Author's Note:
Lyra: It's SchiLLing. Two L's. Like the pitcher, get it?
Ashton: thanks
Don'taskme: thanks to you too
Eras: no kidding. is there baseball anywhere else?
Hgill: of course I put sports in there. Okay, maybe it was a dig to a particular person, and she knows who she is. But the sox start training in four days.
Alenor: um, yeah. We'll see what she does about the boys.
8sperson: no. look at my pen name. I got Schilling because I was in a bad mood about the Red Sox back when they lost game two of the playoff series against the Yankees. WHen Schilling pitched with a bad ankle that he didn't fix. Then my attitude changed about him. So for now at least he's a nice guy.
Jessesbabe: I think you mean LILLY should be nicer to her bro?
Poisonibe: She'll be back in this chapter.
Thanks to all the readers out there!
MICHAEL:
We never talked about what could have happened that afternoon. She started dating that Schilling guy on a casual basis. She brought him to a band rehearsal one day in mid October.
"Hi there, I'm Schilling," he greeted warmly. I hate when guys are all nice like that. "I've heard a lot about you."
I grunted in return. "Can't say the same about you," I lied. "I'm carrying an amp. I can't shake your hand."
"Oh, right, need a hand with that?"
He grabbed it effortlessly, "Where ya want it?"
"Over here," Orlando said, pointing to where I was about to bring it.
"This is the new guy?" I asked Mia while he was over talking to Manny and Orlando about music.
"Yeah, isn't he nice?" she asked, not trying to dig it in. She was honestly asking me what I thought.
"Yeah, I guess."
"He goes to NYU."
"I know, you've told me before."
"I have?" she asked innocently.
"Yes." No. I did my own investigating on the matter in my downtime. It pays to have Lars Von Der Trump on your side.
"Oh. Um, do we have a gig on Saturday?"
"No, why?"
"Oh, Schilling mentioned that he wanted to meet my dad and grandmother. So I'm taking him to dinner at the Plaza."
"Oh."
"I hope my dad likes him," she continued, ignoring my lack of enthusiasm. I guess she was over me. If she was ever really under me. No...she'd been on top. Okay, sorry for the details folks. "He won't let me date a boy he doesn't like you know, at least not til I'm eighteen."
"Neat." I'll wait until then to sweep her off her feet, right? HA!
"How's Aimee?" she asked, proving a point to me. She knew I was annoyed with his being there. But she was pointing out that I had my shot and I had blown it.
"Why the fuck would I know?" I asked. "I was never even with her. We were going for coffee and my wallet fell behind the desk. She went under to get it while I was sitting at my chair. Then she tried to put the moves on me and I rejected her. End of story. You would have known that if you girls had allowed me to explain."
She looked a little surprised. "Oh. Well, I never really liked her anyways."
"Super," I said strumming my guitar. "Okay, Tall Glass of Water."
MIA:
"Mia, you have to wear this," Lilly said tossing me my costume.
I sighed. "Why? Lilly, why are we doing this? It's freaking Halloween!"
"Because I said so. Plus, you didn't come when we were choosing outfits. You were with the band."
I made a face. "Fine. Whatever."
Lilly had decided that the five of us (me, Ling Su, Shameeka, Tina and herself), would do a song and dance routine for the show. "Perfect, I'm the most uncoordinated person around and still have yet to learn the dance-"
"You aren't dancing," Lilly said matter of factly. "You are just singing."
My eyes opened wide. "Me? Sing? In front of the entire school…or at least the losers that actually watch the whole show?"
She nodded.
"I thought we were all singing…"
"Mia, you are the only one that can carry a tune."
That, my friends, was a well guarded secret. They only knew because at a sleep over in the tenth grade I chose truth and had to admit a secret talent.
So why the hell was I going to sing Girls Just Wanna Have Fun? I don't even like the eighties music. I'm all about the nineties. Gimme Britney. Gimme Christina. Gimme Mandy—wait, scratch that. I hate Many Moore. She reminds me way too much of someone I know. I haven't figured it out yet though.
"No, you really don't have to come," I said to Schilling on the phone. "It's not a big deal. Just some stupid show for seniors."
"And what exactly are you doing for it?" he asked. I looooved how his voice sounded. So…mid western and cute. He says he loves my New York accent; I kindly remind him that I do not have one.
"Oh, lip syncing," I lied.
"Just that? Not a big deal. What are you doing afterwards?"
I made a face, "Hanging out with the girls. Maybe watch a few scary movies."
"Great. Listen, I gotta jet. My dad is doing a speech down in Jersey."
"Why? He's the senator from Wis-"
"Babe, he is prepping for the White House."
Oh. Dur. Who wouldn't know that? It's all over the news. Grandmere was salivating over the possibilities. I remind her that I'm only seventeen and not prepared to make a lifetime commitment to a guy. No matter how nicely he kisses. Or how much he diverts my mind off of Michael. "Oh. Okay. Well, have fun."
"You too."
I went over to Lilly's where my hair was going to be teased and crimped. "What on earth were women thinking in the eighties?" I asked, looking at an old magazine (her parents still had some that they'd had in their old office, see doctors really do keep oldies).
"What the hell are you doing to her hair?" Michael asked, walking by.
I stared coldly at him through the mirror. We only talked now at practice. Never alone anymore.
"Not everyone has long, girlish, beautiful gleaming hair like you," I snapped.
He self consciously fingered his hair. "Hey, I'm a musician. Lead singer of a band. It's part of the job description."
"Oh?" Lilly said with an eyebrow raised. "What else? Sleeping with every girl that passes his way?"
"And to cause trouble. Long hair means you cause trouble."
I smirked despite the fact that I was trying to not like him. It's not my fault he's so damn likeable. It's his fault.
"Senior Skit Night," Tina continued on with an actual answer. She was still as in love with him as ever.
He nearly choked on whatever it was that he was eating. "You are doing that?"
"Yes," I said, weakening my resolve to never talk to him again. I felt bad for teasing his hair. It was kind of his pride and joy.
He did his lop sided smirk. "How…cute."
"Are you here for a reason or just to oogle-"
"I wanted to know what you guys were doing for Halloween tonight?" he interrupted. "There is a midnight show for Rocky Horror at the dollar theater."
"Bad memories with Boris," Lilly replied. "Count me out."
"Me too," Shameeka said making eyes at Mia. "I'm going out with LeBron."
Here's my chance. We can at least be friends again. Or maybe this will get us back on the right track. You know, the track towards an actual relationship. "Su-"
"I love that movie!" Tina squealed, cutting me off.
I shot daggers at the back of her head. I was starting to dislike her more and more every day.
"But Tina," Ling Su started after getting a pinch from Shameeka. "We were going to go to Lara's house, remember?" Lara was some girl that they started hanging out with while I was with the band. I have yet to meet the girl; I think they fear that I feel like they are replacing me with her. Whatever.
"Lara will understand," Tina said, giving Ling Su the eyes.
"I don't wanna see that though," Ling Su went on.
"Well, I can't let the poor boy go alone, can I?" Tina asked, getting annoyed.
"I'll go with him, I have no plans," I offered up.
Tina glared at me, "No, it's okay Mia. I'll go-"
"Gawd, I don't need a babysitter. The guys are going too," he snapped. "They'll be glad to see you again," he said smiling at me.
When he says guys, does he mean HIM?
"I'm sure Orlando will," Tina teased.
I gave her a dirty look. "Knock it off Tina. I don't like him like that. Don't go giving him any ideas."
She looked a bit surprised at my outburst. "Oh, well…."
"I'm glad you won't lead him on," Michael said softly.
"I'm not a tease," I replied pointedly.
"Michael, get out already," Lilly snapped, noticing the tension. "You got who you wanted so just git."
I took one look at him as he continued to finger his long brown hair. "Have fun, girls."
I felt like a massive tool standing off to the side wearing a stupid poofy short skirt and shorts underneath.
"Hey Poofy," a voice said from behind me.
I turned and saw Manny. "What are you doing here?"
He pointed to a freshman manning the piano. "That's my cousin Manuela."
Oh. Why hadn't I noticed the striking resemblance? "I see-"
"Michael said you were doing something here. What are you doing?"
I rolled my eyes, "Singing."
He held back a smile, "Lover Boy isn't here, right?"
"Who?"
"Killing?"
"Oh, Schilling," I said with a laugh, "Yes…I mean, no. He's not. He had to go to New Jersey."
He raised an eye brow and was about to say something when Lilly pulled me away. "We're on, let's go."
I'd practiced this maybe six times EVER so I was wicked nervous. I looked out to the crowd and saw Frank, Mr. G. My mom promised she wouldn't come so she was home with Rocky. Okay, no familial embarrassment.
But then I saw Manny. And he wasn't alone.
After the performance I tried to rush off. Who would want to see their boyfriend and quasi man friend together? Certainly not me.
But no dice. "Hey baby," Schilling said kissing me heartily. "You sounded great."
"I-I thought you were going the New Jersey."
"I am, but I wanted to see you do this thing. That was you singing, wasn't it?"
I nodded, "Yeah."
"Did you see me with Manny? He's such a great guy."
"Fantastic," I mumbled. He had also been with Michael. It was a wee bit weird seeing the two of them sitting next to each other. Michael looked miserable, Schilling a bit too eager. My two worlds converging. They were supposed to be separate. Schilling was not supposed to be so close to th boy that I had given the flower of my virginity to.
He and I went off to a corner of the back stage area for some privacy. He kissed me lightly, "Here are some flowers."
I smiled, "You didn't have to do that," I whispered.
"You deserve them baby."
So I let him kiss me a little bit more.
He is not a bad kisser. If there is a hall of fame for kissing, he'd be there. He had a way of making a girl go completely weak in the knees—kind of like Michael does, but in a totally different way.
Like in a way that would make a girl forget that her frequent make out partner in crime was standing about thirty feet away watching her with daggers in his eyes.
