Chapter Two:
Flashback
I dial the number I know so well. I just wanted to know what to do. Was I asking too much? I didn't think I was. I memorized the number and what I was going to tell her. This was my best friend's cousin I was dealing with. By family obligation she had to tell him. But she is also my friend. She would have battle of doing what is right and trying to protect me. So I called Haley. I was scared. Haley noticed but kept her mouth shut.
"Hello." I hear her say.
I want to hang up but I can't. I won't.
"Hi Haley it's me. Mia." I say nervously.
"Hi what's up?" She asked.
"…not much other than the fact that I may be in love with a friend." I say trying to hint to her.
"Oh." She says sensing I want to talk about.
"Would I know them?" Haley asks and I can tell she's smirking.
"Yeah you do. Mike." I say.
"I sense you want advice on what to do." Haley says louder than necessary.
I hear Jamie asking who it is. Haley simply replies an old friend. Nathan then asks would I know them. She says no. This is the normal background conversation whenever I call.
"You could tell him. It wouldn't hurt. And maybe he has a right to know. He does. It is your call. And please don't tell him I gave you advice. He hates it when I give you advice." She says quickly.
"Ok. But Haley can we like actually talk about this?" I ask cautiously.
"Sure. What about tomorrow?" She asks.
"Not a problem." I say.
"Okay so will meet you at the river court?" Haley asks.
"Yeah." I say.
The Next Day
I'm sitting on the bleachers and no Haley yet. It is only four thirty. She said four thirty. I am not freaking out. I am not going to freak out on Haley. She has a kid. Jamie looks like Luke too. Okay focus Mia.
"Hi." Haley says coming out of nowhere.
"Hey." I say.
"Okay Mia. You want to make this awkward?" Haley asked sitting down on the bleachers next to me.
"No. But Mike is your cousin." I say looking at her.
"And from what you told me yesterday you are in love with him." Haley says.
"I know Haley." I say.
"I'm okay with it. Is that what you're worried about?" Haley asks me with this look on her face.
"Yes and no. I just don't know what to do." I say.
"Well you could tell him." Haley suggested.
"I can't. What if he doesn't feel the same…there are too many what ifs." I say.
"Mia you have to take some risks in your life." Haley says.
"I know. But I am afraid. And rise above the fear." I say getting up and leaving.
"See ya." She calls out.
I wave back at her.
End of Flashback
It was a simple memory that has been plaguing my mind for weeks. Haley said that after she found out what Mike did she wished she never would have given me the advice. She said that if she would have known I was going to take it she would have told me to keep my mouth shut. But Haley didn't know I was going to tell him anyways. She didn't and she felt so bad. I stopped talking to her. Haley thought that I needed space and she gave me that space. We never really got around to talking about when I was recording the album. Neither one of us did.
Peyton didn't even notice the familiarity between our conversations. Peyton did not notice a thing. It bothers me at times. Sometimes I wish Peyton would notice the awkwardness between Haley and me at times. Others I wish she wasn't there at all. I just want to have a real conversation with Haley. But Peyton always comes in when I feel like we may actually have a real conversation. I mean Peyton is great and all but… I don't know.
I never really told Haley what happened. I mean she does know and she was mad at mike. But we have never really talked about it. I really wouldn't mind talking to her about it but we never got a chance.
Flashback
Mike's House
I'm walking up to his house. I told myself I could do this. I wasn't going to freak out. I mean why should I freak out. I mean Haley is okay with me being in love with Mike. There is no reason to be afraid. Haley said so. Haley's word is law. Its Haley's cousin. She is probably freaking out. Huh? Maybe I shouldn't have gone to his cousin for advice…
I'm a block away. I can do this. He may feel the same. But if he doesn't like me like that I will not cry…in front of him. I see the familiar house. The house with the blue paint and black door. I walked here thousands of times. All I have to do is go up the stairs and knock three times. Take a deep breath. He's opening the door.
"Hey what's up?" Mike asked with this sweet smile on his face.
"Nothing much just wanted to see what you were doing and if you had time to take a walk and talk about some stuff?" Mia asked figuring she could play it out for a little longer and to calm herself down a bit
The Park
"So what did you want to talk about?" Mike asked
"Well we have been friends since as long as I can remember; you have always helped me out, you always take care of me. I always loved the fact that I could always talk to you about anything but since this whole singing thing with Jason, then you keep blowing me off for him and I feel like you don't want to be friends with me anymore." Mia said putting it all on the line.
"Mia I would never not want to be friends with you, I love being the person you can come to talk about anything, and I also love the fact that you care enough to save me from all of this. You know you can get so caught up in something you forget the things that matter the most in your world. That's what you mean to me Mia I will always care about you know matter what. And our friendship will never change." Mike saying thank you and explaining that their friendship will never change.
"Well I think what I am about to tell you might ruin our friendship or make it stronger." Mia said with a bit of fear in her voice
"What is it Mia?" Mike asked with concern evident in his eyes and voice.
"For a while know I have been having these feelings and kept pushing them away to the point that I can't anymore, and I need to confront them." Mia said
"So who's this guy, what's his name and do I know him?" Mike asked
"Well his name starts with an M and he is standing right beside me!" Mia said nervously
"Yo...u…You…You …like me?" Mike said not believing what she just said.
"Ya and have for awhile now" Mia said
"Oh…umm I got to go…bye!" Mike said and left in a hurry
Two weeks later
Ring, ring
"Hello" Mia asked
"Hey it's me can we meet somewhere?" Mike asked
"Um…ya sure. How does Starbucks sound?" Mia asked
"Good. I'll meet you there in 10?" Mike asked
"Ya. Okay bye." Mia said and started getting ready.
Starbucks
"Hey" Mike said as he saw his best friend coming to him.
"Hey" Mia said with this fake smile plastered on her face.
"So what did you want to meet me for?" Mia asked.
"Well I wanted to say sorry for just running off. But Mia I was shocked and just needed time and I came to the conclusion that I used to feel like that but that was years ago and I thought it would pass and it did and I don't want this to change anything but I think it is" Mike said quickly.
"Oh well Okay know I have my answer so I guess this is goodbye since your leaving soon right?" Mia asked trying not to let Mike see her cry.
"Ya my mom and dad are packing up as we talk." Mike said
"I can't believe that your dad got a new job well I guess that good" Mia said
"Ya I guess" Mike said.
"So I guess bye" Mia said.
"Ya bye" Mike said and left.
That was the last I saw of him.
End of flashback.
"Mia!" Mark yells.
"Yes Mark?" I ask rather groggily.
"You have to eat something." Mark says handing me a bowl of cereal.
"Um…do I want to eat this?" I ask looking at him.
"You've been asleep for three hours and you mumble a lot." He says.
All it was Concern. That is all anyone these days. So what if I had not eaten anything in a couple of days? Didn't realize it was against the law to feel bad. Sorry people.
I eat the cereal or whatever it is. It doesn't taste too bad.
"Sorry Mark." I say.
"It's okay. Mia. Who's Mike?" He asks.
"An old friend." I answer bitterly.
Just as I say that I reveice a text message.
