Mia woke up the next morning to the sound of the front door slamming. She pushed the covers off of her and rubbed her eyes.

"What time is it?" She mumbled to herself as she picked up her clock. Ten o'clock. "Ugh." She said, making her way to the bathroom and splashing cold water on her face. She looked in the mirror and stuck out her tongue, giggling at what she saw in the reflection. Her hair was everywhere, as it always was in the morning, her eyes were squinty and her face had lines from where the sheets had been pressed to her skin. She turned on the shower head and adjusted the temperature, then let it run for a minute before undressing and climbing in. She stood with the hot water running down her back and started washing her hair.

"Mia!" Her mother yelled from her bedroom.

"Yeah?" She answered.

"Michael's on the phone!'

"Tell him I'll call him back in half an hour!" She yelled. She rinsed off her hair, turned off the water and wrapped a towel around her body and towel dried her hair. She threw on her favorite t-shirt and pajama bottoms, and then walked through the living room, into the kitchen. "Hey Mom," She said, taking a coffee mug out of the cupboard and filling it with milk, then pouring a little bit of coffee into it.

"Where's Mr G?" Her mom looked up from behind her newspaper and took her glasses off.

"He took Rocky to the park." She folded her paper rather sloppily and put it on the table. "Mia, are you sure things between you and Michael aren't—different?" She asked, getting up and refilling her coffee mug.

"Mom, things between me and Michael aren't any different. Things are fine. We're fine. The whole gang is fine." She said, grabbing a granola bar and taking the mug into her room. She threw on her robe and slippers, then opened the door and climbed out onto the fire escape. Although it was cold outside, Mia climbed out onto the fire escape every morning to have her coffee and granola bar. She sat curled in a ball in the corner and watched people pass by. Just as she was about to go back inside, she saw Boris come out of the jewlery store across the street.

"Boris!" She yelled, so that he looked up and waved at her. Then he walked past her apartment and she lost him in the crowd.

"Probably getting his mother a birthday present." Mia mumbled to herself, then went back inside and got dressed. Ten minutes later, she called Michael back.

"Moscovitz residence." He answered.

"Hey Michael." Mia said, running a brush through her short hair.

"Mia?" He whispered into the phone.

"Yeah." She said, and then waited for him to go in his room with the phone and shut the door.

"Hey." He said when the door was closed. "I'm so sorry about last night. I didn't think. Is Mr. G mad?"

"Uh uh, they're both suspecting something though. Mom tried to grill me last night, and she tried again this morning. We really need to be more careful." Mia said, pulling her hair back with a hair clip.

"I know." Michael said. "Oh, guess what?" He asked.

"What?"

"I found an apartment near Columbia for rent. I think I'm going to try to get it."

"Oh Michael, that's great!"

"Yup. It's really nice on the outside, and I'm going to go look at it tonight. Do you want to come?"

"Sure!" Mia said, putting on a little mascara and some lip gloss. "What time?"

"I tell you what, meet me at Central Park in an hour and we'll make a whole day of it. I'll call Lilly and we can hang with her until tonight."

"Okay. She knows right?"

"About us? Yeah, I'm pretty sure. I didn't tell her, but I think she does. Anyway, I think she saw us in the park yesterday."

"Yeah, I think so. Okay then, I'll see you there." She paused, "Love you." She whispered.

"Love you too." Michael said quickly before he hung up.

Mia put the phone back in the cradle and finished getting ready. When she emerged from her room, Mr G and her mom were standing in the living room talking.

"Frank, we've got to tell Mia soon. She'll get angry if we don't." Her mother was whispering.

"Tell me what Mom?" Mia asked. Her mom and Mr G looked around at her. Her mother bit her lip and sat down, patting the sofa beside her. Mia went over and sat down. "What's wrong?"

"Mia—Oh shit. Mia, Frank and I have decided—maybe it's time for a change. You know, this apartment is getting a little cramped what with four people living in it. Rocky is still staying in Frank and my bedroom. It's a little awkward." She said, glancing at Frank. "What we're trying to say is, we've decided to move."

"Oh," Mia said, "That sucks. I love this apartment."

"I know Mia."

"Oh! I saw this house down a few streets from here! It was for sale, so you and Mr G could check it out."

"Actually Mia," Frank said, "We've already found a house."

"Really? Where is it?" Mia asked excitedly.

"California." Her mother whispered. Mia couldn't say anything.

"C-California?" She choked.

"I know it's a long way from New York, but you'll make new friends, and go to a good school and it'll be wonderful."

"Um—God. I can't believe this. Thanks a lot for letting me know. Thanks for letting me get even MORE attatched to New York than I've been in my whole life! I can NOT believe you! Listen, I'm going to the park with Lilly and Michael. Later." Mia said, grabbing her coat, scarf, and hat and running out the door.

"Mia! Wait, when will you be home?!" Her mom ran to the door and yelled after her.

"I don't have one!" Yelled Mia from the bottom of the stairs, as she slammed the front door behind her.