[Just so you know, those teaser lines last chapter weren't the real deal. I was just being odd and random. Anyway, enjoy!]

We exited the Screening Room, holding hands. I wasn't quite sure if Michael had been sniffing markers or something, but I didn't say anything. Lars followed a bit behind us, whistling the Genovian anthem.

"Want to go get ice cream or something?" Michael asked. I looked back at Lars and he nodded.

"Sure." Michael smiled and squeezed my hand. But just outside of the ice cream parlor, we ran smack dab into Kenny Showalter, my Biology partner.

Kenny eyes were wide and his skin pale. "M-Mia!" he croaked, taking a step back.

"Um. Hey, Kenny." Another person acting like a complete weirdo? I really couldn't take this any more. "What's up?"

"Nothing. Nothing at all. Sorry for bothering you!" he scurried off, leaving me to stare after him in total bewilderment.

"What's with Kenny?" I asked Michael.

He shrugged. "He's always a little weird around us."

Us? I pondered that word happily as we entered the ice cream parlor. Michael headed to the counter to get 'the usual,' while I found a booth and Lars sat at the kiddie table by the door. Michael came back with a scoop of mint chocolate chip for himself and Rocky Road for me. I seriously love this guy. And even stranger yet, he seems to love me back. Or at least seriously like me. Then I remembered the Kenny thing and picked up the conversation. "Why's that?"

"Why's Kenny weird? I don't know, ask his mother." He gave me a lopsided grin. "Sorry. I guess he's still mad that you broke up with him for me."

"Wait, what? When the heck did I date Kenny?" And if I broke up with Kenny for Michael, does that mean I'm dating Michael? I feel like Rip Van Winkle, for Christ's sake.

Michael raised his eyebrows. "Are you joking?" He took my hand in his and laughed. "Were you trying to block out the bad memories?"

"No, I'm serious. I never dated Kenny Showalter. Ew!"

Now he looked concerned, though. "Mia, are you feeling all right?" He pressed a warm hand against my forehead. "Do you need to lie down?"

"No, I don't need to lie down!" I took my hand out of his and put my head in my hands, closing my eyes. What was with everyone? Was this supposed to be some huge prank? I guess it was quite nice of Michael to volunteer for the making-out portion, but seriously. How cruel can you get? Concocting this whole lie. Making me believe that Michael liked me! All for some stupid prank.

But when I opened my eyes again, Michael wasn't laughing. He came around to sit on my side of the booth and put his arm around me. "You okay?" he asked, pressing his forehead up against mine.

I swallowed and nodded. Whatever this was, Michael didn't seem clued in. So I wasn't going to freak him out. I'd just relax and think about all this later.

Michael pressed his cool lips up against mine.

Much later.

The limo pulled up to the Moscovitzes' Monday morning. I sat inside, kind of eagerly anticipating Michael's arrival. I'd come to a decision the day before. I wasn't going to act weird any more. Michael was under the strange delusion that he loved me, so who was I to stop him from expressing that love? Obviously, something strange was going on. But it was also quite wonderful. So I was going to revel in that.

Michael hopped in the limo and kissed my cheek before Lilly crawled in after him. "You all right, Mia?" he asked, scooting closer to me.

"I'm fine."

"Good," he said, flashing a quick smile. "I'm glad to hear it. Now let's go over your homework."

I pulled it out of my bag and Michael stared. "What is this?"

"What's what?" I asked. I swore I had understood what we were doing this time.

"Uh, you guys did this stuff ages ago. Mia, you're the top of the class in Algebra. What's the matter?"

A swell of laughter bubbled up inside my chest, but the expression on Michael's face killed it. He was really serious. "I…don't know. I'll try harder next time."

"You better," Michael laughed, "I can't have my girlfriend flunk out of Algebra. They'd kick you off of cheerleading!"

If I had a drink, I totally would've spewed it all over the place. As it was, I just choked. "I'm sorry. What?!"

He just chuckled. "I'm kidding, Mia. Relax." He placed an arm around my shoulders. "You've been so tense lately. Is it because of the baby?"

And that's when it hit me. There was no baby. Michael and I weren't dating. I'm not fantastic at algebra.

It was all a dream. It's so strange, because usually I don't realize I'm dreaming until after I wake up, but I was still there in 'awesome world.'

"What baby?" I asked Michael.

He stared. "The baby that your mom and Mr. G are having? Don't tell me you forgot about that too."

"Oh, yes. Right. The baby." It was hard to concentrate on anything else when it had just hit me that I would eventually have to wake up. And Michael wouldn't be my boyfriend any more. And the last thing he would want to do is make out. I vowed to make the best of it.

We got out of the limo at school and Lilly left, muttering something about me on drugs or whatever. Lilly's stayed the same at least. She always says that when I'm acting like a complete nutcase, which is how I seem to everyone else, I guess.

"Hey, Michael. Come with me for a second," I said, remembering the promise I had just made to myself. He walked with me to the side of the building, out of everyone else's line of vision.

"What is it?" he asked, still looking a bit worried for my sake.

But I just grabbed him and kissed him. Because that really was the best of it.

[So it's all a dream, see? But what'll happen when she wakes up? Hee.]