I'm going out on a limb here, wanted to explore a what if on Meg and Michael Brooks. Was posted about a week ago but I was having some problems to I did some revising and got rid of a few things. Hope you all enjoy it.

Will You

Part 1: Just Friends

Meg leaned against the wall, watching Jimmy walk away.

He wants to be friends.

She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes. Wiping them away with the back of her hand, she made her way towards the stage. She found a spot on the bottom row of bleachers. As she sat there, part of her wished that Roxanne was there with her instead of at a dentist appointment. A moment later, Michael walked onto the set with his clipboard. She tried to pay attention to what he was saying but it was no use. All she hearing were Jimmy's words over and over.

She was so lost in thought, she didn't hear the music until a hand close around her wrist. Looking up, she saw Jimmy in front of her. Before she could say anything, he pulled her up and onto the set. She stood there for a moment, not moving.

"Meg?" he whispered

After a few minutes she started to dance, even though she felt her heart breaking.

Meanwhile up in the control room.

"Look at that."

Michael looked up from the clipboard to see Meg on the monitor. She looked like she was about to cry. The camera quickly switched to another couple but Michael couldn't help but wonder what had happened to Meg.

When the taping was over for the day, she got her coat and started for the door. She was about to walk out the exit when she heard someone call her name. Turning, she saw Michael coming down from the control booth. She made her way over to where he was standing. He motioned for her to follow him.

"Meg, how much do you like dancing on American Bandstand?"

"I love it."

"It didn't seem like it today." He said, "Is everything all right?"

"Everything's fine." She said, "I promise to try harder next time."

"Meg, you shouldn't have to try to have fun." He said, "Is there something you want to talk about?"

"I…I have to go."

She rushed across the stage and down the hall towards the exit. Stepping outside, she saw the bus pull away. Leaning against the wall, she reached into her pocket and pulled out her wallet. Opening it, she looked for some change for the payphone but found her wallet empty.

Turning back to the door, she opened it and stepped inside, hoping someone was still inside. Slowly she walked down the hall and onto the set. It was strange how different everything looked.

"Hello? Is anyone here?"

"Meg?"

Turning, she saw Michael crossing the stage with a coat draped over his arm.

"Is everything all right?"

"I missed the bus. Can I use one of the phones to call my dad or my brother?"

"I was just on my way out." He said, "I could give you a ride if you want."

"I couldn't ask you to do that."

"Its no problem." He said, "Come on."

They walked across the stage and down the hall. He opened the door and she stepped outside. Pulling out a set of keys, he started across the lot. He unlocked the door and opened it for her. She climbed in the car and he closed the door. He walked around to his side and opened his door. Climbing in, he turned to her and said

"Where am I going?"

Meg gave him directions to her house. He started the car and pulled out of the lot. As he drove through town, he reached over and turned on the radio. Meg looked out the window, watching the streets pass by.

"Meg, I'm sorry if I saw something to upset you before."

"Its all right." She said, "I…I just don't want to talk about it."

"All right." He said, turning onto her street, "So where do I stop."

"Second house on from the end on the right."

He pulled up in front of the house.

"Thanks." She said, opening the door.

She climbed out of the car and started up the walk. He pulled away from the curb and drove down the street. When he reached the corner, he glanced down to see something lying on the floor. Leaning down, he picked up a small wallet. Opening it up, he saw Meg's id from school.

Turning the corner, he drove around the block and pulled up in front of the Pryor house. He parked the car and got out. Slowly he walked up the sidewalk to the front porch. He walked up the steps and rang the bell. The door opened and woman stepped outside.

"Can I help you?"

"Mrs. Pryor?"

"Yes?"

"I'm Michael Brooks from American Bandstand. I'm a friend of Meg's."

"Please come in. Meg's in the kitchen."

He stepped inside, looking around.

"I'm Helen Pryor."

"Its nice to meet you Mrs. Pryor."

"Please call me Helen. I'll go get Meg."

"That won't…"

He didn't have a chance to finish before she was call Meg's name. Meg stepped into the hallway.

"I think the chicken's" she saw Michael in the hall, "Michael, what are you doing here?"

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out her wallet.

"This fell out in my car."

Meg took the wallet from him. She looked at her mother.

"I missed the bus after the show and Michael gave me a ride home."

"So I'll see you next week Meg."

He turned and started to walk towards the door when Helen said

"Would you care to join us for dinner?"

"Thank you but I don't want to intrude."

"It wouldn't be an intrusion. More of a thank you from giving Meg a ride home."

"Well…All right. Thank you Mrs. Pryor."

"Please call me Helen." She said. "Why don't you make yourself comfortable in the living room. Is there anything I can get you?"

"No, thank you" He said, walking into the living room.

"Meg why don't you keep him company while I check on dinner."

"All right mom."

Meg followed Michael into the living room. She stood in the doorway while he walked over to the mantle. He looked at a couple of the pictures.

"Are these your brothers and sister?"

Meg stood up and walked over to where he was standing.

"That's JJ." She said, pointing to a boy in a football uniform. Then she pointed to two other kids. "And that's Will and Patty."

"It must be great to have brothers and sisters."

"Do you have any?"

He turned to her.

"No."

She started to say something when her mom called her.

"I'll be right back."

He nodded, still looking at the pictures. Meg walked out of the room, heading for the kitchen.

"Who are you?"

Michael turned to see Will standing in the doorway with a book.

"I'm Michael. I'm a friend of your sister's." he said, "And I bet you're Will."

"How did you know?"

"Meg showed me your picture." He said, "So what book is that?"

Will held it up so Michael could see it was a book about trains.

"Do you like trains?"

"Yeah." He said, slowly crossing the room.

Michael noticed the brace on his leg as he walked. He watched as Will got up on the couch. After a moment, he crossed the room and saw next to Will.

"Do you mind if I looked at the pictures with you?"

"Okay." Will said, sliding the book over.

*****

Helen had just taken a pan out of the oven when Meg walked in the kitchen.

"Did you need me mom?"

"Can you se the table please?"

"Okay."

She picked up the plates and silverware from the counter. As she started to walk out of the kitchen, the back door opened and Jack walked in.

"Smells good in here." He said, walking over to where Helen was standing

"Thank you." She said, smiling at him, then looked at Meg, "Meg please set the table, then let our guest that dinner is ready."

She nodded, making her way out of the kitchen. Jack looked at his wife.

"What guest."

"Michael Brooks, he's a friend of Meg's."

Jack looked towards the door.

"A boyfriend?"

"I don't think so." She said, "He gave her a ride home because she missed the bus."

*****

After she finished setting the table, Meg walked into the living room to find Michael on the couch with Will looking at a book. She watched them for a few minutes, before she said.

"Dinner is ready."

Michael looked up to see Meg in the doorway. For the first time that day, he saw her smile. Looking at Will, he said

"What if we finish looking at this later."

Will nodded as Michael closed the book and stood up slowly. Turning to Will, he helped him off the couch. Will slowly made his way into the dining room while Meg waited for Michael. As they made their way towards the dining room, she said

"He's never done that before."

"What?"

"Will's usually really shy around new people." She said, "What did you do?"

"Nothing." He said, "We just talked about trains."

When they entered the dining room, they found find Will and her father sitting at the table. Jack stood up when he saw them. Holding out his hand, he said

"Jack Pryor."

Michael slowly walked over to him. He shook hands with him.

"Michael Brooks."

"Have a seat." Jack said

Michael looked at Meg as he took a seat. Jack looked at Meg

"Why don't you go help your mother."

Meg nodded, heading for the kitchen.

*****

When Meg walked in the kitchen, Helen looked up.

"Is dad upset about Michael being here for dinner?" she asked

"I don't think so." She said, picking up a pan, "I think he was more upset about him possibly being your boyfriend."

"Michael…my boyfriend." She said, "I don't think of him that way."

"Well that should make your father very happy." She said, "Can you grab that bowl."

Meg picked up bowl of potatoes while her mother picked up a pan of chicken. Together they walked into the dining room and set everything on the table. Meg walked over to a seat across from Michael and her mother sat across from her father. Jack looked around the table.

"Where are Patty and JJ?"

"JJ is out with Beth and Patty is studying at a friend's house."

"Well then, I guess we're all here." He said, reaching for the pan.

Once everyone had a full plate, they began eating. Meg kept her head down, listening to her mother and father talk about their days.

"So what do you do Michael?" Jack asked

Meg looked up, her gaze going from her father to Michael. Michael set his fork down, clearing his throat.

"I work as a assistant producer on American Bandstand."

"How long have you been doing that?"

"About a year and a half."

"And where did you go to school?"

"Boston University." He said, "I majored in communications. I graduated early and came back to be with my father."

"And what line of work is he in?"

"He was a police office but he was killed about 6 months ago."

Meg looked at him, not sure what to say. Her eyes slowly went to her father, who also wasn't saying anything. Finally she said,

"I got a B on my English paper dad."

He turned his attention to his daughter.

"That's great Meg." He said, "What did you write about?"

Meg started to tell him about the paper. Soon they were all talking again. Meg looked over at Michael and smiled.

******

When dinner was over, Meg stood up and began to clear the dishes. When Michael stood, Helen said

"Please sit, you're a guest."

"It's the least I can do." He said, picking up the pan and following Meg into the kitchen.

Meg set the plates in the sink and turned, taking the pan from him. She set it in the sink and turned on the water. Reaching for the soap, she poured some in the water. Turning to Michael, she said

"You don't have to do this."

He picked up a dishtowel.

"You wash, I'll dry."

"Okay."

They started working in silence. When they finished, he looked at the clock,

"I should probably be going."

"Okay."

He walked out of the kitchen with Meg following behind. Helen and Jack were sitting on the couch talking when they walked in the room.

"I wanted to say good night and to thank you for inviting me for dinner." He said

"It was our pleasure." Helen said, "Come back anytime."

"Thank you." He said

He turned to walk down the hall when someone said

"I thought we were gonna finish."

Michael turned to see will on the step. Slowly he walked down the hall and knelt in front of Will.

"I'm sorry Will but I have to go. I promise to come back and we can finish the book."

"Okay."

Michael stood slowly and walked down the hall. He was about to walk out the door when Meg said

"I'll be right back."

She followed him out the door. Together, they walked down the steps and towards his car. As he unlocked the door, he turned to her.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For tonight. I never realized how much I missed this."

He opened the door.

"I'll see you next week."

"Okay."

He got in the car and started the engine. Meg stood outside, watching until he pulled away. Michael glanced in his mirror as he drove down the street to see Meg standing in front of the house.

Stopping at a red light, he smiled to himself, thinking about the night. Meg was so different than other girls that he had known. She wasn't clingy or obsessive, she didn't monopolize conversations and her family came first. She was the kind of girl he could have brought home to his family…the kind of girl that his father told him about…the kind of girl…

A horn behind his brought him back to reality. He started down the street towards his building. Shaking his head, he tried to rationalize what he was thinking. Could he have feeling for Meg? He had to admit that she was pretty and full of energy…but she was also young and innocent. There was a difference in their ages and he knew that could present a problem.

He pulled into the parking lot for his building and parked his car. Slowly he made his way into his apartment. Walking over to the table, he picked up a phone book. Flipping through the book, he found the address for Pryor Electrics. He wrote the address of a piece of paper and stuck it in his pocket.