Permanent Vacation // 5 Seconds of Summer

Charlie

Dammit, he's here again. I turn my back to Micah as he walks into the staff room, green resort employee t-shirt on, stretched thin against his very muscular chest and biceps. He's so tan. How he keeps that copper skin tone year-round, even the dead of winter, I've never been able to figure out. His dark hair flops over his eyebrows, something he only let's happen off season. And those eyes. His piercing, hazel eyes. I only got a split-second look, but it was enough. I can't believe my crappy luck.

He hasn't had a summer job in years. YEARS. But this summer, the one freaking summer I decide to take the job at Salt Creek and save every penny so I can finally leave this mountain, is the summer he takes his Uncle up on the position. If I had even the slightest clue Micah was going to be working here, I would have found a different job. It would have taken longer to save the money—no other business up here pays as well—but the peace of mind would have been worth it.

Instead I'm rocking a future mental breakdown from trying to keep my shit together every time I'm scheduled to work the same shift. So far, that's been every single one.

I'm about to lose the battle.

With my back to him, I fill my water bottle from the staff dispenser. We may be in the mountains but even summer up here is hot enough to dehydrate. I have the wonderful task of festival duty today, which means cleaning up after lazy tourists and answering asinine questions about where to find cheaper food or parking.

These entitled idiots came to a resort town for a three-day festival. There is no cheaper parking or food. Every business in town is set to capitalize on their open wallets.

I can't even look forward to hanging out with the girls after my shift because Micah will be hanging out with them as well. He's the reason I even know these girls from down the hill. He's the one who got out, got a scholarship to Fallbrook Hills University. He's made the friends, had the fun, lived a life I've been dreaming of. I'm the one stuck here scrapping by and taking care of my sister.

Not for long. I've got to get out of here before I lose my mind.

I feel him watching me. The back of my neck is on fire. Somehow, I'm attuned to his presence. I can distinguish his footsteps from everyone else's, so I know the instant he starts walking to me. The second my bottle is full I turn to leave and brush his arm with mine. My skin burns from the contact and I pull in a silent breath, holding it as I walk out of the staff room.

I'm not two feet outside before I hear my name.

"Charlie, hang on. We're headed in the same direction."

This gets my attention. "What?"

"Festival duty. We both pulled the short straw today."

In more ways than one. I stop walking and pop the top on my water, taking a deep pull and swallowing it down before I can look at Micah. This is going to be...awful.

I nod, my only response, and start walking toward the path that leads to the festival zone, Micah hot on my trail. Like a puppy. He's been following me our entire lives. I was the adventurous one, convincing him to try things and push boundaries.

How ironic the one time the tables were turned I bolted.

"What are your summer plans?" he asks.

I resist the eye roll that wants to make an appearance. "You're looking at it. I'm taking as many shifts as Tye will give me."

"He mentioned that."

This draws me up short. I look at Micah. "He did?" What the hell is Tye doing talking about my business? It's none of Micah's.

"Don't be mad at him." Micah puts his hands up in surrender. "I kind of forced him to tell me."

Arms crossed I glare at him. "Yeah, sure."

Micah takes a deep breath and I know exactly what he's about to say. I really don't want him to address the elephant on the mountain, but he's got me cornered. Maybe this is how he got Tye to divulge my summer job details. I deflate a little, realizing I don't have a choice right now.

"I know that look, Charlie. But I have to say it. It's killing me."

I nod. It's the only reassurance I'm giving him.

"I'm sorry, okay? I messed up. Please don't let that night ruin our friendship. Please. I miss you."

I shake my head, looking away from him. "I don't know if we can come back from that. Things are different now." I feel the burn building behind my eyes, and I will the tears away.

"No, I guess we can't go backwards. But what if we started over. I admit I'm an asshole. You bust my balls for the next month while we're up here. Then..."

I look up at him. "Then what?" I need to hear something more from him. I can't even admit to myself what it is because not hearing it will devastate me.

"Then we're okay. Better." He looks down. "I'll take anything, Charlie. I can't lose you."

I swallow. He's already lost me and not the way he thinks he has. I have to get the strength to tell him. To follow through with this.

Because if I don't, I'll be trapped.

***

"How was the shift?" Alison asks. I met her last summer at the festival, which was only one day of music being the first season Tye had gotten it started. This summer he's expanded it to a few days of rotating stages with a mix of genres.

"Exhausting. Flat landers are needy suckers."

"Hey! We're flat landers!" Misty takes offense to the term we have for people who live down the hill. It isn't exactly a compliment so I can't fault her.

"I put you in your own category, don't worry." I pat her shoulder and lean back into the soft couch. Jeff, Alison's boyfriend, set this getaway up with his friend Matt for the entire group. Jeff has a family connection to Tye so they were able to secure one of the luxury guest cabins with enough room for everyone. After the last time I stayed with them in one of these, I wasn't too excited to return but Misty talked me into it.

More like twisted my arm, but I'll let it go for now.

"Is Hannah coming?" I change the subject, not wanting to think about the reason I'm reluctant to hang out. I haven't seen Hannah in a while. Matt's her boyfriend but he's not up here yet, either.

"Oh, they had to back out."

"What? Oh no! Trouble in paradise?" Those two are couple goals. If they can't make it, what hope is there for the rest of us?

"No, no. Nothing like that." Alison says. Jeff and Hannah are cousins, so she's gotten pretty close to their family. "She's too close to her due date and the doctor didn't want her on the long drive."

"Wow. I had no idea they were expecting." A side effect of living up here when most of your friends live hours away. I'm left out of a lot. Micah would have told me, but we haven't been on speaking terms for most of the year.

"Yeah. Matt really thought they'd have time, but he puts her health first of course, so it was a no brainer." Alison smiles.

Thankfully there aren't too many couples in this group. Alison and Jeff for one. Misty and her guy, Frank, a cop who might join us at the end of the week. There's some kind of strange chemistry between Jeff's sister and his friend Pete that I've picked up on. But it seems more angry than heated, so who knows what's happening there. Without Matt and Hannah, the lovey couple energy isn't overwhelming. Yet.

Although with Micah trolling along with his horn dog friend, Gio, that could change in a heartbeat. If I have to witness some kind of festival hook ups I'll puke.

That would be the nail in the Micah coffin for sure. I already know what he's been like at college. I don't need a front row seat. And I certainly refuse to be another one of his notches.

I still can't believe he went there. The memories of that stupid night last summer continue to haunt me. I've had a couple of dreams. Not good ones, either. If only you could purge memories that plague you instead of having them catch you off guard all the time.

"You okay?" Misty leans into me, assessing my mental state I guess. I've been chewing my lip and staring off into space with my errant thoughts, unaware of my surroundings for the last few minutes.

Micah and Gio pick that moment to walk into the living room where the girls have been camped out.

"This festival is lit. The music is off the chain. The honeys are plentiful and smoking hot." Gio rubs his hands together. "I'm gonna do me some howling tonight."

"Gross," Misty gags. "Can you not."

Gio winks at her. "Oh believe me, I totally can."

"Ew."

Gio laughs manically while Micah punches his arm and tells him to shut up.

Jeff follows in behind them, a grin on his face. "Scoped out our seats. We've got the perfect spot for tonight." He rubs his hands together. "Not too close, but not nosebleeds. Just high enough to see over people but not so far back that we can't make out their faces."

Alison gives him a hug. "Just right."

"Exactly."

Gio gags. "Dial down the ball and chain vibes, would you? I don't want to lose my mojo."

"Who says you've got mojo?" Misty snorts clearly not impressed with the football god.

"Why you tryin' to rain on my party?" He actually looks hurt. Crestfallen.

I glance to Micah, shocked to find him watching me. I shouldn't be surprised at this point. Whenever we're in the same room he looks, he watches. He evaluates how pissed off I am at him. The sad thing is, I'm not mad. I was at first. Livid. But now I'm heartbroken because his impulsive decision to make a move on me while intoxicated ruined everything between us.

And as much as he wants to start over and try again at our friendship, I just don't know that it's possible.

That's why I've got to leave. I need to get off this mountain with all of the memories I have of my best friend and me. The guy who always had me in the palm of his hand.

The only boy I've ever loved even though it's been in secret.

Misty scoffs at something else Gio says and shoulder bumps me.

"I bet you won't miss doofus remarks like this when you move away."

I gulp and shoot a glance at Micah. His eyes are wide.

"When you what?" He growls the words.

Oh. Shit.

Charlie and Micah are finally getting their moment! Their story will be a novella, approximately 10 chapters and 25k words. I'm currently planning to post every other Saturday, but that may increase if I have more time to write.

Micah's POV will be up next! He's not too happy about the news Charlie's moving away.

This series of novellas revolves around the seasons, Moonlight being the summer story. It just so happens that I went to a 5 Seconds of Summer concert in June and felt Charlie and Micah the entire night in all of the lyrics. So...they are the official Moonlight playlist. Plus they have Summer in their name which feels like kismet. Exactly how I write my stories!

Charlie needs a permanent vacation. I really agonized over which song needed to come first and this is the winner.

https://youtu.be/oP8Y4IsPxzU

BTW they were one of the best live shows I've ever seen. The energy was incredible. See you soon!