I flipped open my phone frantically, aching for Michael's dulcet tones to drift into my ear.

But it was just the bitter croak of Grandmere. Wow, that's sooooo much better.

"Amelia!" she barked. "I hear you've dropped that useless plant boy of yours."

"Leaves?" I said tiredly. Even if I had dumped him, I still wouldn't stand for Grandmere calling him 'plant boy' again. She does it just to piss me off anyhow.

"That's the one. So you'll be needing a suitable escort to Lady Bolton's ball this weekend. And I don't want any more nature lovers, do you understand?"

"Who am I supposed to ask?" I moaned, hoping I'd get out of this if I couldn't come up with a date.

"If you haven't secured a proper boy by Wednesday, I could most certainly put in a call to William."

Oooooooh, could she? Michael would absolutely DIE—

Wait a tick. I know just the boy to ask!

Tina shook my arm urgently as I put my phone back in my bag. "So who's the guy? Tall, dark, mysterious?"

"You know him," I said, grinning in spite of myself.

"Oh, yeah? Spill. How'd it happen? Did you hook up?"

"We kissed a bit, but don't tell anyone, all right? I mean, I don't even know if it's a big deal. What if he's not making it a big deal? I don't want Michael to think—"

"MICHAEL!" Tina screeched, so loudly that I feared Lars would dart up the stairs with his gun at ready.

"Shhhhh!" I hissed, clamping a hand over her mouth. "Yes. Michael."

"But he's—"

"Gay. I know," I sighed heavily.

"I thought you were over him," said Tina, looking at me concernedly.

"So did I!"

"But you…you kissed?"

"We did," I giggled self-consciously.

"How'd it happen? I need details. Now."

I rehashed the mopefest and the resulted spit-swapping. Even now, it seemed way too surreal.

"You can't tell Lilly, okay? Promise me. She'd blow a gasket if she knew."

"Cross my heart," said Tina, still smiling. "Oh, I knew there was still hope for you! I mean, Lana was wrong about the whole fag hag thing! You guys have just been suppressing feelings."

"Yeah, I guess," I said, grinning at the thought of getting the best of Lana and kisses from Michael.

Ahhhhh, could things get any better?

Oh, they got better.

Michael rang that evening, just as I was coming in from princess lessons.

"Hey," he said, his voice just a bit sultrier than normal. "Did you have a nice day?"

"I'm having a nice day right now," I said, kicking off my shoes and falling onto my bed.

"Can I come over and make it nicer?"

"Be my guest," I giggled, toying with the phone cord as I fantasized about Michael's visit. What were we now? Friend with benefits? Boyfriend and girlfriend!

When Michael finally made it over, he didn't seem too set on discussing anything. Instead of exploring the possibilities of our relationship, he explored the depths of my mouth with his tongue.

"This makes everything better," he whispered. "I couldn't concentrate all day. Not till I talked to you…kissed you." He pecked my earlobe, his lips parting into a smile.

"What is this?" I asked slowly. "What are we?"

"Sad," said Michael firmly. I guess he saw my unsatisfied look because he elaborated. "We're comforting each other. That's not wrong, is it?"

"So this is about Ma—"

Michael interrupted me with a quick kiss. "No, this is about you, and me, and us being good friends, and…"

"Maybe more?" I asked, attempting to keep all the bubbly joy out of my tone.

"Maybe more," echoed Michael, burying his nose into my hair. We lay like that for a few minutes, with Michael humming 'Wind beneath My Wings' in my ear.

"Wanna go somewhere with me Saturday night?" I asked at last.

"Where?" mumbled Michael, his eyes fluttering open.

"Um, a ball?" I said tentatively, watching his reaction.

"Can I dance?" he asked slowly.

"Sure."

"Can we rent Star Wars afterwards?"

Omigod! A non-chick-flick! Maybe he really is swinging back this way.

"Sure thing," I said, right as he leaned back towards me.

Michael as a potential love interest isn't too different from pal-Michael. Ya know, except the mouth-to-mouth. But even that doesn't happen as often as I'd like.

I mean, I thought it would take a lot of getting used-to for me to shift from friend to girlfriend, but the making out seems more like an extension of our friendship anyway.

Is that normal? I'd like to think so.

I've noticed that Michael isn't as cutesy with me as he used to be with Max. I mean, there is the subtle flirting we've always done, but we haven't whispered sweet nothings, we haven't fed each other strawberries, and we haven't exchanged backrub services!

I think I'm getting gypped. Except for the kissing. The kissing is definitely up to par. Michael must've learned a trick or two from Max, because no one's laid a great wet one on me in a very long time. Not till Michael.

Of course, I've been keeping Tina up to date on the relationship, though I think I've thrown in a bit more mushiness from Michael than there actually seems to be.

Still, never mind. He'll totally pick up the slack there once he's fully gotten over Max and we've proclaimed our love to the world.

Till now, though, Michael and I will have to keep our love in the closet…NO! NOT LIKE THAT!

But back to what I was saying—I think we should come out as a couple at Grandmere's ball…or maybe the next day. Such big news should NOT be spilled in front of hundreds of reporters. They'd have it on the newsstands within minutes as me carrying Michael's alien baby while he cavorted around the city with Hilary Duff.

I wonder how Leaves will feel about all this? And Max?

Ya know what? They lost their chance. Adios, Buster—it's ova.