We sat like that until Lil realized what she had done; she looked sheepish and got up and with some lame excuse about meeting Kenny before the ceremony. Just as she was about to leave she turned and said, " She still loves you. She never stopped loving you. She's been trying to kid herself and everyone else for two years but I don't know how long she will hold up and this time we will lose her for good". Having done her good deed for the day she turned and shut the door leaving me to brood for a while.
At 12 I decided that I had better get ready for the donation because although Mia wasn't going to be there and I therefore had no reason to care what I looked like, there would representatives from every major tabloid currently in print so I had better make a good impression. Also some part of me was clinging on to the fact that Mia my by some miracle actually be there. I picked out the suit coat that I had sent to the dry cleaners and a plain button down shirt. Five minutes later the porter buzzed up to tell me that my parents had just arrived and were waiting for me in the lobby. I grabbed my note cards from the counter top and hurried to the elevator.
When I got downstairs mom wrapped me in another huge hug and started another one of her reminiscences, my dad simply rolled his eyes and headed outside the apartment building to grab a cab. (Gee dad thanks for all the help).
After about five minutes my dad came in and interrupted her saying that there was a cab waiting outside and that its meter was running.
When we got to the University campus my parents insisted on paying for the cab, which is pretty funny considering that I am a multi millionaire. When I mentioned this mom gave me a death glare and said, "That is beside the point"
When we got inside I was ushered backstage by some of the event stewards.
Once I was settled in the green room Dr Ward came to see me and went over the running order for the donation. As he left he shook my hand warmly and said, "You are a credit to the university young man. Well done!" I have to admit that this made me feel just teensy bit smug Dr Ward never says well done to anybody. Before I let this go to my head however I decided that it would be a good idea for me to go over my speech because although I had memorized it already there was always room for last minute improvements just as I settled down to it my phone buzzed with a message from Midori saying that she and the rest of the team had arrived.
I headed out to the lobby to the lobby to greet them, they had gotten in from Japan yesterday afternoon but I had not been able to go and collect them as I had been in meetings all day. As I lead them back to the green room I could have sworn that I saw Lars standing outside the pavilion doors with Wahim Tina's bodyguard. That's weird unless Mia has a new bodyguard, which I highly doubt considering how fond of her he is then that means Mia is here. Omg Mia is here after so long waiting and wishing that I could see Mia in person just for a second, she was here in the same building as me and in a few minutes she would be in the same room as me (alright a room filled with journalists from every news outlet and tabloid in the country) but it was still the same room as me.
" Michael, Michael, MICHAEL! Earth to Michael." "What?" I snapped at the person shaking my shoulder. "You're being called onto stage". I got up and walked onto the stage, after I had shaken Dr Wards hand and he launched into a speech on what a wonderful thing I had done for the medical community and for the university I tuned out and began searching the crowd for Mia. I found her easily enough she was sitting in a row near the back with Lana, Tina, Trisha and some others I vaguely remembered from when I used to sit at their table. Mia looked so gorgeous in jeans and a T-shirt (again obviously designer) she had always been beautiful to me but while I was away she had grown up to be more beautiful.
After I had given my speech and introduced my team Dr Ward gave me a master's degree (which was great because I never graduated due to being in Japan for most of the course). Then my parents, Lilly and Nana came up gave me a huge hug, my sister then stamped her foot until Kenneth joined us on stage which made everybody laugh even though they don't know her. By the time we were done Mia was gone. Lilly saw my face and said, "She was here wasn't she."
When I nodded she smiled and said, "What's the bet that she is writing in her journal somewhere" and then she was gone.
About five minutes later I was talking to some of my Japanese stockholders about the state of the stock markets when I heard Lilly calling my name. I turned around and to my surprise my sister was coming towards me holding Mia's hand I excused myself and promised to speak to them at a later date on the subject.
I turned around and said, "Mia" god even her name makes me smile like an idiot. "Um. Hi." she replied and her face was lit up by her answering smile which was only a ghost of the glorious smile she used to give when she was happy. When it was clear that neither of us was going to speak Lilly said, "Mia's here representing The Atom" when I rolled my eyes at her she said "She's doing a story on you, Michael. Aren't you Mia?" Mia nodded looking dazed and worried God it felt so wrong not to be able to wrap my arms around her and kiss her.
Instead I said, "How are you doing?" why did she look like she wanted the ground to swallow her up, couldn't she tell that more than anything I wanted to take her in my arms and never let go. When Mia didn't reply Lilly poked her in the shoulder hard and said, "Why don't you ask Michael a question for your story, Mia?" God Lil why do you have to be such a pain in the arse can't she see that I am having a moment.
"Ow" Mia responded looking startled "Where's Lars?" I asked jokingly and then as a warning to Lil that she better leave us to it "You better watch out, Lil. She generally travels with an armed escort." Lilly rolled her eyes but left us to it.
Mia laughed shakily and replied with some degree of her old cheek "He's around here somewhere, and I'm fine thanks for asking. How are you doing Michael?"
"I'm Great," I said (heartbroken, longing to touch you etc is what I wanted to say but I knew from experience that this would not go down well. God I had thought that her running from me screaming was torture little did I Know.
Right then my mom walked up to tell me that there was a reporter from the New York Times then she saw Mia and her eyes went wide. "Oh Mia" why was she looking at Mia like she was some kind of extraterrestrial. "Hi Dr Moscovitz. How are you?" God Mia sounded so scared I longed to put my arms around her, and comfort her but of course I had to resist. Mom got over her shock and finally said "Im fine sweetheart" she leaned over to kiss Mia's cheek (still the favorite kid after all these years also no fair why does everyone else get to touch Mia even my sister was holding her hand) before continuing "I haven't seen you in so long. Its lovely you were able to come." "I'm covering the event for the school paper," she explained hastily sounding just a little flustered. "But I know he is busy. Michael go talk to the times-" (Hell no I am in the middle of my first face to face meeting with the love of my life, if she thinks I am giving that up for a stupid interview she has got another thing coming.) "No!" ok Moscovitz calm down "that's OK. There's plenty of time for that"
"Are you kidding me? It's the TIMES!" I waited for her to pushed me like she would have done before but then I remembered we aren't going out anymore so in Mia's book touching isn't allowed. Wait why is she acting so shy? Its really beginning to scare me Mia isn't shy with people she has known for most of her life. Unless never mind it's just wishful thinking why would she: you broke her heart and lied to her. Just then my sister sauntered up with Kenny and said, "Maybe you two could get together for Coffee tomorrow. For like a private interview." At that moment I could have kissed my sister but I restricted myself to simply grinning a little and saying, "Hey, That's a good idea. What do you say Mia? Are you around tomorrow? Want to meet at Caffé Dante, say, around one?" there was a slight pause while I waited in agony for her answer until Mia nodded and said that one o clock was fine and that she would see me there. As I walked away I realized that I hadn't asked her about her senior project so I turned around and said, "Oh, and bring that senior project of yours. I still can't wait to read it."
Author note: Hi guys sorry this chapter has taken so long for me to update I have been super busy recently, I have also been experiencing a serious case of writers block (grr). I hope everyone had a great Easter. Am now back at school first week back and it was a disaster. Anyhoo enough about my life I hope you all enjoy this chap it is slightly longer that the previous two as I couldn't find an appropriate place to stop. Will try and update as soon as possible but it might not be for a while as life is about to get busier. As always reviews are welcomed ohh special mention to the reviewers of the last chapter Stories_of_Dreamers, JessHP,Timetravellingturtle, eab29, softball4ever, Mari2,Estelle1286, mikm7, Katrina_Roxanne
Love you all love Momo