"Mia, slow down already, won't you?" I called out.

She turned her heel. "How could you let her do that to me?"

"What the hell are you talking about?" I asked.

"She just totally went off about your best friend."

"So?"

"So?"

"She didn't say anything that wasn't true."

Mia looked at her feet. "He steals girls from his friends?"

I didn't want her to know the truth. "Well, most of the time. At least from me." Lord, was she figuring it all out now? Had I said too much?

She bit her lip, "But not this time, right?" she asked.

"You weren't with anyone, were you?" I asked.

She stared at me for a second, "I had hoped...I mean, had liked someone else...but no. I wasn't. I'm not."

"So he didn't steal you," I said, my gut crashing because I was lying to the one person I never wanted to lie to.

She stared at the ground. "Oh, okay then. I guess...you don't have to walk me back."

"Yeah, it's not a big deal. Maybe I'll get some take out on the way back," I replied. "I'm kind of in the mood for some good Chinese."

She bit her lip again. If she continued with that she should get a ring to get in the hole. "Me too," she replied. "Let's get something to eat."

So we stopped for some Chinese food. She continuously asked about Jesse. "I bet I'm bugging you huh?" she asked.

"No," I lied automatically. "I'm used to it. All the girls go for the lead singer." Plus it was better than hearing about Josh Richter. At least Jesse was kind of like me so maybe she likes this type of guy...maybe I had a shot when Jesse and her were kaput. I'm such an asshole for thinking like that. She smiled,

"It's not because he's the lead singer," she replied. "He seems really sweet."

"I guess I can't see it because I'm a guy," I said sullenly. "What else is going on in your life?"

She looked like she wanted to say something, but instead, "My grandmother is in town."

I offered a half smile. Grandparents are like fish; they are good for a few days and then they go rotten. At least what I hear about her grandmother proves that. "I'm sorry?" I offered.

"Yeah, that's the right response," she replied with a laugh. "She's driving me crazy. I have to go for- for tea every afternoon with her. But at least I get to see my dad."

"That's cool. How's the algebra treating you?" I asked.

She rolled her eyes, "I hate it. I seriously think Mr. Gianni has it in for me." "Yeah, I hear those algebra teachers really go after fourteen year old freshmen. It's a conspiracy."

She offered a half smile. "No teasing allowed. I wish I were like you and Lilly sometimes."

"Why?" I asked, surprised.

"Because you two are good at everything you do. I'm just...well, I don't do anything really."

She looked really pretty at that moment. I know she had done her makeup and her hair all for Jesse, but now she just threw her hair back in a messy bun and had taken off her sweater to reveal a tank top. Am I bad for thinking the girl my best friend is dating (kind of) is hot?

"Why are you staring at me?" she asked self conciously.

I laughed and wiped a pretend noodle off her cheek. I know, cheesy move huh? But hey, I got to touch her cheek at least.

"Oh, thanks," she said softly, lowering her eyes as I touched the cheek. "Um, I think we better get going huh? I mean, my mom isn't expecting me or anything but- you know what? She isn't expecting me. Come on, let's go see Superman together. I think there is a late showing. My treat since I kind of bailed on you earlier."

"Sounds good to me," I threw some money down on the table and we walked out. It was almost like a little date, but I know she didn't look at it like that.

It became common knowledge at school that Mia and Jesse were dating. He went over and sat with her and her friends at lunch. I avoided going in that direction simply because I hated seeing them making googly eyes at one another.
"Hey, Michael, could you help me foil?" Mia asked me during G &T.

I was working on Crackhead. "No," I replied. "I'm busy. Ask Jesse or something."

"Michael. Come on. I have a quiz next period."

I made a major mistake and looked at her. "And Jesse isn't nearly as smart as you," she replied with a smile, batting her eyelashes.

"Fine." I looked at her notebook. "Mia, where are all your notes?" I asked, trying to ignore the 'I love Jesse' notes, or the 'Mrs. Jesse Turner' scratchings. This wasn't the Mia I knew. She always made fun of girls who wrote those types of things in their notebooks.

"Oh, they are in my journal," she said searching through her back pack.

I caught myself staring at her as she looked through her bag. What did he have that I didn't?

"Ta da!" she said triumphantly pulling out a ratty old book. She opened it to a page where she only had math notes. Damn, I was hoping to get some good Mia gossip from her journal.

"Mia, you have to keep everything-"

"Hey girlie," Jesse called from the doorway. "Come on. I got a surprise for you."

She burst out in a big smile. "See ya Michael."

"Together otherwise you'll flunk out of freshman algebra and forever be stuck at Albert Einstein. Then you'll just always be a high school and everyone will think you are too young for me to marry. Hey, we can't get married and have kids until you graduate," I mumbled, watching her leave.

Lilly came over to me, "I don't like how this is going."

"You and me both," I said with a sigh.

"He seems sketchy."

"He's a nice enough guy," I offered.

Lilly rolled her eyes then went back to her own table where she was working on a story board for her new episode. I looked down at my table and realized something. Mia left her journal with me. She took her bag, but in her hurry to get to Jesse she forgot her secret journal. Should I read it?