Author's Note: Okay, here it is. A bit sooner than I planned, but then I remembered that I go back to school next week. This story is totally AU and OOC as a result.Mia and Michael have never got together at the Non-Den. dance. You'll see what happened. I was thinking about this last night and the timing might be a bit off, but I'm sure you can ignore that fact.

This STARTS in the middle of Mia's sophomore year of high school.

I hope you guys like this cuz I've been writing it since August. Therefore it's my longest story ever. I don't want to feel like I wasted my time writing this--so review often.

Oh, the rating is PG-13 for now, but will be R in the future.

MICHAEL:

Everyone was pissed. I had dropped out of Columbia University to devote myself completely to my band. My parents were getting better about it, but my girlfriend wasn't completely thrilled. We had planned on my becoming a computer engineer. She'd be a socialite. Eventually I'd own some big company and we'd be rich.

But I changed my mind. Too much was going on for me to concentrate on school. I had the band, plus I was teaching my friend Mia how to be a master of the guitar. She played with us sometimes which was beyond cool. It didn't hurt that I was insanely in love with her and was falling more and more in love everyday.

But I have a girlfriend. She has a boyfriend. We were pals. Best buds even.

So like I was saying, people are pissed. Not Mia though. She liked teasing me about my new life as a drop out. Not in a mean spirited way, but well...just in a Mia way.

My parents just threw about seventy thousand dollars on my year and a half of school. I'd make it up to them when I hit it big. I'll buy them a house in Boca Raton.

But for now I was a moocher. Living in my old high school bedroom. Most would call me a loser, but I'm not. If I am, then all my friends are. We are all Columbia University drop outs.

It wasn't that we were dumb. We were on the top of our classes. Dean list members. But we just…were more into music. Okay, and Orlando (who was from the Dominican Republic) was into checking out the American girls. Namely Mia.

Yeah, he really liked that I brought her into our little circle. But she wasn't into him like that. She didn't like hairy guys. And he's pretty dang hairy.

I was walking down the sidewalk toward Mia's. We had a lesson today. I handed a vendor some money and got some flowers for her. Last time we had a lesson we decided her room needed to be a little girly. So there ya go. Flowers.

I made a mental note to pick some up for Serena before I went to see her tonight. Serena being my abso-fucking-lutely amazing girlfriend.

She was amazing and a loyal girlfriend that didn't care if I went to college or if I worked at the car wash on Daly Street (well, she did, but was warming up to the idea). She knew that it was only until the band hit it big.

I loved her. She was what New York was all about to me. Sophistication. Intelligence. Grace. Pure. Kept me from going crazy for my unrequited Mia love. We got together my senior year of high school. We met at the Winter Festival. She was a new student. I had been waiting for Mia to show up to see my program I made for her, but she never did. She was breaking up with Kenny Showalter.

Okay, New York isn't exactly pure, but to me it is. Everything that was worth something in the world came from this city.

I trampled up the stairs to Mia Thermopolis's loft. My sister was there, filming the daily life of a princess. I knocked on the door, and Lars opened up. "Hey, what's shakin?" I asked giving him a high five. "The girls in Mia's room?"

"Yes. They are in the Princesses' room. Go ahead. Open door."

I laughed inwardly. Yeah, like I'd do something with Mia a)with Lilly there b)at all

I thought it was funny when people referred to Mia as 'the Princess'. To me she is the girl that I've known my whole life and have been in love with for the better part of that. She's my sister and my best friend that is more comfortable in her overalls and Docs rather than ball gowns and heels.

"Lilly?" I asked, knocking on a door that had a sign that said, 'Mia and Fat Louie only!' I laughed. She was kind of weird. But a lovable weird.

The door swung open, "What do you want jack ass?" Lilly demanded.

"Here to tell you that we have a family meeting tonight. And to work with her and her guitar."

MIA:

I sat unknowingly my stomach listening to headphones and reading my official SAT Prep book. I know that once I took the exam in May, I would be thinking about Rivers Cuomo and his sweata. And how much I wouldn't mind destroying it. Getting to see that man naked? Not a bad sight in my opinion. Probably looked like Michael. Not that I've seen him naked.

Just shirtless around the Casa Moscovitz.

My thoughts always crept to him. Even though I've been dating Napoleon since half way through my freshman year. He'd helped me get over Michael. But dating a guy that was the star of the lacrosse team for Trinity wasn't very easy. Not only was he in a different school and therefore I couldn't make out with him between classes to gross Lana out, but he always was at practice. Then he had to make sure he was home to watch that nights sporting event.

I bobbed her head to the music. "Hey Lilly did you hear that Lana went out to Harvard last weekend to look at the school, but really was just trying to impress Josh? She hasn't gotten over him yet."

"That bi-atch," I heard Michael's voice. I pulled my headphones off.

"Oh, hey. I didn't realize it was so late."

"What are you listening to?"

"She's listening to Weezer. I think all their songs sound alike so she's listening on her headphones."
"Mom and Dad want you home. We're having a family meeting or something. And you have to be home to clean your room or something."

I smiled. My entire family in a meeting? Ha, I would pay to see that.

She rolled her eyes. The family did this once a year. They felt tha tit would make them a stronger family unit if they discussed problems out in the open.Last year Michael had been gone and therefore lost out on this little tradition. "Fine. I'm in the middle of taking a fake SAT exam online though. I'll see you at home."

"I am here to see Mia too," he said looking at me. I loved when he looked at me. With those peat bog eyes.

"Why?"

"Let me think….oh, right, guitar lessons like every Saturday."

I jumped up and closed my SAT book. Guitar lessons with Michael were always fun. Not only was I learning something, but it was opening up opportunities for him to touch me while he adjusted my finger locations. Sending shivers through my- Okay. I have a boyfriend.

"Wanna go into the living room to play?" he asked. "Or stay in your bedroom?"

Lilly smirked. She knew how I felt about her brother. And she hated it.

I felt my cheeks redden. "Oh, okay," I said, watching as he inspected my room. "What are you doing?"

"I love your room. I could live in this room."

Lilly spat out her juice. "You are just a perv."

I turned red again. "Well, you can't 'cuz I do. And I'm not going anywhere," I said grabbing my guitar. "Let's go."

"Wait," he said putting his hand out. He pulled out some flowers with the other hand. "Told ya I'd make it more girly."

I blushed. I'd never gotten flowers before. Well, flowers from a boy not related to me. "Thanks Michael," I said, setting them on my bed. "I'll put them away later on. Let's go practice."

We didn't practice long. I didn't need to really. I knew what I was doing now, making him so proud. Making him hug me. Making me want to faint.

"There's a Weezer concert next week in Boston. My friends go to Harvard and could give us a place to stay," he offered.

"I dunno. You know how my dad is…"

"I guess."

Finally Lilly finished her exam and returned to her brother. We had given up on the lesson because we kept laughing too much. He kept tickling me when he stood behind me. Totally knocked off my concentration. Then again, his presence alone would do that.

We ignored Lilly who didn't say anything, but just stood in the doorway tapping her foot rudely.

"Yeah, we have a gig next Friday. It's eighteen plus but I could get you a pass. You know…if you wanted to."

I nodded, feeling rather important.

"You should really come by," he said softly. "We can get you backstage…free tickets."

"You already said that, dorkus," Lilly cut in.

"Yeah. I think Tina would like to go. It'd be fun," I replied, heart beating fast.

"Or maybe your boyfriend would," Lilly added, reminding me that Michael was off limits.

I shrugged. Napoleon didn't like anything that began with the letter M, including music. Don't ask me why, it's just his thing. It's why he calls me Amelia.

Michael was surprised. "You are with Nappy again?"

I rolled my eyes, "Yes. What's wrong with that?"

"How many times have you guys broken up?"

"A few times. And I have dated other boys," I reminded him. "Remember Huckabee?"

"He's still milling around," Lilly replied. "He still wants a piece of Mia."

Michael gave her a dirty look. "She's not a piece of meat," he reminded her.

My knight in shining armor, my savior, my sweet protector….

"Well, she isn't single. And you have a girlfriend," Lilly reminded him.

"So? We can be buds, Lil. Take a chill pill," he said standing up, and walking over to his sister. "You ready to go home?"