Author's Note: Song is by Speechwriter's LLC. Cuz they rock. More to come from them in the future.
It didn't hit me until the next afternoon that I had kissed Mia, or that she'd kissed back. We were drunk though. Those sorts of things happen when you are drunk. I'd wait for her to bring it up.
Even if I was spazzing out. I didn't even remember how it felt. My lips had been numb from drinking so much. My whole mouth was in fact. I wish I could rewind to that party and not drink. Just kiss her instead knowing she'd kiss back.
But she never said anything. We both acted like nothing ever happened. She did have a boyfriend after all. And I was her best friend. Plus, she might not remember it at all.
The next week went by without problems. Nothing special happened. I worked. Mia went to school and went on a few dates with her boyfriend. Lilly focused on deciding what colleges to apply to. She wanted to go far away. I hope Mia doesn't. Maybe she can go somewhere local and join my band and fall hopelessly in love with me. Yeah. Likely to occur sometime in the next century.
I picked Mia up on Thursday afternoon. "Ready?" I was standing in her bedroom doorway. Watching as she ran around trying to collect her things. "Need help?"
She threw a pair of socks in her bag and smiled. "I knew they were somewhere. Let's go."
We were getting a ride from Manny. Chaz was in the front seat, Kevin was in the middle. Me, Manny and Mia were the only ones who were really into Weezer. The others just wanted an excuse to bang Harvard girls.
We sat in the back of the van. Her stepfather kind of freaked out that she was going to be the only girl, but I assured him I'd watch out for her. That we were meeting some female friends in Boston. "Well, Michael is really trustworthy," Miss Thermopolis argued, "You know yourself that he never once has gotten into trouble."
Frank finally relented and gave us his blessing to leave. Woot.
She fell asleep half way to Boston. I was writing in my notebook. It was the first new song in awhile. I looked over and wiped a little bit of drool from her cheek. It was a weak excuse to touch her, I'll admit that to anyone. But her skin seemed so soft….I'm horrible. My heart is broken. I need to focus on getting over that in a healthy way. But it couldn't hurt being around her.
"How does your boyfriend feel about you coming with us?" I asked while we waited for our friends to pick us up at the door of their dorm.
She shrugged. "He has a tournament in Albany. All vacation long. So he doesn't really care too much."
"Is it serious?" Manny asked, glancing at me. Being my best friend he made it my business to check out the girls I was interested in; whether I admitted I was into them or not. He just knew.
"Kind of," she said softly. It was freezing. I put my arm around her to keep her warm. This garnered the attention of everyone from the van.
"Um, we thought it was just the five of you?" Aimee said, looking at Mia suspiciously.
"Yeah, but Mia came last minute," I replied, not moving my arm. Aimee wanted me. Badly. When I told her over AIM about me and Serena breaking up she seemed kind of excited. Offered to make me feel better…if you get what I'm saying.
"We don't have enough room for her," Aimee replied.
Mia looked at me, worried. "Fine. You guys stay here. We can go get a motel room or something. What's around here?"
I wasn't going to let her pay this time. I'm not a moocher.
"Doubletree Inn is cheap," Wendy, my other friend replied, garnering an elbow to the stomach from Aimee.
"It's all they had," I mumbled. We walked into the one bed room. "It's not really princessy-"
"It's fine," she replied "You know I hate special treatment. I'm just a normal girl. Are you sure you don't want any money?"
"Nah. Not a big deal. I like to treat myself sometimes," I said, peeking out the window to the view of downtown Boston.
"I'm gonna get changed," she said taking her pajamas into the bathroom.
I sat down and stared at the bathroom door. Imagined what she looked like on the other side of the door. Then I scolded myself for thinking of her like that. I changed into flannel pants took off my shirt. Couldn't hurt to be partially naked for her.
It was early for bed, but who says we'll be sleeping?
MIA:
I started freaking out in the bathroom. I dialed Shameeka's phone number. "What's up?" she asked.
"I'm in a hotel."
"Plaza?"
"No, in Boston. I forget the name of it. With Michael."
"Whoa. Stop. You and him got a room together? You gonna do it? Tina is going to freak. She's already jealous that you were going away with him."
"No," I whispered. "I mean…I don't think so. I don't think he looks at me like that."
"Oh please. One bed or two?"
"One."
"You are totally going to hook up."
"No we aren't. I have Napoleon."
"Oh please. Napoleon is but a little boy compared to MICHAEL. This is Michael we're talking about. I wouldn't mind licking the sweat off of that boy. Tap that."
I giggled. "Tap that? Oh, um, no. But I'll call you tomorrow. Give you details."
"Good. Do not behave yourselves."
I peeked out to the room and saw Michael strumming on his guitar. He went nowhere without that. "Hey," I said, tossing my hair into a clip.
"Hey," he replied. "Thought you fell into the toilet in there."
"Oh, yeah, Shameeka called."
Silence. If I had the nerve I would have filled that silence by jumping onto his lap and kissing him until he couldn't breathe anymore. Like how we started to that night after the party but my digestive system rudely interrupted us. That kiss was a mistake. We were both drunk and he hasn't even mentioned it. Or hinted at it.
I sat cross legged on the bed. "You written anything lately?"
"Um, kind of. Half written."
I gave him an encouraging nod. "Go for it." (this song is by Speechwriters LLC and I am putting it in here at the encouragement of another writer…you can figure out who)
" As my happiness was fading I found out you were dating some guy with a law degree twice your age. I'm sure he's a nice guy and probably buys you nice things that I could never ever afford earning minimum wage. Spent the night at home, brushed my teeth and slept alone. Wondered if you ever thought about me anymore. You were probably at a club or drinking wine in his hot tub, trying to convince yourself you aren't a WHORE. You think I'd be unhappy? But it doesn't even make me saaad. That you are probably on your knees sucking some balding guys dick and he's old enough to be your daaaaad."
He put down his guitar. "Um, that's all I got."
I burst out laughing. "She's really with that old guy? That's so…dirty."
He clearly hadn't thought it was funny before, but seeing me laugh about it made some humor be found. "I guess. You liked it?"
"So far so good. It's healthy to write about it. No repressed feelings."
Those words hung in the air. I always repressed her feelings about Michael.
But he wasn't going to try anything with me. He wasn't over Serena. Plus, I had a boyfriend that I'm crazy about. Completely crazy about. Totally adoring those impeccable abs…although, he does shave his chest which I think is nasty. Michael has a perfectly hairy chest. I started staring at it without realizing it.
"Are you okay?" Michael asked, looking at me funny. "You want me to out my shirt back on?"
"No," I said a bit too quickly. "I mean, sorry. I was just…spacing out, ya know? Thinking about the concert."
He smiled. He has to know I like him. Must think I'm a way out there weirdo.
"You still up?" I asked softly. We had stuffed ourselves with ring dings and cranberry juice (it was all the vending machine had left).
"Hmprh," he mumbled.
"I can't sleep," I whispered.
"Why not?" he replied, turning toward me with one eye open.
Oh, just the best looking guy is lying next to me. "I dunno."
"What can I do to make you sleep?" he asked, staring at me. Now both eyes were wide open.
Our faces were really close to one another. I could almost taste the ring dings on his breath. It was innocent though. If he had actually enjoyed those kisses he would have mentioned it. "Sing," I suggested softly, closing my eyes.
I smiled when he started singing. The words to I Want it That Way. I planned on asking him how he knew the words, but I had already drifted off to sleep.
We explored the city the next day. Took goofy pictures at the statues of the forefathers. Spoke with stupid British accents just for fun. I thought of that. "They talk so funny here," I explained with a laugh. We'd just overheard two natives fighting. "Let's talk with accents."
We totally had people convinced people that we were from England. One girl offered her number to him. So she could show him around the city. He tossed it out once she left us alone in Boston Common. "Come on, I wanna shop," I said pulling him in the direction of Newbury Street.
"No shopping," he whined. "None of it."
"They have kickass music stores there," I said, convincing him.
We met up with the others later at the venue. We were closer to the venue than they were. The band was playing at the Orpheum Theater. It was small, but perfect. I almost wasn't allowed in since she was only sixteen, but Wendy loaned me a fake ID.
Aimee shot me daggers throughout the show. I hadn't realized why until Michael got all protective and put his hands on my waist. She clearly wanted him. I guess he just likes 'em young. Just kidding. He isn't into me like that. So why do I feel like…well….I dunno…like he isn't just acting like a big brother?
MICHAEL:
I liked watching her as she totally spazzed out when the band went on stage. She sang all the songs. Half way through I was standing behind her and put my hands on her waist. Some guy was watching her and was about to start talking to her during a kind of mellow song. No one was going to get closer to her than I was.
"Cold?" I asked after the show.
She nodded as her lower lip quivered.
I smiled and handed her my Weezer sweatshirt (I know, totally wrong to wear the bands own clothes while at the show but gimme a break, a man can only do laundry so often). "Won't you be cold?" she asked.
"I'm a manly man," I replied. "Lots of hair to cover up my body."
I noticed that she blushed when I mentioned my body, but maybe it was just because she was cold.
We went back to the dorms for a party. She was drinking a Smirnoff and talking to some guy that recognized her as a princess. He was asking her about Genovia. I came over behind her and kissed her neck
"What was that for?" she asked as the other guy left.
"He was hitting on you," I replied, hoping she didn't care. She was drinking again, so was I. We could blame things on drinks.
I put my hands on her hips and pulled her close to me.
Before I knew it she was kissing my neck and I was pulling her closer to me, if that was even possible. I didn't care if she gave me a hickey. It'd be a badge of honor.
"Get a room," Aimee said angrily.
Mia smiled shyly, then looked at me. "Come on," I said pulling her out of the room.
