Author's Note: I just want to remind all of you that '

1) Red Sox are way better than the Yankees. It stands to reason

2) Keep in mind that Mia was drunk when she spoke to Sarah Jane. She doesn't really remember that conversation, only that it left her with bad feelings toward her. So please, don't ask why she still talks to her.

3) I'm going to marry Rodger.

Niteowl: I never got an e-mail back. This story, if you want to be technical is approx. 136 pages. This chapter ends on about 96. But in all honesty, the ENTIRE story (sequel etc.)ends when Michael is gasp> 31. If you dare stick with it that long. And I think you might want to.

Everyone else: thanks for reading and taking the time to review.

Dedicated to Liss: For breaking the rules. I heart you even if you are a Stankees fan


MIA:

I hated her no matter what though. She was too... damn perfect. And started keeping Michael on a tight leash. Always calling him. Always begging him to come by her dorm even though she knew he didn't want to run into Schilling.

She almost was shoving it in my face that she had Michael. And all I had was the other guys in the band.

"Mia?" a guy's voice asked in late March at a Starbucks.

I turned a skeptical eye and took my coffee. Lars glared at the guy. "Um, hi."

"You don't recognize me?" he teased.

I looked at Lars. "Felix Shortridge. A former member of the band Skinnerbox with Michael."

I turned to him and studied his suddenly familiar features. Sure, the goatee was gone. And his hair was no longer the amber color it was back in high school, but he was definitely thedrummer of Michael's defunct band. "Hey, how've you been?" I asked awkwardly.

"Great," he replied enthusiastically. "I've been seeing you in the papers lately. What on earth is a princess doing without a boyfriend?" he teased.

I rolled my eyes, "Oh please. Grandmere is spazzing out about it."

We sat down at a table together. "You and Michael never worked out?"

"We never worked," I replied. "I mean, we were never together."

He made a strangled face, like he knew something and didn't wanna say. "Oh. That's cool."

He started hanging out with me and the guys more often. For some reason I never thought to mention him to Michael. For some reason I don't think he'd like the idea of me striking up a friendship with Felix. They'd had a falling out after graduation and haven't spoken since then. Michael never explained it to me, and I never bothered to ask.

MICHAEL:

I couldn't dump Sarah Jane. She'd be crushed. Plus, Mia just needed a friend right now. That's all she wanted. And all I'm sure she could handle. After that nut case she needed someone to just talk to.

No boyfriends.

Just Boy Friends. And I'd be the best one possible.

Except….Except I'm always with Sarah Jane. And Mia is always with Manny, Kevin and Orlando. Getting closer to them. I don't blame her. Sarah Jane and I can get pretty mushy around one another.

I hated seeing her around them. She let them put their arms around her like she used to let me. I knew it was platonic and she'd never look at them like that. She'd never do anything with them. I don't know why I considered myself different from them.

She was cool towards me though. We had a huge rift between us now, and I had no idea why. Maybe she just wanted to be friends. Didn't want the complicated relationship that we've always seemed to have.

She knew it drove me crazy. She had to know that it made me nuts to see her joking so easily with the other guys. I hated it. Despised it. But I had no right to. I still hadn't dumped Sarah Jane. Maybe I'd do it at the end of the semester. Then there'd be months before I'd have a chance to bump into her on the street. And hopefully, by then, I'll have Mia.

But then again, she'll be away all summer long. In Genovia.

"What's wrong?" Sarah Jane asked at Cappy's Bar.

"Nothing," I said quickly. We were waiting for my friends to arrive.

I heard the big bell by the door be hit many times. I turned and saw Kevin. "Three times last night," he announced. It was tradition now. Whenever you got some, you rang the bell upon your arrival. I have yet to actually partake in this tradition.

"Who's the lucky girl?" I asked.

"Oh, you know her," he said with a wink.

No. No. No. "Who?" I asked.

"Mia."

I could not react. I could not react. Girlfriend next to me. No one officially knows that I'm in love. With Mia I mean. Not Sarah Jane. Not Kevin at least. Maybe Manny. And Lilly.

"Oh? How was that?" I asked, not really breathing.

"You have no idea man," he said at Judith put his beer in front of him. "She's a real ride, ya know?"

I saw out of the corner of my eye that Sarah Jane was searching me for a reaction. "I don't really think that's a good way to talk about our friend."

"Oh c'mon Michael, you have to admit you've thought of her like that once or twice."

"N-No. Course not," I lied. What the hell was he doing?

"Dude, the way she said my name, louder each time."

"Knock it off. I don't-"

I stopped short cuz I saw her walk in with a very familiar person.

"Hey Beautiful," Kevin said, getting up and kissing her cheek.

The guy took off her jacket and put it on a hook.

"Hey there Michael. Long time no see," he said extending his hand.

I looked at him "Hi Felix."

"How've things been?" he asked easily, putting his arm on the back of Mia's chair.

"Fine."

He looked at Sarah Jane, then Mia. She was talking to Kevin and giggling and glancing at me.

"That's great to hear."

Now is a good time to explain the coolness between Felix and I. Back in senior year there was a party. A party I had to arrive late to since I promised Mia I would escort her to some princess thing. Felix promised to watch over Serena for me. Make sure no one laid a hand on her.

No one did. But him. It was right after graduation and the band had decided to break up instead of trying to do it long distance. "What the hell are you doing here?" I snapped.

"We saw him the other night," Mia cut in. "What's the big deal?"

I glared at him. "This is my girlfriend, Sarah Jane."

He smiled warmly at her, "Nice to meet you."

"Likewise," she replied, confused.

"I'm an old friend of Michael's," he explained. "From high school."

They began talking and I was watching Mia and Kevin as they leaned in close to one another and were seemingly flirting. Did she want to torture me? What had I done to her? Other than care for her? Huh? Huh?

She turned slowly, "Why are you looking at me?" she asked with her eyes. She turned to Kevin and whispered something to him.

He smiled and looked at me, "I'm fucking with you, you know? It was this girl Bella. Met her at some fancy party Mia took us to at the Plaza for her grandmother. Socialite. Hot."

"Uh, Kev, do you mind? I don't think Sarah-"

"Bella Chambers?" she asked. "I saw her yesterday shopping. I work over at La Scala, the hair place. She got a French updo-"

"I don't care what she got," Kevin said laughing. "I just care that I got to do."

"I don't think I could ever do that."

"What?" I asked.

"Have a one night stand."

Kevin smirked at me. "More of the relationship type?"

"Yeah, I'd have to be with him for awhile before I got too intimate," she replied, snuggling up to me.

I hadn't admitted to the guys that I hadn't slept with Sarah Jane. Mia knew, but none of the guys. "You two haven't?" Kevin asked. He is not one for politeness. "You really should consider sleeping with him. Not a single complaint from any of the girls he's been with." Then Kevin put his arm around Mia. "Have you any complaints? That is, have you heard any?"

She glared at him, "No I have not heard any," she snapped. "Not a single one."

"How many women have you been with?"Sarah Janeasked me softly.

"Enough," I replied, avoiding her eyes. I didn't want to look at Mia. Then she'd know.

"Mia?" she guessed when Mia suddenly stood up and walked to the bathroom.

"What about her?" I asked, trying to avoid once again.

"You slept with her, didn't you?"

"No."

"Are you lying to me?"

"Baby, why would I lie to you?"