Mia: Umm . . . I'm in . . .Uh, France.

James: Well, why didn't you tell me?

Mia: Uh . . . it was sudden.

"Mia there you are-" Michael said, as he came into the the living room.

"Shut up!"she hissed at him.

James: Who was that?

Mia: Who was what?

James: That voice. It sounded like a man's voice . . . Who's with you?

Mia: That---that's my friend, Leon.

James: But-

Mia: Listen, James. I'll call you back later.

James: Yeah, but-

She hung up the phone. Turning to Michael she smiled. She was hoping he didn't hear what she just said to James. Most importantly, she didn't want him to know is was James. Michael did notice alright. He herd it ALL,and he wanted to know what she was talking about. "What was that?" Michael asked.

"What?" She said.

"Who was that. And . . .who's Leon?"

"Oh, that," she said biting her lip. "That was a friend."

"And why did you call me 'Leon'?"

"Well . . ." She was dead. Mia knew she couldn't answer this one. So why not tell the truth? You never know what might happen. Mia thought about this again, however. "No reason. Bye!" She walked past Michael, attempting to leave before he could say anything else. But Michael wasn't going to let her out that easily.

"Oh, there's a reason alright," he said, following Mia upstairs. "And you are going to tell me."

Mia felt like throwing up just then. She opened her mouth to say something but didn't say anything and continued stomping up the stairs. Michael was really getting annoyed but all this. When they reached the top, Micheal put both his hands on her shoulders, bringing her gently towards him.

"You can tell me anything." His bright, intelligent brown eyes showed he really meant what he said. "Mia, you know you can tell me anything. I was always there for you like you were always there for me. You know me, Mia."

She didn't know how it happened but she had to let it out. He had a point. It would be wrong lying to him. Some bad things may have happened in the past but that doesn't mean they shouldn't trust eachother. Mia took a deep breathe and said, "That was James. He's my. . ." Mia didn't want to say it. She couldn't.

Michael looked down at her hand that had a ring on it and nodded. "I see," he breathed.

"You're getting married. But why the lies?"

"It's just," Mia said, "I can't, okay? I can't. He doesn't know I'm in California. He doesn't know I'm with you. He doesn't know anything about this whole story. I just can't tell him. I have to get back soon and plan my wedding."

"Getting married already. Wow, aren't we all in a rush," he said sarcastically.

"Why, is there a problem?" Mia looked at him curiously.

"Oh, no. I'm just saying. I'm sure you find this guy special and all. What with all the lies . . ."

"Oh my God," she rolled her eyes. "Would you let that go?"

Rebecca's voice echoed throughout the house. "Mia? Mia, can you please come down here. I need your help."

With a last glance at him she walked down the stairs, leaving Michael standing there looking like a dope.

Mia walked down and saw Rebecca with Jennifer and Katherine all sitting on the cream colored leather couch with papers scattered everywhere. Rebecca looked up from her notebook. "Oh, Mia. Sit." Mia sat.

"I've got to call the caterer now before they close--Oh, Mia, can you get the number. I have the number in my purse. Can you go to the room and get it please? I need it now." Mia, without complaining, sighed and dragged her feet up the stairs all the way to Michael's room.

Michael's room.

After all this time she has been in the house, she has NEVER EVER been in Michael's bedroom. Boy, was this going to get interesting for her. Turning the knob slowly, she thought about what she would see in there. She went in.

The room wasn't half bad. It was bright, most of the light coming from the small sun roof just above the red queen bed. A giant screen TV, along with a book case of books, a laptop on the small wooden desk, and black leather couches. Just beside it was the closet. She walked inside, each step clickclacking on the hard wooden floor.

She began searching for her purse. From the bed all the way to the couches. That leaves it to the closet. She walked toward the walk-in closet and opened the door. She looked up at the variety of shoes on the shelved to the shirts and pants hanging, one byone. Then down at some closed drawers. She couldn't find anything. Where was that stupid-

Looking down at a halfway open drawer might have been the biggest mistake. Because what she saw in there was her name. Mia. Curiousity got to her. She looked to see if anyone was in the room. Then she opened the drawer all the way.

In there she found a small rectangular white box with words in black marker 'Mia'.

She took it out and opened it. She saw pictures of them. When they were still together. In love. She flipped through all the pictures, each one making her want to cry. She didn't cry, but she felt like it. She really was about to burst. Next, she saw a couple of her stuff in there. Just her CD's, poems, stories, movies, basically some of her stuff. Digging through her stuff, she spotted a small blue velvet box. She opened it and gasped.

A necklace.

A gold necklace!

With the words 'Princess of My Heart.'

Mia melted right there on the spot. A tear ran down her cheek. She got out an envolope, which had her name on it. She began reading. Michael's voice echoing through her mind:

Dear Mia,

I know that these past couple of weeks were tough for you, as well as me. Since the night you came home, all I kept thinking was about you. I will never forgive myself for doing what I did. Never. I don't know what I was even thinking. Or what came through my head at that time. It's just, these last couple of months were horrible. You never came home. You only came sometimes, and most of them bringing Katherine along. You know, I thought we were all a family. At least I thought that until you started leaving me. Mia, you left me taking care of our daughters. You were always gone. Even I could tell, from Jennifer and Katherine's face, that they missed you. I missed you. You weren't even there for their first birthdays.

Those months have passed and I got angier everyday. I couldn't see why this was even happening. I was practically being a single parent. You left us. You left me. You left your family behind. You just kept going on and on about how your country is most imporant. I was beginning to think I lost you forever. I mean, I didn't even know who you were. This wasn't the Mia I fell in love with. You just . . . changed. It seemed like you were becoming like your Grandmother.

All this time, I was confused. I was alone. I was on my own. I thought we were all a family. We were engaged! Thinking you probably forgot about me, I kind of got pissed. Anger. That's what it was. That's when--when I met with the director of offices.We went for coffee, I invited her to my apartment, I kissed her, then invited her to my bed. You know the story from there. Mia, I know you were hurt. All I want to tell you is that I'm sorry. I'm sorry for screwing up, I'm sorry for ever cheating on you, I'm sorry for everything. I love you, Mia. Even if you hate me right now, I just wanted to tell you that I still love you. I never stopped . . . and never will.

Love,

Michael

Her eyes began to water. Before she knew it, she was bawling like a baby. She cried harder and harder. Tears of mixed feelings: Pain, hurt, frustration, confusion, regretfulness, and most of all; love.

Out fell a ring. Right there on the blue carpet right in front of her.

She noticed it. Picking it up, she gasped.

Looks like she about to take another trip down Memory Lane.

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