Leaves used to complain about going to balls all the time. So it's a nice change to be going to one with someone who doesn't mind it. In fact, Michael's pretty excited about it.

"I haven't had a good dance in a while," he practically squealed at me when the limo pulled up. "So you better have brought your groove shoes, because I'm taking you for a spin on the dance floor."

"Okay," I said, with only an ounce of enthusiasm. It's not that I don't like dancing, but I just prefer the slow kind. You know, the gentle swaying, breathing in sync type. I like standing close and just being happy to be there with someone. The whole sweaty, bouncing on the heels of my feet and trying to keep up with crazy-dancing-Michael thing is just not my style. But I'll give it a good go.

"Amelia, you made it," Grandmere said to me, eyeing Michael suspiciously.

"Of course, Grandmere. I told you I'd be here."

"Yes," she said, gritting her teeth and pulling me aside. "But you didn't tell me that your date was that boy. I thought he was one of those people. You know, it's too late for me to call William, but I can still get someone else suitable for you now."

"No, thank you, Grandmere. Michael's perfectly suitable." With that, I turned and returned to Michael, who was talking to the DJ on the dance floor.

"Everything okay?" he asked when I reached him.

"Sure. Just Grandmere."

"She's still giving you a hard time?" He said good bye to the DJ and took me by the hand, leading me to the refreshment table.

"When does she not?" I asked, resting my head on his shoulder.

"Mia!"

I turned around to see Margaret, the only other young person forced to attend these things.

"Hi!" I replied. Margaret and I usually hang out when we see each other, we're pretty good friends now, but since Michael hasn't been to one of these balls before, she hasn't met him.

I turned to Michael. "Michael, this is Margaret. She's distantly related to the Spanish royal family." I turned back to Margaret. "And this is Michael. He's my--"

Michael cut me off. "Good friend. We're like best friends actually." He smiled down at me.

Okay, I was going to go with 'boyfriend' but if he wants to go with best friend, so be it.

"Right," I said, smiling back at him. "I've told you about Michael before, haven't I, Margaret?"

"Yeah, I think so."

Margaret's father called her over and she left us.

"What was with that?" I asked Michael once she was out of ear shot.

"With what?" he asked, frowning at me.

"You cut me off. Is there something wrong with me introducing you as my boyfriend?"

"Mia," he said slowly, taking my hand and leading me to the row of chairs against the wall where no one was around. "I just don't think we should be announcing anything to the world is all. I mean, you and I only just ended things with Leaves and Max, I don't think we should be labelling each other as anything other than friends just yet, okay? Not even to ourselves. Let's just keep it simple for now."

What am I supposed to say to that?

"Sure, I guess. We'll lay low."

"But that doesn't mean I can't do this..." He scanned the area quickly then pecked me on the lips. "…When no one's looking." He grinned mischievously at me.

-

The rest of the night went on much the same. I introduced Michael as my friend, and we acted like that in the presence of other people. Then occasionally, we would sneak off for some kissing when no one was around.

We danced to the slow ones, and to the fast ones. Michael had spoken to the DJ earlier about the type of music to play, and the DJ complied, much to Grandmere's dismay. Dance songs were not on her list of suitable ball music.

Eventually she got the better of the situation and the DJ went back to playing 'ball music'.

"Your grandmother is no fun," Michael said, stating the obvious. "Is it too early to get out of here? You said we could watch Star Wars, remember?"

"Sure, let's go."

We said good bye and high tailed it out of there. Fifteen minutes later Michael was popping some popcorn in the kitchen and I was finding the DVD.

"I found it!" I called out to Michael, pressing the eject button on the player. "It was right at the bott--"

I stopped suddenly when I saw which movie came out of the player. Almost Famous, Leaves' favourite.

"What is it?" Michael asked, popping his head around the corner.

"Nothing," I said quickly, slipping the DVD out and throwing it under the couch. "Nothing at all."

The microwave started beeping but Michael didn't go for it. He came over to me instead. "Mia, what is it? And don't tell me it's nothing, I know you too well."

Slowly, I fished the disc from under the couch. There's no point in trying to keep anything from Michael; he's right: he does know me too well.

Michael didn't need anymore of an explanation once I showed him the disc. He just put his arm around my shoulder and pulled me close.

"Hey, it's okay," he said gently.

"I don't know why it upsets me," I said, wiping a tear away from the corner of my eye. "I was the one who ended it with him, not the other way around."

"Break-ups are never easy or fun. And it's okay to feel crappy over something stupid later. I found one of Max's smelly socks under my bed last night and cried for an hour. If Doo Pak hadn't come back when he did I might still be crying now."

I cracked a smile imagining Michael clinging to a smelly sock, crying. He smiled back at me.

"So how about we just discard of this…" He took the disc from my outstretched hand and slipped it back under the couch. "And watch a movie that has no connections to either Broderick brother. Okay?"

"Okay," I agreed, standing up.

"I'll grab the popcorn."

With someone like Michael at my side, how can I be dwelling on Leaves?