Finally (I know, I know), this is the last chapter. Thanks to everyone for reading it, and special thanks to all those who never lost faith in it, you know who you are, and this chapter is dedicated to you all.
Liss may eventually get around to doing some crazy alternate ending, where Holly dies a firey death, but who knows when that'll get done.
Michael's POV...
Adam is a gorgeous baby. I actually am disappointed that I can't say he's mine, because he's quite an accomplishment.
But I feel bad for Holly. She's obviously not coping well, even when her parent's are there to help.
After another dull two hours of driving back to New York, I opened my apartment door with a feeling that I'm not alone. My first instinct is to grab a baseball bat. But then I realised that I'm a geek and never played baseball. So I tried to think of a big book that I could use, but then I got a look at the person I'd sensed, and knew that I wouldn't be needing any kind of weapon at all.
"Mia?" I asked, shocked. She's the last person in the world I expected to see sitting on my couch.
She stood up. "Hi, Michael." She's nervous, I can tell.
"So, I suppose you have no idea why you're here," I ventured, half humouring myself, and her.
The phone rang but I didn't move to get it. Mia motioned to it so I told her to let the machine get it.
"Ok, well, I know exactly why I'm here..."
My voice on the answering machine cut out and a female voice came through, leaving a message. "Hi, Michael! It's Holly! I just wanted to say thankyou for everything and for staying with me last night. I really app..."
Mia frowed at the phone and I lunged for it. "Holly, yeah I'm here. But can I call you back? Ok, thanks."
I hung up and looked back at her. Why do I even have an answering machine? As soon as Mia leaves I'm disconnecting it and chucking it out.
Mia cleared her throat. "I thought things were over with you two?"
I opened my mouth to respond, to plead my innocence, but she beat me to it. "No, never mind. I'm just going to go."
"Mia, wait. You came here for a reason, remember?"
"Yes, but obviously I got things wrong, so don't worry. I never should have come."
"Mia, it's not what you think. Things ARE over with Holly. Yes, I went over last night, but purely as a friend. We've been through a lot together and I can't just turn my back on her when she needs help. And she needed help last night. Please don't leave without saying what you came to say..."
She shuffled on her feet for a minute, but she didn't move towards the door. That has to be a good sign, right?
"I don't know, Michael. Maybe it was just a mistake to come here at all."
"Don't say that, Mia. It was a mistake in High School that we never got together. It was a mistake that Holly came between us last semester. Don't make this a mistake by turning away now."
I'm begging her with my eyes as well as my words. And if begging with my feet would somehow work too, I'd be doing something with them too.
She looked behind me at the door, and afraid I was losing the battle, I took a step towards her.
"Mia..." I drawled out her name. It probably sounded like I was a crazy stalker, I hope she doesn't think that.
"I just don't know, Michael. I don't know anymore."
"Yes, you do. You wouldn't have come all this way if you didn't know in your heart what you want."
"I've always known what I've wanted, Michael. But I don't know if what I want is really right for me."
"I think you know the answer to that too," I told her.
"I'm afraid of having my heart broken again, Michael. I don't think I could handle that again. I barely handled it the last time."
"Mia, I'd never do that. Not again. I love you...So stop making excuses."
She took a deep breath. "Ok," she said simply.
"Ok, what?" I asked, my heart pounding against my rib cage.
"Ok, I'll stop making excuses and just tell you what I came here to tell you."
I held my breath. All my cards were on the table, she knows how I feel. I just hope what she's about to tell me is what I want to hear.
"Well basically...I love you. And I want to be with you..."
She didn't need to say anything else; that was all I needed to hear. I crossed the room and collasped onto the couch laughing, leaving Mia standing just feet from me.
"Did you hear what I said, Michael?" she asked.
I stopped laughing and looked up at her. "Yes. And that was the best answer you could have given me."
"So...aren't you going to kiss me or anything? At least a hug? I could kind of do with one, you know."
"Oh, right," I said, as if kissing her had been the farthest thing from my mind. Which, by the way, it so was not.
I sat up and stretched my hand out to her, then I grabbedhers and pulled her down onto the couch.
"Hey, there," I said after a minute.
She smiled at my nonchalance. "Hey, there? Is that all you have to say to me?"
"Mmm, maybe. So what happens now? Where do we go from here?"
"I think we live happily ever after," she said, as if quoting from a Disney movie.
"Sounds good to me."
Ya know, if Meg ever breaks Mia and Michael up in future books, and he starts dating some chick called Holly, you'll be able to hear me laughing all the way from here. They'll probably have to send me to hospital cos I'll split my sides.
Thanks again for reading.
