Dedicated to Mary. You know who you are.
Erasde: You got it. Named after the no error shortstop we let go for
Hgill: me too. She might get worse though.
Mia:
So, like I was saying before, I went out on my own while the guys were playing basketball. Or while Michael "worked away" his sore throat. Some people recognized me and got their picture taken with me. I signed a few autographs and did some more shopping. Can I just say that shopping has taken on a whole new meaning once I was done with my princess training?
I stopped in front of a piercing parlor. I bit my lip and walked in. This was a whole new me.
"Hey, anyone seen my sticks?" Manny asked hurriedly. I tossed him the drumsticks that were sitting on the box next to the door.
"There ya go."
"Thanks Mia. Did you….You got your nose pierced?" he said almost laughing.
"Does it look stupid?" I asked nervously. "Tell me. I'll take it out right away."
"No. It's cool. Different. But cool."
I touched my ailing nose. Maybe it would make my nostrils stop flaring when I lied. It could weigh it down.
"Mia, boxers or briefs on men?" Kevin asked, holding up a pair of each.
"Shut up fucker," Manny said shoving him aside. "I'm talking to her."
"Watch your language," Michael said, coming out of no where seemingly.
"Excuse me?" Kevin said laughing.
"She's a girl. You shouldn't talk like that in front of her. Have some respect."
Kevin and Manny looked at one another knowingly. "Good luck with that Moscovitz."
Michael waited until they were gone to kiss me fully on the lips. When we pulled away, "What did you do today?" he asked, still kissing my neck.
"Um…well, I got a piercing."
He pulled back and stared at me. "You mean in your ear, right?"
I pointed to the stud in my nose. "It's not really noticeable but I wanted to do something that no one would expect me to do. What do you think?"
He smirked, "I like it I guess. It'll be a bitch though when you pick your nose."
I slapped him playfully on the arm. "Maybe I'll ask Orlando to help me out."
He glared at me and put his hands on my hips. "No appendage of Orlando's will ever be inside of you. Ever."
I smirked. "Jealous much?"
"You ready for sound check?" he asked, ignoring me.
We did a quick run through of all the songs. We were covering Rooney's song, The Floor. A quiet hit for them. But never made it to their albums. We were opening up with it.
Michael sang lead for it. I got to act a little. I had gone across the stage and stood behind Kevin. "Hey pretty lady, not you the one behind you," Michael sang, pushing Kevin aside. "How'd you get that amazing booty?"
I mouthed a response.
"Oh tae bo works?" he said looking surprised. He turned back to the audience, "See tae bo works."
The rest of the concert went by swimmingly. The guys wanted to stay there and hang out in the VIP lounge (This is the fabled House of Blues after all…). "I'm gonna go to bed," Michael said.
"I'll walk back with you," I said. This was normal for us. The others always went out to drink while we went to play cards. But I knew we wouldn't be playing cards.
"Mia, you sure you don't wanna stay?" Orlando asked grabbing my wrist.
"Nah. I'm working on a new song anyways. I'm tired. And my nose hurts. I'll see you guys later. Behave yourselves," I said pointedly to Kevin, the troublemaker.
We held hands backstage while we waited to be cleared to leave. The managers were concerned about people stealing memorabilia. "Damn. I really wanted to steal a shot glass too," Michael joked. He let go of my hand once someone came into the room.
We left the building and were swamped with fans right away. "Are you two a couple?" one asked.
"Me and her?" Michael joked. "Please. It'd be like dating my sister. But hey, you're not my sister," he said flirtatiously, winking at her.
I rolled my eyes. "Okay Rico Suave. I'll see you back at the hotel." I turned on my heel and stormed off. Why'd he have to flirt right in front of me?
He ran right after me. "What's wrong?" he asked as we turned a corner. I leaned against a building.
"What's the matter?" I repeated harshly. "Just that I'm now just like a sister to you. Why were you flirting with her like that? She's just like, sixteen!"
He rolled his eyes, "Mia," he said taking my hands and using the voice that he used when he was annoyed, "I'm not with them right now, am I? I'm here with you. And knowing that I have you to go back to makes flirting with those kids safer. It's all part of the job."
I pouted. I had never cared before when he had done that stuff. Why should I now? "Whatever. Just….not in front of me…at least not when I'm standing there looking like a moron."
He kissed my forehead then shook his head. "You didn't look like a moron. But you do look kind of hot when you're pissed."
I half smiled. "Oh yeah?"
"Totally."
"Well, you better not make me look hot all the time. I don't like feeling like this."
"Like what?" he asked, one hand against the wall, the other on his waist.
"Like…I dunno, unworthy of you."
"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard you say Mia. You are funny and smart and extremely talented. You are everything a guy would want. The coolest chick I know. That any of us guys know."
I put my hand on his cheek, "You think so?" I asked.
As I said this it started raining. "Shit," I said reaching for a non existent hood.
"White shirt, good call," he teased. "Get on my back. Piggy back ride for you."
He carried me like that to the hotel where we immediately ran to my room. I grabbed a towel and dried my hair. "There's more towels in the bathroom," I offered.
"Nah," he said shaking his hair dry like a wet dog. "I'll air dry."
"You'll catch a cold," I argued.
"Not if I take my clothes off," he teased, kicking off his shoes and socks.
So I changed into my pajamas and he stripped down to his boxers (which he changed into when he was at the House of Blues. He was wearing Manny's extra pair, which were brand new). "Wanna hear a new song?" I asked, picking up my guitar.
He nodded and laid back in my bed with his hands behind his head. I sat cross legged at the end of the bed with the first guitar I ever had. One Michael had bought for me for my sixteenth birthday, and had included lessons with them.
"Actually…it's not new. It's old……."
look at the Tall Drink of Water site for song>
He smiled and leaned up to me. "You've always been the sparkle in my eye." I expected him to give a critique, as he did with every other thing I'd ever written. No. He just kissed me and pulled me closer to him. "Stay here," he whispered, getting up.
He went over to the light switch and shut it off. Then he opened the door and put the DO NOT DISTURB sign up.
Then he lit a candle I hadn't noticed before. "Come here," he said putting his right hand out. I obeyed. Yes, obeyed. Isn't it weird that I use that kind of word? I mean, I'm not a servant or anything but…I dunno. Going along here…
He raised his arms up and I instinctively took it off of him. Then I simply stared. I had no clue what to do next. He was the sexual champ here. He needed to take the lead role.
He held me close to him. I bet he could sense how terrified I was. "Mia, you should know that I do love you. I always have," he whispered. "And I don't want this to just be about sex. 'Cuz it's not for me."
MICHAEL:
I know. The candle was a little much. But Mia liked those clichés. I untied the loops on her pants and let them fall to the ground. She slowly lowered my boxers, but kept her eyes on me. "I do want this," she whispered. Okay, so it wasn't an 'I love you too Michael', but it was close enough.
I lifted her up and brought her back to the bed. I fell on top of her and watched her expressions change back and forth between happiness and nervousness. I started kissing her collarbone and she arched her back. "Michael," she groaned.
We laid in her bed in silence for a long time. "Mia?" I said softly. But she was already asleep.
At least I tired her out.
I woke up early the next morning and got dressed, and then left a note for her to call me when she woke up. I didn't want any of the others to get too curious and to open the door.
"Michael?" she said as I opened the door to leave. I turned back.
"Hey," I said softly. "Sorry, I just…."
She looked too much right then. Her hair was a mess and he had a look of contentment that I would pay to see again. I still got it. "No, it's okay. I'll see you on the bus later?"
I nodded. "Yeah."
I went out to the hall, looked around to see if anyone was looking and did a victory dance. Yes. I am a massive tool.
"Why you in such a good mood?" Manny asked twenty minutes later in my room. "And what was that sign about on the door last night?"
I smirked, "We just wanted to be left alone."
"Michael…" he said warningly.
"Seriously. We just talked. Alone. About serious stuff."
He looked at me skeptically. "Fine. Orlando didn't see it, if you were worried about that."
I shrugged. Secretly I had hoped he had. So he'd back off. "Bus in ten minutes?" I asked.
He nodded. "Be careful with her Michael. She's not like the others."
"I know."
