Disclaimer: The characters you recognize from the books are NOT mine. The ones that just happened to pop up that you've never heard of before, they're mine. Easy enough to understand? Good.

This takes place 3 years after Michael's senior year. Meaning, Mia, Lilly, and Tina just graduated from High School and are about to start college. Boris graduated a year early, so he is in college already. Michael and Boris are going to Columbia (so is Mia). Tina is going to a special fashion design academy, and Lilly is going to City College of New York (CCNY). That's about it I think.

Mia walked along the path in Central Park listening to Boris and Tina talk. Boris started mocking one of his teachers from Columbia, and Tina and Mia laughed.

"Excuse Me Sir!! P-Please do n-n-not speak to me in that r-r-rude manner Sir!!" He lisped.

Over the past 3 years, Boris had become more outspoken, less dorky, and even a little more—well, normal. He'd started wearing t-shirts and jeans like every other guy in New York, and had finally ditched the tucked in sweater. And while he was still a musical genius, he'd picked up instruments like guitar and drums instead of the violin. Mostly this change was brought on by Tina. He wanted to please her, impress her. They had been together since the end of 9th grade. They had a great relationship, they were faithful to each other, and had even started planning their future together.

Tina and Mia burst out laughing as Boris deliberately staggered around, tripping over rocks and running into benches. Tina kept on giggling as she slipped her hand into the crook of Boris' arm and leaned her head on his shoulder. Boris kissed her on top her head and started telling another story about his teachers from Columbia. Mia followed behind them, pulling her coat tightly around her and looking around the park. It was a cold day in February. Snow was on the ground and in the trees, kids ran around having snowball fights, and fires were lit with homeless people huddled around them, trying to keep out the cold. She noticed a guy running across the park and waving in her direction. She didn't recognize him at first, but then she realized who it was.

"Michael!" She yelled. She ran over to him and threw her arms around his neck. "When did you get back?" She asked, holding him out at arms length. "You look wonderful!"

"Five minutes ago. I was dropping Lilly off at her apartment when we saw you and the gang walking. So we stopped." Mia looked up and saw Lilly trudging towards them. Michael leaned over and whispered in her ear. "You look great. God, I missed you Mia." Mia was about to reply when Lilly yelled across the park.

"A little help here would be nice!"

"Lil!" She laughed and grabbed a few bags out of Lilly's hands. "I missed you so much! How was France? Tell me everything! Two months really is too long for you guys to be gone! Tina and Boris are great and all, but I thought I was going to go mad without you!" Lilly just laughed and looked over at Michael, who had a silly grin plastered onto his face.

"Thanks for waiting for me, Michael." She joked, and then turned to Mia. "It was great, but I'll tell you about it when you come over tonight okay?"

"All right." Mia said and turned around, facing Michael. She saw Boris and Tina walking over towards them. Tina still had her arm in Boris'. Mia glanced at Lilly from the corner of her eye. Lilly saw her and punched her playfully in the arm.

"Gosh, Mia, you don't think I'm still upset about that do you? I mean, it's been forever!" Mia breathed a sigh of relief. Lilly walked over to Boris and Tina. Tina giggled and Lilly hugged them both. While they were talking, Michael grabbed Mia's hand.

"Hey." He gave Mia a look that made her heart melt. "Is this all the welcome I get? A hug and an 'I missed you'?"

"Michael, they'll turn around and see us any minute." Mia hissed, looking back over her shoulder at Lilly, Tina, and Boris.

"You think I care?" He growled and buried his face in her neck. She kissed his cheek.

"I did miss you, you know." She whispered, and then slapped his hand away when she noticed Lilly staring at them. She started to laugh when Lilly smiled and winked. Lilly loudly announced that she needed help unloading and carrying things up to her apartment, so Mia grabbed Michael's hand and the group walked back over to his car. They all grabbed a suitcase or a box and headed up to Lilly's place. When everything was inside, Lilly fixed everyone Cokes and they sat around while Lilly and Michael told them about France. They ordered Chinese food in from Wu Liang Ye and watched movies that Lilly had borrowed from a neighbor and forgotten to return. Finally at 10:30, Lilly said she was tired and Boris and Tina set off down the street, towards Tina's house. Lilly slammed the door behind them and turned around and made a face.

"What a mess!" She laughed, looking around the living room. Photographs of France sat on the floor where people had left them, boxes of leftover Chinese food sat on tables and chairs, and pillows where thrown all over the place. Lilly did the dishes while Michael and Mia cleaned up the living room. While Michael was taking the trash out to the dumpster, Lilly cornered Mia.

"What's going on with you and Michael?" She asked. Mia just shrugged and tried not to smile. Lilly playfully punched her in the ribs and would have badgered her more when they heard the front door slam. Mia slipped away from Lilly, and the girls (and Michael) finished cleaning up with out anymore questions asked. When the work was done, Mia and Michael left as well, and after she was sure that Mia and Michael were gone, Lilly slumped against the door and sighed.

"I need a boyfriend SO bad." She mumbled as she turned off the lights and went to bed.