Disclaimer: See previous chapters. ("Always You" belongs to Jennifer Paige)
KIM: Sorry about the "anyways," I try and go through and fix most of those. But I say it, so I type it. :( bad habits.
A/N: I took full liberties with the Finals week schedule. I needed to.
I bet you think you know how Mia and Kenny are going to break up don't you? After the last chapter's ending and everything..... Let me refresh your memories:
============================================== ==============================================
"Kenny, we need to talk."
"... okay?" he was looking at her very confused, but Mia was resolute. It had to happen now. There were other people here, so he wouldn't dare make a scene, would he?
"I lied, Kenny," she said simply. Hoping he'd take the hint.
"W-what?" he stuttered. "Y-You d-don't like chocolate chip ice cream? I can buy you another flavor if you don't want it."
Mia sighed, he was really dense. "Not about that Kenny, I meant... I meant about..."
God, she couldn't do it.
"Never mind," she said sadly.
He looked at her strangely. But went back with her to where their friends were sitting.
Boris some how noticing her distress tried to cheer her up. Unsuccessfully.
-----------------
(NEXT WEEK, MONDAY)
"It stands like this," Mandella said annoyed to Lilly. "Since the incident in the cafeteria, neither one has done anything, and Kenny is still being the moronic boyfriend as he was before. You're brother has no balls," she added on pointedly.
Lilly shrugged, "Don't look at me, I don't know here he got it from."
Mandella sighed and flopped onto her couch next to Lilly. "What are we going to do?"
"I'm kind of bored with this whole, fixer-up arrangement. How about we screw them up, and than let then fix themselves. Much more entertaining watch, I assure you."
"Lilly..."
"I know, I know. I was only joking," she said resigned. "Sort of."
They sat in silence for a few more minutes before either said anything.
"You know, that could work," Mandella said sitting up.
"Huh?"
"Screwing them up. It could work." She picked up a piece of paper and started scribbling for a few seconds. "Lilly, its twisted, but I like it."
Lilly looked at what Mandella wrote and giggled, very un-Lilly like.
"Oooh, we are gonna have some fun, aren't we?"
"Oh yeah."
---------------------
Mia looked depressed at the message that flashed on her screen. An email from Michael:
Either you break up with Kenny, or you give up me. Which is it? I'm tired of waiting, and seeing you two kiss.
Your pissed, but beloved suitor,
Michael
She didn't know what to do. She thought maybe Michael would have understood that she couldn't break up with Kenny until after finals... but than again, they hadn't exactly spoken about it either.
Damn it.
She logged off when she saw that CracKing was now online. She didn't want to talk to him now.
---------------------
Michael stared at his laptop. Mia signed off as soon as he was on, just a coincidence right? Or at least he thought so until he read this email from Mia:
Michael,
I got a new email address, too much spam in the other one.
Anyways, I just wanted to tell you that I've decided dating a senior would be too weird, and too much trouble. So despite that I really don't like him that much, I'm going to keep dating Kenny.
With all my love, (not!)
Mia
P.S. Donate to Green Peace, Save the whales!
No way could this be authentic could it?
An email from Mia? Not like this. What happened to all the kissing, and the confessions, the connection they shared?
He looked up the profile on this email address. It was identical to Mia's previous email address, the difference was the title that said, "Now running spam free."
It was Mia after all. Was this really how she felt?
---------------------
Mia was panicking. Tomorrow was her Algebra final, her French final, and her Biology final. For most of last week, she'd gotten help from Michael, until the cafeteria, and than they'd sort of silently agreed to back off. So, her time with Mr. G in his Algebra review sessions grew.
On top of that, GrandmereGrandmére insisted on increasing the amount of time she spent with Jane Lee. Not that those were horrible torture sessions or anything (unlike normal princess lessons), its just they took up extra time she needed to study.
And there was this whole Michael thing; well that was enough distraction in itself.
Oh and Kenny hasn't even asked her to the dance next week. Yea, in the midst of this all, that's been on her mind too.
She sighed and put down her math book, and picked up her Biology notes. If there was one thing she had to be grateful to Kenny for, it was the fact she was passing Biology.
She'd break up with him after school tomorrow. It didn't matter anymore, and Kenny would be a fool to let the break up affect his grades.
Yes that's what she would do. And than Michael would know that she'd choose him over Kenny any day.
------------------------------
(TUESDAY)
Her math final had been challenging, but she didn't feel too bad about how that went... but than again, not feeling too bad about it was exactly how she ended up with an F at the beginning of the semester.
The French final she felt she could have taken in her sleep, she spoke it and heard it often enough with Grandmére that it was barely a challenge. There were a few words she couldn't remember, and sometimes the grammar was hard to remember, but really, she could expect an easy B in the class.
The Biology final on the other hand.... It was just ridiculously easy. Kenny's meticulous notes really helped her study, she knew this stuff like, like the back of her hand.
After wards, she dragged Kenny outside and off to the side, Lars waiting patiently behind them.
"Kenny, I lied," she said not for the first time. She took a deep breath and continued, "IdowanttheretobetruthtotherumorsaboutmeandMichael."
"W-what?" Kenny looked at her like she was a purple elephant with bright pink polka-dots and a petticoat. Yes, just like that, a very strange girl indeed.
"I want to break up with you," she said nearly inaudibly.
"W-why?" he asked, unbelieving that his beloved Mia could want to end the relationship.
"Kenny... I just don't like you," she said. And than added quickly, "like that."
"Oh," he said slowly, defeat sinking in. "So who is it than? Michael? James? Boris?"
Mia felt her eyes bulge and she choked down laughter. James? Boris? BORIS?
"Um... Its not Boris, or James," she said still trying not to laugh. Behind her she heard Lars clear his throat as well. A bad attempt to hide his chuckle.
"So its Michael than," Kenny said.
Mia stared at her feet, "Yeah, it is."
"Best of luck with him," Kenny said before turning and walking away stiffly.
-------------------
Michael was unwavering in his decision. He would prove to Mia that he was better than Kenny. That the 'troubles' of dating a senior were worth it to go out with him.
He rushed from his sixth period final to her Biology class as soon as school was dismissed, his guitar in hand. His plan would be to serenade her with 'Tall Glass of Water', praying for the assumption that girls love musicians to be true.
And so he got on his knees, the guitar resting on his thighs as he played. The her fellow students came out of the class room. He couldn't face her, so he closed his eyes as the first boy walked past laughing at him. He didn't want to see her face.
When he finished, someone was clapping. He opened his eyes eagerly. There, was Shameeka, another of Mia's friends.
"If you're hoping to find Mia, she left before you even came. She's with Kenny."
Shameeka left a stunned Michael there. It was like someone plunged a wooden stake into his heart and twisted it thousands of times.
He felt stupid and embarrassed. Michael got up slowly and brushed the dust off his pants, picked up his guitar and bag and went home.
---------------------
Mia hugged Fat Louie possessively, knowing that he would tolerate this behavior only a little longer.
Michael hadn't ridden in the Limo that morning, and she knew she couldn't count on him riding the next morning.
So how to tell him that she broke up with Kenny?
Fat Louie got off her lap and sniffed at the rose she brought home.
Someone had left a yellow rose hanging out of her locker. There was no card or anything, nothing to tell her who it belonged too.
She would love to think it was from Michael, but knew better. Even if he wasn't mad at her, he wasn't the sort of guy to do that. Maybe it was Kenny?
She hadn't bothered to ask him, after being to worried about the whole dumping thing...
Anyways, Michael wouldn't be in the limo the next morning. So that left Lunch to try and find him.
Tomorrow was her World Civ., than her English final, and a tutorial period in her homeroom class. Yay, an hour and a half stuck aimlessly in her Algebra class.
But she understood the need for the tutorial period, and even appreciated it. The staff at AEHS figured that six finals of two days would be unfair, and that an extra period to help those who needed it would be okay by the students.
The final day than, would only have (for Mia) G&T, and early release. Friday would be an hour of homeroom, when grades would be handed out, than the carnival.
Mia opened her World Civilizations book and tried to study.
-------------------
(WEDNESDAY)
"Is the rose from you, Kenny?" Mia asked him. It was lunch, and she was standing at the computer club table, waiting for a reply. Kenny sat on the bench, staring at the yellow rose in her hand blankly.
"No," he said.
"Okay, thanks." Mia went back to sit at her own table. Despite that Mia had broken up with him, it really didn't seem like anything had changed between her and Kenny. Other than he now ate lunch at a different table. He still followed her around, and tried to carry her books. It was pathetic really. And very embarrassing, she looked like a cruel bitch who was snubbing him, and she knew it. But Kenny was still the one who followed her around, even when she told him not to.
Unfortunately, the one person she wanted to see her acting like a bitch to Kenny wasn't watching. For the last two days, Mia had not even seen Michael in the hallways. It was as though he evaporated. And she looked, all over. She even had Lars look into one of the boys' bathrooms. (He wouldn't go all the way in fear that she might be kidnapped or something while he took one step inside.)
Still, no Michael.
Maybe he was the one leaving the roses for her, and avoiding her until he discovered she broke up with Kenny? Yeah, that was it. So now it was game. She just had to find him.
-----------------------
Michael avoided every path, every hallway, and every room that he knew Mia used during any part of the day. If they had class in the same part of the building at the same time, he'd wait until after the bell rang before going to class.
So what? A few tardies. He finished all of his finals at least ten minutes early anyways. His teachers scowled at him, so he scowled back. Hey, he was accepted into Columbia with early decision, his grades hardly even mattered now.
The whole point behind avoiding Mia? Basically, he didn't want to face her until he had come up with another plan on how to win her heart. After being laughed at by those freshmen leaving the Biology classroom, and pitied by Shameeka, he really didn't think serenading Mia would be the best way to prove he was perfect for her.
Not to mention the fact that she was receiving a yellow rose from Kenny everyday. Why hadn't he thought of that?!
He stomped his way to the kitchen, grabbed a glass of orange juice, and stomped back to his room. Lilly was in the kitchen. She didn't say any scathing remarks, although he could tell she was thinking them. She always was.
--------------------------
(THURSDAY, back to Mia's POV)
Okay, in G&T, thinking this would be the best time to tell Michael I'm now single. Well, my dear Michael Moscovitz is, again NOWHERE to be found.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How am I supposed to tell him we can go out now if I can't find him?
---------------------------
Turns out he was with Judith, JUDITH. "Working on computer club things."
Yeah right. Even I'M not that dense. I'm sure they were "working" on things the same way Boris was "helping" Lilly "study." Oh god, I don't even want to think about it.
And still no sign of who's been leaving me the yellow roses. Please! Please! Let it be Michael!
Bell rang, so I'm off to princess lessons. Oh, joy.
-------------------------
Sebastiano came and fitted the dress I'm supposed to wear to the Winter Dance. Which by the way, I don't even want to go to anymore. I don't have a date, which I'm not really worried about now, but mostly...
This stuff with Michael just has me so stressed out, it really sucks.
But anyway, Sebastiano came and fitted the dress, and I have to admit... I look really amazing in it. I was stunned, I thanked him profusely, like the way I knew he'd want me to. (All if it was genuine, I promise.) And stared at myself in the mirror for a while longer.
Grandmére watched, a knowing and smug look on her face. I hate that look. "He's a musician, right? So sing to him."
"What? I asked. Seriously, I had no clue what she was talking about.
"You're repressing something Amelia, and no doubt it has to do with, with THAT boy," she said derisively.
I stared at her. I swear, Grandmére is the scariest person alive, and I'm not just talking about the way she looks.
"Like I said, you should sing to him, nothing public, and make sure you're good at it. You wouldn't want to humiliate yourself."
"Grandmére, I don't know what you're talking about," I said.
"Really, Amelia. Use your head. You make it obvious that you're upset and than you play stupid."
That hurt, but as always, I couldn't say anything back.
"You want to tell him something, but haven't figured out how, so sing to him," she said inspecting her bright pink nails.
I was again, stunned, and left to stare at her.
"Close your mouth, Amelia, it really is not an appealing trait to gape like a monkey. No wonder you don't have a boyfriend."
How does she do this? I hadn't said anything about breaking up with Kenny. Oh and BY THE WAY, I BROKE UP WITH HIM!! NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
"How did you know I don't have a boyfriend?" I asked stupidly. Today really must've not been my day.
"You don't have any confidence."
"Oh." I guess that made sense. There was sort of that knowledge while I was dating Kenny, that someone thought I was worthwhile, even if it WAS Kenny Showalter.
Anyway, that's why I am now, at home, looking through all of my old CDs, trying to find the perfect song. So I can sing to Michael. Tomorrow.
-----------------------------
(Michael's POV, earlier Thursday)
I tried to avoid Mia, and was doing a pretty good job of it too, but it didn't stop someone as equally unwanted from finding me.
Kenny.
That bastard. Well, I guess I should be nicer now that I know. And I should be happy too I suppose. But its kind of hard when you know that she didn't even try and tell you herself. The girl you love, I mean.
Or maybe she did, but I was too busy avoiding her.
Let me start from the beginning. I steered clear of Mia all of Tuesday, and Wednesday, and today too. But Kenny found me. I bet I would have been able to stay away from him too if it hadn't been for the fact that Computer Club members like to gossip, and tell each other where one of the members is hiding. But I won't get into that.
I rarely saw Mia the last few days, though she seemed to be looking for me, or so a few of my friends have said. And yes, I do have a few friends. Just a few, but its good enough for me.
But I didn't care, I wasn't ready to see her, or be rejected by her once more, so I kept running the other direction, and other things as equally manly.
Than today, during G&T, I went to one of the labs, instead, with Judith to work on programming things for the Winter Carnival tomorrow. And there was Kenny waiting, some how he knew.
Kenny pulled me off to the side, like what he had to say was private. Judith sat down at a computer nearby, and turned it on, and stared at the screen, waiting for the start up to finish. But I'm not stupid, she was listening.
This is when Kenny said, "Just take care of her, okay?"
"Who?" I asked.
"Mia," he said looking at me like I'd just appeared of the dark age. "Didn't you know that she broke up with me? For you?"
I jumped right then, out of pure joy. I knew that email had to be a hoax!! Although I felt kind of bad about Kenny standing right there while I celebrated.
I stopped and patted him on the back. "I'll take care of her," I said, while thinking, yeah, I'll take care of her much better than you ever could. "No hard feelings?" I asked.
"Nah," he said and walked quickly out of the room.
I ... I just can't even begin to describe how happy I was.
------------------------------
(Mia POV)
Okay, I've sort of skipped out of Algebra early, so that I could go to where the microphone is set up on this little platform, to announce things... and I've got my CD player here, with my Jennifer page CD... and I'm really nervous.
I've decided to completely humiliate myself for Michael. I hope he appreciates this.
The bell just rang so its time.
---------------------------------
"I'd like to dedicate this song to Michael Moscovitz," she said, feeling her face become fire-engine red. Her voice rang through out the school, and she prayed silently that she wouldn't get into too much trouble for doing this.
Mia pressed play on the CD player and waited for the right moment. She saw Michael coming down the hallway, staring at her. There was a small crowd gathering around the platform, everyone was watching her.
"I see a mystery ship out on the water
I wonder where it's sailing to
Is someone waiting in some other harbor
These fantasies they blow my way
Like sirens to a fool
And in the stillness of my soul
I keep returning to..."
Michael was standing before her, Mia no longer saw anyone else. She gawked at him, and he was smiling. Her heart pounded in her ears adding unnecessary percussion to this slow song.
"Always you
You know I live out on the wind where the love runs free
I come back to you
Always you
And when I fall to earth you're always there for me
I come back, I come back, I come back to you..."
Her throat was extremely dry, and she could see Principal Gupta heading towards her, she looked back at Michael, he was holding out his hand. She glanced at Lars who turned off the music, and grabbed the CD player. She took Michael's hand, and stumbled carelessly off the podium into his arms.
"Lets go," he said, dragging her quickly through the crowded hallways. He pulled her off into an abandoned science room, followed by Lars who closed the doors.
It smelt funny. Like rotting eggs and burnt marshmallows.
"I uh..." Michael started to say. "God! It reeks in here!"
He opened the door and stuck his head out, looking both directions. "Come on!" he motioned.
They followed him to the next classroom.
"When you sent me that email, Micheal, I broke up with Kenny the next day. I've been trying to talk to you since Tuesday. I know you probably don't even want to look at me now that I've embarrassed you like that, but I had to show you that I when it came down to it.... I would always choose you over Kenny." Mia felt herself blurt it all out. And she turned to leave so that Micheal wouldn't see her cry.
But she couldn't leave he was holding her hand.
"Mia, I was avoiding you, so I could come up with a crazy and brilliant plan to prove to you—wait. What email?"
"The email you sent me that said I had to choose between you and Kenny," said Mia sniffling slightly.
"I never sent you that email. You sent me an email that said you would keep dating Kenny because dating a senior would be too weird and troublesome."
"No, I didn't."
"Than who—" Michael froze.
"Mandella!" he spat, while Mia said , "Lilly!"
"Oh," Mia said.
"Well, at least we both got what we finally wanted?" he said.
"What?" Mia asked scornfully. "Humiliation?"
"No," Michael said, coming up behind Mia, wrapping his arms around her. "I've got you, you've got me. That is what you wanted, right?"
"Yeah, it is," said Mia cheering up. She turned to face him, and wrapped her arms around his neck. Doing this was much easier with a guy who was slightly taller than you still, unlike Kenny.
"So, Thermopolis," Michael said grinning. "Got a date to that dance I know you wanted to go tonight?"
Mia gaped at him, knowing Michael wasn't the sort of guy to go to school dances. "No..."
"Do you mind if I pick you up at seven-thirty?" he asked handing her a yellow rose.
She smiled, and kissed him.
"If you just kissed me for the rose, its not from me. Actually, its from Boris," he said a little sheepishly.
"Boris?"
"Read the card."
"Good luck on your trip to Genovia! See you when you get back! Your secret snowflake, Boris Pelkowski." Mia giggled. "I guess that explains that."
"I guess so," Michael said, and kissed her again.
---------------------------------------
When Michael came to pick up Mia from the loft, they waited patiently as Mr. G and Mia's mom took about two-dozen photos. They smiled at each other, and left with Lars in tow.
Mia's mom, fell back into a chair, next to Mr. G. "Oh! To be young again," she said, putting a hand on Mr. G's.
--------------------------
They were walking up to the front of the school, about to enter when Michael felt Mia tremble.
"Don't worry about what people say," said Michael sensing Mia's nervousness. "You look absolutely amazing."
She slipped her hand into his, "Thanks, Michael."
They went into the gym to be bombarded by their friends, and many others too. All were cooing how cute they were together, how pretty Mia was, how cute Michael was. It was as though they were instant celebrities, a concept Michael wasn't used to
Off to the side, Lilly and Mandella gloated at their handiwork, but were generally happy that the two block-heads had finally pulled it together.
Michael and Mia weren't separated a moment during the whole night. While the fast songs played, they were off to the side, talking, often laughing. During the slow songs, their bodies were pressed together, Mia's head on Michael's shoulder, his arms around her waist protectively.
The night was perfect, not even the fact that Mia would be gone for two weeks, starting the next day, could ruin the evening. They had endured too much drama, and to not savor every moment they had together.
It was just simply perfect.
===================================================== =====================================================
So do you still hate Mia?
I know that Mia is gone longer that the two weeks, but she can't be in my story, other wise she'd only have a week after break to prepare for the play.
(For those of you who mentioned sequels in regards to my one-shots, go look at my user info thingy if you want reasons why I won't do them...)
KIM: Sorry about the "anyways," I try and go through and fix most of those. But I say it, so I type it. :( bad habits.
A/N: I took full liberties with the Finals week schedule. I needed to.
I bet you think you know how Mia and Kenny are going to break up don't you? After the last chapter's ending and everything..... Let me refresh your memories:
============================================== ==============================================
"Kenny, we need to talk."
"... okay?" he was looking at her very confused, but Mia was resolute. It had to happen now. There were other people here, so he wouldn't dare make a scene, would he?
"I lied, Kenny," she said simply. Hoping he'd take the hint.
"W-what?" he stuttered. "Y-You d-don't like chocolate chip ice cream? I can buy you another flavor if you don't want it."
Mia sighed, he was really dense. "Not about that Kenny, I meant... I meant about..."
God, she couldn't do it.
"Never mind," she said sadly.
He looked at her strangely. But went back with her to where their friends were sitting.
Boris some how noticing her distress tried to cheer her up. Unsuccessfully.
-----------------
(NEXT WEEK, MONDAY)
"It stands like this," Mandella said annoyed to Lilly. "Since the incident in the cafeteria, neither one has done anything, and Kenny is still being the moronic boyfriend as he was before. You're brother has no balls," she added on pointedly.
Lilly shrugged, "Don't look at me, I don't know here he got it from."
Mandella sighed and flopped onto her couch next to Lilly. "What are we going to do?"
"I'm kind of bored with this whole, fixer-up arrangement. How about we screw them up, and than let then fix themselves. Much more entertaining watch, I assure you."
"Lilly..."
"I know, I know. I was only joking," she said resigned. "Sort of."
They sat in silence for a few more minutes before either said anything.
"You know, that could work," Mandella said sitting up.
"Huh?"
"Screwing them up. It could work." She picked up a piece of paper and started scribbling for a few seconds. "Lilly, its twisted, but I like it."
Lilly looked at what Mandella wrote and giggled, very un-Lilly like.
"Oooh, we are gonna have some fun, aren't we?"
"Oh yeah."
---------------------
Mia looked depressed at the message that flashed on her screen. An email from Michael:
Either you break up with Kenny, or you give up me. Which is it? I'm tired of waiting, and seeing you two kiss.
Your pissed, but beloved suitor,
Michael
She didn't know what to do. She thought maybe Michael would have understood that she couldn't break up with Kenny until after finals... but than again, they hadn't exactly spoken about it either.
Damn it.
She logged off when she saw that CracKing was now online. She didn't want to talk to him now.
---------------------
Michael stared at his laptop. Mia signed off as soon as he was on, just a coincidence right? Or at least he thought so until he read this email from Mia:
Michael,
I got a new email address, too much spam in the other one.
Anyways, I just wanted to tell you that I've decided dating a senior would be too weird, and too much trouble. So despite that I really don't like him that much, I'm going to keep dating Kenny.
With all my love, (not!)
Mia
P.S. Donate to Green Peace, Save the whales!
No way could this be authentic could it?
An email from Mia? Not like this. What happened to all the kissing, and the confessions, the connection they shared?
He looked up the profile on this email address. It was identical to Mia's previous email address, the difference was the title that said, "Now running spam free."
It was Mia after all. Was this really how she felt?
---------------------
Mia was panicking. Tomorrow was her Algebra final, her French final, and her Biology final. For most of last week, she'd gotten help from Michael, until the cafeteria, and than they'd sort of silently agreed to back off. So, her time with Mr. G in his Algebra review sessions grew.
On top of that, GrandmereGrandmére insisted on increasing the amount of time she spent with Jane Lee. Not that those were horrible torture sessions or anything (unlike normal princess lessons), its just they took up extra time she needed to study.
And there was this whole Michael thing; well that was enough distraction in itself.
Oh and Kenny hasn't even asked her to the dance next week. Yea, in the midst of this all, that's been on her mind too.
She sighed and put down her math book, and picked up her Biology notes. If there was one thing she had to be grateful to Kenny for, it was the fact she was passing Biology.
She'd break up with him after school tomorrow. It didn't matter anymore, and Kenny would be a fool to let the break up affect his grades.
Yes that's what she would do. And than Michael would know that she'd choose him over Kenny any day.
------------------------------
(TUESDAY)
Her math final had been challenging, but she didn't feel too bad about how that went... but than again, not feeling too bad about it was exactly how she ended up with an F at the beginning of the semester.
The French final she felt she could have taken in her sleep, she spoke it and heard it often enough with Grandmére that it was barely a challenge. There were a few words she couldn't remember, and sometimes the grammar was hard to remember, but really, she could expect an easy B in the class.
The Biology final on the other hand.... It was just ridiculously easy. Kenny's meticulous notes really helped her study, she knew this stuff like, like the back of her hand.
After wards, she dragged Kenny outside and off to the side, Lars waiting patiently behind them.
"Kenny, I lied," she said not for the first time. She took a deep breath and continued, "IdowanttheretobetruthtotherumorsaboutmeandMichael."
"W-what?" Kenny looked at her like she was a purple elephant with bright pink polka-dots and a petticoat. Yes, just like that, a very strange girl indeed.
"I want to break up with you," she said nearly inaudibly.
"W-why?" he asked, unbelieving that his beloved Mia could want to end the relationship.
"Kenny... I just don't like you," she said. And than added quickly, "like that."
"Oh," he said slowly, defeat sinking in. "So who is it than? Michael? James? Boris?"
Mia felt her eyes bulge and she choked down laughter. James? Boris? BORIS?
"Um... Its not Boris, or James," she said still trying not to laugh. Behind her she heard Lars clear his throat as well. A bad attempt to hide his chuckle.
"So its Michael than," Kenny said.
Mia stared at her feet, "Yeah, it is."
"Best of luck with him," Kenny said before turning and walking away stiffly.
-------------------
Michael was unwavering in his decision. He would prove to Mia that he was better than Kenny. That the 'troubles' of dating a senior were worth it to go out with him.
He rushed from his sixth period final to her Biology class as soon as school was dismissed, his guitar in hand. His plan would be to serenade her with 'Tall Glass of Water', praying for the assumption that girls love musicians to be true.
And so he got on his knees, the guitar resting on his thighs as he played. The her fellow students came out of the class room. He couldn't face her, so he closed his eyes as the first boy walked past laughing at him. He didn't want to see her face.
When he finished, someone was clapping. He opened his eyes eagerly. There, was Shameeka, another of Mia's friends.
"If you're hoping to find Mia, she left before you even came. She's with Kenny."
Shameeka left a stunned Michael there. It was like someone plunged a wooden stake into his heart and twisted it thousands of times.
He felt stupid and embarrassed. Michael got up slowly and brushed the dust off his pants, picked up his guitar and bag and went home.
---------------------
Mia hugged Fat Louie possessively, knowing that he would tolerate this behavior only a little longer.
Michael hadn't ridden in the Limo that morning, and she knew she couldn't count on him riding the next morning.
So how to tell him that she broke up with Kenny?
Fat Louie got off her lap and sniffed at the rose she brought home.
Someone had left a yellow rose hanging out of her locker. There was no card or anything, nothing to tell her who it belonged too.
She would love to think it was from Michael, but knew better. Even if he wasn't mad at her, he wasn't the sort of guy to do that. Maybe it was Kenny?
She hadn't bothered to ask him, after being to worried about the whole dumping thing...
Anyways, Michael wouldn't be in the limo the next morning. So that left Lunch to try and find him.
Tomorrow was her World Civ., than her English final, and a tutorial period in her homeroom class. Yay, an hour and a half stuck aimlessly in her Algebra class.
But she understood the need for the tutorial period, and even appreciated it. The staff at AEHS figured that six finals of two days would be unfair, and that an extra period to help those who needed it would be okay by the students.
The final day than, would only have (for Mia) G&T, and early release. Friday would be an hour of homeroom, when grades would be handed out, than the carnival.
Mia opened her World Civilizations book and tried to study.
-------------------
(WEDNESDAY)
"Is the rose from you, Kenny?" Mia asked him. It was lunch, and she was standing at the computer club table, waiting for a reply. Kenny sat on the bench, staring at the yellow rose in her hand blankly.
"No," he said.
"Okay, thanks." Mia went back to sit at her own table. Despite that Mia had broken up with him, it really didn't seem like anything had changed between her and Kenny. Other than he now ate lunch at a different table. He still followed her around, and tried to carry her books. It was pathetic really. And very embarrassing, she looked like a cruel bitch who was snubbing him, and she knew it. But Kenny was still the one who followed her around, even when she told him not to.
Unfortunately, the one person she wanted to see her acting like a bitch to Kenny wasn't watching. For the last two days, Mia had not even seen Michael in the hallways. It was as though he evaporated. And she looked, all over. She even had Lars look into one of the boys' bathrooms. (He wouldn't go all the way in fear that she might be kidnapped or something while he took one step inside.)
Still, no Michael.
Maybe he was the one leaving the roses for her, and avoiding her until he discovered she broke up with Kenny? Yeah, that was it. So now it was game. She just had to find him.
-----------------------
Michael avoided every path, every hallway, and every room that he knew Mia used during any part of the day. If they had class in the same part of the building at the same time, he'd wait until after the bell rang before going to class.
So what? A few tardies. He finished all of his finals at least ten minutes early anyways. His teachers scowled at him, so he scowled back. Hey, he was accepted into Columbia with early decision, his grades hardly even mattered now.
The whole point behind avoiding Mia? Basically, he didn't want to face her until he had come up with another plan on how to win her heart. After being laughed at by those freshmen leaving the Biology classroom, and pitied by Shameeka, he really didn't think serenading Mia would be the best way to prove he was perfect for her.
Not to mention the fact that she was receiving a yellow rose from Kenny everyday. Why hadn't he thought of that?!
He stomped his way to the kitchen, grabbed a glass of orange juice, and stomped back to his room. Lilly was in the kitchen. She didn't say any scathing remarks, although he could tell she was thinking them. She always was.
--------------------------
(THURSDAY, back to Mia's POV)
Okay, in G&T, thinking this would be the best time to tell Michael I'm now single. Well, my dear Michael Moscovitz is, again NOWHERE to be found.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How am I supposed to tell him we can go out now if I can't find him?
---------------------------
Turns out he was with Judith, JUDITH. "Working on computer club things."
Yeah right. Even I'M not that dense. I'm sure they were "working" on things the same way Boris was "helping" Lilly "study." Oh god, I don't even want to think about it.
And still no sign of who's been leaving me the yellow roses. Please! Please! Let it be Michael!
Bell rang, so I'm off to princess lessons. Oh, joy.
-------------------------
Sebastiano came and fitted the dress I'm supposed to wear to the Winter Dance. Which by the way, I don't even want to go to anymore. I don't have a date, which I'm not really worried about now, but mostly...
This stuff with Michael just has me so stressed out, it really sucks.
But anyway, Sebastiano came and fitted the dress, and I have to admit... I look really amazing in it. I was stunned, I thanked him profusely, like the way I knew he'd want me to. (All if it was genuine, I promise.) And stared at myself in the mirror for a while longer.
Grandmére watched, a knowing and smug look on her face. I hate that look. "He's a musician, right? So sing to him."
"What? I asked. Seriously, I had no clue what she was talking about.
"You're repressing something Amelia, and no doubt it has to do with, with THAT boy," she said derisively.
I stared at her. I swear, Grandmére is the scariest person alive, and I'm not just talking about the way she looks.
"Like I said, you should sing to him, nothing public, and make sure you're good at it. You wouldn't want to humiliate yourself."
"Grandmére, I don't know what you're talking about," I said.
"Really, Amelia. Use your head. You make it obvious that you're upset and than you play stupid."
That hurt, but as always, I couldn't say anything back.
"You want to tell him something, but haven't figured out how, so sing to him," she said inspecting her bright pink nails.
I was again, stunned, and left to stare at her.
"Close your mouth, Amelia, it really is not an appealing trait to gape like a monkey. No wonder you don't have a boyfriend."
How does she do this? I hadn't said anything about breaking up with Kenny. Oh and BY THE WAY, I BROKE UP WITH HIM!! NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
"How did you know I don't have a boyfriend?" I asked stupidly. Today really must've not been my day.
"You don't have any confidence."
"Oh." I guess that made sense. There was sort of that knowledge while I was dating Kenny, that someone thought I was worthwhile, even if it WAS Kenny Showalter.
Anyway, that's why I am now, at home, looking through all of my old CDs, trying to find the perfect song. So I can sing to Michael. Tomorrow.
-----------------------------
(Michael's POV, earlier Thursday)
I tried to avoid Mia, and was doing a pretty good job of it too, but it didn't stop someone as equally unwanted from finding me.
Kenny.
That bastard. Well, I guess I should be nicer now that I know. And I should be happy too I suppose. But its kind of hard when you know that she didn't even try and tell you herself. The girl you love, I mean.
Or maybe she did, but I was too busy avoiding her.
Let me start from the beginning. I steered clear of Mia all of Tuesday, and Wednesday, and today too. But Kenny found me. I bet I would have been able to stay away from him too if it hadn't been for the fact that Computer Club members like to gossip, and tell each other where one of the members is hiding. But I won't get into that.
I rarely saw Mia the last few days, though she seemed to be looking for me, or so a few of my friends have said. And yes, I do have a few friends. Just a few, but its good enough for me.
But I didn't care, I wasn't ready to see her, or be rejected by her once more, so I kept running the other direction, and other things as equally manly.
Than today, during G&T, I went to one of the labs, instead, with Judith to work on programming things for the Winter Carnival tomorrow. And there was Kenny waiting, some how he knew.
Kenny pulled me off to the side, like what he had to say was private. Judith sat down at a computer nearby, and turned it on, and stared at the screen, waiting for the start up to finish. But I'm not stupid, she was listening.
This is when Kenny said, "Just take care of her, okay?"
"Who?" I asked.
"Mia," he said looking at me like I'd just appeared of the dark age. "Didn't you know that she broke up with me? For you?"
I jumped right then, out of pure joy. I knew that email had to be a hoax!! Although I felt kind of bad about Kenny standing right there while I celebrated.
I stopped and patted him on the back. "I'll take care of her," I said, while thinking, yeah, I'll take care of her much better than you ever could. "No hard feelings?" I asked.
"Nah," he said and walked quickly out of the room.
I ... I just can't even begin to describe how happy I was.
------------------------------
(Mia POV)
Okay, I've sort of skipped out of Algebra early, so that I could go to where the microphone is set up on this little platform, to announce things... and I've got my CD player here, with my Jennifer page CD... and I'm really nervous.
I've decided to completely humiliate myself for Michael. I hope he appreciates this.
The bell just rang so its time.
---------------------------------
"I'd like to dedicate this song to Michael Moscovitz," she said, feeling her face become fire-engine red. Her voice rang through out the school, and she prayed silently that she wouldn't get into too much trouble for doing this.
Mia pressed play on the CD player and waited for the right moment. She saw Michael coming down the hallway, staring at her. There was a small crowd gathering around the platform, everyone was watching her.
"I see a mystery ship out on the water
I wonder where it's sailing to
Is someone waiting in some other harbor
These fantasies they blow my way
Like sirens to a fool
And in the stillness of my soul
I keep returning to..."
Michael was standing before her, Mia no longer saw anyone else. She gawked at him, and he was smiling. Her heart pounded in her ears adding unnecessary percussion to this slow song.
"Always you
You know I live out on the wind where the love runs free
I come back to you
Always you
And when I fall to earth you're always there for me
I come back, I come back, I come back to you..."
Her throat was extremely dry, and she could see Principal Gupta heading towards her, she looked back at Michael, he was holding out his hand. She glanced at Lars who turned off the music, and grabbed the CD player. She took Michael's hand, and stumbled carelessly off the podium into his arms.
"Lets go," he said, dragging her quickly through the crowded hallways. He pulled her off into an abandoned science room, followed by Lars who closed the doors.
It smelt funny. Like rotting eggs and burnt marshmallows.
"I uh..." Michael started to say. "God! It reeks in here!"
He opened the door and stuck his head out, looking both directions. "Come on!" he motioned.
They followed him to the next classroom.
"When you sent me that email, Micheal, I broke up with Kenny the next day. I've been trying to talk to you since Tuesday. I know you probably don't even want to look at me now that I've embarrassed you like that, but I had to show you that I when it came down to it.... I would always choose you over Kenny." Mia felt herself blurt it all out. And she turned to leave so that Micheal wouldn't see her cry.
But she couldn't leave he was holding her hand.
"Mia, I was avoiding you, so I could come up with a crazy and brilliant plan to prove to you—wait. What email?"
"The email you sent me that said I had to choose between you and Kenny," said Mia sniffling slightly.
"I never sent you that email. You sent me an email that said you would keep dating Kenny because dating a senior would be too weird and troublesome."
"No, I didn't."
"Than who—" Michael froze.
"Mandella!" he spat, while Mia said , "Lilly!"
"Oh," Mia said.
"Well, at least we both got what we finally wanted?" he said.
"What?" Mia asked scornfully. "Humiliation?"
"No," Michael said, coming up behind Mia, wrapping his arms around her. "I've got you, you've got me. That is what you wanted, right?"
"Yeah, it is," said Mia cheering up. She turned to face him, and wrapped her arms around his neck. Doing this was much easier with a guy who was slightly taller than you still, unlike Kenny.
"So, Thermopolis," Michael said grinning. "Got a date to that dance I know you wanted to go tonight?"
Mia gaped at him, knowing Michael wasn't the sort of guy to go to school dances. "No..."
"Do you mind if I pick you up at seven-thirty?" he asked handing her a yellow rose.
She smiled, and kissed him.
"If you just kissed me for the rose, its not from me. Actually, its from Boris," he said a little sheepishly.
"Boris?"
"Read the card."
"Good luck on your trip to Genovia! See you when you get back! Your secret snowflake, Boris Pelkowski." Mia giggled. "I guess that explains that."
"I guess so," Michael said, and kissed her again.
---------------------------------------
When Michael came to pick up Mia from the loft, they waited patiently as Mr. G and Mia's mom took about two-dozen photos. They smiled at each other, and left with Lars in tow.
Mia's mom, fell back into a chair, next to Mr. G. "Oh! To be young again," she said, putting a hand on Mr. G's.
--------------------------
They were walking up to the front of the school, about to enter when Michael felt Mia tremble.
"Don't worry about what people say," said Michael sensing Mia's nervousness. "You look absolutely amazing."
She slipped her hand into his, "Thanks, Michael."
They went into the gym to be bombarded by their friends, and many others too. All were cooing how cute they were together, how pretty Mia was, how cute Michael was. It was as though they were instant celebrities, a concept Michael wasn't used to
Off to the side, Lilly and Mandella gloated at their handiwork, but were generally happy that the two block-heads had finally pulled it together.
Michael and Mia weren't separated a moment during the whole night. While the fast songs played, they were off to the side, talking, often laughing. During the slow songs, their bodies were pressed together, Mia's head on Michael's shoulder, his arms around her waist protectively.
The night was perfect, not even the fact that Mia would be gone for two weeks, starting the next day, could ruin the evening. They had endured too much drama, and to not savor every moment they had together.
It was just simply perfect.
===================================================== =====================================================
So do you still hate Mia?
I know that Mia is gone longer that the two weeks, but she can't be in my story, other wise she'd only have a week after break to prepare for the play.
(For those of you who mentioned sequels in regards to my one-shots, go look at my user info thingy if you want reasons why I won't do them...)