Author's Note: Here's a nice long one.

Sparkling87: Don't bet on it

Alenor: Schilling is on my good side these days. So he'll be a nice bloke soon enough

Nick: Thanks

This Chick: All in good time my friend. All in good time.

HGill: As you should. He is quite rich, as is explained in this chapter.

Erasde: And Orlando is a common name? Kevin I can see as passing by the radar. As would Michael. But Orlando?

I would respond to everyone personally, but this is already at seven pages to begin with. But thanks to everyone who is reviewing…and to those who are simply just reading. I already know what happens in the story and can honestly promise that I am not going to go for the obvious. There is quite a bit left to the story. A major character has yet to be introduced. And won't be for quite some time.

Much love to Lucie for thinking of a cheesy band name. (we need to discuss trading possibilities by the way).

And guess what. PITCHERS AND CATCHERS REPORT TOMORROW!


MIA:
Am I on crack? Seriously. Why did I say 'I think it's a very good idea'? He's going to take this the wrong way. Or had I meant it that way? Ugh, I frustrate myself too much. I mean, I had to admit, I sounded kind of hot the way I said that. And I was half on the bed and half leaning down toward him on the floor.

"A very good one?" he said with a smiggen of sarcasm. He had a goofy grin on and looked a little dazed. I looked over at the nightstand and realized his pain medication must be taking effect right now.

This could be a good thing.

I think.

My heart was beating a gazillion beats a minute as he climbed into bed with me. His bare foot brushed past my leg. "Oh, sorry," he mumbled.

He's touched a lot more than that and not apologized. Why was he apologizing? "How are you feeling?" I asked.

His eyes, which had been closed, opened very widely. "Say what?

"Your nose," I said softly. "It looked like it hurt a lot."

"Oh, that."

"What did you think…." I started. "I'm really sleepy."

"Can I be Sneezy?" he replied with a yawn.

"Huh—oh, I get it. You are just a barrel of laughs, even with a broken nose."

"Aren't I though?"

I kissed his cheek. "Rest up Moscovitz. You have class at ten. And I have class at eight. And I still have to steal Lilly's uniform from last year."

He kissed the tip of my nose, "Okay."

Hey. Wait a second. He's on pain medication.

I can let this go a little further, right?

But I didn't have to. He let it go further. "Mmmmia," he said, drawing out my first letter. His hand was now firmly on my thigh.

I like opiods. "Mmmm?" I asked, fully enjoying what that hand was doing.

"I think I need some nursing," he whispered, his lips brushing past my own.

"Oh?"

"Mmmmhmmmm."

I gingerly touched his nose. "I thought—"

His hand swiftly went up the shorts and started pulling them down. So I placed my focus on kissing him.

It's very difficult to kiss a boy who has a patched up nose. So instead I started kissing his chest. That was one of his favorite places to be kissed, and I should know. I've kissed it just a few times after all.

"I….God, you're driving me crazy," he mumbled.

I smiled. "Good." What a vixen I am.

He then pulled me up to eye level and kissed me on the lips hard. Then, somehow, I was being pinned down and having things done to me that one would not think a man with an injured nose could do. And I was pleasantly surprised to find that I quite enjoyed it.

I shouldn't enjoy this. What the hell am I doing? I'm basically raping this guy. He's not in the right state of mind. He's on pain medication right now. I am the one that is sober and clean.

I pulled away.
He turned toward me, "What are you doing?" he asked with a goofy grin.

"I'm gonna go sleep in Lilly's room," I replied.

"But how am I supposed to kiss you if you are over there?"

"You aren't," I said shortly. "Good night Michael."


The next morning was a little weird. He was up at the same time as Lilly and I. I was wearing Lilly's old uniform that no longer fit her. "You look like shit," Lilly said simply to him.

I noted that the bruising under his eyes had settled in. "I'll be sure to yell at Schilling for you," I said eating my Cap'n Crunch.

He made a pained facial expression. "Gee, thanks for the help, Thermopolis."

Oh God. I'm back to that now?

Lilly made a face at me. Then turned back to him, "PMS much?"

He drank straight from the milk carton (any other guy would look like trash doing it, but not him….he worked that milk carton…God I'm way too hormonal). "I'm drugged up Little Sister. People act weird when they are on these things," he said pointedly toward me.

I blushed and stared straight at my bowl. "At least you have us to make sure you don't do anything stupid," I replied.

He sat next to me. "Like what?"

God. He wanted a full conversation? I looked up at him and suddenly turned red with embarrassment. I remembered what he'd done to me only seven hours before. I remembered where those hands had been.

"Like eating your cereal before it's soggy," I replied hastily.

"Why are you staring at my hands?" he asked with a cocky grin.

I diverted my gaze to Lilly. "I have no idea what you are talking about," I replied. "Lilly, can you hand me an orange from that bowl?"

"Me too," Michael piped up. "Two."

I started peeling my fruit until Lilly kicked me from the other side of the table.

"Michael, what the hell are you doing to that fruit?" Lilly asked. "I mean, if you want to be alone with it then by all means…"

I stared at his lips on that damn fruit and turned red again with remembrance. "You are sick," I said getting up and taking my bowl into the kitchen. "Lilly, the limo should be here."


"He was like, having oral sex with the orange this morning," I heard Lilly say as I sat down at the lunch table.

"Seriously? That boy is really sexually deprived," Shameeka said shaking her head.

"Like you two are to talk," I replied. I took offense to his deprivation. I liked to think I took care of those needs fairly well, if not often.

Shameeka made a face, "Well, I am thinking about doing it with LeBron finally."

"Ew, no!" Lilly said. "I don't like him."

"You never like us liking anyone," Tina replied. I hadn't realized she had sat across from me.

"No. I just don't care for you obsessing over my brother," Lilly snapped. "Tina, no offense, but there really is no chance for you two."

"How would you know?" Tina asked.

"Because," Lilly started, looking at me briefly "I think he's seeing someone."

Lie.

"Oh? Who?"

"Someone from school."

Lie.

"From NYU? A college girl?" Tina asked, almost in tears.

"She's in school," Lilly replied. "He's all about her so there's no point really in bothering with him. He's taken."

"You said you think he's seeing someone…."

"Tina, get past it already," Shameeka entered, "I mean, there are a million better guys than him. And rumor has it that he's terrible at kissing."

"Says who?" Tina asked worriedly, glancing at me.

I concentrated on my salad. Tomatoes are cool. As are cucumbers. Oh God. I don't mean it like that.

"Just this girl I saw at a party," Shameeka replied, not saying that girl was me and I never said he was bad kisser. Ever. Quite the opposite. For a computer geek he's turned out well—shut up MIA! "He uses too much tongue-"

"Girls, this is lunch and my brother's oral habits. Can we please stop it?" Lilly asked.

I can honestly say her brother's oral habits are quite good. Oh my God. I need to stop thinking about last night.

"Why are you being so quiet?" Tina asked me.

"Who? Me?" I asked innocently. "I'm not being quiet. Just have nothing to say about Michael's kissing styles." Nothing BAD that is.

"Oh. You guys have never-"
"God no," Lilly answered for me. "She's like his little sister. He even burps in front of her."

Note that I was involved in a burping contest with him so that does not count.

"Oh. You guys never even-"

"Tina, he's Michael Moscovitz," I said slowly. "Michael Moscovitz. Don't you think my dad and grandmother would flip out? I'm only supposed to date 'reasonable' young men. I have to choose my boyfriends based on what they consider proper. I couldn't date Michael even if I wanted to," I explained.

Lilly looked at me funny.

"Really?" she asked.

"Really. Think about it guys. Napoleon's great grandfather was related to the British royal family. Huck's dad is a famous attorney with millions stashed away in different banks all over the world. Schilling's father is a Senator and future vice presidential nominee. I need those types of guys. Grandmere would never let me date anyone else."

"So Michael isn't good enough for you?" Lilly snapped.

I sighed. Nothing was good enough for her. "I didn't say that. I said that he wouldn't be for them. And believe it or not, they get a say in who I end up with. I am the sole heir to the Genovian throne. Parliament has to accept my husband and then the people….Michael would hate all that."

"But you are saying you would date him if you weren't a princess?" Tina asked, shocked.

"I didn't say that," I said quickly. "I'm just saying that I wouldn't be able to no matter what. I mean, if I wasn't a princess then he and I would never had those guitar lessons. Then I would never have gotten close to him like we are. Therefore, there would be no chance in hell he'd even look at me."

"Course he would," Lilly snapped standing up. "Cuz he's not an uppity snobby brat."

"Lillz, chill out," Shameeka replied. "She's just giving reasons. You are the one that asked."

"I'm going to go get an ice cream sandwich," Tina announced, noting the tension. "Anyone-"

"No!" we all said together.

"Mia, I never thought you'd be such a bitch to him—"

"I'm not!" I said throwing my hands in the air. "Do you know that he said SERENA'S name one time? Not mine, no. Her's. What am I supposed to do, toss aside the guy that keeps my grandmother and father pacified just so he can have a rebound chick?"

"Girls, relax. I think half the stuff you said was just to convince Tina. But it did sound like you do like him even if you wouldn't date him," Shameeka said biting into her sandwich.

I stood up and grabbed my tray with both hands. "I need some air."


MICHAEL:

She did the right thing by leaving that night. God knows what I would have done if she hadn't. Okay, we all know what I would have done. And what I had started to do before she ran to my sister's room.

I think she enjoyed it.

I would have enjoyed a little bit of reciprocation, but I'll deal with knowing I had made her make that sex face. It's really sad that I know her sex face but who wouldn't after a dozen or so interactions?

That night I met up with the guys on Friday night at Cappy's. "Where's Manny?" I asked, putting my coat on the back of my seat.

"Dunno," Orlando replied inspecting his nails.

"Hot date from what I hear," Kevin replied.

"Date?" I asked.

"Yeah. He's been seeing this girl for awhile now. It's getting pretty serious."

"Serious as in he's still waiting to have sex with her, or serious as in he slept with her and is trying to decide how quickly he can dump her?" I asked as the waitress placed a beer in front of me.

"Hi Michael," she said with a wink.

"Hi Judith," I said with a roll of my eyes. Yes. Judith Greshner. Waitressing at a bar so she could have extra money. Shock beyond all shock. Well, not really. It's near Columbia. She is a student there still. Go figure.

"What have you been doing lately?" she asked.

The other guys held back their laughter politely. "Nothing."

"Hey, I was thinking…."

"What?" I asked.

"There is this lecture over at the school that you might be interested in."

"Oh?"

"It's about cloning," she replied. She continued on about it until I finally gave in and agreed.

"Sure. Sounds great. When?"

"Monday," she said excitedly. "I'll see you Monday night then? I am over in the dorms still…I'm an RA."

"Okay. What time?"

"Seven."

"I'll get you at six forty five then. Here's my number," I said writing it on a napkin. So cliché of me. "Call me with the directions-"

"I'm in the same one that I was in back when you were there."

"Okay then. Just call to confirm I guess."

"Oh and-"

The noise of a bell ringing interrupted her next statement.

We all turned and saw a beaming Manny coming into the bar. "What the fuck?" I yelled to him.

"I did it. I finally did it!" he said sitting next to me.

Judith left us to our own devices.

"What?" I asked.

"I- I …nevermind."

I looked at Kevin who was hiding a smile. "Did you screw her yet?"

Manny half smiled. "We did do it," he admitted, not looking at me I noted.

"Who? I didn't even know you were dating anyone," I replied.

"You are too stuck in your own relationship problems," Kevin pointed out. "He's been dating her for…what, six months?"

"Just about," Manny replied, grinning.

"What's her name?" I asked. "What does she do?"

"She's in school," he replied quickly. "Her name is uh, Rosie."

I was out of the loop. But that was because I was always with Mia. And that's okay with me. As long as I have Mia.


"Hey, what are you doing tonight?" Mia asked on Monday after our rehearsal.

"Going to a lecture about cloning," I replied, wrapping up some wires.

"Oh."

"Why?"

"I just…I have a math exam," she started, rubbing her nose, "I was gonna see if you could help me out but…"

"Maybe after," I said quickly. "I could come by around…ten?"

She smiled, "Okay. Um, come through the window though. My mom is getting strict about guests."

I didn't want to leave Mia with the guys, but I told Judith I'd pick her up.

And I was fully expecting to have a terrible time, but I didn't. She had gotten a sense of humor in the past few years. "You know," she started as we walked back to her dorm.

"What?" I asked.

"I had the biggest crush on you back in high school."

I smirked and tried to look surprised. "Oh?"

"Yeah. But I mean, I had no shot in hell for that."

"Huh?"

"You liked that Mia girl. Lilly's friend. What ever happened to her? Did she move to Genovia or something?"

I shook my head, "No. She's in my band."

"Did anything ever…"

"No," I said immediately.

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"You win some, you lose some," I said with a shrug.

I moved closer to her. I'd give her a goodnight kiss and go see Mia.

"Whoa, what are you doing?" she asked, backing away.

"I thought…."

"Michael, I'm a lesbian."

So I did what any sane man would do.

I ran off to Mia's.

And found her slumped over her Calculus book and listening to some boy band CD. "What on God's green earth are you listening to?" I asked.

"The dulcet sounds of Gratuity," she replied. "Judd Womack is so hot."

"I'm not hearing this," I replied.

"Where were you?" she asked.

"Out with Judith," I replied, throwing my jacket aside.

"Judith? As in Cloning Fruit Flies in her bedroom Judith?

"Yeah, that one."

"I didn't know you two were friends," she said distantly.

"Yeah, we are." So what if that's a lie?

"I see. Your nose is healing well."

"It is," I replied sitting next to her on her bed.

"Schilling feels just terrible," she continued. "He wants to take you for lunch sometime to make it up to you."

"I don't date dudes."

She smirked, "Luckily he doesn't either."

I loved how she said that. And furthermore, I loved how she visibly shivered when I grabbed her pencil out of her hand. "Organization," I drilled. "No notes in that journal of yours."

She blushed, "I don't have a journal."
"Sure you don't," I teased. "Let me guess, you write Mrs. Schilling Davies?"

She rolled her eyes. "No. He'd have to be Prince Consort Schilling Renaldo. And he'd never give up his name."

"Why not?" I asked.

"Not for me. It's not like we're going to get married or something," she explained quickly. "We're just…I mean, we're still kids. Figuring things out."

"I don't see why he wouldn't want to marry you," I said softly. "Any guy would be stupid to want to keep his name instead of you."

She responded with a raised eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Not me, of course," I lied quickly. "Not everyone has as hot of a name as Moscovitz."