I don't own any of these characters! They are the property of Meg Cabot and not me! I write for fun! Don't sue! I'm a lover, not a fighter! LOL!

Chapter One

Mia's Point Of View

I put down my pencil, sighing a bit louder than I mean to. I have been studying Algebra for hours. It just isn't sinking in. "Time for a break Louie," I groan, patting him on the head. He growls and rolls over onto his back lazily, paying me absolutely no mind.

I stand up after throwing my book and spiral back into my backpack. Looking at the clock on the wall, I see that it is only six. I think I will go over to Lilly's. It's not like much is happening at the Thermopolis residence, that is unless you count Mom walking around in her 'Women Paint the World' t-shirt mumbling something (probably about the joys of being pregnant) while munching on a Milky Way bar.

I smile guiltily at her as I pass by in the path to my room, backpack in tote.

"Mia," she groans.

"Yeah mom," I ask, twirling around. Stay calm! She probably just wants you to stop at the corner and buy her some more Milky Ways.

"Are you done with your Algebra? Frank said he gave you homework tonight." she says, rubbing her stomach.

Like he doesn't ever not give us homework! He religiously piles on the Pythagorean Theorems and Quadratic formulas every lovely evening of the week. Like we have nothing better to do! I mean, channel 40 has started playing Bay Watch re-runs everyday. "I started on it. I'm just going to take a little break." Oh gosh, I hope she'll just say 'ok' and leave me alone.

"Mia, you're never going to bring your grade up if you spend all your time watching televison and hanging out at Lilly's," she says, shaking a finger at me. Ever since she found out she was pregnant, she has found it an acceptable excuse to nag me whenever she feels it appropriate. If I argue, she just pulls the 'I'm with child, Mia!' card and sheds a tear or two.

"I know. I just need a break, Mom." I say, turning around and running down the hall before she has a chance to make me return to the kitchen table to finish my homework.

I sit down on my bed and run a shaky hand threw my hair. How can anyone expect me to concentrate after what happened today? I was just sitting in G&T pretending to pay attention to what Michael was saying while I really studied the freckles discreetly lining his pale cheeks, when a tall guy from the office comes in and says the Vice Principal needs to see me. I look over at Michael and he gives me a reassuring smile.

"Hey Thermopolis, no worries. I'm sure you just put a wrong number for you social security on those forms they passed out in home room the other day. You'll be fine." he says, patting my shoulder.

I giggle nervously, standing up and grabbing my bag. As I walk down the hall, my mind is racing, trying to think of something I might have done wrong that was bad enough to get me sent to the office. I haven't closed Lana's hair in a book in weeks.

I walk into her office and she gives me a tight smile, waving to the seat in front of her desk.

"You needed to see me?" I ask nervously.

"Yes Mia. I wanted to speak with you about the poem you wrote for your English class. Your teacher speaks highly of it. In fact, she even mentioned something about submitting it to the contest at the Creative Festival the city is going to be holding for teens with special talents, like yourself. I called you in to see if you would be interested." she says, smiling as she crosses her arms over her chest and leans back in her chair.

I am speechless. No words can come. I sit there, utterly stunned. So this isn't about my failing grade in Algebra or the fact that I seem to have a liking for bringing any miniscule ammount of pain to a certain cheerleader's life. This is about my poem! I'm not in trouble! I decide to nod my head when I concur it is unreasonable to try and form any words.

"Good. Very good!" she grins. "Well, then I believe your teacher would like you to come in this evening around 8. She is going to be holding a brief meeting for the students planning to submit their works into the festival."

I nod again and stand, gulping loudly.

"Keep up the good work, Mia." she smiles, extending her hand.

I grab it and give it a light shake before scurrying out of the room. Me, a teen with special talent?

I can't believe this! I haven't even told anyone yet! I am still in shock, half a day later. The idea of having my work published is insane! I need to get out of the house for a while. I stand up and walk back down the hall. I pass my mom, who is now snoring loudly on the couch. I decide not to wake her from the precious sleep that she gets. I scribble her a quick note letting her know that I'm going to Lilly's and then to school for a meeting. I let her know that I will most likely be back late. I'll probably end up stopping by Number One Son for some noodles on my way home.

I run back into my room, deciding to bring my Algebra book with me. I might have time to work on it while I'm waiting around at school. You never know.

I walk down the street, taking in the smell of the smoke-filled air and the sound of angry cab drivers. New York is lovely in the fall. I hope Lilly is home.

It begins to rain by the time I make it to the block Lilly's apartment is on. I pull my sweater tighter around me in a solace attempt to shield myself from the chilly breeze that has picked up with the rain.

I run into the lobby just as it begins to pour. Michael doesn't seem surprised to find a sopping wet Mia standing at his front door when he opens it.

"Hey Thermopolis. Got a little wet, huh?" he jokes, opening the door wider to let me in.

"Just a little." I say shivering, as I walk in.

"I'll get you a towel. Lilly just left a minute ago. Mom sent her to the store for milk." he says, chuckling.

"What?" I ask, tucking a wet strand of hair behind my ear self-consciously.

"My mom... she's going to try and cook dinner tonight. God help us all! She says a home cooked meal will help bring us closer together. I think we'll be a lot closer together if we're all home with food poisoning." he says, grabbing a towel out of the linen closet.

I chuckle as I attempt to dry my hair. "So she's getting milk for your Mom?"

"Yeah, she'll probably be right back." he says, falling back into a recliner.

"Oh!" I shriek, spotting the show playing on the t.v. "Buffy?"

"Of course." he smiles as I sit down on the couch to watch.

"I don't think I've seen this one." I comment, turning my eyes intently to the screen.

He begins to explain what has already happened.

"Buffy is one of the coolest people on t.v." he smiles, as she kicks a sweaty assailant in the gut.

"I don't know. I've seen cooler." I argue. We begin to exchange our comments on the coolest people on television. This is how Lilly finds us fifteen minutes later, when she returns with a huge brown bag filled with groceries.

"Geez Lil, all she wanted was milk!" Michael says, shaking his head.

"I know. Hey Mia." she says, failing to explain what else the bag contains.

"Hey Lil."

"What are you doing here?" she asks as I follow her into the kitchen.

"I decided to take a break from Algebra and my mom's raving antics about the burdens of being pregnant. A girl needs a breather every once and a while."

"Yeah." Lilly says distractedly, still holding onto the bag.

"Hey Lil, you alright?" I ask, noting her flushed face and the fact that she is still holding onto the grocery bag like she is holding on for dear life.

"Huh? Oh fine," she says, flashing me a fake smile.

"What's in the bag?" I ask, reaching to grab it from her.

"Nothing!" she says, holding onto it tighter. "It's just... stuff my mom asked me to get for dinner tonight. Why are you being so nosy, Mia? Gaw!"

I raise an eyebrow at her, tilting my head to the side. "You can tell me."

"It's nothing, okay?" she sighs, pulling the milk out of the top of the bag and loading it into the fridge, all the while still remaining a firm grip on the bag.

I decide to let it go. I'll probably find out soon enough anyway. I follow her to her room, smiling at Michael as we walk through their family room. When we get to her room I turn up the stereo and plop down onto her bed.

"What are you up to tonight?" she asks, noting my backpack.

"Oh, that's what I came over here to tell you! Mrs. Spears is thinking about submitting one of my poems into the Creative Festival at the end of the month!"

Lilly smiles, shoving the bag into her closet and then joining me on the bed. "Wow Mia! That's great!"

"I can't believe it! I'm still in shock," I sigh, shaking my head.

"So, are you going back to school tonight or something?"

"Yeah, there is some meeting thing I'm supposed to go to," I smile. "I thought I would come hang out here for about an hour and then head over there."

"Well, Michael said he might go back to school tonight too. He's got some computer club meeting tonight or something."

"Oh," I nod, trying to hide my smile. "So, he told me about your mom trying to cook a meal tonight..." I comment, trying to bring the conversation away from Michael. I don't think now is the time for Lilly to discover her best friend is madly in love with her brother. It is, after all, my best kept secret.