Thank you for the reviews, but I know you guys can do better! Trash like this must deserve more recognition! Hahahaha I kid…

But seriously.

Oh, and I disclaim any ownership of the PD series. Duh.

/jacki

Was It a Crime? Chapter Two

When I woke up, I became acutely aware of the arms wrapped around my waist and the mass of brown locks rested on my stomach. The torso connected to this glorious head of hair was, unfortunately, clothed, probably because of the cold. All of it was beautiful, nonetheless, as the boy was all draped over me. And to think I might have left him to freeze out on the fire escape, much less told my mom about him. He could be back at his house getting interrogated by his parents and the police, but, no, he was here with me. Come to think of it…

"Michael," I whispered. No response. "Michael!"

"Mmmm…"

"C'mon, wake up!" I sat up and coaxed him off of me, although regretfully.

"Just let me sleep," he murmured. "And stay here, you're warm." His arms enveloped me again, tighter this time. I waited for him to try to fluff me like a pillow.

"But you have to get up and tell me why you're here in the first place," His eyes suddenly opened and he looked up at me.

"It doesn't matter," He said and closed his eyes again, smiling and nestling his head against my side. "Because I escaped and ran all the way to your place in the cold and you opened your window and we just slept in the same bed and…" He looked up at me again before lifting up my shirt a bit and kissing my stomach a few times. As soon as I got used to this, he jumped out of bed and pulled me out too. "Wow, I'm hungry. Could you please make us something to eat? Bacon, perhaps?" he asked with a sly smile. "Sausage, maybe?"

I grabbed a pillow and sacked him with it, but he just ran at me and pinned me against the bed, kissing me and then pulling back. A broad smile spread over his face and he spoke. Not of love, not of lust, not of how gross I was, or any thanks for taking him in. No, what he said was "Breakfast." Call me crazy, but food is not the first thing on my mind after a monumental event like this takes place.

"What would you like?" One kiss and I was at the guy's beck and call, apparently.

"You!" he said and then laughed wildly. "I mean… Cookie Crisp."

Floating on many a fluffy cloud, I pranced out of the room and down to the kitchen, where my mom and Mr. Gianini were already eating.

"Good morning!" I sung, probably too cheerfully. "It is a beautiful morning, is it not?" Dancing along on the tiled floor, my mood was deflated the instant Mom's sullen eyes met mine.

"Didn't you hear?" she sniffed. Obviously she had been crying.

"Hear… what?"

"Poor girl," I heard Mr. Gianini's disembodied voice say. "See, Mia-"

"No, I'll tell her," My mom interrupted him softly, getting up from the table and placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Honey, you know Michael's been missing for days now and…"

"Yes…"

"I know you were friends with him. This isn't very easy to… Well, it's-"

"What is it?"

"They found his body. Late last night." She couldn't control the tears coming out of her eyes now. And even though I knew Michael was up in my room right this moment, I couldn't help but get a bit teary-eyed myself. "It was so ," Sob. "Unident-unidentifiable and they're going to, to…" Sob. "Check his dental records!" I was pretty broken up at this point too, even if it all had to be a ruse. Suddenly, Mom held me in this really tight hug, which, to tell you the truth, just helped the tears along.

"This is horrible." I drew back from my mother cautiously, hoping she would believe I needed time to grieve, alone in my room. "I should just, I'm going to…" My mom just nodded and sniffed. Putting on the best dead unrequited love act I could, I trudged up the stairs without the Cookie Crisp I had promised Michael.

I opened my door quietly, although I was immediately pounced upon as soon as I closed it and took a few steps.

"I see you don't have the cereal. That's fine, I really did want you in the first place." Michael laughed and promptly began planting kisses on my neck. I honestly have no idea what has gotten into him. And maybe all of this would be okay some other time, but not now.

"Everyone thinks you're dead, Michael," I said finally. His lips stopped in their tracks and he looked up at my tear-stained face. "My mom just said they found your body last night. I mean, I know you're alive, but this is just-"

"Mia, Mia," he said, his face solemn for the first time. "Sit down on the bed and I'll tell you everything." He backed away and gestured toward the mass of sheets and blankets. "You wouldn't believe everything that has happened to me."

END CHAPTER TWO