Okay sorry to vent but since the last update everything has been hell and I am pissed beyond relief. Um, remember the Mikayla reminder? Well if not then you may want to remember in this chapter and possibly the next few. It's difficult yo but please don't hate me 'kay? But trust me, there will be a happy ending.

Just trust me.

Chapter 9

Mitchie's POV

"Well aren't you two just the cutest couple ever?" Lilly gushed at the tabloid on the computer. At the top of the page bold black letters read 'Mikayla's Mystery Man?' The rest of the page was taken over by at least fifteen photographs of Mikayla kissing or holding hands with a 'boy' with a dark blue fox hat with a straight bill, a black hoodie pulled over it and some very large tinted sunglasses.

Flashback

(A few days before)

"Are you sure this is actually going to work?" I asked nervously, glancing at my attire in the vanity mirror. In it I see two arms wrap around my waist and Mikayla's face appears on my shoulder.

"Of course it will, babe," she assures. "I mean, I'm totally convinced and I know every little thing about you. What more proof do you want?"

I slowly turn towards her, arms still wrapped around me and look at our feet.

"I don't know. I guess I'm just worried. Well not really. I'm totally fine with the whole world knowing but you aren't and I'm about to start rambling so I'll just shut up now before I even start," I end breathlessly.

A giggle escapes her, causing me to look at her. Butterflies erupt and my palms become all sweaty. My God, would she always have this effect on me?

The butterflies' fluttering intensified a thousand times when she leant down and gave me a peck on the lips.

Yes.

A peck.

Only one word can describe that.

WHIPPED!

"You're just so cute, Mitch…and considerate. Thank you for waiting."

"I'd do anything for you, Mikayla," I whisper sheepishly into her left ear. "I love you."

Mikayla violently tenses in the embrace.

"Mikayla?" I question, fear laced in the words. She avoids eye contact.

"Come on, we're going to be late for the movie," she grabs my hand, leading me out my bedroom door and soon the front door.

End Flashback

I was so spaced I didn't even hear Lilly still squealing at the pictures.

"Look at you guys being all mysterious like and trying to hide from everyone. You're like the new Romeo and Juliet."

"Thanks Lilly," I say sarcastically from my bed, flipping through one of the many glassy magazines littering my bedroom floor. "It's great to know that once we get married one of my best friends, which is most likely you, is going to die by the hands of one of her cousins. Then I'm going to kill that cousin and be forced to flee California for banishment and during that time I hear Mikayla has killed herself when she really just took medicine to appear dead for 36 hours so she wouldn't have to marry some dude. Then me, being pained and hearing this, will buy poison off of some hobo, visit her grave, drink the poison and then die next to her body. Oh yeah, Lilly, sounds like an awesome life I have planned out there."

"Yes but now you'll know she's not dead so you won't kill yourself," Lilly attempts to joke. I just glare playfully.

My eyebrows meet my hair as confusion sweeps through me. Did I really just say that in one outburst? Judging by Lily's facial expression she seems to be questioning the same thing.

Rambling seems to be happening to me a lot lately.

"Geez, go and recite the whole play, Mitchie. Why couldn't you have been in my English class freshman year? You could've kept me from nearly failing the test by whispering the answers to me."

"I do that now!"

Lilly sputters.

"That was for one test!" I snort at her lame response.

"Oh please, I would have graduated last year for how many tests I've taken for you."

The skater makes an effort to think of a comeback but with a sheepish grin and a slight red tinge in her cheek she only replies, "You're my best friend?"

Unable to hold it in any longer I let out a fit of giggles which turn into one huge laughing fit. Lilly joins in as my stomach gets a cramp and I'm soon on the floor, still having one hell of a belly laugh.

Five minutes passed before we settled down and I only happened to know that because I peaked at the clock behind Lilly's head seconds before my laughter escaped.

We're now just lying on the floor. Lilly's head is near my feet and vice versa.

"So why'd you call me over here, Mitch?" Oh yeah! That's why she was over here. "Did you and Mikayla get in another fight?" Oh yeah, another reason why she's over here.

Lilly sighs as I do a slow nod.

Mikayla and I have been fighting and over the most ridiculous things too. The saddest part? Mikayla initiates it and its been happening since about a week after we've been going out. The even more depressing part? We never had these fights when we were just best friends.

"What happened this time?" My best friend question airily, sounding almost irritated. But knowing her, it's not because of me, but because of Mikayla's attitude.

"It was insane, Lils. I just texted her, asking how she was and then she just lashed out at me. I don't…I don't think I can put up with this anymore, babe." I croak, tears welling in my eyes.

"Now you and I both know that that's a lie. You love her too much to let her go," the skater testifies, blowing lightly on my feet to make it twitch and goose bumps to appear throughout my body.

I knee her lightly in what I hope was her right collarbone.

"I just shaved my legs, thank you very much. Now I'm going to have to do it sooner because of you." Lilly just gives a short huff.

"Don't change or deny the subject, Torres. You know it's true."

I did know it was true. When it comes to Mikayla, I was like an abused puppy. No matter what wrong she did to me, I would always come back to her, tail wagging, and genuinely happy to see her. How freakin' masochistic is that?

"Do you think she's having doubts already? I mean, two months of dating is practically two years to some teenagers." Why must I always point out the negative?

Lilly sighs.

"I'm not going to lie, babe. I have no idea why Mikayla's acting like this." Understanding her vagueness of the situation, I nod. "But I do know that it isn't worth worrying about something only Mikayla has control over."

"I guess you're right," I mumble.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" Lilly's fishing for compliments.

"I said, 'I guess you're right.'" I say slightly louder.

"What was that, Torres?!" Lilly all but shouts.

"I said, 'you're right, Truscott!'" I shout as loud as her. We laugh at our childish behavior. "Now shut it before I make you smell the foot of death!" I proclaim, waggling my feet over her face.

Lily scoffs.

"Seriously, Mitchie? The foot of death? That's the best you could come up with? I've been getting loopy by smelling your noxious feet for the past hour down here and I could come up with something better than that."

"Hey," I exclaim, looking down at the blonde's face and my feet. "They aren't that bad, are they?"

"Oh please. Jackson's room smells better than that and that's just plain ridiculous right there."

I shrug my shoulder. A brilliant idea pops into my head.

"More fun for me than."

"Wha-?!" Before Lilly can even fully get the question out, the base of my foot is securely placed at the bottom of her nose, unintentionally sniffling for a few seconds before I allow her to breathe fresh air.

"Oh my god," she rasps. "I'm going to die. Where's my guardian angel when I need them?"

"Hey y'all," Miley greets in her southern twang, entering my room, unannounced. "What's up?" she asks after giving Lilly a peck on the lips and kneeling down by her.

"He's good," I laugh as Lilly mumbles. Miley just gives her a look.

"Do I want to know why my girlfriend seems loopy?" The southerner asks looking at me. "Or what that awful smell is?"

"Miley, for you safety and because I care about you, I'd advise you to either leave or go to the farthest corner in the room," Lilly's voice is hoarse from the fake coughing.

"Why? Was that you?"

"Nope," I say happily. "It's mah feet." To prove my point I wagged it near her face, laughing as it paled.

"Oh dear God," she whispers, using her hand to cover her nose. "You are planning on washing your feet before your 'departure' date with Mikayla, aren't you?"

"Of course, dude. I don't want to look back on this night and think about how I killed my girlfriend from poisonous feet. Mine, no less."

"Then girl," Miley started, dragging out the 'ir' part. "You better get started on them feet."

Lilly stands up and unexpectedly takes me with her, dragging me to the bathroom.

"That's right," the skater speaks up. "You've got four hours until your 'departure' date. That should be enough time for you to get rid of the smell and still have enough time for the rest."

"Whoa wait, then what are you guys going to do?" I ask rushed as Miley starts the water and Lilly checks the temperature before they put it on shower mode.

"Um…" Lilly hesitates while fidgeting slightly.

"Well ugh…movie night," Miley assists her in finishing her sentence.

'They are so lying,' I think while raising my right eyebrow.

"Uh huh." The words escape before I can hear Lilly say how they should get an early start on movie night so they could watch more before pushing a blushing Miley out the door.

Chuckling, I strip my clothes before heading into the shower, the temperature difference causing goose bumps to erupt on my skin a second time that day.

"My friends are such rabbits."

*********************************************

"Mitch, this is really great," Mikayla compliments after taking a bite of the homemade pasta on our 'departure' date. Yeah, ya see the thing is, Mikayla is leaving to go shoot a movie in Canada for a few months tomorrow and I'm going on tour starting tomorrow as well.

It's really odd how that panned out.

Anyway, to make it a night we can remember, I invited her for a home cooked meal at my house and then maybe a few movies later. Some wouldn't call it a date but hey, it's me, Mikayla, dinner and we're all alone. It's a date.

"Who knew you could even cook?" Mikayla asks incredulously. She looks absolutely beautiful. Her hair is in waves and tumbling down her chest and her makeup makes her eyes just pop.

"I'm full of wonderful secrets, mah dear," I say, taking a bite out of my own pasta. Not going to lie but it was actually really good.

"So what movie do you wanna watch?" I ask, once we're done eating and the dishes are in the sink. I'll wash them later.

Mikayla doesn't even have to contemplate her answer once I ask.

"Twilight."

I roll my eyes at her back, careless as she puts in the DVD. I'm not surprised by her choice. She's been obsessed with Jacob Lautner since he before he was in Twilight and he's only in like two scenes in this movie. Her longing stare whenever he comes on just annoys freakin' crap out of me.

The opening credits swept across the screen quickly. Mikayla was on one side of the couch, laid out, while I was on the loveseat. This is how it feels. Our relationship. Seperated.

Mikayla sighs at the introduction of Jacob in the movie. In annoyance I roll my eyes.

"Mitchie, I have to tell you something," my girlfriend whispers during the Golden Onion scene. Her voice is quiet and monotonous.

"What is it?" I gave up nicknames because she always seemed to freak out whenever I used them.

"My agent, they want me to get more publicity while I'm in Canada filming. So they ugh, want me to pretend to date someone there. They already have him picked out."

"Whoa wait what? But what about me as your 'Mystery Man'?" I sit up in the seat and her eyes are still glued to the T.V. obviously avoiding eye contact.

"They want it to be someone known." She seems bored with the conversation. Gulping I ask the question on my mind.

"Who is it?"

Mikayla sighs before flipping over onto her stomach, still watching the movie. Her answer is muffled but I hear it loud and clear.

"Jacob Lautner."

"You seem fine with this task, Mikayla. Why?"

"Because there's nothing I can do. If my agent wants me to get more publicity then I guess I'll have to get more publicity."

"But-…"

"Look, Mitchie, babe," she looks up at me, her voice sounding cocky and annoyed. "There's nothing I can do. I'll just have to pretend to date him, that's all. Don't worry, there's like this strict rule where I can't show any P.D.A., we just have to look like we're really close."

The air around her is off.

She's lying about something.

But this is our last night together before we're separated. I don't want to spend it fighting with her.

"Okay," I mumble.

Something's not right and I don't know if I want to find out what it is.

**********************************************

The next morning was terrible. I was walking around in a haze in the airport with Mikayla and our families.

I could hardly get to sleep. The mere thought of Jacob Lautner touching my Mikayla and pretending to date her just made me sick to my stomach. I couldn't handle it. Him, Jacob, and his haughty attitude. His six pack that rippled and the shiny hair.

Fucking bastard.

Ugh, why did Mikayla have to be such a flirt? Why does Mikayla have to like this guy? Why can't I just trust her for five minutes?

Because she's been distant and I don't know why.

I was so engrossed in my thoughts that everything was just a blur. I couldn't remember dropping Mikayla and her mom and step dad off at her terminal.

I couldn't remember her hugging me or her whispering in my ear, 'I trust you.'

I couldn't remember walking to my own terminal with family or having Dallas spill a small amount of lipstick on my favorite jacket.

I don't remember the two hour wait before they called us on board. I don't remember the 178 autographs I signed or the pictures with the fans.

I couldn't remember ever feeling like this.

And while I was sitting in my first class seat, staring out the window I remembered something that Mikayla left out.

She said that she trusted me.

She just didn't say that I could trust her.

********************************

Yes, I went there.

Alright once again for apologies. I'm sorry I've been such a horrible updater. Summer is awesome and I plan on soakin' it all in. Don't worry. I have less than a week before school starts so maybe updates will pick up then.

Until then, COMMENT!