Hey everyone, thanks for all your reviews! I am so happy that you like the story!
Anyway, here's the new chapter. And yeah, I am planning on finishing the story ;)
I hope you'll like it and please review.
As always, I don't own anything.
love, w.
June 7th, Michael's flat, 5 pm
I splashed some water into my face, pretending that was why I went to the bathroom.
"Are you feeling better?" he asked.
"No, not really," I said and guess what, I was telling the truth. I walked pass him (staring too long could totally result in another crying fit. I know myself.) and lay back down. He followed me and sat at the edge of the bed. I didn't say anything. I was pretty sure the only thing coming out of my mouth would be 'was that your girlfriend? Omg she is so pretty! I always knew you could do so much better than me and at least I guessed something right! She is super smart, isn't she? She totally looks super smart. And she is adorable in that mini skirt! She totally doesn't have the legs of my length; I mean, when I have a skirt on I totally look like Pisa Tower with a flag wrapped around it. I am soooooo happy for you, Michael, really, I am so happy I am actually crying!'.
"Midori stopped by the pharmacy for me and bought some meds," Michael said. "Hopefully these will get rid of your fever."
I didn't say anything. I was focusing too hard on not starting sobbing.
Way to go, maturity.
"I'll make more tea, ok?" he then said and I nodded. Tough I am pretty sure just smelling tea will make me physically sick.
Midori. Even her name sounds adorable.
And look how strong their relationship is! I mean, I would totally freak if Michael asked me to buy some medicine for his ex-girlfriend. I would be totally sure that he was still in love with her or something. I am sure Midori is super rational and never ever freaks out like I freaked over Judith. She tops me in every aspect imaginable.
And this trip is supposed to help me? I don't think I will ever be able to leave Dr K's office after this. I really thought I had been out of that hole for a while now but this had totally pushed me in again.
Is this relapse enough to get me some crazy pills?
June 7th, Michael's flat, 6 pm
Michael just came to the bedroom but I pretended to be sleeping.
I can't look at him.
I just can't.
June 7th, Michael's flat, 7 pm
What is wrong with me?
I mean … why am I making such a big fuss over this? SO WHAT IF HE IS DATING WE ARE BROKEN UP ANYWAY?
Karma, you are such a byotch.
Of course Michael embracing me when I showed up didn't mean anything. Did I subconsciously think so and that is why I am such a wreck now? I mean, it is scientifically proven that human contact makes people feel better when they are upset. AND MICHAEL'S PARENTS ARE PSYCHOLOGISTS OF COURSE HE KNOWS THIS!
Does jumping from fifth floor kills you?
God, I forgot, my head feels so dizzy I wouldn't even make it to the window.
June 7th, Michael's flat, 9 pm
I just realized that just because a woman came to see Michael, it does not mean she is his girlfriend.
I think this is a clear sign that the meds I took are wearing off. And my fever is starting to take over me again.
Because she is totally his girlfriend. I mean, hello, how can she not be?
June 7th, Michael's flat, 11 pm
I was 'awake' long enough to say no to a soup and to take more medicine.
I feel so bad I can't even sleep.
June 8th, Michael's flat, 1 am
LIST OF REASONS WHY MICHAEL HAVING A GIRLFRIEND IS A GOOD THING
1. She is making him happy.
2. This relationship makes him feel more at home here in Japan.
3. There's always someone he can call if he doesn't understand what a street sign says.
4. He can totally enjoy hot showers on regular bases now.
5. It is making him realize why never ever going anywhere near me again is the best idea everrr.
6. It will hopefully force me to accept that our relationship is over and that I too should totally accept Grandmere's kindness and date that Andrew guy she has set me up with.
June 8th, Michael's flat, 3 am
LIST OF REASONS WHY MIDORI SEEMS TO BE A WAY BETTER GIRLFRIEND THAN ME
1. She doesn't freak out when her boyfriend asks her to buy medicine for his ex-girlfriend
2. She accepts Michael for what he is and doesn't project her stupid, old fashion ideals onto him
3. She is smart enough not to get lost on her way to her love's apartment
4. Her legs are of a normal length
5. She looks great in a mini skirt
6. She has boobs.
7. She is super pretty
8. Her name is adorable.
June 8th, Michael's flat, 11 am
Here's what I found on a night stand this morning:
Mia,
I have to go to the lab. I'll be back soon. Here's the cell – so that you can call Mum. And you should call Lilly, she wants to talk to you.
There's tea and soup in the kitchen.
Don't forget to take the medicine.
Oh, and I fixed your iPod. There was nothing wrong with it, actually - the battery was empty.
Michael
Oh my god. I am officially too dumb to tell the difference between broken iPod and an empty battery. It would never happen to Midori, I am sure.
Seriously. Can this trip get any more embarrassing?
I don't think so.
AND WHAT IS HE TALKING ABOUT? WHY WOULD I EVEN WANT TO TALK TO LILLY?
She will bite my head off for coming here. And I mean it literally; she is totally capable of doing it over the phone.
But I guess I can call Mum.
June 8th, Michael's flat, 11:10 am
NO, I CAN'T CALL MUM! SHE WILL TELL YOU LOUIE IS DEAD, REMEMBER, MIA?
Oh my god. I got so caught up in my own self-inflicted problems that I completely forgot about my cat being dead.
I bet Midori would never forget to worry about her cat's welfare.
I wonder if you can OD on these pills she has bought.
June 8th, Michael's flat, 11:30 am
OH MY GOD THE CELL IS RINGING! AND IT IS LILLY!
WHAT SHOULD I DO, IGNORE IT? I MEAN, I CANNOT TALK TO HER!
June 8th, Michael's flat, 12 am
I am even incapable of not answering the phone. I picked it up, wanting to take it to the kitchen and leave it there SINCE I DIDN'T INTEND TO TALK TO LILLY OR TO MUM when I accidently answered the phone.
And Lilly's voice appeared
"Hey, Mia, is that you?"
What was I supposed to do? I couldn't say she got the wrong the number since she already knew it was me.
How, by the way? Did Michael tell her that I was presumptuous enough to just come visit him?
I am so never going back to New York now. I will just go to Genovia. Even if she comes there, I will have enough bodyguards to stop her from killing me.
But, wait – this is Lilly. She will probably still find a way to kill me.
"Yeah, it is me."
There was silence. She was probably setting up the weapon she had developed to kill me over the phone.
"How are you feeling? Michael told me you were sick …"
"I am better, thanks. Look, Lilly, you don't have to tell me coming here was something I shouldn't have done. I know it was a mistake and I wish I hadn't been so stupid to come. I mean, Michael has his own life now, he has a girlfriend and he's happy, he doesn't care about me or that night anymore and isn't interested in my apology, I am only wasting his time and making him hate me even…"
"Ok, Mia what THE HELL are you even TALKING ABOUT?" Lilly screamed into my ear.
"Well, you know. Coming to see Michael even though he was sending me obvious signals all year that he hated me…"
She started laughing. She laughed so hard I actually started worrying she might choke.
Great. I am a threat to humanity even when I answer the phone.
"Lilly? Are you ok?"
"I see you are still as dense as always," she managed to say.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Well, what do you think?" she said with slight annoyance in her voice. "You are, as always, misinterpreting pretty much everything around you. The more obvious it is, the denser you get."
"What am I so dense about? I mean, it is completely obvious that Michael doesn't want me here. He has a…"
"A girlfriend, yeah, you said that already. Wow, I guess Japan really is ahead of New York because I haven't been reached by that news yet," she grumbled.
"What news?"
She sighed.
"I can't talk to you when you're so stupid. Just use your brain for a change, I am begging you. Or your eyes. It is so obvious you don't really have to think about it to SEE IT."
And then she hung up.
What is her problem?
And why is everyone keep telling me I am dense? What could I be so dense about what (I mean besides anything even remotely resembling numbers)?
June 8th, Michael's flat, 1 pm
Your kindness is my Gary Ridgeway
I guess it's reverse psychology
I wish stuff falling through the cracks was confetti and I was having a party
But it's really just shards of my selfish and shattered heart
.
Just go ahead, kick me out, I deserve it
I used to play the role of a victim and I loved it
Too late I realized I was actually a bird of prey preying upon your heart
Now I deserve to burn in eternal fire of shame and guilt
.
She's so pretty like a bird in blossoming spring
Far too gentle to tear your heart out like I did
A beautiful song you two will tweet together, forever
And my wrinkled face will be eaten by stray cats.
June 8th, Michael's flat, 3 pm
I finally gathered enough courage to call Mum - of course I managed to forget it was practically in the middle of the night in New York when I called (I am incapable of catching a train and the thing I know best at Math is spelling the name of the subject – can you blame me?).
"Hello?" she said with a sleepy voice.
"Mum, it is fine, you can tell me, I will handle it – IS LOUIE DEAD?" I practically screamed.
"Mia? Oh, Mia, is that you? How are you? Did…"
"LOUIE, IS LOUIE DEAD, MUM? I CAN HANDLE IT, MY LIFE IS A DISASTER ANYWAY, I CAN TOTALLY HANDLE MY CAT BEING DEAD. I WILL BE FINE, JUST TELL ME, PLEASE?"
"Louie? As you cat Louie? Don't be stupid, Mia, why would he be dead?" she said in a grumpy voice.
"So you saw him today? He came out of my room? Did you feed him?"
I think Mum doubted her decision to let me come here. Well, she finally got it. I AM NOT MATURE ENOUGH FOR THIS. I AM FREAKING OUT OVER A GUY HAVING A GIRLFRIEND – THE SAME GUY WHOSE HEART I BROKE. SELFISH AND POSSESSIVE MUCH, HUH, MIA?
"Your cat is fine, Mia. How are you? Michael said you…"
Wait – what?
"Michael? Why would Michael say anything? Mum, what are you talking about?"
"Well, you didn't call me after you landed in Tsukuba like you said you would so I called Michael to see if you got there and he said…"
"OH MY GOD MUM YOU TOLD MICHAEL I WAS COMING?"
THAT EXPLAINED SO MUCH!
"Well, Mia, I was worried. Something could have happened to you. I was relieved when he called me and said you got there. Oh, and the airline called. They found your bag in Costa Rica…"
OH MY GOD.
"OH MY GOD THAT EXPLAINS IT!"
"Explains what?"
"WHY HE IS SO NICE TO ME! OH MY GOD!"
I was so stupid. I should have known. Michael does hate me. I mean, of course he hates me, every rational human being would. It's not that he is too kind to hide this hatred to make me feel a bit better.
No; he is only being kind to me because of my Mum.
Oh my god. This is so embarrassing. Now I totally look like a little girl whose mother monitors her every move. Whose Mum even calls to check if she got there safely.
I am so embarrassed I could die.
There's no way I can ever face Michael again.
I am so outta here.
June 8th, Michael's flat, 4 pm
Well of course nothing is ever easy for me.
I cannot spend an additional minute in here. And I cannot leave.
I mean, where could a girl that is totally broke go? My flight home (home. Best word in the whole world) isn't for another three days – should I just camp at the airport?
Looks like I live in a fantasy land and airport equals one giant garden where you get food for free whenever you are hungry.
And Japan has some weird habits – maybe here it is completely illegal to sleep on a bench in a park. I cannot afford to get arrested. I mean, the tabloids would then totally find out. And my Grandmere would DIE.
Well … that wouldn't be such a bad thing, actually.
If only I had the courage for it.
So I guess I really have no other option but to stay here with Michael.
Maybe this embarrassment will kill me but at least I'll go out with a full stomach.
June 8th, Michael's flat, 5 pm
Maybe this will help me restore my rational mind -
I AM MATURE WOMAN. I AM MATURE WOMAN. I AM MATURE WOMAN. I AM MATURE WOMAN. I AM MATURE WOMAN. I AM MATURE WOMAN. I AM MATURE WOMAN. I AM MATURE WOMAN. I AM MATURE WOMAN. I AM MATURE WOMAN. I AM MATURE WOMAN. I AM MATURE WOMAN. I AM MATURE WOMAN. I AM MATURE WOMAN. I AM MATURE WOMAN. I AM MATURE WOMAN. I AM MATURE WOMAN. I AM MATURE WOMAN. I AM MATURE WOMAN. I AM MATURE WOMAN. I AM MATURE WOMAN.
Yeah, right. I am still freaking out about a girl who was kind enough to buy some medicine for me.
June 8th, Michael's flat, 6 pm
Michael's back.
"Hey," he said, "are you feeling better?"
"Ah …"
Physically? I was well enough to expose myself to billions of viruses circling around airports. Mentally, I had never been more messed up.
I spent my whole freshman year listening to Lilly telling me I wasn't assertive enough. Now, three years later, I guess I would still be hearing the same thing if we were still friends. And I wanted to reach self-actualization? Jung must find me hilarious. Probably the whole psychological community does.
He stared at me for what seemed like forever. He probably wondered if he needed to call professional help. Because I know I looked terrible. I bet none of my brave female ancestors looked this bad while fighting for their right. Amelie looked like she just came off the Hollywood red carpet when she was fighting for democracy and dying of plague. Rosagunde's hair was flawless when she was strangling her husband with her braid.
Why is this only happening to me?
"I brought us some soup, if you're hungry," he carefully said, still not moving his eyes off me. And still making my heart beating like crazy.
"Sure," I shrugged. So now he's in the kitchen and I am here, dying. I…
Wait – what did he mean by 'us'?
June 9th, Michael's bed, 11 am
Oh my god.
Now I understand everything.
Now I have everything.
And I cannot stop smiling.
To Be Continued.
Broughttoyouby:::winter.