The Great Escape

AN. Thank you to Josie, BigRedMachineUK, Grits0205, bathpinkdog, xTwistedxImperfectionx, xHalosandwings, Cena-Wilson-Crazy, John Cena's Field Hockey Star, quteash & Tiffyxox for reviewing the last chapter.

Thanks very muchly! :)

Chapter Thirty-Nine – A New Year's Surprise

MICKIE

"Are you going to sit there reading all night?" With a re-fill of diet Coke in her glass, Mickie wore a faint smirk on her lips as she slipped back into the private booth she'd been sharing with her boyfriend for the past couple of hours. There was a certain intimacy over here in the corner, despite the masses surrounding them, and she definitely liked it. "I'm starting to think you're ignoring me on purpose."

Phil placed a bookmark in his reading material and then put it down on the table in front of him, turning to her with a smile. She kept a steady grip on her drink when he leaned in, brushing away rebellious strands of her brunette bangs, and kissed her softly on the lips; he'd done this so many times – too many times for her to count – and the butterflies in her stomach still surprised her.

"Or maybe not." She eventually recovered, putting her drink down to wrap her fingers around his. "Seriously though, are you okay? I've seen you reading at parties before... but this isn't just any party, is it? C'mon, it's New Year's! You're supposed to be talking with your friends and having a good—"

"I am having a good time. I just like to read a lot." Chuckling, he pulled her closer. "And don't pull that pout on me. I think I'm growing immune to it. That's your bad luck."

"Yeah? Well I vote you'll never ever not find this pout cute."

Angling towards each other slowly, filled with the delicious promise of another long kiss, both were interrupted by a loud bang followed by a series of moans and groans from the crowd of students ahead of them. They turned, only to see a couple of members of the band setting up on stage, apologizing profusely for their loud entrance.

"Oh, that must be the band hired for tonight." Shrugging nonchalantly, she turned back to him. "Ashley was raving about them earlier back in the dorm—apparently, she has all of their demo CDs and whatever. But you know how she is; any band that isn't well-known or overplayed is her preference."

"I think I might recognize them actually."

She noted the confusion in his expression and pressed her lips against his cheek. "Well I'll be sure to let Ash know that there's another awesome person out there in the world..." Moving to his lips, she was confused herself when they were unresponsive in the attempt at a make-out session. "Is something wrong?"

"Wrong? No, of course not. Except for the fact we're not making out right now." His cheeky smile reeled her back in, and she took pleasure in capturing his lips once more.

It was funny, but for a girl who didn't experiment in relationships back in a high school that was practically dating city, Mickie felt like she finally understood why each popular girl always wanted to have a boyfriend by their side. She'd despised those sorts of girls—wondered, in fact, why those sort of people could get any guy they wanted just to toss them aside in the end—but now... it was definitely a comfort to be in a safe relationship with someone who positively adored you.

She knew Ashley, Eve and Maria were sick of her talking about her boyfriend like he was the most perfect thing in the world, but when he was kissing her like this, caressing her cheek in the most gentle way... was it any surprise? How had she struck so lucky with her first proper boyfriend?

"So," smiled the girl when she eventually pulled away, looking into his eyes again, "I'm sure I told you about this thing I have with my brother – you know, our music challenge each week?"

"Come on, you kiss me like that and then you want to talk to me about your brother? That's cold."

Her smile grew wider as he reached for her drink and sipped a little of it through the red straw. Undeterred – no matter how tempting it was to spend the rest of the night attached to his lips – she carried on. "Well I was hoping you could help me out. You met him when you flew out to come and see me, right?"

"You mean when I flew out, completely disregarding the disapproval of my parents, to come and sweep the girl of my dreams off of her feet?"

"Okay, okay... you've earned another kiss." After giving him one, she sat back. "Happy enough?"

"Not nearly. You dragged me away from my book just to—"

"No more sweet talk or making me feel guilty!" Mickie laughed, slapping him playfully. "You're good with modern music. He's put a twist on it and gone for new releases recently, and you know I can barely decide whether I like a song, let alone know who sings it. So next time he emails me, do you mind if I forward it to you so you can answer? Technically it's cheating but—"

"My kinda girl. What else are boyfriends for anyway?"

"Thank you. That's all I wanted to ask." She tried for a look of disapproval. "We could have been back to kissing a couple of minutes ago if you hadn't interrupted me. I bet you feel bad now, don't you?"

"No, I feel great. Now we can do it for the rest of the night."

And they did. Well, the happy couple made out for at least two minutes, without so much as a breath between them, until a girl's voice broke out above them on the speakers, talking loudly into a microphone.

"Testing, testing... hey everyone, we're The Luchagors."

Mickie felt Phil stiffen beside her, and looked away from the pretty red-headed girl smiling on stage at everybody to stare at him. He looked freaked out if anything, but like he was trying to hide it. "Do you know her or something?"

His words about recognizing the band replayed in her head, and she felt the tiniest bit uneasy for reasons she couldn't explain, as he turned to her with an expression she hadn't seen before. Phil offered a light smile, taking her hand. "Let's just say I knew her. That's Amy Dumas. She was an old girlfriend of mine."

"... Oh."

"Yeah." His grip, Mickie noticed, became a little tighter. "But that was a while ago. So if you think you're about to lose me due to popular demand, you're wrong about that."

He was joking again. That was a good sign, right? She'd seen him acting seriously before but not in the same way as just now; that had definitely been a new experience for the brunette. Her own smile was shaky as he kissed her on the cheek and then turned to pick up his book again.

Why did something here feel off?

It was a moment later that she slumped into her seat, taking her first sip of the drink she'd bought a little while ago. She realized how difficult it must be for him to see someone he once dated... perhaps a little awkward too? Well okay, now she felt better.

Smiling at herself, Mickie wanted to laugh instead. Just a sight of an ex-girlfriend of her boyfriend's and she began to act like their relationship was doomed – or that it would be heading that way.

Sometimes she had to remind herself that she was in a perfectly healthy relationship and nothing was going to break them apart for a long, long time to come.

It was inevitable that at some point during the night, the four girls would run into each other again and catch up with each other – as if anything might have changed in the short time they spent away from each other.

For once, Maria was the one with something to report, and she did it with a wicked smile on her face. "So you see Michelle over there?" Following the direction of the finger she pointed, they rested their eyes on the pretty blonde, who stood at the bar with Layla, a grimace on her face while they sipped their drinks. "The reason for her bad mood is probably because she saw me making out with her ex-boyfriend tonight."

"No one could have missed you," laughed Eve, though she hugged her best friend congratulations, followed by Mickie and Ashley. "You guys were stood smack bang in the middle of the floor. Cody had to point you out but then I couldn't take my eyes off of you."

"I didn't see you," said Ashley, smirking. "But I was too busy making out with my boyfriend."

"You really love using that title for Adam, don't you?" Mickie grinned. When the blonde recoiled, realizing that she wasn't supposed to act like the girl who bragged about her other half, the brunette only rolled her eyes playfully.

"Look at all of us," continued the redhead, her smile widening, if that were at all possible, while she glanced in-between her friends. "Ash is finally happy, Mickie has her dream guy, I'm blissfully in love and Eve... well, you're content screwing around."

She'd said it in the nicest way possible, but the girl felt the need to defend herself, glaring when the others laughed at her. "You make it sound like I'm a slut! I'm only 'screwing around' with one person, thank you very much!"

Mickie laughed some more, occasionally glancing back over at her boyfriend; he had his head, unsurprisingly enough, buried in his book once again. Studying him, her laughter began to cease and a smile took its place on her lips—even though she didn't know why it did, it surprised her to realize just how desperate she was to get back to him.

After the famous countdown to New Year's, Phil had promised to take her for a walk somewhere off campus – somewhere where they could simply be, and enjoy each other's company away from the cheers and whistles of drunk-ass college students. It would be just them... a perfect start to the year to come.

"You look like you want to get back to him." Nudged in her side, she found Eve grinning at her. "Go on then. Happy New Year if I don't see you again before midnight."

Wishing hers to them too, giving an extra squeeze to Ashley just for being her best friend, the brunette started on her way back. She'd made it only twenty seconds on her own before she was joined again. But upon seeing the interruption, she couldn't exactly complain.

"Long time, no talk." Ted grinned down at her. She barely had time to react before he pulled her into a hug. "I mean, I know we talked a couple days ago but that doesn't really count does it?"

"... Are you a little tipsy?" She eyed him up and down, wanting to laugh.

"Maryse says I am..." A beat later, he shrugged. "Who even cares? What's up, Mickie James? I thought you'd be attached to Punk's lips."

"I was just on my way back to him, but I can stop and chat with you for a little while if you want."

"No, it's okay. Really. I think the band is about to start up now anyway so I should get back to my booth. Don't wanna miss it."

"Okay, sure. Happy New Year."

After sharing another hug, he brushed past her, and she turned to watch him leave, shaking her head all the while. He sure was special – at least in her eyes. Catching sight of the stage, she saw the guys all set up and ready to go; only the redhead, announced as her boyfriend's ex earlier, was missing.

With a fresh smile, she approached the familiar booth where she expected to find her boyfriend. Her mind was full of thoughts of their impending alone time, filling her with a warm feeling in the pit of her stomach. She simply couldn't wait—and in the meantime, another make-out session wouldn't hurt.

Only Phil Brooks wasn't alone when she finally caught sight of him.

His book placed firmly on the table, the bookmark disregarded as it sat beside it, she was forced to focus her eyes on him. On him and a girl – a girl who wasn't her – kissing the lips she'd come to know very well recently. She could tell by the long flowing red hair just who it was, even if her face was covered fully by it while she almost straddled the guy.

She felt her heart stop for just a moment. Then it started beating double time, and she had to hold a hand to her chest just to gain control of her actions.

She waited, unsure of what else to do. She'd seen this sort of scene in the movies; the one where a girl comes back and finds her beloved kissing someone else. She always thought it was silly how they always rushed away, heartbroken – even if that's what she felt like doing right now – and not stay to see how the guy pulled away, shocked. Because that's what they always did.

But not this time.

Phil pulled her in closer, combing her hair behind her ears as if it was the most natural thing in the world to do with his ex-girlfriend. As if he hadn't done it to her just half an hour earlier.

"What... what's going on here?" Though her voice was quiet and mouse-like when she spoke, Mickie was still heard. She focused on her boyfriend's reaction. He looked guilty. And so he should. "Phil... I know this is your ex-girlfriend... but I-I don't understand."

She really didn't. This had come out of nowhere—for her, at least—and she really didn't know what to do about it. All she knew was that she felt very, very betrayed.

"How did this... how did this happen?"

In asking the question, she finally had the chance to look at his partner in crime. Her eyes locked onto the necklace on her chest. It spelled out her name in pretty gold lettering: Amy.

"Mickie, I—"

"And what about us?" A sudden anger coursed through her veins as she pointed accusingly at him. She didn't seem to care that Amy was standing to her feet and removing herself from the picture. "We were just sitting there ten minutes ago, happy as ever."

"I know, I know..." Phil seemed to realize this at the wrong moment. In an instant, he cursed under his breath and covered a hand over his mouth. It was as though he'd only just realized what he'd done. "I just saw her... it was like old times... we were talking... and then it just happened."

"Things don't just happen—not when you're in a great relationship with someone else."

And now she could feel herself welling up. Oh God, I have to get out of here. She thought to herself. Grabbing her bag and ignoring the attempt he made to touch her wrist, she quickly stepped away from the booth.

Was this actually happening? How could things turn around so quickly for the happy brunette in just a matter of minutes?

So much for her own happy ending.

Rushing out into the cold night air, Mickie looked both ways down the street. She had no idea where to go... where she wanted to go... where she wanted to be. All of her thoughts were growing and building together and not allowing her to think properly after all that had just gone on in there.

Phil and Amy. Amy and Phil.

It all mashed together.

It was perhaps a good thing that she didn't go running off as – just a beat later – Christian walked over to her. He hadn't been far away—actually, he'd been attending to a puking Chris Jericho, who was off to the side and leaning over into an unfortunate hedge—but had seen his friend upon her loud exit from the bar, and wondered what was up.

Mickie collapsed on the curb, dropping her bag beside her and then pulling her arms up to rest them on her knees. Burying her head deep down into them, she started crying. The tears had been building up for quite some time; she just couldn't give way to them at the time.

"Hey," started Christian, his voice soft and soothing as he forgot about his friend to tend to this one, "What's wrong, Mickie?"

"I-I don't know." She stuttered, answering truthfully.

Because she didn't. This wasn't how her night was supposed to end. She was supposed to be the one who got her happy ending before everybody else – the one who had things figured out first for once.

Christian didn't question her. The blonde merely took a seat beside her and pulled the sobbing girl into his arms. "Okay, okay... just cry it out..."

So there's the next chapter. Please review :)

I have a poll up especially for The Great Escape which includes four choices – Ashley, Eve, Maria and Mickie – and you can now vote on which sequel you'd like to see for this fic :)

Up next is the last ever chapter of The Great Escape.