fits of laughter between us. He thought it was cool while I would always blush because it was his undies.

“Yeah well good thing laundry sauce exists.” I giggle. My sister and I have always called laundry detergent that. I’m not to sure why.

“Haha! Well speaking of the devil. He is supposed to be home soon. I was having lunch with Anne and she said he was coming home. For a bit at least. Something about a new album and taking time. Who knows.” My breath catches in my throat. It’s been almost 5 years since we have seen each other. Crazy how we have avoided each other all these years, but he claimed to be busy. That’s okay though, he was building a future for himself while I was stuck here. In this quaint town, I did nothing for myself but yearn for a past I was afraid I’d never get back. I mean after years of fame and money, it can change you. I watch the interviews and the live streams, he doesn’t seem to have changed all that much.

Though, I have to ask myself, how much of that is just for the camera’s?

“Oh! I bet Harry and Lauren are excited.” My voice was small as I still processed it all.

“Realynn, dear. You can not hide from the poor boy anymore. He asks for you every time he is home.” So maybe I have been the one avoiding him. How can I face this stranger who shares the same features as my Ashton? Especially when girls throw themselves at him and his friends day in and day out, all year round.

“I-I know… I w-won’t.” I curse myself for stuttering.

“Rea. That’s a lie and we both know it. If the stutter didn’t give it away, you being short with me did. Do not hide in that apartment till he leaves again. You’ll only hurt yourself more. Plus, I’ll tell him where you’re living now.” Her voice has a playful twinge behind her words, but I knew she meant every one of them.

“You know, you wouldn’t ever know I was lying had Juliet never told on me every time I lied to you. Which just so happened to be the only time in my life that I stuttered.” My voice was strong again now that we were off the topic of Ash.

“Oh dear, I’m your mother. I would have figured it out with or without Juliet.” She laughs and I can picture the crows feet at the corner of her eyes.

“Yeah, yeah.” I simply laugh, happy that she is happy. It was a bit of a challenge for me to move out. It’s always just been me, mom, and my sister. Once my sister moved out, I felt like it was finally my time to leave the nest. That was way harder said than done though. With rent, and my insufferable daddy issues, I had a hard time getting things together to leave. But thanks to Stells, and a promise from mom to call everyday, we got our own place.

“Well, I was just checking in sweetheart. I’ll let you get back to your things. I love you!”

“I love you too, mum. See you soon.” With that I hang up, hearing the slow beeps of a dead line. I set my phone back down and step over the miscellaneous things in my floor. Once I’m settled back in, I continue to go through my books.

Eventually all my books are neatly stacked on the book shelve, that I am pretty proud of. All my small knick-knacks are in their place and now all that was left were my clothes. I get up to grab a handful shirts that were already folded, putting them in there respective drawer. Once that’s done I heard my phone chime once more.

My eye rolls and I laugh. My mom was always a worrier, I’d just have to call her again and reassure her I’m okay. Quickly, though, my smile was wiped clean off my face as I read the name that read across my screen.

“Can wait to see you ;)” -Ash

[musickuhl-blog]

Reverse Skunk was my favourite Mikey hair. HBU?

[valentinemichael]

[vxsilica]

Michael Clifford > therapy

[lovcyou3000]

The Voice but the coaches are replaced with 5SOS members.

[tellyouwhatilike]

🤍 Sweet sweet soft boy 🤍

[mgc-ghosts]

i thought you were

gone for good

but you always

find a way to sneak

back into my heart

michael clifford being the cutest person to ever exist.

[dejamciver]

cool, calm, collected ••

[michaelismykittenboy]

5sos and puppies are literal perfection🥀🐶

[cranberry-closet-directioner]

I miss when 5SOS was a young rock group and they reminded me of my childhood, because my dad listened to a bunch of good rock stuff. Now they're just like every pop singer.

Thank god Harry does his old style thing 😘

[33-81]

[zeniblesstsu]

Cherry 🍒 | a.i

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

How did we end up here?

“Ash is my best friend. I can’t ruin what we have. If you hadn’t said anything we wouldn’t be here in the first place. Just please keep your mouth shut. About everything.”

chapter 1

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Chapter 2:

November 21, 2018

Spring

“Mum says I can’t stay in the apartment, but what she doesn’t know won’t kill her right?” I groan, watching my dirty converse thump against the pavement.

“Well she has a point. I mean he can’t be that different yeah? Plus there’s Michael you can totally introduce me to.” Stells laughs, looping our arms together. We were currently headed to a local grocery store to stock up our fridge.

“Mmmhm. Sure. You just want to meet the band?” I roll my eyes at her laughter, which means I was right. “Okay, how about this? I won’t hide. He text me so he obviously hasn’t forgotten, yeah?” Cars honking in the distance flood through the thoughts swirling in my head.

“Hey Rea?” Stells voice flood in over the background noise.

“Hmm?”

“Why does it bother you so much? Why are you having such a hard time with all of this?” I can feel her fingers rub my arm in a soothing manner, as if to keep me calm.

That’s a good question. Why do I have such a problem with us reuniting? My head turns towards the day breaking sky. “I guess I just can’t face him? Maybe I feel insignificant to everyone he’s met along the way. He’s to busy for the childish shit we used to do. I don’t know. It just feels weird.” My voice was quiet, almost being taken by the late spring winds. “Maybe it’s my crippling daddy slash anxiety issues.” Sarcasms leaks past the serious answers, causing Stells to laugh. It wasn’t a real laugh, more of a pity laugh because she knows that I can’t be serious.

“Well maybe so, but you won’t every know unless you try. Maybe it’s all in your head and Ashton feels like nothing has changed. MAYBE he just misses you.” Now she’s shaking my arm, really laughing. I look at the false red head and can see the seriousness behind those playful glances. She’s trying to keep it light to spare my raging mind.

“Yeah, maybe…” my words trail off as I laugh along with her. Thankful, I let out an internal sigh once the shop came into view. “So, there will be no vegemite in my house.”

“That’s bullshit! You are a different breed my girl.” A quick change of subject is just what the doctor ordered, but now I have to have this argument.

“I think it’s because of my sperm donor’s American genes.” I make a gross face with my tongue out, the metal piercing clinking again my teeth. Stells laughs and makes a move to pull my tongue.

Once inside the store I grab a shopping cart, quickly making my way to the snack isle. “I’m going to grab a few frozen thing? Be back in bit.” My roommate bounces off into the opposite direction, her pleated school girl skirt bouncing too.

“Careful Stells. You’re going to give them a show for free.” She turns and glares at me, who was snickering wildly behind my hand. She flips the bird before rounding a corner out of site.

I grab a few things, before staring aimlessly at the boxes trying to decide what else to get. Absentmindedly, my hand went to my mouth. My pearly whites nip at my already shortened finger nails. Nervous habit.

“Uhm, excuse me.” A soft voice breaks my concentration.

“Oh! Sorry!” A nervous laugh leaves my chest. My hands quickly finding the cart to move it out of the way. My eyes then landed on a milky chocolate skinned girl. Only a handful of inches taller than me, she stands on her tip toes to grab the Tim Toms off the top shelf. Her nimble fingers were adorned with rings, and her hair sat in a short afro atop her head. She grabbed the box and turned to me with a smile. Her brown eyes wore a thick black line of eye liner that intensified her features. The light glinted off her piercings. She was beautiful, but what peaked my interest was her very American accent.

“Hi,” she laughed.

“Oh, hi. Sorry- I- You’re not from here are you?” My eyebrows knit together, of course she’s not from around here. I’m sure she has gotten that a lot.

“Yeah, what gave me away? Was it my hair? Or maybe my shoes?” She laughs, being sarcastic seemed to flow easy with her. I look down at her pink boots.

“Oh yeah, definitely the boots.” A smile formed across my face.

“I’m Alex. I love your style. You’re beautiful.” She was straight forward, but the hint of shyness didn’t go unnoticed. She looks me up and down, closely examining my features. I squirm under her burning eyes.

“Realynn, but you can just call me Rea. And Um,” I look down at my 80’s style windbreaker, simple black tee, and shorts. Not much if you ask me, but a lot to her I guess. “Thanks, but I just grabbed what was on top this morning.”

“Well, either way I bet your wardrobe is spectacular. If that’s “just what’s on top” and all.” She laughs but continues to speak. “Hey listen… I’m a photographer who doesn’t have a lot to do this winter- I mean summer? It’s summer here right? God. Anyways I know we just met but how cool would it be if you modeled for me? I have a few brand deals but none of my models could make the trip to Sydney so,” her fingers nervously tap on the box in her hand. She wants me to be a model?

She joking right?

“Me? A model? I don’t know sis.” I laugh shaking my head.

“No, I’m serious! Please I need your help.” She gives me a small smile and pleading eyes.

“I think you should do it Rea! You’re pretty stunning after all!” The voice of a certain taller woman in my life, comes from behind me. I turn to look at Stells, her brown doe like eyes glittering with curiosity and mischief.

“Look I know we just met, but trust me when I say I can see potential in you. I’m a photographer, I know my models.” The box of Tim Tams bounce in her ring clad hands.

“Ugh, fine. But this is all to weird.” Squealing quietly, Stells wraps me in a tight hug. I just laugh and hug her back.

“So your contact information?” Alex pushes her phone towards me with the dial screen open. Stells lets me go and I put my information in.

“So what brings you here from America?” I start walking, the girls follow me as I bee line for the fruits.

“Ah, well I came with some friends. Really to work something out, but they don’t know that.” She laughs nervously, looking around the shop at all the items.

“Okay. Not creepy or cripted or anything.” Stells laughs.

“Sorry. It’s a lot to unload, and I need a model, possibly models. Can’t scare you away with my drama. Plus that’s part of the reason I’m here. To get away from all that.” She shrugs. “I’m Alex by the way.” She lifts up a hand to Stells.

“Stells. Nice to meet you.” She gingerly took Alex’s hand and shook it, smiling. They continue to chat amongst themselves while I searched for the good stuff.

I reach down for the big container of bright red cherries, smiling like an idiot. They go into the shopping cart as Stells scoffs as me. Ignoring her, I roll my eyes. They’ll get stuck up there one day.

I’m brought out of the thoughts by a familiar tune. Someone’s phone was ringing, but it wasn’t mine. I look around, it was Alex’s. She scrunches her eyebrows and sighs before picking it up.

“Hey,” she pauses for a minute looking at us, mouthing a quick sorry. “Yeah, I’m still here. Okay. Be out soon.” She hung up and shook the box in her hand.

“Well, I got to run. My ride is here. Can’t miss that since I’m new and all.” She laughs and turns to walk away. “It’s was great meet you guys!”

“Great to meet you too!” Stells and I say at the same time, waving goodbye to our new acquaintance.

“She seemed really cool! And super pretty.” Stells says walking with me to the next isle.

“Yeah, I just hope this modeling thing is for real.” I pick up a few cans off the shelf.

“Seemed like it.” She shrugged, grabbing some of her favorites. “Anything else?”

“Not that I can think of right now,” with that we took the cart and started towards the front. Once we were to the lines, out of the corner of my eyes a specific pair of pink boots make themselves known. They quickly disappear into a black van. I smile thinking about her offer. A model, aye?

Before the door shuts on the van a certain dirty blonde quickly gets into the van. It was just the back of him, but I could spot him out of a crowd in no time.

Ashton Fletcher Irwin.

-zeni

[musickuhl-blog]

I think this one is okay..??