Aleigha's point of view

My eyes widened at the notice in my notification bar, and I clicked it quickly, almost as it'd disappear. Instagram opened quickly and I looked at the simple message, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Hey Aleigha, it's Mikey, I wanted to know if you maybe wanted to hang out?"

I blinked a couple of times and then reread it a couple of times. I opened my keyboard and then typed up a quick response, asking him where we would meet up before I agreed.

I knew I probably wouldn't get a quick reply, so I set my phone down and then pulled my jeans down my legs. I kicked them off and then pulled a pair of basketball shorts on, leaving the tanktop I had on stay.

I laid down on my bed and my phone lit up with another notification. I picked it up and saw that it was from Michael and I couldn't help excited feeling when he asked me if I wanted to hang out inside of a nearby coffee shop.

I buried my face into my pillow and tried to calm myself down because never in a million years did I think someone like Michael Clifford would want to willingly hang out with someone like me.

I pulled my face out of my pillow and then opened the app, staring at the message a bit before debating on if I really wanted to meet up with him. Of course it'd be amazing, but I'm positive that I'll make such a big fool out of myself.

The embarrassment of fucking up in front if my idol would honestly kill me...

Another message appeared and he told me to bring Krystal aswell. I furrowed my eyebrows and then there was all caps, claiming he didn't send that. I blinked a couple of times and asked him when he wanted to meet up.

"Later? If you're free..."

I hesitated and then looked at myself in the mirror. It took me nearly five minutes and when he began texting again, I agreed and told him that I'm free.

"Text me your address, we'll pick you guys up in an hour."

I agreed and then tossed my phone on the bed after plugging my charger in. I facepalmed, instantly regretting my choice to hang out with them. I called Krystal and then put it on speaker as I yanked bracelet after bracelet off of my wrist.

"What's up Lee?" She asked and I took my hair out of its messy ponytail.

"Can you come by? Just you." I said and she told me Jackie was with her prom date at the movies anyways. "So yeah?"

"Yeah, I'm on my way." She said and I thanked her. "No problem. See you soon."

"See you." I said and then hung up as I took off my tank top and shorts. I didn't look in the mirror as I grabbed a tank top and some black skinny jeans from my closet.

I pulled them on quickly, shrugging a ripped denim jacket on and the piling extra bracelets on my left wrist before letting the sleeve fall down. I clipped some necklaces on and then brushed my hair out, immediately turning a straightener on.

I sat on my bed, pulling on a pair of socks and then some white comic printed doc martens. I laced them up as the doorbell rang and I walked to the door, opening it quickly to reveal one of my best friends.

She looked beautiful, as always, and it made me feel a bit insecure to know we had the same jeans on, it's just hers were a size 3 and mine were a size 9.

"Are we gonna go somewhere?" She asked as she walked in, closing the door behind her. "You're all dressed up. I'm still in my school outfit."

"Yeah um... we are." I said and she groaned, asking why I didn't tell her. "You still look good-"

"Urgh, I gotta change. I'll be back. My house is only a couple of blocks away anyways." She said and then walked out of the door. I sighed and shrugged, walking back to my room.

I quickly brushed my hair out, rubbing in a leave-in conditioner before combing it out once more. I waited shortly and then quickly began to straighten the curly brown locks, that we're semi dead from the constant heat.

After only twenty minutes, and about half my hair, a little less, Krystal walked in with a new outfit. Even though our outfits were somewhat different, I still felt more insecure than ever.

"How do I look?" She asked, pulling her sleeveless, tied flannel shirt down and pulling her leather skirt up. "I don't know if it's too much. Where are we even going?"

"I um... you-you gotta believe me." I said and she sat down on my bed. "You know Michael-"

"Oh my god, if you start on about his newly bleached hair-"

"No! Not that." I said and mumbled. "Though it is hot as hell."

"What is it then?"

"He um... messaged me and said he'll pick us up because he wants to hang out." I said and she blinked at me as I continued straightening my hair. "S-Serious."

She reached for my phone and then looked through it for a few moments. After ten minutes, she stood up and stormed out of my room with her phone pressed against her ear.

Oh no.

My heart hammered heavily in my chest, afraid that she'll yell at me for not telling her. She wouldn't just unfriend me for this, would she? I didn't even know he had my account!

When I finally finished my hair, she walked back in and ran a hand through her own. "You're kidding me. Is Calum going to be there?" She asked and I shrugged.

"I-I don't know." I said and then turned the appliance off. "Are you mad at me?" I took a chance by asking and she shook her head.

"Not really." She said but I didn't believe her. "He'll be here in five I guess." She told me and I nodded as I wrapped a blue bandana around my hair to keep my bangs out of my face.

I put in my contacts since I wasn't going to wear my glasses, and then I blinked a few times. "Let's for wait downstairs. Catch." She said and I caught my phone before it went straight into the mirror.

We went downstairs and I grabbed they keys to the house before I went to the living room with her. "You didn't put makeup on, did you?" She asked and I blushed.

"N-No, I um don't wear makeup... you know that." I said and she opened her purse, telling me to sit down. "Krys-"

"Come on, you're gonna be with Michael Clifford, you need at least a little bit." She said and I agreed with a sigh as she forced me to wear eyeliner and mascara.

When she finished smearing some shade of red lipstick on my lips, there was a knock on the door. I blinked a couple of times, still absolutely bewildered that this was happening, and she pushed me towards the door, telling me to open it.

I went up to the door and then opened it, taking a deep breath before it was opened all the way. Michael smiled at me and I smiled back smally.

"Nice to see you again." He said and I agreed quietly. "Are you girls ready?" He asked and I nodded as Krystal stood up.

"Hi." She said and he greeted her before she left us both standing by the door.

"You look great." He said and I blushed. "Come on." He said and I followed him out, shutting and locking the door behind me.

"You look good too." I told him, not used to being in this kind of situation. "Really like the denim jacket."

"I was going to say the same to you." He said and I laughed, realizing we both wore ripped denim jackets. "Was this intentional?"

"Not for me." I said and he opened the car door for me, letting me get inside of the passenger seat. "Thank you."

I got inside of the car and he closed the door as I buckled up. "What's up?" Someone said and I turned around.

"Oh um h-hi." I said and looked at Calum as Krystal rolled her eyes. "Just trying not to die, you?"

"Same. Michael's a pretty crazy driver." He said and I laughed as Michael got in. He asked what we were laughing about and I shook my head. "Nothing Mikey, it's okay."

"Calum said that you're a bad driver." Krystal said and Michael pouted, which made him look absolutely adorable.

"I'm not a bad driver." He protested and I laughed lightly as I pulled my jacket's sleeves down. "If I was, I wouldn't have my license."

"Maybe the teacher was a fan."

"Or maybe he hated the band and spent the entire day ranting about how his daughter is twelve and licks pictures of us in her magazines." Michael said and I laughed.

"Is his daughter Aleigha?" Krystal joked and I blushed heavily.

"I have never." I said and Michael looked at me as he stopped at a red light. "I swear, I never have."

"We believe you." He said and I nodded as Krystal and Calum talked in the back, hushed whispers that I could barely hear over the sound of wind rushing in from the open windows.

-

"Can I um, ask you a question?" Michael asked, handing me a coffee that we spent five minutes arguing over who'd pay it.

"Only if I can ask you questions." I bargained and he agreed, sitting in front of me since the other two were by themselves at a table. "Go ahead."

"Why... Why did you start writing me letters? What was that about?" He asked me and I gulped down some of the iced drink.

"Right um, I had so much stuff on my chest and I couldn't tell anyone so I decided to write you letters. I didn't think you'd actually read them." I told him and he nodded.

"I read the last set earlier, are you okay?" He asked, setting his hand on my wrist softly. "Whenever you do that, you write about something triggering, I get really worried and frustrated because I couldn't contact you then."

"I... I'm sorry." I said and he shook his head. "I'm fine now." I promised and he gave me a smile. "How did you find my account though?"

"Calum had Krystal's and I got it from there." He told me and I nodded. "I guess our friends have history."

"She never told me." I said and shrugged. "I wouldn't tell anyone either so I can't be upset."

"True." He said and nodded. "This is... This is kind of awkward. I feel like I know nothing about you when I know more than your friends and family." He told me and I laughed.

"That's how I feel hanging out with my idol." I said and he laughed lightly aswell. "Twenty-one questions?" I suggested and he nodded.

"Sounds like fun. You go first." He told me and I nodded as he took a drink of his own coffee.

"Favourite thing to do when you're not on camera?" I asked him and he hummed.

"Playing video games. Favourite thing to do when you're not at school?"

"That's... That's pretty often." I told him and he rose an eyebrow at me. "I like reading. Most of the time I play music through my headphones and read." I said and nodded. "Favourite colour?"

"That's so basic." He said and we both laughed. "I like the colour green though." He informed me and I nodded. "What do you mean by you're not at school often?"

"I um, I really don't like school. I usually just skip because I can't handle it. The people there suck and it makes me... what's the word... anxious? Depressed? It really messes me up." I confessed and he nodded.

"Trust me, that's how I felt about school. I actually nearly got taken away from my parents because of it." He said and I looked at him.

"I'm surprised that I haven't." I told him and he chuckled. "I've missed over a month and a half of school combined, and we have like two months left."

"Why?"

"It's not your turn." I teased and he rose his hands in defense. "How often do you wear that jacket? I always see you in it."

"Very often. I love it." He said and slid the folded sleeves up higher. "Don't you like it?" He asked me.

"I do." I said and smiled. "It looks great on you." I told him honestly and he smiled, looking down at his iced drink. "Have you heard the new The Summer Set album?"

"I have and I absolutely love it." He told me and I agreed as we continued talking and asking each other random questions about one another.