Author's Note:

Ryan is one of the band's managers. He was in Without Words as well. If you remember he and Michael became friends when Michael worked in the car wash. His sister, Katie, was Mia's roommate when she had an apartment her freshman year of college. The romance between she and Louie was hinted at, but you would have to read every single line of the later chapters to catch this hint.

Here is the band: \

Manny: Drums/back up vocals

Kevin: Bass/back up

Orlando: keyboard

Mia: guitar/ lead (sometimes)

Michael: guitar/lead singer

CVC: You are too smart. I would never make anything easy. No matter how it may seem

Alenor: Thanks for the suggestion, but I already have this written. I don't go for obvious things. Felix would hate Elle; she's too materialistic. He doesn't even understand why Michael is with her.

Madam: You'll hate her more, I'm sure.

Chicken: I disagree. Elle and Felix would never work out. She wants to use Michael for his connections even though they don't really have a steady relationship. Felix refuses to allow Mia to even talk about him because he wants to make it on his own. He's actually talented whereas she has yet to show any talent. But she will, in one form or another.

Thanks to all the readers.

Dedicated to Liss who is currently in the Evil Empire's land.

And to Lucie for being Lucie (and as maybe to make her ask a certain someone to see a movie)

And to Elle for allowing me to ruin her name by making her a prissy bitch in my story.And for being Australian.


MIA:

Felix and I had ordered some Thai food. I was totally craving some pizza, but he told me that he was trying to help me eat healthier. He explained that I was no longer on the road and he was not going to let me eat the junk that the 'morons' ate.

"They are my friends-"

"Maybe we could hit the hotel gym in the morning before we go to the open houses," he suggested. "You know, Liss and I go jogging for five miles every morning at six. Maybe this week, while you are home I mean, you can join us."

Yeah. That sounds as likely as me eating a hamburger. "You are sounding like my grandmother," I cut in. "Stop it. Can't we just have a good time while we're here? Hey, I was reading the visitor's guide while you were gone. There's this great club downtown. It's amateur night. I'd really like to check it out. Maybe you could grab a spot and play-"

"Why?"

"Well…I was thinking about maybe –"

"But sweetheart, we need our rest. Your eyes are looking rather baggy. I'm not entirely sure you are one hundred percent-"

"Shut up already won't you?"

He sighed heavily, "Mia, you have too much on your plate as it is. You don't need the band..."

"What are you talking about?" I snapped. "Too much?"

"Being a princess….figuring out what you want to do with your life…"

"Felix, just shut up already. I already know what I'm doing with my life. I'm a musician. Get that into your head. I'm not going around trying to make you do something you don't want to do, am I?"

"Well no-"

"I'm going down to that club. You are welcome to join me. You know, on a real date."

He made a face. "If you stayed tomorrow night I could bring you to a play. The playhouse is just across the street. They are doing Showboat-"

"No. I have work. You know, I have to focus on my life and what not. I'm going to that club, with or without you."

He sighed, "We have a really super early day, Mia."

"And you are trying to convince me to move out here? Why would I want to if I have only seen the inside of the Beverly Hills Hotel?"

He took my hand and looked at me softly. The way he does that always makes me melt like butter. "Mia, I'm sure once you realize how much you miss me you'll want to come see me."

Okay, no longer melting. "Lex I am going to the club now. See you later."

He ended up following me there. We actually ended up having a great time, almost a good enough time to make me forget about New York and Michael for about five minutes. Felix and I actually laughed and joked during the acts and he would go get my drinks at the bar while I stayed at the table in the back that we had requested.

But it wasn't the same. It wasn't like when we were younger and simply holding his hand would make everything in the world OK. I wanted more than that. His kisses weren't all that extraordinary and certainly did not make my knees go weak.

It was almost like…like…I was there with my big brother or with my gay best friend (and no ladies, he's not gay- I've seen him scoping out the hoochies that have been coming into the club. I only say gay because he in fact has decent taste in clothing and in drinks). He didn't hold my hand, but instead he put his arm on the back of my chair.

"I bet I'm better than those people," he said, holding my hand as we left the club.

I smiled and waved to someone who recognized me. "You totally are, Lexie. I mean it. You have more talent in your pinkie than that first guy we saw. Seriously."

He blushed, not used to my gushing about his qualities. "You really think so?"

"Totally. You'll become wicked famous when you get out here, I guarantee it."

This was followed by an awkward silence. I looked back at Lars who was looking terribly bored, and annoyed by this conversation. He was used to my trying to make Felix feel better about his lack of success when I have had a great deal of it on my own.

He looked away. "When are you going to see Louie?"

"Three weeks. We have a few days off from the tour so I'm going for his birthday gala," I said simply. "But he and my father will be in New York on Monday night. Then he's spending a few days with me before I go back on tour."

He rolled his eyes. "I see. I'm really exhausted. Maybe I'll go off to sleep right away."

I nodded. We had two beds in our room. He didn't think it was right for us to share a bed when we weren't married. He's really religious.

Not that I am totally without God in my life or anything like that. But I don't go to church on a normal basis. I highly doubt God cares if two people share a bed. I can see possibly if they have sex, but just sleeping?

Lord, Michael and I must be going to hell already.

Felix woke me up really early and we started looking at apartments. I thought they all looked alike, but he noticed the little details. "The sunlight" was an issue. "Terrible Feng-shui" was another issue. Carpeting, lack of carpeting, bad area blah blah blah. Everything was an issue.

"Felix, I have to make my flight," I said at twelve forty five (and three apartments later).

"Just a minute baby. I want to talk to the-"

"Lex, I have to get a cab get my bag and get to the airport all within a half hour. I'm out."

"Mia, we're almost done," he replied, not looking at me.

"See ya Felix," I said leaving the apartment. I doubt he noticed.

Lilly called me when I was in the cab to the airport. "What flight are you on?"

"United 377," I replied, glancing at my ticket.

"I'll be there to bring you-"

"No," I said quickly. "I am…um, going to see my mom tonight. I have a lot going on and I think I need to talk to her. I'll be home late, okay?"

"I see….okay. But I will be seeing you later?"

"Yes Lillian," I said in a whiny voice that I use to get her off my back.

"Say hi to him for me," she replied, laughing in a very knowing way. I hate that she knows me that well.

I somehow survived the flight (alas, a screaming baby was up in first class as well…which actually helped me out a lot. Kept my mind off the flight.). I only had my carry on with me so I didn't have to deal with lost luggage. Well, I never did anyways since Lars was around.

"I will be outside getting a cab," Lars told me. "Be patient and stay here," he instructed.

I waited for what seemed like forever so I started walking out of the airport so I could find Lars be far from anything that reminded me of my boyfriend when the strap of my bag snapped.

"Oh perfect," I grumbled.

"I've heard great, but never perfect," a voice said from above me.

I looked up and saw an unshaven Michael.

"Hey, you," I said softly. "I thought…"

"Elle is at my place," he said with a roll of his eyes.

"Oh. So what are you doing here?" I asked as he lifted my bag up.

"I told her I needed some air."

I made a face, "Uh huh. Too bad lately I have been making you lose oxygen," I said with a wink. I suck at flirting.

He gave me a sideways smile. His trademark smile that is. "You already have me, you don't have to flirt like that."

I rolled my eyes. "I have to wait for-"

"I told Lars where we are going. I said I could watch out for you. That's the great thing about me. He actually trusts that I'll protect ya."

We went to dinner after that. We sat in a small dive where no one would recognize us. "So…" he said drawling out. "How is the man?"

I made a face, "I dunno. He doesn't…he doesn't really get me at all. I'm so confused…"

"I know how it feels," he replied.

"You are confused?" I said, trying not to laugh.

"Well…yeah," he said putting his hand on top of mine on the table.

I stared at our hands and realized how natural they seemed together. "About what?" I asked, not taking my eyes away from our entwined hands.

"How I've been feeling lately," he admitted. "No…see…"

"What?" I replied with my eyes wide.

"Mia, I've liked you for a while. Since we were kids practically…I had started making a computer program when you were a freshman…for the winter carnival?"

I squinted and thought back. I had thought it had been strange that he had asked me to come to the Computer Club booth a dozen times. All there was was a program with Principal Gupta in a dominatrix costume. That kind of cheered me up because I had just broken up with that boy Kenny. "You started one?"

"But didn't have enough time to finish it up. I was trying to tell you…well, that I felt the same way you said you did in your letters. But then you never said anything and the letters stopped so I just assumed they weren't really from you. That maybe Lilly was playing a joke on me or something."

I felt my cheeks turn red. Where was the assertive Mia that I had been only a week ago? The one that would tell Michael to shove it? "Oh. So you…"

"Yeah," he replied. "I was kind of too nervous to do anything about it. But then I got to college and was going to tell you…"

"Right," I said realizing that Napoleon had cut in on him trying to tell me.

"Michael, it's fine," I replied. "Things happen for a reason."

He leaned in close to me so our foreheads were leaning against one another. "I know. So why have we been kissing so much lately then?"

I smiled as we twisted our heads again so we could let our lips touch one another. "Good thing no one knows us around here," I whispered.

"Hey guys."

MICHAEL:

What perfect timing for Ryan and Chelsea to show up, huh? "Hey Ry, Chel…" I said looking at the table and pulling my hand away from Mia, who looked equally nervous. "We were just picking up some take out across the street and noticed you two in the window. Talking about the album?" Ryan asked, knowing full well we weren't. He was pulling my leg about the other night. When I said I was writing.

"Yeah. And the tour."

"Wish I could go with you guys, but you know…" he said, looking lovingly at Chelsea.

"No problem. I should be getting back to Elle now though."

Mia nodded and lifted her bag, "Yeah, I promised Lilly I'd get back to her."

When I got back Elle had already left. She wrote a note that she had to go pack for her trip out west and couldn't wait around. I sat back and flipped on the television. Our video for Tall Glass of Water was on MTV again. A lot of it was behind the scenes stuff. I started noticing Mia and Orlando talking a lot in the back ground when I was laying down the tracks for the song.

But that must just be because she is the guitarist. She was just nice to him to keep peace. But why hadn't I noticed it before?

"Hey Michael," Orlando greeted. "Are we going to the show, you know, as a group?" he asked, slurping his Ramen noodles.

"I guess." I said flipping through the channels.

"So no dates?

"It's just Saturday Night Live," I replied. "We have rehearsal tomorrow don't forget," settling on a re-run of RENO 911!.

"Yeah…" he reminded me. "But the after party?"

Great. I'd have to take Leah. "Okay. I guess we are. I'll have to ask Mia about our plans."

"I might see if she wants to come with me."

I looked up at him. "Oh? You like asking her to these things huh?"

"She's actually really funny," he replied. "And she looks hot in dresses."

"I bet she would just wear nice pants and a tank top," I replied. "But her boyfriend is moving next week or something so she might decide not to go at all…I mean, to the party." That was a lie. Mia would defiantly want to go and party. She always was dancing with my sister and with the crowd.

"She and the boyfriend are breaking up?" he asked with a hopeful smile.

I looked at him. "No." He sure as hell wouldn't be the one to replace Felix in Mia's heart. That was my job.

Elle was over early the next morning with muffins. "Can I come to the studio?" she asked as I made my morning coffee.

"I dunno," I replied, wiping the sleep from my eyes. "It's just rehearsal."

"Hey Ryan!" she greeted, "Can I come to the studio with you guys?"

He looked at me. "Why the hell not?"

I glared at him. That's just what I needed. Mia and Elle in the same room. "I have to go shower."

"Can I join you?" she asked with a wink.

I shook my head. "No."

She was bound to notice the difference in me. Before all this started she and I had sex everywhere. That was the relationship. Just about sex. We had absolutely nothing in common.

"Why not?" she asked, standing up and following me down the hall.

"Elle, give the kid some room," Ryan said pulling her back. "Quit being on his back."

She glared at him, "What are you, his babysitter?"

I didn't hear the rest of the exchange because I hustled into the shower. When I got out and was fully dressed I saw Mia and Elle talking at the kitchen table. "Oh, hey girls," I greeted. This wasn't awkward at all was it?

"Moscovitz, throw some gel in your hair so we can get to the studio," Mia said looking at her watch. "We have a meeting with our agent and some producers. And we still have to settle on a set list for the next tour."

"It's going to be exciting, won't it?" Elle asked, grabbing my wrist.

I smiled weakly.

Mia glared at me for a response. Which I didn't offer.

"Look you two finish up here. I'm going to head up with Orlando and Ryan. Be there by eleven, got it?" Mia said quickly, grabbing her bag.

I nodded and turned towards my room to get my hair gel. I heard Mia leave with my friends and then turned to quickly catch up with them but Elle was in my room, lying on my bed. "She gave us plenty of time," she said seductively.

I looked at my alarm clock. "Not really. By the time we catch a cab and-"

She cut me off by kissing me harshly. I'm weak, I kissed her back. But it wasn't the same as it was with Mia. Mia wasn't forceful and didn't expect me to take her any further than she willing to let me.

Elle pulled me to the bed and we had sex. But that was all it was. Just sex. I didn't take my time and I didn't think about her. I knew when I was with Mia I would be gentle and would take my time making sure she was happy.

God, what kind of man am I? I mean, I'm thinking about taking away Mia's virginity (her born again virginity that is) when I haven't even gotten the guts to dump Elle.

But I was always spineless. Mia had broken up with the others I had seen for longer than three weeks (when I would have had to return to reality and Elle that is). I could have Mia do the same thing this time…but it seemed too wrong. I needed to do this on my own. But not today. Not on a day that I have sex with the woman.

We got there a few minutes late. The others were already in the rehearsal. Mia and Orlando were waiting for us outside the building. Mia was tapping her foot and looking at her watch. "Sorry," Elle said blushing, but smiling.

I bit my lip and faced the ground, only glancing up at Mia with some shame. "Yeah. We couldn't find a cab."

"No need to lie baby," Elle said beaming up at me. "The bed was just calling our names."

Mia shook her head and put her foot on the planter to tie her shoe. "Orli," I said motioning for him to go inside. He didn't need to be near my Mia. Okay, Felix's Mia.

He looked at me, then Mia, then Elle (who was looking at some homeless man panhandling). "Elle, come on. They have some Danish in the waiting room."

Mia finished tying her shoe as they went into the building. She started following them, "Mia," I started, pulling her back to me.

She turned harshly, "What? Michael, we are running late."

I peeked into the window and saw that Elle was out of sight, and then looked around to make sure no one was around, then I kissed Mia. "I'm sorry," I said softly.

"Don't kiss me after you make love to her," she said harshly. "I'm your friend here. We are professional."

I nodded, "I just…"

"It's fine," she snapped. "Can we go in already? I really wanted to meet the host…Ben Affleck for the hundredth time."

"Can I see you tonight?"

She shook her head, "I don't know. We'll see how today goes."

With that she entered the building with her back turned toward me.

MIA:

The boys were being interviewed by Rolling stone that afternoon (I already talked to the people earlier) so I went back to my apartment. Kevin suggested Elle join me considering she had nothing else to do. I shot him a dirty look. He only suggested that because he knew she would drive me nuts. "Do you mind?" Elle asked sweetly.

I threw my arms in the air, "Follow me."

"I'll come for you when we're done," Michael promised her.

"Okay baby," she said kissing his cheek.

But he was looking at me when she kissed him.

"So what's it like?" Elle asked as I unlocked my house.

"What is what like?" I asked tossing my keys into a bowl by the door.

"Being the only female in a rock band?"

"It's a pain in the ass," I replied sarcastically. "No, it's fine. Just fine. The guys are great."

"Kind of like big brothers, right?" she asked, sitting on a couch.

I nodded, "Yeah, sure. I have to return some phone calls. You can watch TV or something."

She nodded. "But I kind of wanted to talk to you about something."

I sighed. "What is it Elle? If you are hungry the kitchen is down the hall."

"No, I need a manager."

Shit. "I don't know-"

"You don't know anyone qualified enough?" she asked eagerly, "I mean, that has the right connections?"

I looked down at my desk and tapped my index finger repeatedly against the cool wood. "Well, you are the one sleeping with one of the hottest lead singers of the hottest bands in the entire country. You can't use that somehow to get yourself a manager or a deal?"

She shook her head, "Michael won't do that. He says I need to make my own name for myself."

"Then why would I help you? It's up to you to go out and talk to strangers and convince them you are good enough. Now I really need to do some stuff." Yoga. Think about yoga Mia. Not about how you would like to twist this woman into a pretzel.

Orlando came over around four o'clock. "Where is the Princess?" he asked, referring to Elle.

"I kicked her out. She was going through my things. Where is everyone?"

"Coming. Hey, I wanted to talk to you about the party…"

"That's what I need to talk to you guys about. Come on. Let's-"
"Did you wanna go with me?" he asked.

I pushed my hair out of my face, "Oh….um, well, see, my brother is coming into town for a few days... I'll probably hang with since he's not used to all this yet. Grandmere has kept him over there in seclusion for a while so…."

"Oh…I see."

"Sorry…otherwise…" I said drifting off. "But we'll be near you guys. It'll be fun. We can party during the tour," I said hitting him on the shoulder. The way he looked at me made me uncomfortable. The lingering looks…

He nodded sadly, "Sure…sounds great."

We met up with the others at Cappy's where always go to when we're in town, and I noticed Michael scowling at me. "Hey guys," I said glancing at him. He was probably pissed that I kicked his girlfriend out of my apartment. "Miss me?"

"Mia…" Michael whined.

"Aw, glad to see you missed me, Moscovitz," I said tapping him on his shoulder. The shoulder that only a few days ago I had been sleeping on.

We all turned as the bell by the front door was rung. Kevin was beaming. "I really love having booty calls in the early evening," he announced as he sat down. "That Dominique is amazing."

"I don't see Madonna doing this," Elle cut in.

"Doing what?" Kevin asked, "Giving me a booty call? No , she doesn't, but I'm work-"

"No dumbass. Rolling stone magazine. It's…old. No one actually does it anymore."

I rolled my eyes, "Because they didn't ask for a middle aged yoga obsessed attention craving diva, did they? No. They asked for these Divas," I said winking at Orlando. I could tell it was driving Michael crazy that he had his girlfriend there so I could openly flirt with anyone BUT him. And he couldn't do a damn thing about it.

"It'll be fun," Orlando put in.

I looked at my watch, "So let's get going. Rehearsal-"

"Me too, right?" Elle piped up. "I mean, I have a pass to go into the studio too…right?"

I held back my smile, "This is the tour rehearsal," Manny replied, noticing that I was about to punch her in the face. "No one famous will be there."

She looked at Michael for support. But he didn't have a choice. "I'm going to dinner now. But I'll meet you guys at the studio, okay?" I cut in. "Bye guys."

"I'm gonna take a nap," Michael replied. "Elle I'll call you later?"

"Why don't we get dinner?" she suggested.

He shook his head, "Nah, I can't eat before a big rehearsal. I get too nervous. I'll see you tomorrow though," he said walking away from the group and towards Lilly (who has a remarkable way of sticking close to me these days) and I. "What's wrong Mia?" Lilly asked.

"Oh hey. Um..shoot, I forgot something back at the table. Wait here, okay?"

She nodded and then waited for Manny.

I returned to the table as everyone else left. I looked in my bag and pulled out the piece of paper he dropped in it.

Mia- meet me at my place, okay? I'll order dinner.

M

I considered blowing him off, but that was kind of childish. I threw my cell phone (which I actually had forgotten in the pub, so I hadn't lied to Lilly). "Ready?" Lilly asked, waiting outside the door.

"You know what? I forgot my house keys at Michael's this morning."

"You mean the guys' place?" Lilly said with a slight smile.

I shook it away as if that was the last thing on my mind. "Yeah. Sure. I'll see you at rehearsal?"

She nodded, "Yeah. I think Manny and Katie wanted to get some dinner. I'll see you at the studio. But, hey, just out of curiosity, how did you get into our place earlier if you left keys this morning?"

I just smiled and left. No need to answer her.

I walked alone to Michael's apartment. Wondering what was waiting for me there. "Hey, Mia?" Ryan said, his arm around Chelsea. They were leaving the building.

"Hey," I managed.

"What are you doing?" Ryan asked with a twinkle in his eye.

"Going to see Michael about something."

"He's um…expecting company," Chelsea replied, she was totally in the dark.

"Oh, I won't be long," I promised. "See you tonight Ryan."

I decided to walk up to the apartment. The elevator would make me face him too soon. "Hey," he said after I raised my hand to knock. He had opened the door before I had a chance to really knock.

"Hi."

"Come in."

I did.

"What happened today?" he asked.

I tossed my sunglasses onto the front table where they threw all their junk. "Nothing. At least, not to me. But from the look on Elle's face I can tell something happened to you today, care to share?" I asked.

"I'm-"

"Must be in a great mood since you got some this morning," I snapped turning away and walking into their den. I was greeted with a table set for two and roses in the middle of the table.

"I thought you might like something nice…with Felix being gone and all," he covered up.

I finally turned back to him, "What about Elle?"

He shrugged. "She thinks I'm napping."

"When did you do all this?" I asked walking back to him.

He put his hands on my shoulders and kissed my forehead. Then he grabbed the stereo remote and started a CD. I tried not to laugh, "Michael, this is your seduction CD," I whispered.

He laughed whole heartedly. "I know you like these songs. I'm not asking for anything but you right now," he said, barely audible.

We started dancing slowly…not really even dancing, just looking at one another and swaying. I didn't want to say a word and ruin the moment.

The oven timer went off and broke our spell. "What did you make?" I asked.

He laughed, "Don't get too excited. It's just Auntie Anne's macaroni."

"I like Anne's," I said as he pulled my chair out for me. I looked out the window, "Hardly romantic when it's still bright out," I teased.

"Who says anything about romance?" he teased back, coming in with two bowls of Mac and cheese.

"I remember we lived on this stuff in when we were younger. Felix hates it," I said before I stuck a spoonful in my mouth.

"He isn't the classy guy I am," Michael replied with a wink.

I laughed, "No, he certainly is not like you."