Hungry, I shovelled another over-enthusiastic spoonful of my cereal into my mouth. I was trying to eat it a little less savagely than I normally did because Mia was sitting next to me. Though I knew full well there was never going to be anything between us, I still couldn't eliminate the natural and let's face it pathetic instinct I always had to try and impress her.

It was about half an hour later since Mia had woken up, and we were now sitting around Lucas's breakfast table. After much persuasion, I'd managed to convince her to come downstairs so she could get something to eat. Well, trying to get something to eat, might be the better way to put it.

I took another nervous glance over to Mia who still had her head in her hands, and was groaning lowly as she tried to rub at her temples.

She was going through her first official hangover. I wasn't exactly an expert, but I was pretty sure drinking alcohol on top of drugs that were mixed with a hint of Viagra, was going to do a lot of shit to anybody's head.

My lips dipped down slightly as I watched her, feeling guilty for not better warning her about the cookies. Swallowing my bite, I lightly cleared my throat. "Are you sure, you're okay Chubs? Do you want to go back upstairs and lie down?"

Mia looked up and gave me a weak smile. "No, it's fine. I'll stay down here," she said.

Hearing footsteps start to descend the stairs, I turned to the door in curiosity. Soon enough, the door to the kitchen flew open and May walked in with a yawn.

Her red hair was all messy from sleep and she was wearing an oversized shirt. I didn't think anything of it for a second before I looked at the top again and realized it was a guy's top. Lucas's top specifically. He wore that top practically religiously and May certainly wasn't wearing that last night.

Shaking my head, I looked away with a light smirk. It was clear that while I was being mentally tortured last night, Lucas had been having the time of his life. The lucky bastard.

Instantly my mind started swirling with ideas of all the different ways I was going to bully him about this when I next saw him.

May's eyes soon landed on the two of us staring at her, and she froze in place like a deer caught in headlights.

A bright smile now lit up Mia's face as she scanned her fairly embarrassed-looking friend up and down.

"Morning, May," she sang cheerfully as she surveyed May's clothes up and down with a far too pleased-looking grin. "My, my, my, I see you've been busy," she commented slyly. Then reaching across the table, Mia picked up her mug and took a long sip.

A smile slipped to my face, knowing full well the mug she'd picked up didn't have a drop of liquid in it, and she was just trying to pass on her judgment.

May's eyes instantly narrowed on Mia's and she put a hand on a hip. "Oh, so we're playing the embarrass each other game. Because if so, I've got quite a few things I'd like to say to our old pal, Ethan," May snapped, her eyes sparkling with threat.

My mind instantly latched onto her sentence in confusion, and I turned to Mia with a furrowed brow.

Her face had gone ghostly white for some reason, and her eyes darted around as she looked everywhere but at me.

"Okay, point made. I'll shut up," Mia said quickly. A little too quickly.

I stared at her silently for quite some time, wondering what she was so worried about May telling me. What kind of stuff did she say about me when I wasn't there?

Mia quickly cleared her throat before turning back to May with a smile. "So...what did you guys do?" she sang childishly as she waggled her brows.

May's face flushed red, and she rolled her eyes. "I didn't have sex with him if that's what you were thinking. We just talked..."

Mia raised a single eyebrow, clearly not believing one word of what she was saying.

"Okay, fine, we might have made-out a little as well," May mumbled in correction.

Unable to help myself, I leaned forward with a smirk, deciding to take the piss out of Mia. "That's funny, Mia tried to make-out with someone too," I playfully remarked as I took in another mouthful of my cereal.

Mia turned to me with a glare before reaching out to slap me upside the head. "Why the hell did you bring that up?" she snapped.

Like a dick, I just continued to eat my cereal with a smile on my face. I did feel kind of bad. Just fifteen minutes ago, I'd assured her I wasn't going to tease her for the rest of the day but unfortunately for her, I had absolutely no willpower.

It wasn't my fault it was such a uniquely hilarious story. Well, it wasn't hilarious at the time while I was being tortured, but it was more than meeting that criteria now.

May looked between Mia and me with an arched curious brow.

"Don't ask," Mia said quickly.

Just then, the door to the kitchen burst open for a second time, and Lucas strutted in. I let out a heavy sigh as I noticed he had his whole bare chest out and only had on his boxers.

I let out a groan of annoyance and slammed my spoon down into the bowl. "For fucks sake, man, put some bloody clothes on. We're trying to eat," I grumbled.

In truth, if we were alone, I probably wouldn't have cared but I would be lying if I didn't admit that Mia's presence made me a little more anxious. The last thing I needed was for her to lust after my best friend's half-naked body. I selfishly only wanted her to look at me.

Lucas slowly turned around to face me with a sassy brow raised. "Sorry, if I'm mistaken, but I thought this was my house." Then to emphasize his point, he slightly popped out his hip. Or tried to anyway.

Midway through rolling my eyes at him, Mia leaned forward rather tensely and locked eyes with Lucas harshly. "I hope you had a great night, Lucas," she snapped. "Because some of us don't remember anything. Because some people leave drugged cookies just lying around their fucking house and when innocent, unsuspecting people eat them, they lie and tell them it'll be fine. Newsflash Lucas, I wasn't fucking fine," she yelled as she threw him a daggered look.

Thankful that the hate-filled looks were for once not directed at me, I sat back with a light amused smile.

Lucas's brows raised in surprise, at her very passionate rant. Then looking awkwardly away, a slow and undeniably guilty smile stretched across his face. "Er....my bad?" he laughed nervously.

Mia clearly not all too satisfied with his apology, threw a rude gesture at him with her finger.

Lucas raised a hand up. "Hey, in my defense, if you weren't so greedy and just ate one fucking cookie like I don't know, a normal person, you might have only been lightly buzzed," he argued.

I nodded along in agreement with him, knowing he had more than a point.

Mia let out a bitter laugh, her eyes continually narrowed on Lucas's. "Just sleep with one eye open," she snapped.

-------------------

Anxiously bouncing my leg against the car floor, I temporarily stopped to stare back out the window and out at the bright pink neon sign that read, 'Sugar Shake.'

I had become a stalker again.

Instead of just walking straight into the shop, and talking to Mia like I wanted to, I had instead taken to anxiously staring out the window like a maniac for the last twenty minutes. The reason for my heightened nerves all had to do with what I'd planned for us this evening.

I'd finally decided enough was enough, and to tell her what I had wanted to tell her at Lucas's party. I was going to tell her I liked her. An arguably stupid thing to do, yes, but with the ever-increasing amount of time I was now spending with her, there was only a certain amount of time before the truth came flying out on its own.

There was only so long I could continue looking into those damn distracting eyes of hers before I did or said something truly stupid again.

If I told her the truth, at least she'd understand why I act the way I did, and it would hopefully bring me some peace. The only problem was I couldn't bring myself to get out of the car.

I exhaled a sharp air, and with some final internal words of encouragement, finally reached for the car door and climbed myself out.

Forcing myself forward, I locked the car behind me and headed into the building. As usual, the bell above my shop door chimed as I entered. I'd gotten far too used to the sound from the pathetic number of times I'd followed her here in the past year so I could 'annoy her.'

Which in my world was, of course, code for flirting with her.

Scanning the interior of the shop, my eyes weaved between all the tables before finally landing on Mia. She had her hair all tucked up cutely, and was walking across the shop with a tray order balanced in her hand.

Her eyes flickered my way immediately as she passed, and the second she saw me, her lips pulled up into a warm smile. Warmth rushed through my stomach and suddenly I was smiling too.

Only four or so short months ago, I'd walked into this shop and received the complete opposite reaction from Mia.

Quickening my pace, I made my way perhaps a little too eagerly over to her.

"Hey, Chubs, just the girl I was looking for," I said, smiling as I spoke.

Seriously, Ethan? Just the girl you were looking for. Way to sound like you're obsessed with her.

Mia blinked back at me in surprise, and her eyes danced all over my face with vibrant energy. My eyes dropped to her cheeks. Wait, was she blushing...

That's when my eyes fell to her tray and I noticed her angled tray as well as the ice cream sundaes that were halfway to slipping right onto the floor.

"Chubs, your tray!" I yelled abruptly.

Mia looked down in confusion sharply, and her eyes widened before she quickly straightened up the tray. She was definitely blushing now, and she let out a light nervous laugh as she met back my eyes. "Whoops," she mumbled.

I let out a light laugh, unable to help myself, and stepped forward. "Give it here clumsy. I'll help you," I chuckled as I reached forward and pulled it from her hands.

"Which table is it for?" I asked as I started to look around the restaurant.

Mia abruptly stepped forward and tried to reach back for the tray. "You don't have to do that Ethan; you don't work here," she said as she tried to tug it free from my hands.

I refused to let it go and tightened my grip. "Which table, Mia?" I repeated, more firmly this time.

I knew I was being a little argumentative, but I just couldn't help but feel bad that Mia had to work all the time. I just got everything handed to me when it came to money, and here she was working to save up some spare cash for college. The least I could do is put my spoilt-brat self to work and help her.

Mia maintained eye contact with me for a few seconds before letting her gaze soften. Letting out a heavy sigh, she nodded her head behind her. "It's that one over there with the teenage boys," she said.

Then gesturing for me to follow, she led me over to the table at the back. At the table sat four boys that looked sixteen or seventeen or so if I were to guess.

They all had leather jackets on like they thought they were a part of some biker gang and the way they started looking at Mia as she approached instantly put me on edge. Their eyes moved far too quickly up and down her for my liking, and I don't know why the fuck they were smiling for.

Mia smiled as she came to a stop which made my stomach roll over in irritation. Fuck, good customer service skills, I didn't want her smiling at these weirdos.

"Here you go guys, sorry for your wait," she said as she took the tray from my hands, and placed the tray of sundaes bang smack in the middle of the table.

As she straightened up, I noticed one of the guys with the dumbest hairstyle at the table, was eyeing Mia boldly up and down without an ounce of subtlety. He wasn't even trying not to be rude.

I stood stiffly as I watched him, and took deep even breaths as I tried to calm myself down. I desperately wanted to slap him round the face, to remind him where to lay his gaze. But I didn't. That would obviously be assault, and I was trying to move past that.

Mia cleared her throat and seemed to pretend not to notice the very obvious stare that was being directed her way.

"Anything else I can get you guys?"

Bad haircut, chuckled. "We're good for now unless you're willing to provide additional service," he said with a wink.

My jaw clamped together hard, and my mind fogged away of all thought except rage. Mia's smile slid right off her face at the comment which only fuelled my annoyance.

Here Mia was just trying to do her fucking job just to make some innocent cash, and here this little shit was trying to humiliate her. And for fucking what?

The cackles of his stupid friends picked up from around him, further driving forth my anger.

I stepped forward before I could stop myself. "Unless those additional services are to kick you up your fucking ass, I don't think she'll be providing," I snapped.

Mia instantly turned my way and eyed me in horror. I couldn't exactly blame her, I did have a habit of losing my shit in confrontations.

Dumb haircut looked up at me in surprise, and his eyes scanned over mine slowly. I noticed him anxiously tapping his feet as he stared at me, and he struggled to fully hold my gaze in the way someone did when they were nervous.

"And you are?" he scoffed.

I let out a bitter laugh before bending down so I could square myself up in the guy's face." Someone whose patience is ticking," I spat, making sure to keep hard eye contact with him the entire time.

I already knew the pathetic fucker was nervous, so why not make him more so. Maybe then, he'd experience a fraction of what it felt like to be Mia and be purposefully intimidated by four guys.

Mia let out a nervous laugh, then pushed me to the side, and placed herself between me and the pricks. She turned back to the guys and smiled. "Anyway," she laughed. "I hope you all enjoy your ice cream, guys and please shout if you need anything."

Then clasping her hand in mine, she carted me away from the table. Briefly distracted by the feel of her hand in mine, I followed her for several steps before hearing one of them laugh distantly from behind me.

"Yeah, I'll shout for her alright. There's things I'd want to do for hours with a body like that whether she wanted it or not," one of them muttered lightly.

I immediately stopped walking. Oh, no, no, no, I was actually going to fucking rip his throat out.

Anticipating my move easily enough, Mia tightened her grip on my hand and gave me another vicious yank to encourage me forward. "Nope, no. Don't even think about it, keep walking," she ordered.

I let out a low breath in annoyance but reluctantly kept walking for her sake. Well, I tried to walk as best as I could while glaring over at their table over my shoulder.

As soon as we reached the counter, I spun Mia around to face me. "What the fuck, Mia?" Why didn't you stand up for yourself?" I stammered in frustration.

Mia shrugged her shoulders, almost as though the matter bored her. "Some customers are just like that; you get better at blocking it out with time."

Horrified that what I'd just witnessed was apparently a normality for her, I stared at her speechlessly for a second or so. "This has happened before?"

Her eyes drifted a little away from mine. "Well, a couple of times...," she mumbled. From the shifty position of her eyes, it was obvious she was lying.

"I heard them when you were leaving Mia. They said....they said....," I hesitated, as I looked into her eyes. I didn't even want her to know what they'd said. "- I don't even want to repeat what they said. It was just disgusting," I snapped.

Mia reached forward and grabbed my chin before turning me to face her. It more than surprised me. "Let them say what they want, Ethan, who cares! It didn't hurt my feelings, so it shouldn't hurt yours," she explained softly.

I processed her words, then slowly my eyes softened. "You're right, you're always right," I sighed, knowing she was trying to calm me down. As annoying as it was, violence whether verbal or physical, never truly solved anything; just heightened things.

"Wait, why are you even here?" Mia suddenly asked.

I stared at her blankly for a second before remembering. "Oh right, I knew you finished work in a couple of minutes, so I came to give you a ride home," I explained with a shrug.

Her brows furrowed. "Why?" she asked.

"Well, one, because I need to do my charity work for the day-" The moment I spoke, I winced realizing how stupid what I'd just said sounded. Sighing, I continued. "-And two because I wanted to take you somewhere..."

"Okay, then...," Mia said, her eyes flickering over mine in suspicion.

That's when I noticed movement from beside us, and soon enough I saw Ben stick his head out from the backroom. He locked eyes with Mia. "Mimi, the manager called, she said you're free to go."

Then his eyes drifted over to mine. "Oh, you're here..," he mumbled as his smile faded slowly from his face.

My posture slackened and I looked him up and down uncomfortably, knowing he was understandably still wary of me after the stupid way I'd behaved the last time I'd seen him. He probably thought I was a pyscho.

Mia looked uncomfortably herself and was gazing in a hard manner at the floor as she avoided all contact.

Knowing I had to fix this, I dug my hands into my pockets and rocked awkwardly back and forth on my feet.

"Look, Ben, I'm sorry for hitting you the other day...it was....it was uncalled for," I mumbled.

A smooth smile soon returned to Ben's face, and he let out a hearty chuckle. "Don't worry about it, we were purposely winding you up, so I get it," he said softly.

My shoulders sagged down in relief; happy he was being so understanding after everything I'd done. It was practically a miracle.

"Oh, and for the record," Ben added. "Even if I did like Mia, I don't think I'd stand a chance. She's got her eyes on someone else," Ben chuckled as he shot a playful wink in Mia's direction.

I looked at Mia immediately and saw her quickly stiffen. Did she like someone? What the fuck? How did I not know about this, I was great at figuring things out. I rarely missed anything.

"He's lying," Mia snapped quickly, her cheeks starting to burn a bright red. Before I could question her, she turned around and rushed off toward the back room.

Her reaction only confirmed that Ben's words were true, and I stared after her bitterly. Amazing, she was crushing on some new idiot that she had clearly been talking to Ben about at length.

Fuck whoever it was, I hoped he choked on his spit.

Deciding to wait for her by the door, I threw Ben a short smile goodbye before making my way over to the exit. It didn't take very long before Mia returned from the back room with her bag and started to make her way over to me.

When she was only halfway there, I stiffened as she passed by the table of boys we were serving before. They all looked at her and suddenly the rude one from before reached out and wrapped a hand around her wrist to stop her.

The fuck?

As soon as she turned to look at him, he winked and then slid some sort of paper into the center of her palm. Mia picked it out of her palm in confusion and unfolded it. As she read over it, she scoffed for some reason.

With a roll of her eyes, she scrunched it up into a ball into her hand before continuing on her path and marching her way to the door. I could tell from her stiff expression, she was pissed and so was I.

Once Mia got to me, she opened the door and flashed me a smile. An obviously faked one that was masking her anger from before.

"So, where did you park?" she asked conversationally.

I completely ignored her and grabbed a hold of her hand before snatching the piece of paper from her grasp.

"Ethan, don't read that, you're just gonna get upset," she sighed as she watched helplessly as I unfolded it.

My eyes scanned over the paper and my face screwed up as I read over the disgusting words. It was his phone number, followed by some dumb sentence about 'if she ever needed a good fuck.'

My jaw locked together, and without a second more of thought, I started ripping the paper into shreds over and over.

Forget what I said before, I was going to kill him.

"Wait here, I think I forgot something," I snapped stiffly before making a step back inside.

I didn't get far before she placed a hand on my chest to stop me.

She set her eyes firmly on mine and the look in her eyes stopped me. "I'm not stupid, Ethan, I'm not going to let you beat him up. You're better than that," she snapped.

I stared at her for several seconds, seeming to have an internal battle with myself. The last thing I wanted to be reminded of right now was logic when I was seconds away from beating up a little shit. But she was right.

My eyes softened and I reluctantly pulled my hand away from the door.

"You know you're really annoying, right?" I mumbled drily.

She smiled in victory. "I know," she sang happily. Then turning around, she skipped off happily on ahead of me, clearly pleased she'd got her way. That was my Mia alright – smug as they came. 

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Hope you enjoyed xx