MICHAEL:
The gig was at Club Vito. The club that I had brought Mia to last year. The first time we had 'dirty danced'. Those are her words, not mine. "Dude, your hair sucks. Never listen to Lilly's hair suggestions again," I said to Denis as we set up our gear on the stage.
"You'll see in a few weeks," he explained.
"Yeah, well it sucks. A Keanu Reeves clone isn't exactly what we want in the band," I teased.
"Yeah, well, I never said I liked my hair either. Lilly needed me to do something and I had to cut it."
"Whipped."
"No, love."
"You love my sister?"
It was one of those moments when everything is kind of weird. We both were thinking similar thoughts, but neither wanted to say them out loud. We kind of just stared at the ground and didn't say anything else to one another.
"Guys?" Gabe asked.
"Yeah, hey Gabe!" we both said a little too enthusiastically happy to have a distraction.
"Whoa, chill fellas. You ready to play?"

I was surprised with my lack of nerves in front of some famous people. Mia would freak out by seeing Ashton Kutcher dancing with Rumer Willis five feet away from me. I should have asked if she could come along with us.
We finished up at one o'clock when all the kids had to be home for curfew. I don't think I ever really had a curfew, my parents didn't like restricting me and Lilly. They wanted us to feel free to come and go as we pleased, as long as they knew where we were. "Ready to roll man? I got some shit at home to drink," Denis said, wrapping the cords around his arm.
"Yeah, sure," I said carefully. "Hey, how the hell did we get this gig anyways?"
He shrugged. "Ask Gabe."
I looked at Gabe.
"Well, I guess some of Rumer's friends have seen us play at some clubs and well, they recommended us."
"So, how much money are we talking about?" I asked carefully.
Gabe smiled widely. "Here's your check," he said, handing me sealed envelope. I was guessing he already knew the answer.
I opened the envelope and must say, Bruce Willis and Demi Moore are very generous. I'd be able to get Mia something very nice for Christmas and then for our anniversary. And then still have plenty left over for my bills and gifts for everyone else. And possibly for my own car. I could get used to this.

The guys from the band came over and we played some poker and drinking. "I love aiding the deliquency of today's youth," Denis laughed.
Kevin threw a chip at him, "I'm like a month away from being twenty one."
When I get drunk I get very sleepy and mellow, at least at this point in the drinking. The more drunk I get the more loud I get. Denis put on his Pink Floyd CD and I started losing myself in the lyrics.
By four AM the guys one by one started passing out on the futons and couches. I looked around, still energized. I went to my room and studied some more for midterms. I don't know if it'll do me any good, studying when I'm drunk, but I had energy and figured I might as well do something productive.

I woke up the next afternoon with a huge hangover. I still recalled all of the events of the previous night, including the facts about my mid terms. Denis started blaring his music. I looked at the time. It was three in the after noon.
"Denis, shut the hell up!" I screamed. Big mistake.
Mia walked in, "Hey sleepy head. Here's some asprin," she said handing me two tablets.
"Hey, babe," I said, closing my eyes. "I saw Ashton Kutcher last night."
"Denis told me all about it. I'm gonna go catch a movie with Eddie, okay?"
And that would be when I vomited on her lap.
"MICHAEL!" she screamed. "What the hell!"
I fell back onto my pillow. "Sorry hon. I feel so much better."

MIA:
I sat on his bed in disbelief. He had just thrown up all over my brand new cashemere pants that Grandmere had bought for me. I didn't really care about the material, but she sure as hell did. She was going to kill me. They were these really rare fabric and were winter white. She was going to murder me, or him, I hadn't decided which she would do...
Denis walked in, "What's the noise all- oh shit!" he said with a laugh. Lilly followed him.
"Did my brother do that?"
"No, I did it myself Lil. Of course he did. Den, could you pass me those boxers over there?"
He tossed me a pair of Michael's boxers and then left the room. I stood up slowly and watched as his disgusting vomit slid down my beautiful pants. He was out cold in his bed. "Lilly, would you mind if I killed him?"
She laughed, "No, but I bet you would regret it within two seconds."
"What am I supposed to do with these? Where is the nearest dry cleaner?"
"Down the block. Let me go get a baggie to put them in so we can do a clean transfer."
"I was supposed to meet Eddie for my lesson..."
"Call him. I'll bring these down to the place to be cleaned when Dennis and I go to the park. We can pick them up afterwards."
"Okay. Thanks sooooo much."
"No problem."

I called and explained to Eddie that the guitar lesson would have to wait until later on in the afternoon. He laughed at me and Michael, "Well, that's when you know you love someone...they feel comfortable enough to throw up on you."
"Shut up Eddie."
"Will do."
"Hey, are you going to the masque?"
"Yeah. I am representing the entire family."
"Oh isn't that a good representative?" I teased.
"You know it. Tina can't come though."
"Why not?"
"I asked my mother about it and she said it would be a bad idea."
"Why? Has she met Tina?"
"No, not yet. But she thinks it's a bad idea to date a commoner. Plus, uh..."

"Plus what?" I pressed.

"She's not exactly Catholic. My mom has a policy, if you only date Catholics, you can only love Catholics."
"I do," I replied. "I mean, date a non-Catholic, a non-Christian."
"Yeah well, she thinks your grandmother and dad are crazy for letting you do that. She wants you and me to get together. It'd be great in her opinion, for two of her sons to rule that region of the world."
"Oh really? Eddie, if we ever were to get together you would NEVER rule over Genovia. I would be the one to be ruling."
"Yeah right. Okay, so I'll see you when?"
"At like, six?"
"Sure. Until then, I bid you adieu!"

I put on Michael's television and watched some Saturday afternoon movie on NBC.

"Hey,Mia."
"Michael," I replied, not taking my eyes off of the television.
"How long have you been here? Why are you wearing my boxers? What is that smell?"
"I have been here for about two hours. I am wearing your boxers because you threw up all over my brand new slacks. And that smell would probably be you and your vomit breath."
He shot up. "What happened?"
"You threw up all over my lap," I explained, looking straight at his eyes.
His face totally fell, "Oh, Mia I'm...I'm sorry. I don't even remember anything from earlier..."
Forgiveness swept all over me. "It's fine babe. Lilly is getting my pants dry cleaned for me. Then I'll meet up with Eddie at six."
"Mia, I thought-"
"You have your gig at nine anyways. I'll be there for that. Then we can go back to your parents place like we planned. Okay? I just promised him I'd meet up with him at some point today."
"I need you though..." he said with those eyes. I avoided looking at them.
"Michael, come on. I had plans and I'm running behind because I'm waiting for my pants."
"I like it when you are wearing my shorts," he said randomly.
"So are you going to just throw up on all my other clothes until I only have these to wear?" I teased.
He gave me a puppy dog look, "No, but it's an idea."
Lilly came in, "Here's the pants. You have to call them and explain who you are. They didn't believe me when I told them to bill your grandmother."
"Okay, no problem." I quickly got dressed and gave Michael a peck on the cheek. "I'll see you at the bar?"
"Yeah," he said. "You just got dressed in front of me," he said with a girlish giggle.
I gave him a look. "If you can rid yourself of the vomit smell you might just get to see me get undressed in front of you."
He quickly jumped up and got undressed and put a towel around his waist, "Give me five minutes!"
I laughed. "Bye, Michael!"

"Are you sure you don't wanna come to the bar?" I asked Eddie after our session.
"No thanks. Mama and Pappa are coming tomorrow for mass. I hate it when they come here. The more they show up the more likely people are going to find out about me."
"Eddie, people are going to, eventually. You should just come out about it already."
"Whatever. It'll happen when it happens. I've gotta go catch up with Tina in a bit. You are getting really good at this."
"Thanks. Think I'll have the singing down by Christmas?"
"You'll be fine. You will have the song mastered for Christmas. Trust me."
He walked me outside of the Plaza and I hugged him, "Thank you so much for all the help. I couldn't do any of this without you!"

I stopped for a quick bite at the vegetarian shop on the same block as Michael's bar, then went in to listen to him.

The bouncers know me by now, me and Lars that is, so I had no problem getting in. I walked in just as he started singing a slow song. It was the song he had played for me at my ball back in May.
I walked closer to the stage and smiled at him, and he replied with a wink. That Sheila girl was here. I gave her a weak smile, but then returned my eyes to the boy on stage. All the regulars at the bar knew who I was; the band leaders girlfriend. Not at the Princess of Genoiva. Most girls would be like 'I don't want to be known as the band leader's girlfriend, I want my own identity.' Not me though. I didn't mind being known simply as the girlfriend. It was MUCH better than being recognized as a Princess.
He and I decided not to go for pancakes with everyone else. We went straight to the Moscovitz apartment, much to Shelia's dismay. I noticed how she stared at us as we left hand in hand. Ha! He's mine, all mine! Hehe, I hated being such a jealous girl, but it was fun.
We walked into the apartment and it felt empty. Know what I mean? Like, no one was there and it just seemed....lonely.
We went into his old bedroom and fell onto the mattress, "Is it weird to come back here like this?" I asked.
"Yeah. Definitely."
"Wanna order some pizza?" I asked suddenly.
"Food is not cool right now," he said softly. "Still suffering from last night. Can we just watch TV?"
"Sure."

We watched Saturday Night Live. Alec Baldwin was on it, so we didn't pay much attention to it. He started kissing my neck and whispering song lyrics into my ears. He knows I am a sucker for that junk. Darn that boy!
I started giggling as he started singing My Girl to me. He leaned on his elbows and looked down at me.
"Don't you ever grow tired of singing?" I asked with a giggle.
"Nope. I know you like it, why would I stop?"
"Touché," I said as I leaned up to kiss him. I pulled him down and started making out with him. Sometimes that is just what you need after a long day. A nice make out session with the boy you adore.
The next day I went to mass with Grandmere. She was forcing me to attend services with her every Sunday from now on. We attended an eleven thirty...a compromise. I had refused to attend the seven thirty mass that she had originally planned on attending.

I didn't bother waking Michael up, I just quietly got up and left the apartment with Lars by my side. "How was your date?" he asked.
"Fine. We just watched television," I replied. "Is the limo around?"
"The church is only around the block, Princess."
"So? I am soo tired."
"I am not even going to ask why...piggy back ride?"
I looked at him with surprise. "What would Grandmere think?"
"Pretend you are limping."
I giggled and jumped on his back. He was soo big it was difficult to hold onto him. He set me down around the corner of the street so Grandmere would not see us. I really liked Lars. He was like the fun version of a dad...sort of I guess.
I spent the rest of the day helping my mom get her Thanksgiving plans settled. Her parents, Mawmaw and PawPaw were planning on coming to the city to see their newest grandchild. "Mia, you are eating with us. We are your family believe it or not!" she snapped at me.
"But Mom, it's not a big deal honestly. I mean, think about it, okay? Mawmaw, Pawpaw, you, Mr. G, Rocky, your in laws, Mr. G's sister...you won't even miss me."
"Yes I would. You are the only sane one around here."
"Yeah, right. Come on, I never get to see him!"
"When do you see my parents?"
Silence.
"Well?"
"Mom, Michael is my boyfriend and I actually knows that he loves me...YOU don't even want to see your parents!"
"So see him afterwards."
"No. I am going to spend Thanksgiving with him. That's it." Wow, I was getting ballsy. "I bet Grandmere would let me."
She laughed, "Sure she would. Look, Michael is more than welcome to join us here. In OUR home. But you, my dear, are spending the day with the family."
That could work out. Michael could probably get over here for dinner.
"Fine, what time shall I tell him then?" I said in a princessy voice.
"Three o'clock."
"Fine."
"Fine."
I went to my room and put on my new Euro-Trash CD. They were the first band Michael and I had ever danced to. He had mailed me their CD when it came out a few weeks ago.
He was always doing sweet things like that for me. He and I didn't get to see each other very much even though we didn't live all that far from one another, so he always wrote me a card to tell me that he misses me and that he hopes Geometry is treating me well. I always write back simply saying I love him. Usually though, I have some kind of humor on the cover of the card.
He came over on Thursday around one o'clock. "Is there anything you need out, Miss Thermopolis? Mia and I could go get whatever you need down the street..." he offered with a smile. He knew she was a sucker for that grin.
"Actually..." she said trailing off. "Ask my mother why don't you?"
"We are gonna be needing some veggie-tables. We need some squash, carrots, and green beans. Could ya get those Sonny?"
"Sure, me and Cher will be right back," he said taking my hand. I tried not to laugh at poor Mawmaw's expression, but once we were in the hallway I couldn't hold back.
"Did you just tease my grandmother?"
"Yeah, but so what? Do you really care all that much?"
I smiled, "Well, no, but still. She's my grandmother."
"Sorry."
"I'm f8cking with ya."
He smiled, "It's so funny to hear you say that word. Oh, tonight, my place. Party, you in?"
I nodded. Any time I got to spend with Michael would be fine by me. "You know it babe."
"Cuz if you don't want to, we can do something else, ya know?"
"I know, but I dunno. It could be fun. You could get me totally wasted," I teased. Well, half teased. I was kind of getting curious to see what the big deal was about drinking.
He shook his head. "I won't be drinking, but you can if you want. You could just...ya know, crash. I am sure I could find a suitable bedroom for ya."
I snuggled up to him and we went to buy the 'veggie-tables'.

MICHAEL:
Her maternal grandparents are sooo different from her paternal ones. Well, from her grandmother anyways. They questioned EVERYTHING I did. I had always thought Grandmere was a hard ass but these people...damn.
"And where is it you said you were going to school?"
"He's going to Columbia. It's an Ivy league school" Mia explained softly for the fourth time in one meal.
"What for? Agriculture or business...something useful right?"
"Computer Engineering and Computer Science," I replied.
They returned to me with blank stares. "He'll start out making a lot of money," Mia explained. That was all they really were wondering anyways.
"I ain't never been to no university," her grandfather started, "But I don't see the big deal about it."
"Well, Mr. Thermopolis, Michael is a very bright boy. I'm sure that he'll use that education for good use, won't you Michael?" Mr. G asked.
I nodded. These people were weird. How was Mia related to them?
"I um...play in a band," I said, hoping they'd appreciate that.
"What type?"
"Rock-"
"Oh bullfrogs! That ain't music. Dolly Parton now, there's a singer!" MawMaw said with a hoot.
"He's really quite good actually," Miss Thermopolis came to my rescue. "He even played at a celebrity birthday party a few weeks back. He has written a few songs for Mia too."
I blushed at this point. I had given Mia a recording of those songs before she had gone to Genovia in the summer. I hadn't realized her mother had heard them.
They didn't seem too impressed though.
We finished dinner and I helped Mia wash dishes. I kept winking at her and trying to make her laugh. "They were horrible to you," she snapped.
"No they weren't. Just concerned, that's all."
"They were grilling you throughout the meal. I hadn't expected that."

"Well, to be honest, I hadn't either. But so what? Who really cares? Am I really going to have to deal with them in the future all that much? The lady whom I am going to deal with adores the ground I walk on, that's who I am going to deal with."
"I wouldn't go that far," she teased, splashing water at me.
I pretended to be highly offended. "I guess I will rescind my invitation-"
"Oh sush up Michael. Will Lilly be over?"
"I am guessing so. Her and Den are attached at the hip these days."
"We used to be like that," she said thoughtfully.
"Do you miss it? Do you think there is something wrong with us?" I asked suddenly, worried.
She gave me a look, "No, why would I? Is there something wrong?"
I shook my head, "No, not from my view of us. I like how we are. We are independent human beings. But given the right time and place we are happy being together."
She kissed me right then. It felt nice to have her kissing me with her entire family in the next room. Kind of exciting knowing that we were making out with the chance of someone walking in at any moment.
"Okay," she said softly as we parted. "We should finish the dishes so we can go back to your place."
As we left I heard her MawMaw say, "It's not right...her going to some boys apartment! She's only sixteen! She'll end up like you, Helen. Pregnant and alone."