"Miaaaaa," Michael wailed into the phone that night. I have got to hang around more self-sufficient guys.

"What is it?" I asked, sticking out my tongue as I tried not to smudge my toenail polish, though nine times out of ten it looked more like I had painted my toes, not just the nails.

"I never blew you off this much when I was serious about school, right?" Michael's seriously slacked off since he got to Columbia. I mean, he still makes great grades and all of that, but I guess it's easier for him since he escaped the pressures of Josh Richter and his homophobic fan-girls/jock buddies. Yeah, excuse me? I do believe that Josh is the one who showered with guys practically every day of his high school career.

Then again, Michael did have Max stay over when his parents went out of town one weekend. There is a difference, though—that being that Michael is openly gay.

I did see Josh's identical twin in the Gay Pride parade this year. So ya never know…

"Not really," I said. "I mean, you and I worked more around the you-and-Max schedule."

"So I blew him off for my studies? You think this is retribution?"

"I don't think he'd do that. You guys are in love. He's just busy. You can support that, right?"

"Of course I can!" insisted Michael. "I just hardly ever see him and when I do he's always got some place else to be. What happened to us being the losers of AEHS?"

I laughed. "He's still a loser. Just a studious one. We call those nerds."

"I hate nerds," said Michael moodily.

"Yeah," I said slowly, barely containing my laughter. "Especially Star Wars-loving, Calvin and Hobbes-reading, coffee-inhaling ones."

He caught on and chuckled. "Yeah, those guys suck. So what should I do about Max? I mean, I can't just sit around. He's not the only one wearing pants in this relationship."

Last I checked, Max's family has more Scottish heritage than Michael's. So unless he's been hunting for micro-minis at Limited Too, Max is probably the closest to wearing a skirt.

Why do I even think about this sort of stuff? Who else would trace ancestry to deduce who holds more power in a couple?

Yeah, that would be me. I totally wear the pocket protector along with Michael. And I shall don my cardigan proudly!

Moving on…this Max/Michael "crisis" is reminding me an awful lot of a certain other beautiful couple. "You should talk to Leaves," I suggested. "He's been going on about spending more time with me lately."

"Thanks, but no thanks. I'm so not going to my boyfriend's brother for a shoulder to cry on."

"Remember, I've got a waterproof shoulder," I said, laughing.

"I know," said Michael softly.

Leaves and I headed over to the park (I had managed to steer clear of Almost Famous, thankfully) and strolled along, kicking the foliage around (I don't like to say leaves—the common noun—overly much now. It tends to cause confusion).

I'm in heaven. I've been blissfully happy for months now. I've got great friends. I'm not failing anything. And I'm in LOOOOOOOVE.

Granted, it takes work to keep things up. If I don't talk to Michael, he starts to freak out and watch Clueless over and over again. If I don't study for hours on end, I flunk. And if I don't spend enough time with Leaves, I don't feel like I'm fulfilling my proper duties as a girlfriend.

Not that any of these things are a pain—excluding schoolwork, of course. Just…should it take this much to be happy? I mean, aren't there any better alternatives? Couldn't I live on a desert island with my boyfriend and have Michael on satellite?

I would definitely miss New York, though. Getting ice cream with Michael and then hanging out at the penguin house for hours on end just talking. Sometimes I think I spend more time around him than Leaves. Is there something wrong with that? It's not like anything could ever happen between Michael and me anyway. He's fully in love—with a guy. That might put a downer on any chance we have at an illicit affair.

Not to mention I'm perfectly satisfied with Leaves. Everything I ever lusted after for in Michael is totally compensated in Leaves' hugs, kisses, and snuggles. He's just so completely and utterly…wow.

"Max has been putting a lot of time into school lately," I said as we walked.

"Yeah. He freaks out over grades every once and a while. It'll die down."

"Michael's really worried that he's turned into the neglected boyfriend or something."

"Huh," was all Leaves said.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Even though I knew very well what he was getting at.

"I just sympathize that's all."

"With the guy macking on your brother?" I said with a lopsided grin. I know how to get to Leaves.

Needless to say, he grimaced. "Dude. Don't even. I'm just saying he's got the right idea—"

"By kissing your brother?"

He glared at me and I giggled. "Sorry! I'll stop. Seriously."

"Good, because I'm not kidding. You hardly ever have time for me, between school and hanging out with Michael."

"I so hang out with you more than Michael." Am I seriously having this conversation? And is it possible that Leaves is jealous of Michael? He knows very well that Michael swings the other way.

But he does have a point. I probably spend the same amount of time with both guys. What's wrong with chilling with your best friend, though? Leaves doesn't even know about our…history. You know, the whole thing where I came onto Michael (more than once) and tried to woo him back to the hetero side.

I don't even know what I was thinking! Michael is SO much more fun when he's true to himself. For instance, before-Michael would've never baked cookies with me, and before-Michael never TiVoed Oprah for me, and he never, ever went shopping with me.

You know what they say about letting go the things you love, and they'll come back if they're meant to and all of that. Michael did come back! Slightly more flamboyant, but still, in essence, Michael. And that's just perfect for me.

Leaves was watching me worriedly, so I gave him a peck on the lips. "You're over-thinking this. How about I come over tonight and we'll hang out?"

"Hang out?" said Leaves, raising his eyebrows behind his glasses. "Would that entail…"

"Oh, most definitely," I said, smiling coyly. He kissed me again and reached for my hand, continuing our walk.

Something I've learned over the past few months—guys are definitely wusses at times.

Adorable wusses, though.