Chapter Four: Always On My Mind

A/N: I've noticed the lack of reviews for my last chapter (I think I got only three or four)…Please feel free to compliment, comment, or use some constructive criticism (but, please, no flames). Thanks, and enjoy this chapter! =)

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Tuesday, December 9, Calculus

Holy sh…

Wow. Woah. Wow.

Did he say what I think he…

No, he couldn't have…

Yes, yes, he did. He said, no, yelled that he…that he…

Loved her? Loved her?

Loved her? Mia? Mia?

My Mia?

I did not just think that.

I was walking out of Chemistry when I saw Mia. With Kenny. And a gaggle of freshman. Mia looked about ready to walk away with Shameeka Taylor and Lilly when he…he said it.

"I don't care if you don't feel like the same way, Mia, I will always love you!"

Most of my classmates burst out laughing. But I didn't. I simply stood there. I didn't care if my mouth was gaping open (I'm pretty sure it wasn't) or I just looked shocked. But he…he…Wow. Mia looked like she was about ready to crawl into a corner and die, she was that red. I felt sort of relieved. Mia didn't seem too ecstatic at Kenny Showalter, obsessed anime fan, being in love with her.

Mia just stared at Kenny and he looked right back at her, waiting for an answer. I got dragged away by one of my friends, Felix and Judith. That was a bit of a relief, seeing as I felt my insides squirming at the scene that had just taken place.

Tuesday, December 9, P.E. and Health

Gifted and Talented wasn't so great today. Judith usually has plain study hall fifth period but instead of staying with the monotonous Mr. Kellen, she decided to come to the G&T classroom so we could work on our booth. I got enough of that already…Gifted and Talented was one of my few classes without Judith and that's why I always looked forward to them. Oh, and the prospect of being able to stare at Mia for a full fifty minutes. OK, that sounded stalker-ish. Anyway, I was sitting at a table with Judith, who had draped her arm across the back of my chair.

It sucks, really…having to work on the computer program instead of helping Mia with her Algebra homework. I'd rather help Mia with evaluating and multiplying exponents than designing Principal Gupta in a dominatrix outfit with Judith any day.

Taking a small break from working, Judith decided to listen into Mia's conversation with Lilly. She overheard Lilly apologizing about not believing some weird phone call or something. Judith decided to comment about Kenny's sudden outburst of affection for Mia.

"Poor kid," Judith said. "I heard what he said to you in the hallway. I was in the chem lab. What was it again? 'I don't care if you don't feel the same way, I will always love you,' or something like that?"

I could've sworn that for a fraction of a second, Mia looked like she very much would've liked to stab the pencil she was holding into Judith's head. I didn't blame her.

"It's really sweet," Judith continued, probably not noticing the pencil-stabbing look on Mia's beautiful face. "If you think about it. I mean, this guy's clearly got it bad for you."

"He's obviously very in touch with his emotions," Lilly said. I almost laughed at this. "Unlike some people." I noticed that she looked right at Mia as she said this. Deciding to defend Mia, also because she didn't look like was going to speak up anytime soon, I said:

"Just because Mia doesn't go around shouting about how she feels in the third floor hallway doesn't mean she's not in touch with her emotions." A slight smile appeared on her face. Score one for me! Ha.

"Yeah," Mia said, gaining some confidence.

"Well, you could have said something back to him," Lilly said, sounding disgruntled. "Instead of just leaving him hanging there." I watched, partly in amusement, as Mia and Lilly argued about the matter at hand. Mia wrote up some list of guys she could see herself spending an eternity with him. Though I knew that Mia didn't include me on that list, I listened "nonchalantly" to their conversation while discussing different costumes for the teachers in our computer program with Judith.

Tuesday, December 9, 8:43 p.m.

I think that Lilly has officially gone insane. Somehow, and I don't even want to know how, Lilly sent a mass e-mail to every member of the student body at AEHS.

ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS AT

ALBERT EINSTEIN HIGH SCHOOL

Stressed from too many exams, term papers, and final projects? Don't just passively accept the objective workload handed down to us by the tyrannical administration! A silent walkout had been scheduled for tomorrow. At 10 A.M. exactly, join your fellow students in showing our teachers how we feel about inflexible exam schedules, repressive censorship, and having only one reading day on which to prepare for our finals. Leave your pencils, leave your books, and gather on East 75th Street between Madison and Park (use doors by main administration offices, if possible) for a rally against Principal Gupta and the trustees! Let your voice be heard!

Like I would really participate in Lilly's walkout. And during chemistry too!

My heart skipped when I saw that Mia was online. After a minute of contemplating whether I should Instant Message her or not, I got the courage to do it.

CracKing: Did you just get that whacked-out mass e-mail from my sister?

FtLouie: Yes.

CracKing: You're not going along with her stupid walkout, are you?

FtLouie: Oh, right. She wouldn't be too mad if I don't, or anything.

I thought about what to respond with. I started typing almost immediately.

CracKing: You don't need to do everything she says, you know, Mia. I mean, you've stood up to her before. Why not now?

FtLouie: I find that the path of least resistance if often the safest one when dealing with your sister.

CracKing: Well, I'm not doing it. Walking out, I mean.

FtLouie: It's different for you. You're her brother. She has to remain on speaking terms with you. You live together.

I paused before replying.

CracKing: Not for much longer. Thank God.

Columbia was going to be so great. I'd be away from Lilly…but away from Mia too.

FtLouie: That's right. You got accepted to Columbia. Early decision, too. I never did congratulate you. So congratulations.

CracKing: Thanks.

FtLouie: You must be happy that you'll know at least one other person there. Judith Gershner, I mean.

Damn, I had almost forgotten. Judith had been accepted to Columbia, early decision, as well.

It's now or never, Michael, I thought to myself before typing in what I did next.

CracKing: Yeah, I guess so. Listen, you're still going to be in town for the Winter Carnival, right? I mean, you're not leaving for Genovia before the 19th are you?

There was a considerably long pause, on her part.

FtLouie: I'm leaving for Genovia on the 20th.

CracKing: Oh, good. Because you should really stop by the Computer Club's booth at the carnival, and check out this program I've been working on. I think you'll like it.

Wow, that was incredibly bold of me.

FtLouie: Can't wait. Well, I have to go. Bye.

And then, she signed off. Great going, Moscovitz. You probably scared her off.

Sometimes I think I must be the stupidest person in the world.

But then I remember Kenny and I feel OK again.

Tuesday, December 9, 9:50 p.m.

As I sit here, my guitar in my lap, I wonder if this will all work out. I mean, the whole telling-Mia-that-I-love-her thing. There's a strong doubt in my mind that she will turn me down, saying how madly in love with Kenny she is. Running my fingers along the guitar strings, I began playing "Tall Drink of Water."

Don't you know that I'm in love with you?

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A/N: Please review! =D