MICHAEL:

I practiced with the band all day on Saturday. Denis had written a new song, and I knew it was about Lilly. "How am I supposed to sing this?" I demanded. "I cannot talk about my own sisters little cherry lips."
"Pretend it's about Mia," Gabe suggested as he plucked the strings on a guitar.
"It'll be a real stretch, I'm sure. Hell, we've had to play your stupid songs for months now!"
"Fine. Whatever. We won't have it ready for tonight though," I argued.
"That's fine. Lilly knows how I feel about her anyways. I don't need to express that feeling in a song. Unlike some people I know."
"Hey, chill out guys," Gabe said, being the peacemaker.

MIA:
I talked to Michael for a little while on my cell phone while he was on a break from practice. We didn't talk about much, but it didn't matter. As long as I got to talk to him I really didn't care too much what about. He seemed really stressed out about the band and with school starting up.
I hung up just as Eddie came to my door. "Hey, ready to go?" he asked.
"Yeah. After the movie did you want to go see Michael's band?"
"Maybe. Let's go get Lilly and Tina."
He took my hand and complimented the nail polish I had chosen. That's kind of weird.
We met up with Lilly and went on to the movie theater. Tina was there with Wilhem. "I feel so out of place here without my darn bodyguard!" Lilly joked.
"Don't worry, we'll share ours," I promised.
The movie was incredibly sappy. Under the Tuscan Sun starring Diane Lane. A movie that Michael would have seen with me, but would have hated. I didn't like making him see movies he didn't like, and he never made me watch gross war movies.
"So, how long have you and Michael been together?" Eddie asks me as we rode the subway to The Bar.
"Just over seven months now," I replied. "Do you have a girl back home?"
He shook his head, "Not anymore."
Tina perked up at this answer.
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"Well, no one really wanted me to date their daughters," he admitted. "I was kind of wild over there. My parents thought it would be a good idea for me to come to America and be out of the spotlight, ya know? Besides, with all the trouble you are making around this place-" he cut himself off. The others didn't know that he was a a prince.

"His parents are politicians," I lied for him. He shot me a grateful look.
"Well, we'll be sure to keep you out of the spotlight," Tina promised. "Won't we?"
Lilly rolled her eyes. "So are you and Gabe seeing one another?"
Tina shook her head, "No. We kissed but that's it. My parents don't want me dating someone so much older. And that's fine. Gabe and I will just be friends."
Lilly and I shared a look and we both noticed Eddie blush a little bit. We went into the bar without any trouble since the bouncers knew us. Anyone with us was allowed into the bar.
The band had already started, but Michael noticed us as we stood off next to the stage. He smiled a little at me and then continued on singing. He no longer allowed anyone to see who he was singing to, but it didn't matter to me. I knew who he was singing to. He knew who he was singing to, everyone who was important knew. Sure, those stupid girls holding their beer bottles and dancing all drunk in front of Michael. I had to expect girls like that would be around him. But they would have to expect me to sic Lars on them, that's all.

He stepped offstage and one of them cornered him. Lilly glared at the girl. I trusted him though.
"Want a drink hun? You were awesome up there! You really rocked" the girl stumbled the words out. Okay, she, a preppy blonde should never say 'rocked'. Ever. I don't . I understand that I'd look like a moron saying that. It's obvious what the rules are with a rock group. SHe needed to learn them if she wanted any of the guys to acknowledge her existence.
She put her arms around his neck. I wanted to strangle her.
"Thanks for the offer, but I think I'm going to see what my girlfriend wants anything."
He came over and hugged me, picking me off the ground. "I'm glad you made it babe!"
He kissed me hard. "How was your movie?"
"Romantic," Tina interrupted, staring at Eddie. I noticed their hands brushing against one another.
"Well, there's your answer," I replied.
"Hey kids," Denis said, coming over and handing Michael a beer. I raised my eyebrow but said nothing.
"Thanks man," Michael said accepting it. "Don't worry, I'll only have the one," he whispered in my ear. I knew he would start drinking when he got to college, I expected that so I wasn't surprised.
Denis was whispering something into Lilly's ear.
"Hey, you wanna head out?" Michael asked, looking at his watch.
"What time is it?" I asked.
"A little past midnight," he replied, putting his hands on my hips. "I can walk you back to Lilly's and we could watch some television if you want."
"Oh, watch television?" I said with a raised eyebrow.
"Of course. I mean, Kelly Ripa is hosting Saturday Night Live, after all!"
"I must rush home to see that!" I joked. "Eddie, I'm leaving, will you be okay?"
He nodded. "I'm gonna stay for a spell. I'll see you on Monday, okay?"
"Yeah, later."

I made Michael some green tea when we got back to his old apartment. "You know, Lilly is making your old room into a production studio."

"Didn't take her very long. Did you want anything to drink?"
"I'm fine. It'd weird coming in here without you walking around without your shirt."
"I think you see me without my shirt enough, don't you?"
"Yeah, but I always love seeing my man half naked," I teased.
"Oh, you own me now?" he asked after he took a sip of his tea.
"You know it. After all, after we get married I'm the one with the real power."
"True. But in the bedroom you have to let me have some, right?"
I smiled sweetly, "I suppose I could," I said as I leaned in to kiss him but the door opened abruptly. Lilly and Denis stumble in, making out.
"Hi guys," I say, breaking them from their little cloud.
They both looked at us sheepishly. "Oh, I thought you guys would have gone to Michael's?" Lilly said, catching her breath.
"Why? I was hanging out with you tonight. But I guess I'll just go home now. Come on, Michael."
I slid on my flip flops and we started on our way to my loft. "I can't believe her!"
"Mia, you've done the same thing to her when we started dating."
I rolled my eyes, "I guess. I hate boys."
"Excuse me?" he asked, pulling his hand away from my hip. "Are you trying to tell me that you are gonna try the other team?"
I smiled, "Oh yes. I think I was making that quite obvious earlier when we were making out."
He took my hand and spun me in front of him, "I think I can change you back," he said, pulling me into a kiss. We must have stood there kissing for quite awhile because out of no where a camera went off.
Michael pulled away and smiled a little bit, "Good to know we can someday show our kids all of our public displays of affection, huh?"
It started sprinkling rain right then so we ran the rest of the way to my loft. "Be quiet," I instructed. "Mom and Mr. G are asleep, so is Rocky. Wanna stay over?" I whispered.
"Is that a good idea?" he asked, using his bedroom eyes (that is a term I never understood before Michael!).
"If you cannot restrain yourself from jumping my bones for one night then I suppose it is NOT a good idea!"
"I could try..."
"Has the paparazzi gone?"
"I dunno."
"I don't want them seeing you leave in the morning."
"If anything, we can say I was walking you home and didn't want to be followed by them..."
"That'll work, I think," I said slowly. "Let's go!"

And it wasn't a problem. He snuck out the next morning at five and took the subway back to his own place. We are becoming masters at this.

He had flowers sent to me on Monday during school because he knew I had Princess Lessons afterwards, don't I have the most thoughtful boyfriend ever?
"He's a keeper," Eddie commented.
"No kidding," I said with a sigh. "He's perfect, well, for me at least."

"Hmmm....interesting mix of flowers he sent you," he said looking at them

"Huh?"

"It's sad, but I know what flowers are supposed to represent. Part of my training."

"You are right, that is sad. What do they all mean?"

" This one," he said pointing to a violet, "Means faithfulness. This gardenia means joy....this chrysanthemum means simply 'I love you', The honeysuckle represents devotion....and that's all I got. We can look up the other stuff later."

I giggled, because Michael and I would do such a thing...looking up the meaning of flowers.

"I assume you have met Edward?" Grandmere asked at Princess lessons that afternoon.
"Edward?" I said, confused, "Ohhhh.... you mean Eddie?"
"Edward, the Prince of-"
"Oh, yeah."
"No use of vulgarity Amelia..."
"Sorry Grandmere. Yes, I have had the pleasure of meeting Edward. He's very nice."
"I suppose I cannot assume a relationship between the two of you?" she asked hopefully.
"No you may not assume that, Grandmere. I love Michael. Edward and I are just friends and that's all we ever will be-"
"That is exactly what you said about Michael," she reminded me.
"But I wasn't in love with someone else then," I shot back. I wouldn't put it past her to make Eddie come here as a distraction!
"Fine Amelia. Now, we must prepare for your national interview..."