Author's Note:
Liss: Yankees still stink no matter what.I do hope you get to read this while this is still in date. BTW: I found a famous Michael. I'll get your opinion later
Poisonibe: at least you realized that Kevin was joking. It's his personality
Madeline: You'll have to go back to my other stories to get an answer to your question. It is at least a two parter, look back in My Best Friend AN's to see if it is a trilogy or what.
Moonstone: You have a lovely imagination. One that is totally off base but creative ;)
Ghost of the Robot: I hope you like the rest of it. Thanks for reading
Lyra: Go back and re-read the last chapter. I don't think you saw everything. But even if she had (and yes, there will be more of it in the story), people react differently to those sorts of things. It can become a control issue (oh snap I just gave something away). Kevin never said anything in her prescence. Just to Michael and Sarah Jane. Well...just re-read it and you'll probably get it. Kevin's a goofy character.
I also did not really marry Rodger, nor am I planning on it. He's just a cute boy who sings well and plays the guitar. Don't take everything I say literally. Cept for that. I really am not marrying Rodger. I can't even prounounce his last name.
Erasde: Red Sox will forever be the better team.
Dyers: Watch out for Liss. Felix is her lov-ah.
MICHAEL: I hated acting mushy around Sarah Jane. I hated saying nice things to her. Not because she didn't deserve it. No. Just the opposite. SHe totally did. I just didn't deserve her.
But it was hard not to be mushy around her. She was just like Mia. Looked like her. Acted like her. If I didn't care so much, I'd settle for her. But I don't want to settle.
But what really bugged me, was that she was so friendly towards Mia. Even thought Mia was nothing but cold to her.
"Can't you say something to her?" she asked. "I mean, I don't get it."
"Mia's very…particular. Has to do with being a princess and stuff. She likes choosing her friends and not being forced to be friends with people."
"Think you'll ever grow past her?"
"Huh?"
"Grow out of this friendship. Like when she goes to Genovia or something."
I shook my head, "It's one of those life rela- friendships," I replied. "We're stuck for life."
Sarah Jane finally came to one of our shows in late March. She was more into pop music and didn't really like rock. Drums, to her, should be seen, and not really heard. I saw her talking to Mia after the show in a corner away from all of us.
"Weirded out?" Manny asked, hitting me on the shoulder.
"No, why would I be?" I asked, taking a big gulp of my beer.
"The woman you are with and the one you can't get are talking to one another. And enjoying it."
"That's Mia's fake smile," I argued.
"How do you figure?" he asked with a smirk.
"Well, when she really smiles, her dimples show."
He studied her face and nodded, "Yeah, I can see that."
"Hey, ready?" Sarah Jane said a few minutes later, followed by Mia.
I watched as Manny put his arm around her and whispered into her ear. She blushed and playfully punched his gut.
"Uh, for what?" I asked, watching Mia and Manny flirt.
"We were going bowling, remember?" Sarah Jane said slowly, as if speaking to an invalid.
"Oh."
"I said Manny and I would join you. We were just going to watch some TV at my house but I figured it'd be fun. I haven't been bowling since…." Mia replied, fading out. We both knew the last time she bowled. We ended up in bed together. Not in the platonic sleep over way either.
"What did you guys talk about?" I asked a few minutes later, looking casually over my shoulder at Mia and Manny who were joking around behind us.
"Hmm?'
"You and Mia."
"Oh. Just girl talk. We might go to the Gratuity concert before I leave forhome.Oh, andshe mentioned that she wrote a song. I told her she should show you. You could write the music for it."
"Uh, sure. Hey, why don't you talk to Mia while I have a chat with Manny, okay?"
"Sure," she said, confused. I pulled Manny aside as the girls began chatting animatedly about Judd Womack or some other boy band member.
"What's wrong?" Manny asked, confused.
"What the hell are you doing with Mia?"
"We're goofing around."
"You are flirting."
"So? What difference does it make? You flirt with her all the time."
"That's….different."
"How so?" he asked, amused.
"Manny, it just is. You know it is."
"Fine whatever. I thought Mia hated SJ?"
I looked back at the girls. "Girls are too confusing to even begin to understand."
"Well said my friend. Well said."
We arrived at the bowling alley moments later and broke into teams. Girls versus guys. "I told you sucka, you can't beat me," Mia gloated after the first string.
"Fine, if I can't beat you," I replied. "Then we'll team up."
"Uh, Michael?" Sarah Jane asked.
Shit. I forgot I had a girlfriend. "Oh, I meant I'll team up with you. Manny and Mia."
Manny smiled and winked at me as Mia gave him a high five. I hated watching as they did chest pumps and 'team' handshakes.
"Okay, shake things up again. Me and Mia. Manny and Sarah," I announced after an embarrassing string.
Whenever I'm on Mia's team I really do kick ass. Maybe because I don't want to embarrass her. I dunno. Who knows? Who cares?
All I know is that we got to do chest pumps. And I quite enjoyed it.
"You and Mia are really close, huh?" Sarah Jane said as I walked her back to her dorms.
"Yeah." Oh God. Not this discussion again. I thought we'd gone through this.
"How close, exactly?" she asked.
"Close," I replied. How many times are we going to have the same conversation?
"How close?"
"What the hell is this? You investigating me? Sarah Jane, I'm sick of this conversation."
"I just…I dunno. I can't shake this feeling that you aren't telling me the whole truth."
"Sarah Jane, would I lie?" I asked, putting on my cute face. I have a cute face, Mia has told me many a time it doesn't work on her.
"I guess not. But I think she's into you though."
"Oh?" I asked, trying not to sound excited. "Why is that? She say something?"
"Not exactly. It's just…she was really happy for you."
Oh. "So?"
"Almost too happy for you to have a girlfriend."
Too happy? "So she likes me because she's happy I am happy?"
"No…girls are different, Michael. Girls aren't obvious with guys they like. They are…sneaky."
"Sneaky? Mia isn't sneaky. She tells me everything. And I mean everything."
"Not that she loves you though? I mean, you guys are friends and you never say that to one another? "
"No. I don't even say that to my dog."
"I say it to my guy friends that I've known forever. Cuz I do love them. Not in love, but platonic love. They know the difference and that's why it's okay."
"Sarah Jane, you have nothing to worry about. Nothing at all."
"Mia," I said into the phone one night in late April.
"Yeah?" she asked. I could hear that she was fumbling with something.
"What are you doing right now?"
"Trying to find my eyeliner. You?"
"Bored."
"Where is good old Sarah Jane?" she asked. No sarcasm noted though. It was just a casual comment.
"Out with her roommate and her friend Will. Bonding before they have to cram for finals."
"Oh. Right. Have you met Will?"
"Yeah, he's kind of...weird."
"Weird? How so?" she asked. I noted the fumbling stopped. I imagined her sitting on her bed.
"I dunno. He was like a brother or something. Everytime I tried to hold her hand or kiss her cheek he'd pull her away to look at something."
She started laughing.
"What?" I asked.
"He likes her silly."
"Nah. It was totally fraternal."
"Oh please. Get real. Maybe you are right. But I highly doubt it. He is warm for her form."
"Doesn't mean she is for his,"I argued. Why the hell am I arguing about this? Who cares? Seriously. I love the girl, not IN love, but I love her all the same.
"Whatever Michael."
"Did you make your final decision about school?" I asked tentatively. Last time I talked to her alone, over a week ago she was still choosing between Richmond (ahhh! Nooooo!) and NYU.
"Yeah. My dad is sending the deposit to NYU today. Hey, did I leave my black eyeliner at the club last night?"
"I dunno. Where are you going right now?"
"Ned called. He and I are going shopping."
"Wait, say that again?"
"Ned. Ned Kingston."
"My dad's boyfriend?" I asked, shocked.
"Yeah."
"When'd you see him?"
"Last night. After the show. We're going shopping. He won't whine like you used to."
Used to. Past tense."Fine. I see how it is. Replace me with an older version will you?" What the fuck? Does that man have a thing against my family? Like to take our loved ones away from us much?
"Michael, no one could replace you," she said softly. "He's just really cool. And wicked funny. Did you know that he lived in London once?"
"When did he have time to do that and steal my dad?"
"Michael," she said calmly, "He grew up there. His dad was stationed in England. But his mom left his father and moved into the city. That's where he learned how to play."
"How lovely," I said sarcastically. "Anyways. What are you doing tonight, or has he stolen you completely?"
She giggled, yes, giggled. Glad to hear I still have that effect on her. "Nothing, why? What's going on?"
"We were thinking about having people over."
"We?"
"Me and Manny."
"Aw, how cute. A late house warming party?" she teased.
"Yeah. Well, what do you think?"
"Will there be pizza?"
"Yes. Pizza is a given."
"Cool. I'll be there."
"Good…cuz uh…"
"What?" she asked softly. "You okay?"
"Yeah, I just…I miss you sometimes. Just hanging out with you and stuff."
"We'll make up for the lost time tonight, okay? I'm your date….unless…."
"Sarah Jane won't be around," I replied quickly. Okay, she had said she couldn't come, considering I just made this party up on a whim. But the chances were unlikely since her parents were coming to town the next day. "Her mom and dad are coming to town to bring home most of her stuff back to Kansas tomorrow."
"Oh, right. She's leaving soon, right?"
"Finals are in two weeks. They are taking her fridge and some of her sweaters."
"I see. Okay. I'll be your date tonight."
"Okay," I said, trying not to shake. Our first fake date.
"Okay. See you then. Look bitchin, kay?"
"Don't I always?"
"Always. Okay, shit. Ned's here. I'll see you at…nine?"
"Sure."
"Later."
"Manny, we're having a party tonight," I said walking through the living room where he was playing Xbox.
"Okay," he replied.
"Call Kevin and Orlando. And everyone else."
"Okay."
"I'm going to study. You call them like, now."
"Okay."
I actually really studied that day. Knowing I'd finally see Mia that night made me concentrate better.
"Hello?" I said into my cell phone.
"Dude, we're going to the drive through liquor store. Will you drive?"
"Who's car?"
" Orlando's mom's car."
"Why can't you guys?"
"You are the better driver. Plus, we need to be the ones to carry the stuff to the trunk."
"Fine," I said looking at my watch. "I'll be home in fifteen minutes."
We drove out to Jersey. "Why the impromptu party?" Kevin asked.
"Felt like it," I lied.
"Liberation," Manny replied. "His woman is leaving for the summer."
I looked at him in the rearview mirror. Was he talking about Mia or Sarah Jane?
