Dahlia

I tap my foot impatiently while waiting for Maya to reply. If she wants to ignore Luke, can't she just not talk to him? I've already sent her five messages, and no response.

"Dahlia, we're going to head out now," Michael says, talking about himself and Luke.

"What?" I look up at him. "No! Why? You just got here."

"It's been an hour, and I have stuff to do in the morning."

"Luke, can't you stay?" I beg.

"I would but..." he bites his lip. "You know."

I sigh and give him a hug. "Love you." I look at Michael "and I love you too."

"Oh good, I was about to riot."

I roll my eyes. "Hailey, you can stay right?" I look over at the couch where she was sitting.

"I'm going to get a ride with Luke and Michael," Hailey says. "Sorry."

"Ugh." I groan. "Alright. See you three later."

"It'll still be fun without you!" Calum calls as they walk out the door.

"Yeah good luck with that." Hailey back talks.

"Why is she like this?" Calum grumbles. "Why must you act this way?" He yells just as she shuts the door.

With everyone gone, Calum and I just sit on the couch, curled up and eating chips. I get a text from Maya saying, 'Sorry, had something to do. On my way back now.'

Something to do? How convenient.

******

Before going to bed I decide to check my email. I scroll through and delete spam mail, and respond to one from my dad. At the last of the list is an email from Victoria. I almost delete it without opening it, but my curiosity gets the better of me.

"Let's see what she wants now..." I say to myself, clicking the email.

'Dahlia, I was very upset when you refused to listen to me today at the Café. You didn't even hear me out. What I was going to ask of you, is that you make me a member of your little band. I will pay you.
See, nothing hard for you! I can lip sync if you need, or even dance!
You're going to want me in your band. I was not bluffing.'

I snort. She's going to dance? In my band? I roll my eyes and delete the email.

*******

We tried to get Maya and Luke in the same room again today. It was, of course, disastrous.  She didn't stay for more than three minutes once she saw him, and exploded at me in the parking lot. I admit, I almost cried. She's scary when she's that mad. I feel like giving up on her and Luke, but I know I shouldn't.

Maya

I sit down on the bench me and Aaron used to meet at. I miss him. So much. I chose to keep my best friend. I couldn't live without him. But he had to leave me. Even if I had chosen Luke he would've been a jerk. I hate him for making me loose my best friend. I hate him for making me love him.

Michael sits down next to me, "You guys used to meet here?"

I look over to the trees. "Yeah. All the time."

"Do you miss him?" I know he already knows the answer.

I look over at him, "Michael... He knew everything. He understood me. I knew I could trust him. Every time I felt myself fraying, he'd be there to fix it. He was kind and gentle. And he knew me. We were best friends. It hurts to loose the person that saved you so many times. I'm not even sure if I would be here if it weren't for him. So yes I miss him. And I feel that pain everyday. Every single day."

I sigh and look at the ground, "He's the one who told me to go to the doctor. He's the one who cared. Nobody has ever cared for me the way he did."

"I'm sorry."

I softly smile, "Its not your fault. Don't be sorry."

He sighs.

I look at the trees, "I just don't get why you guys all want me to be friends with Luke. After all that he did to me."

He shuffles awkwardly.

"What are you guys trying to do? I just don't understand."

"Make ourselves happy..." He looks down. "Anyways." He starts to stand up.

I stop him, "What do you mean?"

He shrugs.

I'm having one of my bad days. I hate this. "Michael."

"It just makes us sad that we're not all friends."

I look into his eyes, "And you can't try to force me to be friends with someone I hate. I know you guys don't get why I hate him. You never will. He just... He ruined me. And I'd rather be mad and hate him than be sad about him."

He looks away from me.

I frown and look back to the trees, "I'm sorry I make you sad. I can't be his friend. I'm sorry, I just can't."

"Alright."

I shuffle over and wrap my arms around him. Michael is so huggable, it's amazing. "You know you give really good hugs right?" I mumble into his chest.

"Thanks."

I pull away. "You don't say much anymore."

He lightly laughs, "I'm distracted."

"By what?" I assume it's Hailey. He loves her.

"Oh man, everything. My mind is chaotic."

"You can talk to me about it if you want." I offer. My minds pretty chaotic too. I know how to help.

"Should I finish school?" He blurts.

"Wait what? Michael?" I look at him. You can't ask a question like that and not have an explanation.

"Or like, just go on tour?"

"Michael what the heck are you talking about?" I ask. I am very confused.

"School!" He exclaims.

"Yes, I'm not stupid. But what do you mean tour?" He hasn't told me anything about touring since last year. Luke used to tell me all of that stuff.

"I mean, should I finish school or just drop out and go on tour."

What?

"You guys are going on tour?" I ask quietly.

"That's what I'm asking if I should do!"

I stare in shock, "Th-that's amazing. I didn't know anything about that."

He does an exasperated sigh.  "Are you going to answer me?"

I start thinking. He should do what makes him happy. If his band is going somewhere, they shouldn't stop it. I know that if I was in his situation, I'd go on tour.

"I-I think that you should do whichever would make you more happy. If you think you guys are going somewhere big, do it." I half smile. I'm still in shock from what he told me.

Five Seconds Of Summer is going to be huge.

"Luke wants to go, so does Ashton. Calum says he doesn't know. I think he doesn't want to admit that he wants to go. Because of Dahlia."

"Does she know?" I question. She probably does. They're all mad at me so I obviously would be the last to find out.

"No."

"Oh... But wait. Does that mean Luke is going to drop out?" His mom will kill him. Not that I care if he's dead or not. I would just love to see that happen.

"Either that or try school on the road. That might be stressful though, so..."

I look down in thought. "How long have you guys known that you might be going back on tour?"

"A week-ish."

I nod, "I think you should go." I feel my eyes tear up. I know I'll miss him, Ashton and Calum. I'll miss them so much.

"I'm sorry. I forgot you didn't know. I guess I'm used to Luke telling you things..."

I shake my head, "It's okay. I guess this is why you shouldn't date one of your close friends."

He stands up. "Well. I'll see you later."

"Where are you going?" I stand up put a hand on his shoulder.

"You told me to go."

I roll my eyes, "I meant that you should go on tour."

He lets out a breath of relief, "Oh."

"Sometimes I hate you." I say sarcastically.

He looks down.

I poke his cheek, "I'm kidding. You're actually my favourite."

"Alright." He smiles a little.

"Now we must go celebrate." I grab his hand and start pulling him. I can't believe they got asked to go back on tour. He made this bad day pretty good.

He wiggles his eyebrows.

I punch his arm, "Not like that! Ya nasty!"

He giggles and fakes disappointment. "I was just hoping since you are single now and all that."

"You're so gross." I scrunch up my nose at him.

He smiles and shakes his head. "I was hoping you'd fall for it and get freaked  out."

"You're so mean!" I gasp. "But what would you have done if I agreed?" I smirk.

His eyes widen, "Screamed?"

I wink at him and smirk even bigger.

"Maya..." He sounds terrified.

"Let's go celebrate!" I start pulling him again. I want to go do something with him. He deserves the best. I'm so extremely proud of him.

"Okay, okay." He laughs. "Stop pulling, it hurts."

"Then start walking!" I laugh.

He starts walking. I walk at the same pace next to him. I play with my bracelet as we walk. "Where do you want to go?"

He shrugs, "You pick." He always wants me to pick.

"No, no, no. You pick. We are celebrating for you." I point at him.

He smiles timidly, "Alright... Can we..."

I'm not sure what Michael wants to do. He seems a little scared to ask. It's probably not something bad. I mean, Michael is pretty childish sometimes. "Can we?" I smile.

"Go find a bouncy castle?" He smiles hopefully like a little kid.

"A bouncy castle?" I start laughing.

"Yes. Please?" He whines a little. Just like a little kid. I really love Michaels personality sometimes.

"Alright then. Let's find a bouncy castle."

* * * * *
Summer vacation ✌🏼️
How're you enjoying yours?

Opinions on this chapter? What do you think Victoria was 'bluffing' about?