"You can't make it?" asked Leaves, almost sounding more bummed than Michael.

"I'm in the middle of a crisis!" I explained, peeking around the bathroom door. Michael was stretched out on my bed, the covers pulled over his chin as he stared dejectedly out the window. I'd put on Extraterrestrials in the Outback, but even that didn't seem to cheer him up. "I promise we'll hang out soon. But he needs me."

"I need you," said Leaves gently, melting me just a bit.

But, no! I have to take care of Michael. He's crying out for a helping hand, and I'm his best friend. This is my duty.

Plus, I hate seeing Michael in tears. He so doesn't deserve this. If it weren't for that idiot Max, Michael would be perfectly fine. I mean, since when is school so important that you have to dump a perfectly loving boyfriend for it!

"You weren't just dumped. I'm sorry, but I just can't ditch him. Has Max said anything?"

"Uh, no? Why would he say anything to me? I don't know anything. He's busy with…schoolwork."

"Leaves," I said sternly. "You suck at lying. What's going on?"

"You're blowing me off to pal around with Michael, that's what!"

Oh, no. He has so crossed the line. "You think I'd break our date just to hang out with my friend? This is important! I'm sorry if you don't understand."

"I'm sorry I don't either."

"Well, you wouldn't, would you?" I said sternly, though my chin was starting to quiver. "I'll talk to you later."

With that, I slammed the phone down, staring at the receiver for a moment. Were we seriously fighting over my ministering to Michael in his time of need? What a pathetic moron. Leaves, that is.

"Everything all right?" sniffled Michael as I walked back into the room. He picked up a crumpled tissue, dabbing his face with it.

"I hope so," I said softly, crawling under the sheets with him. "Feeling better?"

He took a deep breath and started back into his rant. "I just don't see what I did wrong. Was I too needy? Did I call too often? Should I have broken it off before I fell for him so hard? I mean, does it have to hurt this much?"

I rested my head on his chest and sighed. "If you really loved him, of course it's gonna hurt. Just give it time, you'll be all right."

"But, Mia," he choked, his grip around my waist tightening. "I don't wanna get over him. He'll realize he was wrong, won't he? He'll come back, right?"

"I don't know," I said honestly, smoothing down his curls. "Maybe it'd just be better if you moved on."

He broke down again, snuggling closer to me while I handed him more tissues. "This is so stupid. I hate boys."

That's funny. Wasn't I tearing up last year because Michael loved boys?

We'd been camped out in my bed for hours now, pigging out on ice-cream and discussing the advantages and disadvantages of having Brad Pitt as a husband.

"He's too perfect," said Michael. "Like a Josh Richter sort."

"But sooo sensitive."

"True. Except he's an actor. What if he was lying?"

"If you wanna know if he loves you so—" I sang.

"It's in his kiss, ah, that's where it is!" finished Michael, chuckling. "I love me some Betty Everett."

"So does Leaves!" I giggled. "He listens to that and Midnight Train to Georgia on repeat on his iPod."

Michael had fallen into a stony silence, though.

Ugh. How stupid am I? Mentioning the brother of the guy who broke his heart. Could I be any more insensitive? Could I be any more…masculine?

"How are things between you two?" said Michael after a minute.

"Well, he's still on about me spending more time with him. I honestly have more fun with you, though."

Fortunately, Michael brightened, resting his head on my shoulder. "Those Brodericks are jerks."

"Yeah…" I started to say, but then I caught on. How awkward is it gonna be to date Max's BROTHER after he just completely dissed my best friend? I mean, I don't hold with that sort of thing. Nobody puts Michael in the corner.

I love Leaves, though! I mean, he's sweet, nice, adorable, and funny. But then again, he's insensitive, somewhat mean, and bossy (not in a good way) sometimes. Plus, there's the bit where I can't seem to hang out with Michael and be with Leaves at the same time.

It's obvious that neither is happy with this arrangement, and there's only so much Mia to spread around. So I have to choose…

Old flame (heh, flame) or new love?

Best friend or boyfriend?

Oh, blast it. This is too depressing.

I scooped out a huge mound of ice-cream and stared glumly into my bowl. I can already tell that whatever the outcome is, someone won't be happy.

Someone besides me, that is. I'm doomed to be miserable.

Once Michael had fallen asleep, I crept out of my bed to alert my mom of my guest.

"Where's Leaves?" she asked.

I fidgeted. Thinking about Leaves was not something I wanted to do. Because I had come to a decision—I was gonna have to leave him. He's sweet and all, but if I have to choose, I choose my friendship with Michael. And none of the Moscovitzes have ever hurt Leaves—except for that time Lilly accidentally slammed the door on his fingers. But I'm fairly sure that was an accident.

"Um, Leaves probably won't be around any more," I said at last.

"Oh? What happened?"

"Just things," I said uncomfortably. "I'm gonna get back to Michael."

"It's a good thing he has you to put him back together. Tell Michael we're ordering in from Number One Noodle Son if he'd like anything."

See, that's what I like about my mom. She doesn't get all up in my business. Like I don't have enough problems without my mom sticking her nose in where it doesn't belong.

"All right, thanks," I said, hurrying back to where I'm needed.

And soon, the only place where I'll be wanted. I hope I'm doing the right thing.

Much more to come...including something you guys may not be expecting.