Bad Management

There was a knock at the door at exactly 8. I gave myself a once over in the mirror making sure I looked ok. Sophia and I had gone shopping in preparation for tonight and she had picked me out the most gorgeous playsuit I’d ever seen. It was in the style of a black tuxedo jacket that fitted me perfectly and showed off all my best assets, which was my bum. I’m not the most confident girl usually wearing leggings and a baggy jumper or a band shirt that hid my figure, but, if I had to choose my favourite part it would definitely be my bum. I’d teamed the playsuit up with a pair of T-Bar holographic pair of heels so that the gap between us wouldn’t be so big and grabbed my beaded clutch bag. My makeup was minimal with just winged eyeliner; my usual red stained lips had been replaced with a dark blush pink that made them look elegant. My hair had dried to its natural wavy state and I’d scraped it into a loose Elsa style braid.
“Yeah I think she’s ready I’ll just go get her for you.” I heard Gerard say as I tore my eyes away from the mirror making sure I had everything in the smallest bag I owned. I heard the chattering between Sophia and Michael, laughing occasionally when he’d said something funny. “Hey you ready?” Gerard asked pushing the door open without knocking as I turned to face him, his mouth fell open a little.
“How do I look?” I breathed out nervously.
“You look stunning.” He smiled moving my fringe to its proper position. “Why you nervous?” He asked standing in the way so I couldn’t avoid the question.
“This is it. I mean we’re in Australia. These guys are a big deal over here everyone knows them and as soon as a fan sees us out together it’s going to be all over their social media. Everyone is going to know.” I told him honestly as I looked up at him, going to push the glasses up my nose that weren’t there causing him to laugh.
“Everyone you want to know already know. It doesn’t matter about his fans, sure some of them aren’t going to be happy but you can deal with it. You’ve done it countless times before. Besides what’s your other option a secret relationship for the rest of your life? Michael doesn’t want that. When Sophia and I were going through this she was just as nervous, she didn’t want any backlash, didn’t want to do anything to dislodge the bands reputation or success. I, on the other hand, wanted everyone to know that she was mine. He’s a lucky guy, just like I am, to have you on his arm and he wants to shout about it. So get out of the door, smile that smile you have when you see him and forget about everything.” Gerard finished his little pep talk and instantly calmed me down as I nodded, grabbing my bag and walking out of the room.
“She’s to be home by 12 o’clock, every minute over and I will force you to listen to Gerard going on about sweaters, got it?” I heard Sophia warn him causing me to laugh, his eyes instantly looked over at where the sound came from and that smile that could cure my world of problems showed itself.
“Hey brit.” He laughed as I walked over to him.
“Australia.” I nodded laughing as he kissed my cheek.
“I mean it 12 o’clock.” Sophia reminded him as I laughed.
“Bye mom, bye dad.” I put on my best Australian accent that was so bad causing him to burst out laughing.
“They never mentioned you had to be alone at 12 right?” He wiggled his eyebrows, opening the door for me and smacking my ass to make sure they saw as we walked out giggling like school kids.

We reached the restaurant about 15 minutes later without any trouble. “Tell me why am I the luckiest guy in the world?” He asked waiting for someone to take our reservation name. “I have the best bandmates, amazing friends and an alright girlfriend.” He laughed as I shook my head at him slapping his chest. “No I mean it. You look...” He didn’t finish just smiling and leaning down a little to peck my lips.
“Hi what’s your reservation name?” The young waitress asked breaking up our moment. Michael looked down at me as I booked the table. He’d been in the studio so texted me the number.
“Mr Dover. Ben” I smiled at her like it was nothing as I heard Michael snigger from behind me whilst the girl too tried to hide her amusement. She grabbed the menus and walked us over to our table that was in the quieter part of the restaurant, there was a few couples scattered around and an empty table at the side of us but that was it. He pulled my chair out for me waiting until I’d sat down to sit down at the side of me himself.
“Nice touch.” He smiled at me over the menu as I laughed. “Do you know what you fancy Mrs. Dover?” He questioned looking down at the menu.
“I fancy steak. I always fancy steak.” I told him truthfully as he laughed.
“That’s what I love about you. You don’t go for a mumbo jumbo boring salad.” He laughed taking my hand over the table. “I’m going to have steak too.” He stroked my thumb.
“I must say Michael in a dress shirt is rather… nice.” I clicked my tongue once the waitress took our order, I noticed the blush in his cheeks.
“Well you know thought I would make an effort and all that jazz.” He told me just as we heard the scrap of a chair on the floor at the side of us. “You’re fucking kidding me?” He mumbled, I wasn’t sure if he wanted me to hear it or not, but I did.
“What’s wrong?” I turned to follow his eyes and there he was Frank sat at the table at the side of us with Amber. “Michael” I squeezed his hand, “ignore him.” I looked up at him.
“It’s hard. This is our third date and he’s been there. I feel like I’m dating him.” He whispered looking at me, and I could see the slight hurt and insecurity in his eyes.
“Let’s go.” I told him as he shook his head.
“No I wanted to bring you here. It’s classy and that’s what you deserve.” He told me, his eyes flickering between me and my not-technically-ex-boyfriend-but-someone-who-might-as-well-be.
“Michael listen to me. I used the alias name of Ben Dover. That is not something that screams classy.” I laughed as he smiled staring at me. “This isn’t us. Come on let’s go.” He nodded slowly.
“Let me go sort myself out yeah?” I nodded at him as he left, walking past their table but looking straight ahead.


Going to be home before 12 at this rate. Xx I texted Sophia, about 30 seconds later my phone buzzed.
Why? You’re in a new relationship you should be footsing under the table and whatnot. Xx Sophia texted back causing me to smile. Instead of responding I took a ‘selfie’ but made sure to catch them in the background and sent it to her. I was so engrossed in my phone that I jumped when someone touched my arm.
“Sorry Australia.” I looked up to find it wasn’t my blue haired boyfriend standing in front of me but Frank. “Oh.” I let out the bored tone as he took the seat Michael had vacated. “I’m about to leave.” I told him looking over at the door Michael should be walking through any minute.
“I’ll make it quick then.” He said, “I’m sorry. For everything.” He looked at me with sort of desperation in his eyes.
“For everything? That doesn’t cut it Iero. What you’ve done, what you made me do, that generic sorry doesn’t even break the surface. Not to mention the shit you pulled at New Year. A flimsy car journey to a surprise birthday gig doesn’t make me forget. But, I know something that will.” I told him honestly as I saw a glimmer of hope in his eyes, as though I was about to spill the secrets of to win a girl back. “And he’s on his way over.” I smirked at his face standing up and taking Michael’s hand, letting myself be led out of the restaurant.

“What was that about?” He asked once we were safely outside away from the stares of the power couple.
“He said sorry.” I looked over at Michael as I flagged a taxi down getting in and pulling him in.
“For what? Screwing you over? Making you quit your job?” I saw his fist clench as he asked the rhetorical questions.
“I don’t care. After Australia he’s out of my life.” I smiled leaning up to kiss Michael’s red lips.
“Where to guys?” The driver asked making me pull away.
“The nearest pizza place that’s close to Sunset House please.” I told the driver causing Michael to pull me closer to him mumbling I was the best on my lips.
“You’re 5 minutes away from Sunset House. Head that way.” The driver pointed to us as we got out of the cab. “Have fun guys.” He wished us warmly before joining back into the taxi. We wondered into the pizza shop laughing and nudging each other. There was a group of teens already in the shop who looked up at us, their eyes widening as they noticed who he was. He squeezed my hand to reassure me it was ok and to stop me from pulling my hand away from his, knowing I’d been nervous about this moment since it was reported that Michael was no longer single.
“Are you?” One of the guys of the group asked as we looked over at him. “Michael Clifford?” I noticed him nod and smile at the guy, who was now visibly sweating at meeting someone famous.
“Would you guys like a picture?” I asked them all, they all looked at me quickly with shock on their faces as they nodded. “Give us your phones.” I smiled as an array of phones were shoved in my face causing me to laugh. I had them all get in around Michael as I took their photo 5 times, each on a different phone.
“What pizza are you guys ordering?” Michael asked them once all the photos were done.
“Oh we’re just getting drinks; we don’t get our money until Friday.” One of the girls spoke out as I smiled remembering what it was like at their age that I couldn’t afford anything until I got my spends.
“What pizza do you want?” He asked them as they all looked confused. “I’m going to order what do you want?” He asked them again as one of the guys stuttered out what I’m assuming was their usual order. We waited about 10 minutes for the pizzas to come, talking to the group who told us they were just so happy someone from their part of town had made it. We grabbed our pizza boxes saying bye to the group as they thanked us for the pizza.

We walked back to the hotel, what should have taken us 5 minutes took us a just short of 40 minutes as we just talked laughed and ate our pizza. We finally got to the apartment I was staying in with Sophia and Gerard at half nine, laughing as we walked through the door noticing the flickering lights of the T.V. was the only light in the place. I pulled him into the front room area where all the guys were sat watching Star Wars Empire Strikes Back and they’d just got up to the part where you find out Lando has betrayed them. Up until a year ago I’d never seen a Star Wars film, it was only because I felt bad that Sophia had held in her disgust for 11 years that I decided to watch them and now I don’t regret it. I saw Michael’s eyes lighten up when he realised what they were watching, he pulled me further into the room and to the spot on the floor where no one was filling. He pulled me in between his legs as we watched the film silently with him. It came up to the carbonite bit and I turned away, looking at him over my shoulder as he gave me a questioning glance.
“I fancy Han and no one wants to see the guy hurt.” I whispered on his lips as he chuckled kissing me.
“I fancy Han too.” He whispered smiling.

Notes