DISCLIAMER: MEG CABOT OWNS ALL ORIGINAL CHARACTERS, RADIOHEAD OWNS 'CREEP' AND THE RAMONES OWN 'HERE TODAY, GONE TOMORROW'

Note: Due to the policy of not using lyrics I have not written myself, I am removing the lyrics from this chapter. If you would like to see how the lyrics relate to the story, please Google them.

This song is hands down, one of my favourite. Which is why I just had to use it. It comes up for the first time in this chapter.

MelancholicPolarBear: I am crazy. When did I ever try to plead my sanity? Anyway, I'm glad you finally caught on to this story. Keep reading. Oh, and I realised yours was a one shot just after I reviewed. Doh!

This chapter is dedicated to Lucie (even though she hijacked my authors note in the last chapter. I am NEVER wrong… At least not about that, anyway), cos I've made her wait so long for this.


Mia's POV...

It's over. I knew it would be even before he told me, but him confirming it is just ten times worse.

I've been lying on my bed listening to old country music since he left a few hours ago.

I don't ever want to move. I'm just going to stay here forever, until I die of hunger, boredom, or a broken heart. Which ever takes me first.

The door opened and my day dreams of spearing Holly with a sceptre were ruined when Hayley came in, and seeing me on my bed rushed to my side.

"Are you ok?" she asked softly, kneeling down beside me. "You came and left on Saturday without saying anything, I was really worried. Can you talk about it now? What is it?"

It'll probably do me some good to talk about it now, face to face with someone. And Hayley proved to be a good friend last semester.

"It's all over," I whispered, as if by saying the words out loud made them more true.

"What's over?" she said, just as softly as I had been.

"Me and Michael. It's all over."

"What?" Hayley cried, obviously not whispering anymore. "But you guys only just got together, how can it be over? You'll work it out, you guys are perfect for each other. You'll see."

"No," I sobbed. "It won't work out. He went back to Holly..." Before I could explain why, Hayley had jumped up.

"What? How could he dump you for that whore? He loves you! Not her! What..."

I sat up and interrupted her. "It's not what you think, Hayles. I understand why. I don't like it, but I understand."

"You understand? How could you understand something like that? What could possibly justify him leaving you for her?"

"She's pregnant," I stated simply. It certainly stopped her ranting and pacing back and forth.

"... What? She's what?"

"Pregnant. And Michael is... the father."

"Oh, Mia, I'm so sorry." She came over and hugged me.

It felt so good to get it off my chest. I hadn't even told mom because I just couldn't bring myself to. And telling Tina had been good, but she wasn't here to comfort me like I needed. She wasn't here to hug me.

Later that night, after a reunion with Maggie, who'd been filled in by Hayley, I slipped into bed and put my headphones in. After a minute of thinking about whether or not I wanted to listen to Michael's cd, I decided I did and opened the case.

Inside was a blank cd with the words, 'Mia, love always, Michael." written across it, and a small folded up note.

I opened the note and slipped the cd into the discman, but I didn't press play yet.

The note said:

Mia,

I recorded a few songs for you.

The first song is your song.

The second one is ours.

And the final song is one that speaks perfectly for how I feel about this situation.

Always remember our love,

Love Michael.

Tears welled up as I folded the note back up and pressed play.

It skittered for a second, and made a strange sound, telling me Michael had recorded it himself, probably only last night.

Finally, Michael started singing and playing an acoustic version of 'Tall Drink of Water'.

If I hadn't already been silently crying, this would have set me off. I reached for the tissues and used up more than I used the first time I saw A Walk to Remember and Titanic put together.

It slowly cut out and after a few seconds I recognised the opening of Radiohead's song "Creep".

Memories of the night Michael and his band performed this song came flooding back, it was only three months ago or so. I'd been with Alex then, and I'd been stupid. Because Michael had been singing this about me all along. And I just didn't know it.

After a dozen more tissues the song ended and he started playing a song I didn't recognise at first. But the opening words stung me like a pitchfork.

Suddenly I recognised the song. It's an old Ramone's one, but Michael's version is better, it's more upbeat, even though it's acoustic. Then again, maybe I'm just biased.

Things are better? What's better? I suppose he means it's better that he takes care of his child now. And I guess it's just the words to the song, he didn't write it.

Michael stopped playing and whispered "I love you," into the microphone. It wasn't part of the song, and it broke my heart.

Again.


Does a broken heart count as a fatal disease worthy enough to get you out of class? I mean, I know I can just not turn up, but if I fall behind, my professors are not exactly going to want to help me out if I haven't been dying of Polio, now are they?

Probably not. So despite not wanting to go, I haven't missed a class all week. I've also avoided Holly and Michael. Because that is so not what I need right now, to see them acting all happy family and whatever. Blah, no thankyou.

I walked into my dorm room after my last class of the week, and the phone was ringing.

"Hello?" I picked up.

"Finally! Where have you been?" a shrill voice called down the phone.

"Lilly?"

"Yes, were you expecting someone else?"

"No. And I was at class, you know, where people in College usually go."

"Oh, right. Sorry. I've been calling all day, are you ok?"

I sighed. "Michael told you?"

"Yeah, and listen, I know he's a scumbag for having slept with that skank in the first place, I mean, I know he was pining for you or whatever, but Mia, he's really paying for it. He's miserable without you. And it doesn't help that this Holly chick is as dumb as drywall."

I didn't reply. I couldn't help it, but it made me happy to know that Michael was miserable without me. But I don't want Lilly to know that.

"Mia?"

"Yeah, I'm here."

"So, how are you doing? It must be hard knowing that the man you love is marrying an airhead like her."

"What? They're getting married?" I gulped. My heart had jumped up into my throat.

"Well, yeah. Didn't he tell you that? They're going to pick out a ring tomorrow before they go see her parents to tell them the news."

"Uh, well... I'm very happy for them. I have to go, Lil, I'll talk to you later. Bye."

I hung up before she could respond.


Suggestions for how we can kill Holly off in the alternate ending can be submitted in review form, and will be taken into consideration, as I believe it is being written now.

I also believe the sap has peaked, so I think it gets better from here. I hope it wasn't too bad!