[Michael Clifford]

I grimaced at the name but nodded anyway. "Yeah, that was almost two years ago."

Sure One Direction had aided us in getting our big break, but that was it. We had to work our asses off to get to where we were now, where they were now. It was like another stab in the chest every time I thought about it.

I sighed loudly and tried not to pay attention to the fact that this troubled girl was insanely beautiful, even with the thin layer of dirt that covered her skin, and a sarcastic personality that could almost top my own. "They're putting out a new album soon."

She studied me carefully, her head tilting to the side as she listened to my words before she nodded her head in understanding. "How much of that album did you have a hand in?"

Reed was obviously a thoughtful person. So much so that it was hard to hide anything from her. I gulped as I fought back the tears that burned my eyes. It was such a sore subject for me. It hurt just to think about it, much less talk about it.

I was still angry over the whole situation, 1) because I had co-written more than half the songs on that album and my ex-band mates were about to take all the credit and 2) because I still couldn't believe they had dropped me so easily. It's been months and I still couldn't wrap my brain around it.

"A lot of it." Was all I could get out without my voice cracking.

A cold gust of wind hit us abruptly and as if the fact that we were sitting on the edge of a building hadn't been noticeable before, it most definitely was now. My body shivered as I brought my coat closer to my body in hopes of keeping the warmth from escaping. My eyes turned toward Reed to see that the chilly weather didn't seem to faze her.

"Aren't you cold?"

"Hmm?" Reed glanced my way, though I could tell her mind was elsewhere. "I'm used to it."

"How so?" I was eager to know more about the mysterious girl.

"Can't you like sue for the rights to those songs or something?" Much like how our conversation had started, she yet again avoided my question and asked her own. What could have caused her to believe that this was the only solution?

I stared down at my lap and bit nervously as my lip. "I don't want them to hate me."

"You still want to be in the band?" She asked, looking appalled by my answer.

"Of course!" My voice instantly rose in anger, not from her asking that question, but because of the fact that I hadn't even tried to save my spot in the band. But at the time, I had no fight left in me.

"You should have tried harder then," She spoke spitefully, a heavy glare pointed right at me.

I tried not to let the hurt show through on my features, but I knew I had failed miserably when a smug smirk appeared on her lips. I didn't understand why she was talking me through my problems when all I wanted to do was the same for her. But her stubbornness to allow anyone inside seemed to be impenetrable. She still wanted me off this rooftop. Her words were obviously pointed not only at me, but herself as well, and it just added to my need to know what had made her so bitter.

"Why are you up here?" I asked bluntly.

"To kill myself," She said it so effortlessly that it made my stomach turn over.

"But why?" I strained my words as the concrete edge ripped at my palms the tighter I squeezed my hands around the edge of the building.

It was hard not to feel instantly comfortable around this girl. We would forever be linked together just from the fact that we were both up here tonight and even though she was so stand-offish, I could see she was completely shattered on the inside. We were one in the same and it hurt to know that there was someone else out there willing to give up on living.

"I don't want to talk about it." Reed shook her head in defiance.

"I told you why I was up here," I paused and glared back at the girl whose look could probably kill. "What's the harm in telling me?"

"You're such an idiot, Michael!" Her outburst startled me and I leaned away from her with wide eyes. "You can so easily fix your problem, but instead you go to the extreme and think that killing yourself is the only way to deal with it."

"I did try!" My tone of voice matched hers, our staring contest seeming to have no end. "I tried to move on. I tried to find something else to occupy my time, but I'm not good at anything else!"

I tugged at my hair, frustrated with the fact that she could get me so riled up with just a few choice words. I didn't want to be like this.

"That's not what I meant by fixing your problem." Her voice had returned to a normal volume and when I looked over at her, I could see sympathy written all over her face.

"Then what?" I spat, still angry.

"Fight for your music," Reed spoke the thoughts that had crossed my mind minutes before.

"You don't understand," My voice cracked as I tried to explain myself. "You don't understand how much pressure that lifestyle brings. And it's even worse knowing that your own band mates aren't willing to help."

"Have you talked to them about it?"

I shook my head. "No. They never called."

Reed scoffed and turned away for a brief second, pushing her windblown hair from her face. "Then call them! If music is the only thing your capable of then make an effort."

"But it has to be a two-way street for that to work, or it's pointless." I shut my eyes tightly in thought as I began to wonder if I actually had a chance to fix things with my friends. "I can't make it by myself."

"You're hopeless," She whispered more to herself than to me.

"I could say the same to you." I opened my eyes and stared over at her, my mind still racing.

"I know I am." She turned to meet my gaze and I could see the same determination that scared me earlier had returned.

How was this girl so unwilling to listen to reason, while I could so easily let her start to talk me into the idea that there was still something worth fighting for? What could have happened that made her so unwavering in her thoughts?

"Tell me what happened," I demanded.

"No."

I groaned and ran my fingers through my hair out of nervousness. "You're so fucking frustrating."

"Well then..." A fake smile appeared on her face. "Maybe you should just leave then if I'm annoying you so much."

"You might as well stop saying that because I'm not going anywhere," I spoke matter-of-factly.

Reed shook her head bewildered by my words before she turned to look out over the city. A surprisingly relaxed quietness passed between us and it almost felt reassuring to know that neither of us planned on leaving the other up here alone.

I took this time to think back to what Reed had said to me. Then call them. Was the answer really that simple? Would they take me back just as easily as they dropped me?

The point of them firing me was so I could get some help. So I could change my way of thinking, but I never even tried to do that. Instead, I bottled it up and allowed it to eat away at me from the inside. Like Reed had so kindly pointed out, I was hopeless. But was I so hopeless that I really needed to end my life?

I heard Reed sigh next to me and I turned to see that she was already looking at me. She hesitated momentarily, second-guessing herself before she finally spoke. "His name is Josh Maro."

I cringed as the realization hit me. The reason she was up here was all because of some guy.

. . . . .

A/N: So I'm thinking that I'll probably stick to Michael's POV for the rest of the chapters. The next one is also written from his POV so I might as well keep it consistent from now on. But we shall see!

Hope you enjoyed it! What are your predictions on how you think this book will end? Vote? Comment? Love.