I'm glad you guys like the last chapter! Thanks so much to xxxlil-miss-mercerxxx (I'm glad I can provide a distraction from work :] ), lover of many things804, and tfatfreak207. Your reviews are awesome and they make me so happy! :D

Disclaimer: I own nothing but Mickey and Alex

Diamond in the Rough

Chapter 20: Girl Talk

By: LoveInk

Alex walked into the dance studio the next day thoroughly exhausted. She dropped into the chair behind the desk, crossing her arms on the hard surface and setting her head atop them. She dozed off for two minutes before the slamming of a door jolted her awake. "Good morning Sunshine," Michaela sang, dropping a bag of doughnuts on the desk. "Hungry?"

She lifted her head off her arms and grabbed the grease stained bag. "Mmm," she said looking at her selection before grabbing a sugar one. "Thanks," she murmured around a mouthful of the sweet treat.

"You look like hell," Michaela commented, sitting down on the other chair and setting down a tray with coffee cups onto the desk. She pushed one towards Alex who took it enthusiastically, muttering a thanks before taking a big gulp. Michaela watcher her, slightly amused and curious as to why Alex was so tired. "You sleep at all last night?"

"Yeah. Some."

"Lee says you cry yourself to sleep," she stated softly.

Alex rolled her eyes. "I do not cry myself to sleep."

"That's just what he said."

"He's full of shit," she mumbled grumpily. She was tired and cranky and not up to dealing with stupid Leon and his dumb lies. "What else does he say about me?"

"Oh just that you're still in love with my brother and that you'd probably give him another chance if he ever came crawling back to you," Michaela said flippantly.

Alex sighed. "Can you guys mind your own business for once?"

"Well aren't you cranky?" she teased, grabbing a donut for herself. "What happened to my little ray of sunshine from yesterday? Did the drugs wear off?"

"No! I don't do drugs!"

Michaela smiled; sometimes it was fun to annoy Alex. "So I hear you're coming to Race Wars with us this weekend?"

"I don't know. I guess. Mia invited me," Alex mumbled indecisively.

"Are you going to be okay with my brother there and all?"

She shrugged in response. "Sure, I guess."

"I heard you saw him at the shop yesterday," Michaela baited, trying to see what reaction she'd get from Alex.

She didn't get much of one. The other girl just shrugged again and yawned. "Yeah, he was just stocking things. We didn't talk or anything. Plus, I realized that if I want to see you and Lee and Mia, I'm going to have to see him once in awhile too."

Michaela grinned, happy that her friend seemed to be moving on. "Yes! I'm so excited to have someone who knows less about cars than me there!"

"Why?"

"Because then, they'll make fun of you instead," Michaela chirped.

Alex stuck her tongue out at her friend. "Maybe I know more than I let on."

"Uh-huh. Want to explain to me what a spark plug does?"

"It makes sparks," Alex ventured a guess.

Michaela laughed as though her answer was the funniest thing in the world. "You're killing me smalls! Don't let Lee hear you say that!"

"You suck," she back at her before setting her head back on her crossed arms. "I'm tired."

"I didn't call your sub off yet," Michaela hinted a small smile on her face. "Go ahead, take off again. Take a nap."

Alex looked at her suspiciously. "Why haven't you called off my sub yet?"

She shrugged in response. "She's eighteen. She's having a good time and she has yet to complain. I see her cracking in, oh, three days. I have her subbing my classes today, too."

"Why? What are your plans?"

"Absolutely nothing," Michaela said with a grin. "Hence the doughnuts."

Alex smiled. "Beach?"

"Oh hell yeah. I need to get my tan on before Race Wars."

Michaela and Alex lounged on the beach, enjoying the sunny weather. A few hours later, Mia arrived, a big smile on her face. She lay out her towel between the girls and sat down, waiting for someone to ask her how her date went.

The other girls looked at each other; they knew what she wanted, but neither of them wanted to give in first. Michaela pretended to be incredibly immersed in her magazine while Alex pretended to be asleep. Mia cleared her throat to catch their attention. "How was your guys' night?" she asked.

"Alex stayed up all night," Michaela stated, flipping the page of a magazine. "Lee says she cries herself to sleep."

Alex scowled at her, propping herself up on her elbow to glare at Michaela. "Would you stop saying that? I was not crying myself to sleep!"

Mia fought the urge to smile, she knew exactly what Alex was doing staying up half the night. She had noticed the absence of Vince's car in the driveway that morning; she knew where he was. "What did you do, Mickey?"

"Leon," she answered with a smirk.

Alex made a gagging sound, sticking her tongue out in disgust. "I did not need to hear that."

"Oh please, you cannot talk, little Miss Nutella. Did you hear about that night, Mia? I don't know what you two were doing, but…" she watched as Alex's face fell briefly. She mentally smacked herself. Vince was still a sensitive spot for her and bringing up old memories was obviously not the best idea she ever had. "Nevermind."

"Nah, it's all right," Alex said on a sigh. She was impressed with herself, usually Michaela called her out on her horrible acting skills. It seemed she had bought it this time. "How was the garage today, Mi?"

Mia frowned, that was not the question she'd been fishing for. "Fine. I put the decals on Brian's car today."

"What color did they end up painting it? I heard Jess wanted green," Alex asked. Michaela rolled her eyes, leave to Alex to be concerned with the car color rather than the engine or the model.

"They painted it this metallic orange color. I think my brother picked it out."

"Cool," Alex commented, nodding her head up and down.

"Yeah, he and Dom were talking about it over a beer before I left," Mia explained.

"Are they in love or something?" Michaela asked, pushing her sunglasses onto her head as she looked at Mia. "I mean they spend a lot of time together."

Alex laughed as Mia glared at her. "No," Mia said, her lips pressing together, a clear sign she was irritated. "He definitely doesn't swing that way."

"How do you know?" Alex asked, playing devil's advocate. "Maybe he's super into bald heads."

"They had sex," Michaela stated confidently. "That's how she knows. Right?"

Mia grinned widely. "We may have had some fun."

"Please. You didn't come home last night," she shot back, rolling her eyes. "Don't think I didn't notice."

"How was the dinner, Mi?" Alex asked, effectively changing the subject. She remembered Mia describing her ideal date and wondered if Brian had come anywhere near it. "Did you talk about your deepest, darkest secrets and then did he kiss you under the stars at your beach?"

Mia nodded enthusiastically. "That's pretty much how it went."

"Yeah, and then you fucked him. So romantic," Michaela added, laughing as Mia scowled at her. "What about you, Lex?"

Alex raised her eyebrows. "What about me?"

"When are you going to find a new bed buddy?"

Mia fought the urge to smile; Alex didn't need a new bed buddy. "Leave her alone, Michaela. Break ups suck."

"What about at Race Wars? We can find her a new dude there. Or if you're just looking for some fun you can always go home with Santi. He was pretty good in the sack…not as good as Lee, but…"

"Stop talking," Alex said, wrinkling her nose at her friend. "I can find my own man, thank you very much."

What'd you think? Sorry there were no boys in this one...I thought it'd be fun to show the relationships between the girls a little. I didn't include Letty because I figured if Mia isn't at the store, Let is. Should I have included her? Now I'm starting to feel kind of bad... :\

Tell me what you think! :)

~Love Ink