Author's Note:

Lyra: Very perceptive. Except, I really don't think Michael and Schilling should ever be compared. Trust me.

LDD: There is nothing wrong with being a Kentuckian. She just had no name to call Sarah Jane and just said the first thing she could think of.

LadyCoCo: You'd be surprised at what girls will put up with. I took my ex back TWICE after he dumped me. Yes. I'm a moron and have learned valuable lessons from it. As will Mia, and you'll see why soon.

Elly: Thank You. Well said.

Romanina: I listen to lots of music. And other people advise me on what songs I should listen to for ideas. This will be more prevelent later. But there are tons of songs that could be a soundtrack to this story. I'll probably post them when this is done. Also, I sometimes just make up stuff as I go along. Major parts/characters of this story were added upon a whim. This story still has another year to cover. And trust me, a year to remember.

Handsoff: Don't hold back. Tell me what you REALLY think of her!

PS: I still do not own any recognizable characters. But I totally own the band Gratuity. Judd Womack is my lover...for now. (and no, that is not a real band, I made it up).

Kings is a drinking game popular with the college sect. Each card has a different meaning and rule. That's the best I can explain it.


I found Schilling playing Kings in one of his cluster mate's rooms. "Hey baby," I said sitting on his lap.

"Go get yourself another drink," he replied, focusing on the game.

"You just said drink, TWENTY SECONDS!" his roommate screamed.

"Fuck, Mia, go get yourself a beer or something," he snapped, picking up his beer.

I sighed and went over to the mini fridge and got a drink.

I sat on the couch for about ten minutes before Schilling finally joined me. "Hey darlin'," he said kissing my neck.

I dunno why, but I didn't like it. I normally was quite receptive to his kisses.

"You like when I kiss you there?" he asked.

"Totally," I replied, tripping over myself. He kept giving me more and more drinks. "Did you know," I said giggling about an hour later, "That I am in love with Michael? Michael James Moscovitz the first?"

"Oh?" he asked, sucking on my earlobe. "Why is that?"

"And soooo great in bed," I said wiggling my beer. His friend Randy brought another over to me. "Did you know I lost my virginity to him like, last year?"

"Oh really now?" he asked, looking at his friend Wes who was sitting next to me.

"Yeah. He's a-may-zing."

"I'm better though, right?" Schilling asked, cupping a feel.

I pushed his hand away, "I dunno. He's really good. Like, if there were awards for the best sexual prowess he'd win, hands down," I replied laughing, not even realizing the weight my words had. "He knows a lot of positions."

He pulled back from me. "Oh does he now? Like what? Mind showing me?"

"No way!" I giggled. "That's secret!"

MICHAEL:

"Have you seen Mia anywhere?" I asked Lilly at Kevin's that night. "She said she'd be here by midnight. It's almost one."

"No," Lilly said quickly. "Try calling her."

I moved across the room so my sister could continue her 'secret' affair with Manny. They really thought I was dumb enough to believe he was dating a girl named Rosie. I'm not a total moron.

"Kev, have you seen my cell?" I asked.

He was busy making out with a red head on the couch.

I found my cell phone as it started ringing. Maybe it was her. No. It was Sarah Jane's number. "Hey babe? Get back safe-"

"Michael, get over here now."

Surprising tone. "Um, sure why? Is everything-"

"I just saw Mia. She's bawling her eyes out."

"Why?" I asked, alarmed.

"She wouldn't tell me. I just…Yeah, I just saw Schilling go outside. He's screaming at her."

"What is he saying?" I asked as I rushed to Kevin's room to get my jacket.

"Michael…I can't even say it. Just come here and bring her home, okay? And call me to let me know how things go."

"Yeah, sure thing. I'll call you tomorrow."


"What's wrong?" Manny asked, nursing a beer.

"We have to go get Mia," I replied. "Come with me."

He put his beer down without question. "Let's go."

We arrived at Gregory Hall and I saw Sarah Jane standing on the stairs. Apparently waiting to let us in to get Mia.

"Oh Michael!" she said, wrapping her arms around me tightly. "They're upstairs. In the suites. There is a party up there."

I kissed her cheek and started up the stairs with Manny behind me. I found the party, but no Mia. "Hey, anyone see Schilling Davies?" I asked a group of guys sitting around a Beirut table.

"Oh yeah. Him and that bitch went into that room a little while ago," one replied.

Manny grabbed my shoulder to stop me from punching the guy. "Dude, he's five times bigger than you," he reminded me calmly.

We knocked on the door. "I'm not going to be polite," I told Manny. "Open up."

"Get the fuck out," I heard Schilling's voice call back. "You can have her after."

Manny knocked down the door. Might I say right now, Manny is pretty strong when he wants to be. Mia in trouble means he is strong.

"What the fuck dickweed? Get the fuck out," Schilling said, lying on top of Mia. "Can't you see we're busy?"

"Mia, get dressed," I said through gritted teeth.

She didn't move. Did she seriously want to be in bed with this shit head? "Mia, did you hear me?" I asked.

"Maybe she likes this," he replied. "Some guys know how to satisfy her."

Just the way he said that made me believe he knew the truth about me and Mia. And everything that had been going on…God. For a year now. Over a year.

Manny made a move towards him, tossed him aside, and lifted Mia up in the sheets. "Get dressed," he ordered.

She did so hastily, and then let Manny lead her out of the room.

I stared at Schilling who had now stood up and put boxers on. "She'll be back," he said confidently.

"I wouldn't be so sure of that," I replied, walking over to him. "If I hear from you again asshole…even hear that you are talking about her…thinking about her, I'll fucking kill you. Got it?"

He started to laugh. "Sure there Sporto. You couldn't do a single thing to me. You had to have your little boyfriend there get her out of the room. I wonder what it is that they are doing right now? Is she just your whore, or the entire bands?"

That's when I slugged him. Square in the nose. "Do not call her a whore."

Then I walked out of the building and Mia rushed into my arms. "Oh God, Michael," she whimpered.

"Ssh now," I said, patting her hair down. "It's okay."

I looked at Manny. He left us alone after saying "I'll goget a cab."

She didn't say anything. She just wept in my arms. I heard a window open, so I turned slightly and saw Sarah Jane leaning out. "Everything okay?" she asked.

I didn't respond to her. I just made a face that told her I'd explain everything later. I hope she would understand.

Manny told he cabbie to bring us to my apartment. "What about you?" I asked him after I got Mia into the cab.

"I'm gonna go back to Kevin's. I think you guys should be alone right now. I'd just be in the way….Besides Rosie is supposed to show up."

I smirked, "It's such a shame I always miss her, huh?"

"Yeah," he replied. He knew I knew. We just wouldn't discuss it. Just like we wouldn't discuss me and Mia.

"Later then."


We went back to my apartment. "I'm going to run a bath for you, okay?" I said softly to her.

She nodded and went into my room as I filled the tub and added some Mr. Bubbles for good measure. "All set," I whispered as I entered my room. She was sitting on my bed in only her under clothes. If what happened tonight hadn't happened I would have been turned on, but I wasn't. Right now I just wanted to take care of her. Not sleep with her.

"C'mon," I said walking towards her.

"Do you know what he did?" she snapped.

I stared at her. She was about to start bawling her eyes out. "Do you?"

I shook my head, "Mia don't-"

"He offered me to his friends," she almost screamed.

"Offered?" I asked. "As if he owned you?"

"I heard him talking to this guy, Wes. We were in his room. He told him that I was the best lay he'd ever had. That he should give me a go."

If she wasn't sitting there crying I'd have gone and killed him. I settled for sitting next to her and pulling her close to me, rubbing her back as well. "Mia…."

"So I stormed out of the building. I-I saw Sarah Jane…That's how you knew, huh?"

"Mia, it doesn't matter. Where was Lars?"

"He'd gone down to wait in the lounge. Schilling had told him that we'd only be there for an hour or so…God, he's still there..."

"I'll call him later. So what happened outside?"

"He started calling me all these terrible names and the next thing I knew he had thrown me over his shoulder and we were in his room. I told him…."

"Mia, you don't have to-"

"If I say this now I won't have to later," she said softly into my chest.

"Okay, go ahead."

"I told him no. I didn't want to have sex anymore. It didn't feel right anymore…"

"And then…" I said softly in a way that wasn't pushing. My dad's voice.

"He told me…." She stopped herself. "Michael," she stammered. I could feel her lip trembling against my shirt.

"What is it?"

"You'd never…you don't think I'm a terrible person, do you?" she asked nervously.

I kissed the top of her head, "Mia, you are the best person. He didn't deserve you."

She looked up and started to lean up to kiss me, but I pulled away. "Mia, no."

She looked stung. "I am a terrible-"

"No," I started as she rushed off to the bathroom.

"Leave me alone," she snapped. "I want to be alone."

I let her alone when she was in the tub. What the hell had just happened there? What triggered this? Why would he want to rape her? She had told him the truth? Did that mean…did that mean she was trying to break it off with him? No…she had seemed really happy being with him. She'd never break it off with him so suddenly. But it would make sense that he'd snap after hearing the truth. But why?

Nothing made sense.

I put on a Gratuity CD that she'd left behind last time. Hearing Judd Womack's voice would calm her down. She was pissed at me now,but I'm sure she'll understand. She had to. I wasn't going to kiss her after what happened. She wasn't in the right state of mind. She needed to consider why she had told him the truth.

Maybe face the fact that she was…dare I say, in love with me?