Safety Pin.

Claire ran her fingers through her hair as she paced Luke's room waiting for him to get out of the bathroom. Things had been good between them, but only when it was between them. Every time anyone else was involved, even his friends it's like things were totally different. Which had kind of been how things had been from the start, but see what was different was she hadn't hated it at first. She'd thought it was a good idea for them to keep their relationship on the down low for a while when they'd first got together. Mostly to see if they were going to work out, and because neither of them wanted to deal with the scrutiny of everyone right off the bat if they weren't even sure they were going to work. That was a year and half ago though. Yet Luke still felt it was best not to tell anyone, and honestly Claire didn't agree. But it wasn't like Luke wouldn't even listen when she talked about it which was driving her insane.

---

Michael stared at his ceiling while he laid in bed not ready to get up. He'd had a long night the night before and was not ready for the day to start. Especially knowing that Angel's family was back in town. He, of course, didn't know if she was back with them or not, and he only knew her family was back because he saw them moving back into their old house for like a short moment the other day when he'd been headed out to meet the rest of the lads for band practice. Even though they weren't on tour or anything right now didn't mean they weren't going to have practice after all. They had to make sure they didn't lose any of their edge while they weren't on tour or doing any promotional stuff. Though this time off was going pretty well for them. They had a couple new songs in the works, and they were getting to relax and spend time with their families and friends outside the band which he felt like they hadn't been able to do in forever.

@ Octavia Blake
Angel sighed as she ran her hand through hair as she looked out the window as her parents drove her back to the house. They had moved back in the other day and Angel was staying for the summer with them to help them unpack at first. She had to tell them the news of course as well. She fiddled with the ring on the chain around her neck. Angel looked down at her phone to see a text from Colin, her fiancé. Miss you already, love! It read. Angel smiled at the text before texting back, Miss you too, Babe! She sent before looking out the window. She watched the houses pass by and when they pulled up in front of her old home, her eyes instantly went over to Mikey's house that was next door. She thought back about her time with Mikey and sighed, she missed him and wasn't going to deny it. They had been together for a long time. She got out of the car and brought her things inside with her parents, putting them in her old room which now had a queen sized bed in it instead of her old bed.

---

Luke finished showering and walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist and he looked over when he noticed Claire pacing around the room, "What's wrong babe?" He asked as he walked over to the dresser, pulling out a pair of boxers and pulling them on before he put the towel in the bathroom and turned back to his girlfriend. He raised an eyebrow at her and then got a pair of skinny jeans and pulled them on before he put on a black shirt and sat down on the bed, "You seem upset." He said. He knew deep down already what it was but he didn't want to talk about it. He knew what they were doing probably wasn't right. Luke really wanted to keep the relationship a secret and he knew that Claire didn't. It was just so hard with the fans and he didn't want Claire to get any hate because she didn't deserve that. Overall he was just trying to protect her from everything that came with him being in the band.

Michael finally rolled over to check his phone when he felt it buzz, and rolled his eyes. Of course, Calum would want him to come over and play a video game. Which more often than not was what they ended up doing even on days when they did have band practice. And while most people nowadays didn't have to be in the same room to play a game together, because it was all done online, both Calum and Michael found it much more fun to play in the same room. On occasion, though, like if one of them was sick and the other wasn't or some other random reason they'd play online. Usually, though they were in the same room using split screen. Though Mikey was kind of glad Calum had texted him because he'd actually been starting to think about Angel given he knew they were still moving back in next door. And it'd been forever since he'd seen her, but they'd broken up and hadn't really stayed in touch so he didn't even know if it was appropriate for him to check up on her family, or even her if she was with them. So he'd rather be with Calum playing video games and taking his mind off what was going on next door for the time being.

---

Claire turned to Luke when he walked back into the room, and she couldn't help but watch him for a moment to take in how gorgeous he really was when he was nice and clean, because right after a concert he was always sweaty and gross, though she didn't love him any less when he was gross and sweaty. Not that she'd even really been able to see him right after a concert other than the one time because he'd gotten her a pass to go backstage after the concert. Of course the downside to that was she'd been treated like a fan, no one had known who she was, and well she hadn't been able to stay long. It just sucked being in a relationship with Luke yet feeling like you weren't in one with him at all. It's like they were together in private but not public and she really hated the way it was making her feel. "I don't understand why you don't want people to know I'm your girlfriend? Is there something wrong with me?" She finally asked him a little shocked with herself really that it'd even come out at all. Usually, she just made something up to try and refrain from actually bringing it up because she knew what he'd say. But it was just time to actually talk about it now she supposed.

@ Octavia Blake
(This is going to be short cause I'm on my phone)

Angel sighed as she walked out of the door to the house and grabbed her last bag from her parents' car. She looked over at Michael's house again and frowned. How could it have been two years already since she had moved. She knew it wasn't a really long time but it still had felt like ages to her. She loved it in England but it was nice to be back home sometimes.

---

Luke frowned at her words, "Babe why would you think something like that. There is nothing wrong with you. I'm just trying to protect you." He said and put his arms on her shoulders and sighed, "You don't understand how bad the fans can be sometimes. I don't want you to have to go through that. You don't deserve something like that." He said and looked down at her.

As soon as Michael made it to Calum's and got comfortable Angel was brought up. "Is that why you asked me to come over? Because you didn't want me to do something stupid like go over to her house and see if she was there?" He asked because it was starting to sound like Calum was worried about him or something. Which Michael was fine, yea he missed Angel a lot. And he would actually really like to know if she was back in town or if it was just her parents. But he wasn't going to do anything stupid like be a creeper and try and look in the window. He was trying not to think about it though really. After all it'd been two years since she'd left for England and it wasn't like she'd really stayed in touch with him so his luck she probably didn't even think about him anymore.

---

Claire moved his arms so she could step away from him, honestly the last thing she wanted was to just fall into Luke's arms and put this off again. It'd been eating her alive for too long and she really didn't know what she might've ended up doing or how much worse things might be if she held back anymore. "What I don't understand is why you think I couldn't handle it? I mean okay you have some fans that are mean and some that might make things up to get us to break up so what. I just don't want to be a secret anymore. I don't like the way it makes me feel. I mean you won't even hold my hand if we go out in public, and then if you do it's like as soon as someone who might be a fan or paps you drop it. And it makes me feel like you don't think I'm good enough. I just want to be your girlfriend and I want people to know that I'm your girlfriend." She said not wanting to upset him, or make him late for whatever he had going on for the day that she wouldn't be invited to, but she just had to get this all off her chest before she exploded.

@ Octavia Blake
Angel went to her room an unpacked her things and then got on Twitter, @TinyLittleAngel: Back in OZ! Can't wait to spend the summer back in my old home! Can't wait to see old friends! She clicked send before she sighed and then thought about Michael and wondered what he was up to or if he was even home. It was no secret who he was and what he was doing with his life nowadays. When she first heard about 5 Seconds of Summer she heard a bunch of younger girls talking about them at Starbucks and they started talking about their favorites. It wasn't until they had said the names Luke, Michael, and Calum all together and Angel knew who they were talking about. With all his success, Angel knew that he probably didn't even think about her anymore.

---

Luke sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "It's not that I don't think you could handle it. I just don't want you to have to be subjected to that kind of stuff, Claire. I'm just looking out for you." He defended himself, not really in the mood to have this conversation with her right now. He looked down at her, "Why do you want everyone to know? Why can't it just be our little thing? You are good enough. You're beyond good enough. I just don't understand why everyone has to know. It's our private business and why can't it just stay that way?" He argued.

@ Octavia Blake
Angel went to her room an unpacked her things and then got on Twitter, @TinyLittleAngel: Back in OZ! Can't wait to spend the summer back in my old home! Can't wait to see old friends! She clicked send before she sighed and then thought about Michael and wondered what he was up to or if he was even home. It was no secret who he was and what he was doing with his life nowadays. When she first heard about 5 Seconds of Summer she heard a bunch of younger girls talking about them at Starbucks and they started talking about their favorites. It wasn't until they had said the names Luke, Michael, and Calum all together and Angel knew who they were talking about. With all his success, Angel knew that he probably didn't even think about her anymore.

---

Luke sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "It's not that I don't think you could handle it. I just don't want you to have to be subjected to that kind of stuff, Claire. I'm just looking out for you." He defended himself, not really in the mood to have this conversation with her right now. He looked down at her, "Why do you want everyone to know? Why can't it just be our little thing? You are good enough. You're beyond good enough. I just don't understand why everyone has to know. It's our private business and why can't it just stay that way?" He argued.

Michael couldn't have been happier that Calum finally decided to drop the whole subject of Angel, because well again he really didn't want to talk about her. It was after all still kind of a sore subject with him. However when he decided to check his twitter quickly before he and Calum got on with the video game everything came crashing down. It'd never really crossed his mind to unfollow Angel on twitter, or any other social media for that matter. Of course with how busy he'd been over the last year alone it wasn't like he had a ton of free time to check the stuff for more than like a second. And more often than not when he'd check anything his feed would be swarmed with fans tweeting him trying their best to get a follow, or shoutout, or reply, or anything. And at times he'd go along with it, make a fans day but again he was busy so it didn't have time for everyone. Today was different, though, it was still of course filled with fans tweeting him, but he happened to see a tweet from her as well. And it wasn't direct at him or anything but it was still there. Clearly she was back in town for a while. And for whatever reason he found himself typing up a reply before he could stop himself. @TinyLittleAngel do you think we could hang out? Maybe later today or something?

---

"When I go out with my friends and they're all talking about their boyfriends I don't feel included because I can't talk about you because we aren't telling people about us. Then when they try and set me up I have to pretend that I'm not interested or the guy isn't my type because I have a boyfriend, he just doesn't want people to know who he is. And it's not like I can say that because then it sounds like I'm making it up to get out of something. I just don't like having to lie to my friends about why they can't set me up. So I guess I just don't understand why no one can know. Gah! I just hate it Luke! I hate having to watch you in interviews totally talk your way out of the girlfriend question. I hate feeling like I'm not really a part of your life. Because you still haven't even introduced me to your band mates, and damn it I just want you to admit to someone other than me that you have a girlfriend." Claire let out getting more frustrated by the second. She totally understood where Luke was coming from on why it didn't matter if people knew. She did. But that didn't mean that she liked it. After all his band was getting more popular by the day and before either of them knew it he'd be off on tour again and she'd wouldn't be going with him and what would happen then? Because Claire didn't want to be his girlfriend that everyone thought was just some fan from his hometown. She just wanted to be his girlfriend.

@ Second Star

@ Octavia Blake
Angel was about to call Colin when she received a mention in a tweet. She froze slightly when she saw it was from Michael. Angel took a breath before running a hand through her hair and typing a reply. @Michael5SOS Of course. Just text me. I'll be around all day. She sent back and then let out the breath she hadn't been aware she was holding. She then went through with that she was doing beforehand and called Colin, "Hey babe." She said when he picked up, "Hello, Love. Everything all unpacked and such?" He asked, "Yeap. Took a little bit but I'm all unpacked and such now." "What are your plans for the night then?" "I'm actually going to hang out with one of my old friends from high school. I don't know how long though." There was no way she was telling Colin that she had dated Mikey. He would get jealous and would freak out, "That sounds like fun. Well have a good time. I have to go. I will talk to later. I love you." "Alright. I love you too." She said before hanging up. She fiddled with the ring again and sighed.

---

Luke played with his lip ring as he listened to Claire talk and he ran a hand through his hair, "I'm sorry, Claire. I didn't realize you felt this strongly about it." Luke replied. He didn't know what to say. He felt a buzz in his pocket and knew that was probably Ashton texting him. The two had made plans for the day and Ashton was probably outside to get him, "Can we talk about this later? Ashton is outside and I have to go. I'm sorry." He said before frowning. He leaned over and kissed her, "I really am sorry, Claire. I'll text you later and we can talk about this tonight. Promise." He said and frowned again before he turned and headed out of the room and out of the house, getting into Ashton's car. He greeted Ashton but didn't have much heart into the greeting. Luke felt terrible for basically just blowing off Claire like that but he didn't want to get into an argument with her and keep Ashton waiting with no explanation as to why he was keeping his friend waiting.

@ Octavia Blake
Angel was about to call Colin when she received a mention in a tweet. She froze slightly when she saw it was from Michael. Angel took a breath before running a hand through her hair and typing a reply. @Michael5SOS Of course. Just text me. I'll be around all day. She sent back and then let out the breath she hadn't been aware she was holding. She then went through with that she was doing beforehand and called Colin, "Hey babe." She said when he picked up, "Hello, Love. Everything all unpacked and such?" He asked, "Yeap. Took a little bit but I'm all unpacked and such now." "What are your plans for the night then?" "I'm actually going to hang out with one of my old friends from high school. I don't know how long though." There was no way she was telling Colin that she had dated Mikey. He would get jealous and would freak out, "That sounds like fun. Well have a good time. I have to go. I will talk to later. I love you." "Alright. I love you too." She said before hanging up. She fiddled with the ring again and sighed.

---

Luke played with his lip ring as he listened to Claire talk and he ran a hand through his hair, "I'm sorry, Claire. I didn't realize you felt this strongly about it." Luke replied. He didn't know what to say. He felt a buzz in his pocket and knew that was probably Ashton texting him. The two had made plans for the day and Ashton was probably outside to get him, "Can we talk about this later? Ashton is outside and I have to go. I'm sorry." He said before frowning. He leaned over and kissed her, "I really am sorry, Claire. I'll text you later and we can talk about this tonight. Promise." He said and frowned again before he turned and headed out of the room and out of the house, getting into Ashton's car. He greeted Ashton but didn't have much heart into the greeting. Luke felt terrible for basically just blowing off Claire like that but he didn't want to get into an argument with her and keep Ashton waiting with no explanation as to why he was keeping his friend waiting.

@ Octavia Blake
Angel was about to call Colin when she received a mention in a tweet. She froze slightly when she saw it was from Michael. Angel took a breath before running a hand through her hair and typing a reply. @Michael5SOS Of course. Just text me. I'll be around all day. She sent back and then let out the breath she hadn't been aware she was holding. She then went through with that she was doing beforehand and called Colin, "Hey babe." She said when he picked up, "Hello, Love. Everything all unpacked and such?" He asked, "Yeap. Took a little bit but I'm all unpacked and such now." "What are your plans for the night then?" "I'm actually going to hang out with one of my old friends from high school. I don't know how long though." There was no way she was telling Colin that she had dated Mikey. He would get jealous and would freak out, "That sounds like fun. Well have a good time. I have to go. I will talk to later. I love you." "Alright. I love you too." She said before hanging up. She fiddled with the ring again and sighed.

---

Luke played with his lip ring as he listened to Claire talk and he ran a hand through his hair, "I'm sorry, Claire. I didn't realize you felt this strongly about it." Luke replied. He didn't know what to say. He felt a buzz in his pocket and knew that was probably Ashton texting him. The two had made plans for the day and Ashton was probably outside to get him, "Can we talk about this later? Ashton is outside and I have to go. I'm sorry." He said before frowning. He leaned over and kissed her, "I really am sorry, Claire. I'll text you later and we can talk about this tonight. Promise." He said and frowned again before he turned and headed out of the room and out of the house, getting into Ashton's car. He greeted Ashton but didn't have much heart into the greeting. Luke felt terrible for basically just blowing off Claire like that but he didn't want to get into an argument with her and keep Ashton waiting with no explanation as to why he was keeping his friend waiting.

@ Octavia Blake
Angel was about to call Colin when she received a mention in a tweet. She froze slightly when she saw it was from Michael. Angel took a breath before running a hand through her hair and typing a reply. @Michael5SOS Of course. Just text me. I'll be around all day. She sent back and then let out the breath she hadn't been aware she was holding. She then went through with that she was doing beforehand and called Colin, "Hey babe." She said when he picked up, "Hello, Love. Everything all unpacked and such?" He asked, "Yeap. Took a little bit but I'm all unpacked and such now." "What are your plans for the night then?" "I'm actually going to hang out with one of my old friends from high school. I don't know how long though." There was no way she was telling Colin that she had dated Mikey. He would get jealous and would freak out, "That sounds like fun. Well have a good time. I have to go. I will talk to later. I love you." "Alright. I love you too." She said before hanging up. She fiddled with the ring again and sighed.

---

Luke played with his lip ring as he listened to Claire talk and he ran a hand through his hair, "I'm sorry, Claire. I didn't realize you felt this strongly about it." Luke replied. He didn't know what to say. He felt a buzz in his pocket and knew that was probably Ashton texting him. The two had made plans for the day and Ashton was probably outside to get him, "Can we talk about this later? Ashton is outside and I have to go. I'm sorry." He said before frowning. He leaned over and kissed her, "I really am sorry, Claire. I'll text you later and we can talk about this tonight. Promise." He said and frowned again before he turned and headed out of the room and out of the house, getting into Ashton's car. He greeted Ashton but didn't have much heart into the greeting. Luke felt terrible for basically just blowing off Claire like that but he didn't want to get into an argument with her and keep Ashton waiting with no explanation as to why he was keeping his friend waiting.

[ I know it's been over a week since I replied, and again I am so sorry! My work life is a little crazy right now! ]

Michael smiled to himself for a moment as he read the tweet she'd replied with. He still wasn't sure why he'd tweeted her, or even had this need to see her since she was back in town for a while, but he did. And maybe it was to get some closure on their relationship, because even though they'd been broken up for awhile it'd never made much sense to him why they couldn't have tried to make things work. Long distance was something that Michael had honestly thought he'd be against until the band had really taken off and he realized that sometimes when you love someone the distance won't change how you feel. It might even make you love one another more. Which he only got from seeing Ashton in a relationship with this girl. They really cared about each other and some how they made it work. Which made him wonder if he and Angel could've worked.

---

Claire ran her fingers through her hair and let out a sigh, it's not like anything she said would've changed his mind anyways. Luke had already made plans with Ashton, and she wasn't invited so of course he had to go. She didn't even know why this was bothering her all of a sudden, but it really was. And honestly she had no idea how to deal with it. Because she felt like Luke wasn't listening, and he didn't see things the same way she did so maybe they'd never fully understand where the other was coming from. She finally decided that she'd just text one of her own friends and maybe go see a movie or something. Anything to get her out in the world, and to take her mind off how awful things were going right now.

@ Octavia Blake
Angel sighed and laid back on her bed. She started freaking out slightly even more. This is one more thing she didn't know how she was going to handle on her plate. First she had to tell her parents that she was engaged. Now she had to face Mikey and also somehow tell him that she was engaged. She couldn't decide which was worse. She pulled out her phone and looked at her lock screen of Colin and smiled lightly. He was supposed to be coming out in a week or two so he could properly meet her family and such. When they were all living in England Angel had lived separately from her parents after the first year being there. Almost as soon as she moved out she met Colin. She never really told her parents about him but had only mentioned him a few times. He never met them and she never told her parents how serious their relationship actually was. Now she had to.

---

When Luke got to Ashton's house he sighed, wanting to tell Ashton what was going on so he could have someone else's take on the situation but he knew he couldn't tell anyone, "So I got a message from Calum about ten minutes ago that said that Angel is back in town and she's meeting up with Mikey later. How do you think it's going to go down this time?" Ashton asked. Luke shrugged and shook his head, "I have no idea. It's been two years and Angel has always been Mikey's weak spot. I feel like with her coming back there is going to be a little drama I just can't think of what it could be."

@ Octavia Blake
Angel sighed and laid back on her bed. She started freaking out slightly even more. This is one more thing she didn't know how she was going to handle on her plate. First she had to tell her parents that she was engaged. Now she had to face Mikey and also somehow tell him that she was engaged. She couldn't decide which was worse. She pulled out her phone and looked at her lock screen of Colin and smiled lightly. He was supposed to be coming out in a week or two so he could properly meet her family and such. When they were all living in England Angel had lived separately from her parents after the first year being there. Almost as soon as she moved out she met Colin. She never really told her parents about him but had only mentioned him a few times. He never met them and she never told her parents how serious their relationship actually was. Now she had to.

---

When Luke got to Ashton's house he sighed, wanting to tell Ashton what was going on so he could have someone else's take on the situation but he knew he couldn't tell anyone, "So I got a message from Calum about ten minutes ago that said that Angel is back in town and she's meeting up with Mikey later. How do you think it's going to go down this time?" Ashton asked. Luke shrugged and shook his head, "I have no idea. It's been two years and Angel has always been Mikey's weak spot. I feel like with her coming back there is going to be a little drama I just can't think of what it could be."