Author's Note: IT'S COMPLETED!!!! You should be proud of me!!!
MelancholicPolarBear: Superman, I suppose. Why use webs to get around when you can just fly? Plus, he has those Rivers Cuomo-esque glasses. So hot. Haha!
Thank you for the reviews. [Kojak impersonation] I love you, baby! You're beautiful! [/Kojak impersonation]
By the way, I am going to a Strokes concert on March 13th. (YIPEEEE!!!) I will be losing my hearing and inhaling the secondhand smoke of Jules, Nick, Albert, Fab, and Nik while you all sit at home enjoying your boring healthiness.
Abyssus Abyssum Invocat
Chapter Three: leviter inconcinnus (slightly awkward)
It's hard to say when I first realized I was in love with Mia. I think it was a gradual thing though, beginning from the very first time we met. Of course, I didn't admit it to myself when I was a kid. I mean, it wasn't exactly socially acceptable to have a crush on your little sister's best friend, let alone any girl. After all, they did have cooties.
But I digress. Because what I'm meaning to say is that it's moments like this- Mia smiling at her flashlight victory- that she is most amazing. Most beautiful. Most perfect. Most everything.
So I'm just sitting here, marveling at Mia's magnificence, when I realize she is trying to bring me back to reality.
"Michael? Michael?" she shines the flashlight in my eyes for a few seconds. "Something wrong?" Yeah, I'm in love with you.
"Uh, eh…" I wouldn't doubt the presence of drool trailing down my chin or my eyes becoming crossed or something, because she's looking at me like I'm going to die. "I'm fine, yeah." I flash a smile, and her face relaxes a bit. Long pause.
"Michael?"
"Yes, Thermopolis?" I was beginning to wonder if I'd been making that a pet name, but she doesn't seem to notice the playfulness in my voice.
"Weren't we going to look for stuff, you know, now that I have a flashlight?"
"Err, well… sure." I am possibly- no, definitely- the dorkiest, weirdest guy ever. Why the hell can't I just give a normal-sounding response? Oh… oh yeah, it's because I'm talking to Mia. Of course. Pfft.
After a few minutes of her looking around the other end of the closet, I hear her let out a muffled yay!
"Michael," she calls. "I found another flashlight for you." I hear something drop on the ground and roll towards me. "Oh, oops."
"I got it." I tell her as I lean in front of me to reach it.
"No, no, that's okay… Holy shit!" I immediately sit up straight, only to see her tripping over a can of paint. As she falls toward me, her flashlight shines directly in my eyes, blinding me even as I try to squint my eyes shut. All I hear is both of our oof!s as her chest lands firmly on mine. I just know the following moment will be awkward, and I'm afraid to open my eyes.
…But I can't seem to deny my anticipation that something good might just happen.
When I open my eyes, she's squinting hers shut, her face not an inch away. I can't help but chuckle as I see her like this, even though there is something telling me that the reason she can't bear to look at me is because I am too grotesque or something. She must think having to face me like this, our stifled breaths warming each other's cheeks, is disgusting. Oh, God… is my breath okay? I can't exactly check it now, but I'm hoping…
"Michael?" he voice meekly sounds. She's cautiously opening her eyes now.
"Yes, Thermopolis?" There it is again, that damn pet name. How can she not notice? How?
"I, um… I'm-I…" She's closing her eyes again as she stutters. Please, please, don't close your eyes, Mia.
I'm starting to smile and I don't know why. I just… Maybe she's about to confess her undying ardour for me, you know, before she kisses the crap out of me and we live happily ever after. Hey, it could happen.
…Okay, so maybe just in a parallel universe, but still. I need to be obsessed with something. If it wasn't Mia, it would be… online RPGs. And who the hell would want that? I would become even more of a loser than I already am.
"I'm really sorry for landing on you," she says. That will not do. Her eyes are still closed, so she can't see my obvious disappointment. Yet she hasn't made any effort to get off of me. I should do something, right? Make a move… deliver a line?
"Why are your eyes still closed?" I ask. So it's not exactly Rico Suave material. Sue me.
"I… I-I just," She opens her eyes and lets out a sigh that spreads over my face. Her breath is… do I detect a hint of Winterfresh? "I don't want to look in your eyes, because I might, um…" She's trying everything she can not to look at me through all of this, something I'm finding highly amusing. But then she finally notices my smiling, laughing eyes, and starts to lift herself off of me.
After pulling herself off of my chest, Mia sits up against the door, hugging her knees to her chest. I must have done something wrong. Damn me.
"Mia…" I'm sorry, I really, really am. I should have just kissed her. Wasn't I going to? I… think I was. I think.
"Don't." She sounds pissed. "Don't pretend you're sorry. I mean, you were just making fun of me back- err- there. I can't believe I thought… I just…" She exhales.
"What? Mia, I wasn't making fun of you. You have no idea how much I… um, well I…"
"You what?" When did she become so assertive?
"I really…"
"Michael?"
"I care about you, Mia." Her eyes widen noticeably. "Yes, I do."
"You…"
"And more than just my little sister's best friend. More than just the girl I help with Algebra…" I didn't notice before, but I'd been crawling towards her all this time, and her deer-in-headlights look intensified with every inch I covered. Maybe I had better just stop now.
But I can't. My hands settle firmly on her shoulders.
"Thermopolis," I shake my head. The pet name won't do for this. "Mia…" I lean in to whisper in her ear. "I am in love with you… I love you." When I pull back, my hands still on her shoulders, we're both beginning to smile.
"I can't believe you," she whispers, shaking her head. She's continues to smile though, her silver eyes locked into mine. Is she serious? I mean, I pour my heart out and she still can't get it? "Because it makes absolutely no sense that you, Michael Moscovitz, most perfect, gorgeous guy I have ever met in my entire life," Her smile is threatening to break her face at this point. "Could possibly feel for me, a dorky, awkward, mathematically-challenged princess, what I feel for you… It's just too…"
"Weird." I finish.
"Yeah, it is." My hands move off of her shoulders and we both stifle a laugh.
"God, it's pretty pathetic that we never, you know, came upon this realization sooner." I say, blushing.
"And to think that I convinced myself that your leg brushing against mine during all those Algebra lessons was just an accident…" Her mouth plays a sly smile and I feel myself blush even redder. Thank God the light is low enough that she can't see. "God, Michael," she laughs, placing her hands on my burning cheeks. Well, I guess she can see. Damn. So with no desire to stay like this, just stewing with embarrassment, I lean forward just enough that our lips brush. And just as I had hoped they would, Mia's hands move effortlessly from my cheeks to the nape of my neck, pulling me closer to her.
"I really do love you, you know," I say, smiling as our faces are still not even an inch apart. "That wasn't bullshit."
"I know, Michael," she whines impatiently. "And I love you too, but all of this would sound a whole lot better if I didn't just want to kiss you right now." Her mouth presses gently against mine, but I pull away. It's not that I don't want to kiss her just as much, but watching her squirm is adorable.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" I laugh as I stand up. "The Mikester is no girl's boy toy!"
"The Mikester?" she exclaims, standing in front of me.
"Hey! I am widely known as the Mikester, by both self-proclamation and public response." I reply with a smile.
"Okay, but the Mikester has better make an exception," And with that, Mia grips the collar of my shirt as she kisses me, of course causing me to fully give in to her request and kiss her back. I may even begin to get carried away to, what with subconsciously pushing her back to the door. She laughs as her head thuds against the metal and then continues to feverishly, passionately kiss me. I can tell my hair is a mess from her fingers entangling themselves in it. Hell, hers must be a mess too.
"Anybody in there?" A voice shouts from outside the closet. We break apart- rather regrettably on my part.
"Yes! In here! The closet!" I yell. Mia and I frantically try to straighten ourselves out. I know it's not much use, as we are in this very dimly-lit closet. I want us to look halfway presentable in front of whoever is out there though… well at least more than I was just making out with the other person in this closet presentable, which is a lot to hope for, especially since I will turn completely red as soon as the door opens. I know it.
The knob begins to turn and I am struck with one horrifying thought. Well, a few, actually: what if that is Mr. Gianini out there?… Mia's mom?… Or Lars?… Or her dad? I mean, I don't know why Mia's dad would be there, but still. You see my concern, right?
The door is moving in now, the light making one big, widening bar to my left, illuminating a shelf filled with industrial-sized cans of glue and boxes upon boxes of dry erase markers. I cross my fingers and hope for the best.
"What're you kids doin' in this closet?" the janitor asks, looking from me to Mia, and back again. Thank you, God. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
"It's a long story," I say, clearing my throat. Mia nods. "But I'm telling you, Sir, you have a major safety hazard on your hands here." I point towards the door knob, which the janitor begins to inspect.
"You're just lucky we were still alive in there," Mia adds, assuming her royal attitude. "The school could have had quite a mess on its hands." She must be taking after Lilly, or her Grandmere, I suppose.
Leaving the janitor there, apparently befuddled by the situation, we run out of the G&T room suppressing Catholic girl-like giggles. Well, err… not from me, of course. Ahem.
Once out of the building, Mia's arms wrap around my neck as she quickly kisses me.
"What was that for?" I ask, not that I am complaining.
"Dahling, you were wonderful!" she exclaims, alluding to Ferris Bueller, but sounding a bit like Holly Golightly. Hmm. Either is good.
"Why thank you," I bow, flashing a dashing smile. "Now what do you say we escape in style, my dear?"
"What did you have in mind?"
"Um… My bike." I blush.
"Hey, why not?" she replies, following me to a shiny object concealed by bushes. "Just… make sure we get home on time, okay?"
"C'mon, Thermopolis, this is the Moscovitz Express we are talking about. We'll be there in 24 hours- guaranteed!" She laughs and gets on my handlebars. Oh, what a day. Er, night… Early morning. Whatever.
______________________________________________________________
Next Monday at school…
So after what will here on be known as The Best Weekend Ever, Mia and I are a couple. I even walked her to her locker this morning, and am currently waiting by said locker to escort her to lunch. So I may be her bitch. I don't care. This all seems well worth it.
"Hey, Mia!" I hear Lana call as she approaches her. "Lookie what I found in the trash!: In her perfectly manicured hand, the Wicked Witch herself holds a thick, untitled book. Mia's journal. I can sense Mia tensing up as she slowly turns to face the blonde tyrant.
Lana begins to flip through the pages until her pink-clawed finger lands on a page she seems to like. "Ooooh…" she squeals. "Now here's something I thought was interesting." Mia's hand clutches mine tightly. " 'Stayed the night at Lilly's. We were supposed to be coming up with ideas for her next show, but as usual, the only thing I could do was stare at Michael the whole time. I mean, how can I not when he's always walking around the apartment with no shirt on?' " Lana pauses to laugh hysterically. There is a small group of people beginning to form around us. I can feel my face getting hotter by the minute, if only out of shear delight that Mia has been writing about my shirtlessness. I smile over at her, only to see she has turned as red as a tomato.
" 'And man does he look great without a shirt!' " Lana continued. " 'I wonder if he could ever be interested in a flat-chested princess such as myself.' " The bleach-blonde was practically in tears at this point. Personally, I did not see what was so funny. I mean, Mia has way more going for her than Lana. And she's gorgeous too.
"Hey, it's cool," I say, snatching the journal from Lana's hands and giving it to Mia. "Mia and I go out now, didn't you know that?"
"I, uh… I. Well…" It was comedic how speechless Lana suddenly became. With our opportunity in sight, Mia and I walked off to lunch, hand in hand.
"Oh, and Lana," Mia called over her shoulder. "You shouldn't be digging around in the garbage. It can't be good for your nails." The two of us shared a smile and rounded the corner.
Author's Note: All of my chapters should be this long. My lack of prolixity (is that a word?) [and ability to promptly update] is disappointing. Maybe I will write a one-shot soon. Maybe I will ask someone to [please, for the love of God] help me complete The Island Diaries.
Anyway, adieu!
jacki
(You want to review. Don't kid yourself.)
