"It's Something" # 3 - Something Twisted: Michael Clifford

Chapter 16: Just the way you are

"AH! WHAT THE FRICK!"

"AND I BEAT YOUR ASS ONCE AGAIN!" I cheered as I shot up from the couch, celebrating.

Michael and I currently playing so video games since I was done with classes and I got day off. I don't know if I'm just getting tired, but people been acting weird. Michael has been shaving more often which is weird cause he would usually let it grow for a while then would be all like, "Don't I look rugged?" to me but then he's been having a smooth, clean face. Also, every time he would cuss, Lani and/Ro would flick his forehead, or slap his hand. Michael's cussing is just his language and every time I would ask why would they do that, their response is usually, "You'll know soon." I hate it when they say that cause it makes me more curious.

"Hey," he grabbed my hand and pulled me back to the couch to wrap his arms around my waist to say, "Are the others bothering you still?"

I shook my head, and rested my head on his shoulder, saying, "Just dirty looks from the girls but the guys don't do anything."

"Well, duh, us guys don't do those kinds of things."

"Right," I nodded, and Michael added, "Also, that Tom guy better not bother you."

"Why?" I looked at him and smiled, "Jealous?"

"SHUT UP." He snuggled his face between my neck and shoulder, said, "I just don't him to think that he can take you away from me."

"Aren't you guys friends?" I asked him and he shrugged, "A friend of a friend."

"Right.." I nodded and that's when the phone started ringing.

"Gotta get that." I said, trying to get up but Michael held on to me tighter, whining, "NOOOO."

"Mimi!" I slapped his arms, laughing, "Come on, I'll be gone in five seconds."

"Oh god," He let go, groaning, which made me laugh, saying, "Get it?"

"Got it." He rubbed his temple, saying, "Get the phone call."

"Love you!" I said to him as I walked to the phone, and answered, "Hello?"

"Natalie?" The voice said, and continued, "It's Mia!"

"Mia?" I gasped, and smiled, "Hey! What's up?"

I'm pretty surprised that Mia called. I never fully met her, but Lani let me face time her when Mia calls. I'm always jealous of her. She's always so perfect looking and her personality is always so refreshing. That's the only way I could describe it, honestly. She can never fail to be the life of the party and she's not afraid of anything or say anything. I mean, I'm like that too, but hers doesn't come out witty or sarcastic or your know, offensive. She does it with consideration, and confidence. She actually thinks before she speaks, unlike myself. I wish I could be like that. 

"A lot things, actually. I'm actually London!"

"What?! Seriously?! Sin when?"

"Last night, and I'm exhausted but I want to meet up with Lani but her phone isn't on."

"Of course." I sighed, and said, "You can pass by my place if you want! I'm cooking dinner tonight and Lani and the guys tonight."

"The guys..." Mia said in a low voice, strangely, and her voice went back to normal, saying, "Sure! Just tell me where you live and I'll be there soon."

"Cool, see you soon, Mia!"

After I gave Mia the address and hung up, I heard Michael yelled out, "Who was it?"

As I walked back and plopped on the couch, I told him, "Mia."

"Mia Raine?!" He gasped with huge bug eyes and a big happy smile, and I nodded, laughing, "Don't get too excited. You have a girlfriend now."

He scoffed, and put his arm around my shoulder, saying, "I know! Just haven't seen Mia in a while."

"Did you go all bug eyed on her when you first saw her?"

"Is this a test?" Michael raised his brows at me and I shrugged, "Maaaybe."

"Just to let you know, my heart was on you since the day I first met you so if you're wondering if I was checking her out....she's a model, how can you not?"

"Good point." I agreed, which made both of us started laughing.

I can't blame him for checking her out cause I would to if I was born as a dude.

"Is she coming here?"

"Yeah, she's already here in London and gonna eat dinner with us."

"Oh how Ashton is gonna be excited." Michael snickered, "I remember how he wouldn't stop smiling when he was at Mia's party during summer."

"I can see that happening with Mia around in general," I said then rested my head on his shoulder, saying, "I wish I was more like her."

"What are you talking about?" Michael wrapped his arms around my waist, and I shrugged, "I don't know. Mia is so confident with everything. I wonder if she's insecure about anything at all."

"Lee," Michael held me tighter, "Everyone is insecure about something."

"I know, but she doesn't show it."

"She's a model, they have to be confident about everything."

"Another good point."

"Aren't you lucky to have such a smart boyfriend?"

"Yeah," I slapped his arm, laughing, "A smart ass boyfriend."

"Oh shush," he kissed my head, "You love me."

Later that day, Ro came back from the cafe and Lani while the other guys stayed at the van for a bit.

"MIA?!" Lani with a smile on her faces, and continued, "YAY! I missed her. I wonder how is she."

"Probably living the life right now." Ro joked then asked, "What time she's coming?"

I shrugged, "She didn't really say. I just told her that I was making dinner tonight and gave her our address."

"Cool," Lani nodded and then Ro asked, "What are you gonna make?"

I shrugged, "Not very sure."

"HEY!" Michael nudged me, "You should make your crepes."

"For dessert?"

"Oh yeah!" Lani snapped her fingers, "Mia loves chocolate and Mia's favorite food is anything Italian and you make the BEST seafood Alfredo."

"You think everything I cook is the best, Lani." I shook my head at her and she nodded, saying, "Uh yeah? You're great at cooking."

"Right?!" Ro agreed, and said to me, "You should really go into culinary school, Nat. Just saying cause that cooking talent is being wasted away while you're reading French Literature."

"It's not my fault that my mom didn't want me to do it." I rested my head on the back of the couch, "OH GOD, and the fact that my family is coming soon."

"Hey," Michael flicked my temple, saying, "Don't worry, it's gonna be just fine. Get your mind off of that."

I sighed, and blew my hair away from my face. Even though I'm still stressing out the fact that my parents coming, I do need to get my head out of the topic of it.

As I began cooking, my mind became calm again. I don't know why, but cooking has always been my favorite thing. My mom was never a great cook, so our nanny would cook and as I watch her cook, she always had this smile on her face every time me and my siblings would eat together. I would ask her she would have that smile and she told me this wonderful thing. She always had this smile because she's able to make others happy with what she made. It's super cliche now that I think about it, but it's always a good feeling when people love what you make. Like Lani's photography and Jenna's ukulele playing, people enjoy it. I guess cooking is mine.

When I was setting up the table after making the pasta and crepe batter, the door bell rang and I heard Lani cheering, "MIA!!"

I ran to the door, and when I opened it, a beautiful woman appeared in front of me. What's strange was that Mia was wearing something so simple which was distressed jeans, knitted olive sweater, and black beanie with black vans slip ons. Her whole appearance was a big surprised because I thought she would look more designer like but even though she's not, she still took my breathe away with her now jet black hair, light tan skin, and dark blue eyes.

Wow.

"Natalie!" Mia greeted me with a blinding white smile, and I gave her a stupid nervous wave, smiling probably stupidly.

"You look fantastic in person!" Natalie started hugging me super tightly, "And you smell wonderful too!"

Wait, what.

When she let go, she said, "By any chance that your cooking something sweet? Cause I love sweets. Sweets are amazing! Do you have a favorite kind of chocolate by any chance?"

"Uh, milk?"

"Really? I like some White chocolate. Ohhhh, that sounds so good right now! But I can wait till next time. Hey-"

"Do you really talk this much in person?" I blurted out on accident. I covered my mouth immediately, feeling super embarrassed and incredibly rude. Shit. Why would I talk like this to a model?!

I expected Mis to be angry and say that I'm a bitch or something but instead, she slapped her forehead and hissed, "Shit."

She put her hand down and crossed her arms, saying, "I was rambling again, wasn't I?"

I nodded, and said, "Don't worry! I just didn't expect you to say so much since this our first time meeting in person."

Mia shook her head, "No, I'm really sorry. I tend to ramble a lot when I'm nervous."

WHAT.

"You're nervous?!" I gasped, and she nodded, "Yeah! Of course, you're one of Lani's best friends!"

"Right." I nodded, laughing a little, and Mia again repeated, "I'm really sorry. I know I'm weird. I just tend to be like this when I really don't know what to say and it just haves no end or-"

"I get it." I stopped her, smiling, "It's okay! Come on in! Lani and the others are waiting for you you!"

"Oh yeah.." Her smile softened up a little, "5sos are here, huh?"

"Not yet, they'll come in a bit," I answered her and chuckled at her soft expression, "Is that okay?"

"Perfectly fine."

"Okay," I moved out of the way, and she, not walked in, but hopped in, saying, "Thanks!"

"Uh..." I was a bit surprised about her hop in, "Sure."

Mia is quite a lively one.

As I walked behind Mia, I saw Lani jumping to her, cheering, "MIA!"

"LALA!"

Lala?

As they began to hug and spin around a whole lot, I saw Ro all bugged eyed on the couch and looking at me with a wtf look.

When they let go, Mia was squealing, "Oh my god! I'm so happy you're here! Why don't you ever answer your phone?"

"Sorry!" Lani apologized, "My phone was on silent!"

"When is it not?!"

"She haves a good point." I pointed at Lani and Mia looked at me, nodding, "SEE!" She put her hand up, and I was guessing it was a high five so I we high fived, and Mia continued, "You need to learn to put sound on your phone, Missy."

"Yeah, yeah." Lani waved her hands, and Mia looked at Ro, and jumped, "You have a rose tattoo also!"

I looked at Ro who was looking at her shoulder, and nodded, "Yeah, you too?"

Mia nodded and said, "It's on my back, though. Like right on the middle."

"Ouch," Ro winced, "Didn't that hurt?"

"Not as much as the one my rib cage," Mis winced, "Now that is what I call pain."

"I told you not to get it there as your first tattoo." Lani shook her head, and Mia shrugged, "Better to get it over with then be all anxious."

"True."

"You had your first tattoo on your ribcage?!" Ro gasped and smiled, "Nice!"

"Thank you," Mia flipped her hair, playfully, "Thank you very much."

Then later, Michael came from the kitchen and the moment he laid eyes on Mia, his face lit up, and smiled, "Mia?"

Mia turned to him and greeted him with arms wide open, "Michael!"

When they hugged and let go, Mia pointed at his hair, saying, "I see you dyed your hair to a normal color this time."

"And so did you, Miss Brunette."

"The red hair was a pain to keep," Mia stroked the ends of her hair, and Michael nodded, "I understand that problem."

After the conversation, Mia sniffed the air, and sighed, "Ahhh, smells amazing in here."

"Made Seafood Alfredo for your visit." I told her and she jumped happily, "YAY! I've been craving for pasta. It's going to kill me and ruin my diet but then again, I really don't care."

"Don't models usually care about their diet and figure?" Ro asked and Mia shook her head, "Now that my dear is a stereotype. Well, for me at least. I have some friends in the modeling industry who does diets but I don't. It's so unnecessary. I mean, how can you reject wonderful, delicious food? Especially when you travel."

"Sounds like a good life you have there.”

That’s when Mia shrugged, and sighed, “It’s a pain sometimes. Reporters be calling out my fat and such.”


“Seriously?!” Ro gasped and Mia nodded, “Yeah, it happens. I just don’t care for them, honestly. I want to see them refuse a well cooked meal just because they’re on a ‘diet’.”

I can’t help but to be amazed by Mia’s attitude and confidence.

While Mia and Lani were catching up and Ro is getting to know her better, Michael and I were setting up the table.

“Hey Mi.” I said and Michael nodded, “Mhmm?”

“Were you attracted to Mia?”

I heard a sudden clink from the fork and plate, and Michael gasped, “Wha?”

I avoided eye contact and focused on the table, “Were you?”


“Well, she is a model, and pretty good looking-”


“I see..” I sighed, feeling a bit down, but then Michael quickly walked towards me as he walked around the table, and grabbed my wrist, saying, “But I prefer a girl like you, Nat.”

I looked at him and his face stern. I couldn’t help but to smile a little, saying, “It was just a question, Michael. My gosh.”

It was honestly just out of curiosity. I wanted to know if he was attracted to her cause Mia is gorgeous and I felt like I’m not all that special. It’s not exactly insecurity but just like, Why me? kind of thing. 

Michael started to laugh a little as he put his head down and can I just say how cute his face is when he laughs?

When he looked back up at me, he smiled at me as he put his arms around my waist, saying, “Hey, don’t compare yourself to Mia, okay? I like just the way you are.”


“Can you say that more like Bruno Mars?” I joked with him and he started laughing, signing, “JUST THE WAY YOU AAARE!”

That’s when we both started laughing, and he began hugging me really tight, singing Just the way you are to me.

Eh, this guy picked me for a reason, and whatever that reason is made me the luckiest girl in the world.

The door bell rang, and Ro called out, saying, “Got it!”

As she ran to the door, Michael and I came out of the kitchen to see if it was the rest of the guys.

The moment the door opened, the first thing that happened as Luke and Ashton running inside while Calum just walked in all nonchalant about it.

“Hey Ro.” Calum waved at Ro who just stood there, saying to Calum, “Why?”


“They wanted to see who can get to the couch faster.”


“Again, why?”

Calum shrugged, “Why not?”

I saw Ashton plopping the couch, cheering, “AND I-SHIT!!!”


Ashton eyes landed on Mia who was sitting next to him, laughing, “Hello to you too.”



“Mia!” Luke and Calum cheered, and Mia waved at them, “Hey Calum! What’s up, lover boy?”

“All good.” Luke grinned as he sat next to Lani as he put his arm around her shoulder, “Still loving and being a boy.”


“Of course.” Mia chuckled, then looked at Ashton, smiling, “Hey Drummer boy. Long time, no see.”

“Yeah,” Ashton nodded, nervously, “Your-um, the red, er, your hair-”


“Is not red.” Mia helped him finish his sentence, and nodded, “Yeah, it’s long gone.”


“Looks good on you.”

“Why thank you.”

That’s when it fell into silence between them but Mia was just smiling while Ash was avoided eye contact with her as he was looking at the ground.

“Wow,” I crossed my arms, “That got awkward quick.”

“Right?” Michael agreed, and said, “Let’s stop being awkward and eat!”

“Good idea.” Mia stood up, and walked to the kitchen, rubbing her stomach, “I’m starving.”

Everyone went to the kitchen and Ash was the last person to walk in.

“You okay there, buddy?” I patted his back, and he sighed, “It’s been a while since I last saw her.”

“Are you nervous?”

“Well, yeah! I didn’t expect her to be here.”


“Should’ve told you that she was visiting.”


“That would’ve been good information.”


“Hey, I was making food so I can feed you guys.”


Ash sighed and dropped his head, “Good point.”


“Hey,” I nudged him, “Don’t be so uptight. Have fun.”


“Alright, alright,” Ashton waved his hand at me, “I got it.”

So, throughout that dinner, it was pretty chill. A lot of laughs and Mia had a lot of model funny stories. Who knew models could be clumsy?

When the night was going great, the phone started ringing, and I got up, saying, “I got it.”


I grabbed the phone, and saw the caller ID but it’s a number I don’t recognize so I answered, “Hello?”

“Natalie.”


“May?” My heart stopped. She never calls me. Psh, she doesn’t even talk to me normally so let alone call me, “Why are you calling me?”

“I want to talk to you.”



“Shocker.”


“Cut the sass, would you? I just want to get something straighten.”

“Oh, perfect Mia got things all mixed up?”

“Shut up. Why would Mom make all of us move to London to meet your stupid boyfriend? Shouldn’t he be the gentlemen and get his ass to the states?”

“Leave my boyfriend’s ass out of this because it’s not my fault that mom made that decision. Trust me, I want to know also.”


“Well, it better be worth it.”


“If not?”

“Then you just wasted all of our time as always.”


“Okay, are you done now? Cause I have guest over and you’re wasting my time.”


“Wow, Natalie, you actually have guest in that house with that tatted bimbo.”


“Oh my god, she’s smarter than I could ever be and a lot more reasonable than you.”


“At least I’m clean, unlike her.”


“Cause she’s more of a vivacious chick than you.”

“Are you saying I’m boring?”


“And you just got that now?” I rolled my eyes, and said, “Seriously, what’s the point of this phone call?”

She was silent.

“Look, May, I get that you just want to call me and insult me to entertain yourself, but it’s not gonna change the fact that I’m staying with who I am and not changing for you and mom cause-”

“That boy was being cliche and saying he likes just the way you are like some casanova?”

“First of all, cliche is not all that bad, you should find a boy and know what’s it like for once, and second, I’m fine with just the way I am because even though you and mom are against it, I’m surrounded by people who actually like me for me so that makes up for those empty holes you and mom left in my heart. No damage you say to me can ever over top the fact that you and mom declared that I am no longer family. Say that I’m stupid and a waste of time, but just as long I have Michael and my friends who are my guest, then I am okay with that.”

Silence again.

I took a deep breathe, and continued, “I have to go now. See in a few weeks.”


I hung up the phone, and I felt my heart racing. I haven’t talk to May in such a long time so that was a rush.

“Wow.” I heard someone say behind me which made me jump, and gasped, “Fu-”

My eyes landed on the wide eyed, grinning Mia who clapped, “I give you props, Natalie.”


“Wait,” I shook my head a little, and asked, “For what?”


“For standing up for what you believe in,” Mia crossed her arms, “I think that’s impressive.”


“You think I’m impressive?” I pointed at myself, then put my hand down, saying, “But you’re so confident with yourself and-”


“Is not really surrounded by a lot of great people like you.” Mia interrupted me which caught me off guard.

I kept my mouth shut, unable to know how to respond to that.

She sighed, saying, “I rarely see Lani and never have time to face time her or text her like you, and I wish I could have a roommate like Ro, AND you have an awesome boyfriend. You have no idea how luck you are and I’m glad your standing up for your luck.”

“Wow,” I managed to say out loud, and chuckled, “I-I didn’t really expect that.”

Mia shrugged, “Yeah, I know,” she did a bigger sigh, and smiled, “You’re cooking was amazing, also.”

“Oh,” I put the phone down, “Are you guys done?”

She nodded, “Yeah, that’s why I’m here to get you. Time for dessert.”

“Cool,” I walked to her, and Mia jumped, “Lani said you have the best crepes!”


“Lani says all my cooking are good so don’t get your hopes up.” I shook my head, laughing, and Mia held my arm, saying, “But you have no idea how much of an awful cook I am. I’m a total disaster.”


“Come on, you gotta be good at something that’s cooking related.”


“Does tea count? I can brew tea like a pro.”


We both started laughing and I said, “Sounds great! You can brew some tea if you want! Lani gave us these awesome tea bags that you can only get around her area.”


“Sounds like a plan.”

As we kept walking, Mia blurted out, “But just to let you know, I think you’re just fine the way you are.”

“Huh?” So random. This girl is so random.

“Michael told me about your random question about me.” Mia nudged me a little, and said, “I think you’re just fine. You know why?”

“Why?”


“You have Michael by your side, and that boy sure can smile when your name is brought up. He sees something special in you so who you are is just fine.”

I couldn’t help but to smile real big, saying, “Thanks Mia.”


I guess she’s right. If Michael can still love me for who I am, then I guess it’s not that bad.

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omfg. this chapter sucks, but i gotta update and bring in Mia ;) heheheheheehhe.

sorry about the lack. senior year. busy. eeeeehhhhhhh.

but i love you guys! thank you for reading!