Don't Forget
"You Want Some?"
Mia decided the best solution was to pretend nothing was wrong. She got into Connor's car and opened the carry out breakfast Eric had packed for her. Mia bit into the taco and managed to only spill it back onto the plate instead of on her dress.
"What is that?"
"Huevos Rancheros" Mia said after swallowing, "you want some?"
"I'll pass..."
Mia shrugged and went back to eating. The drive was quiet. Mia was allowed to think about everything and she might have been mad at Connor, but she couldn't even manage that with memories of her normal happy times with Eric running through her head. If Connor was more like Eric they'd probably be married by now. Mia sighed. But Connor was Connor and Eric was Eric. They pulled up to the side of the road outside her house.
"I'll tell my dad you gave me a ride." Mia said, "I'm sure he'll give you a gold star for your overprotection." She reached for the door and it locked shut. Mia rolled her eyes. Here we go...
"About last night"-
"Connor I was having a great morning until you decided to play daddy and almost beat up my friend so if you would kindly open the door."
"Is that all Wonder Boy is?" Connor said, "A friend?"
"His name is Eric." Mia was starting to get pissed, "And that's none of your fucking business."
"I'm just asking a simple question there's no need to get hostile."
"Connor what do you want from me?"
"Did you?"
Mia saw her opportunity and she showed no mercy, "Yep, we had hot porno sex all night long. What else was I supposed to do after"-
"I already said that wasn't what it looked like!" Connor's voice bordered on a shout.
Mia crossed her arms and turned away, "Connor, let me out of the car."
"I can't," he said through gritted teeth. Mia looked at Connor and his eyes were shut tight as he leaned his head on his steering wheel. His knuckles were turning white from how hard he was gripping the wheel, “I’m not good at this Mia. I’m so mad, but I know if I let you walk out right now...that’s it… you already found my replacement”
You’re my only friend.His earlier words echoed in her head.Oh... Connor
“No one could replace you.” Mia said said. She put her hand on his shoulder, "We're best friends. That doesn't change because you start acting stupid."
He looked to her. It was as if he was seeing her there for the first time. His eyes got wide with surprise. He let go of the steering wheel and ran his hand over his face, “I’m sorry, you can go.” he flicked the switch and the doors unlocked again.
“No,”
“What?”
“You need me.” Mia said, “I’m not going anywhere.”
“I don’t need anyone, just go.”
“No,” Mia said, “Consider it payback.” Mia shrugged.
She put Eric’s plate on the back seat and lifted her legs onto the seat into a more comfortable position. Connor’s leg began to tap anxiously. Mia looked out the window at her front door. She wasn't sure what she was going to walk into when she went inside. Hopefully her dad wouldn't ground her for the rest of her life. She was looking forward to Prom.
“You’re just going to sit there?” Connor said after the silence stretched a few minutes.
“Yep,”
“For how long…”
“Until you start talking to me.” Mia said.
Connor scoffed, “About what?”
“About what’s bothering you.” Mia said, “I can understand you getting worried about me, but getting into a fight with my as you put it,” Mia air quoted, “‘minor’ friend would definitely land you jail time. I’ve never seen you like that before.”
“It’s you.”
“What about me?” Mia said.
“You make me crazy…” Connor said, “I-I can’t think straight when it comes to you and to see you with him...like that…”
“Wait are you saying you…”Mia started. It just didn’t make any sense, “You were jealous...of Eric?” Connor looked at her. Mia didn’t think she’d ever seen him so wide-eyed. She couldn’t help it. She started laughing.
“I’m happy I amuse you.”
“I’m sorry it’s just too ridiculous.” Mia said, “I’ve never known you to be insecure about anything.” Mia tried to stifle her laughter, but it only made it worse.
Connor smirked, “It’s not that ridiculous.” He looked forward again, “Wonder Boy wants you.”
“His name is Eric.” Mia said her giggles finally subsiding, “And he’s just a friend I already said that.”
“Believe me Mia,” Connor said. And he gave her the weird not-blinking-Connor stare, “He wants you.”
“Whatever,” Mia said shaking her head. She sighed and looked at him again, “Are we good?”
“We’re perfect,” He said, “What are your plans for today?”
“Why does everyone keep forgetting I’m in trouble?” Mia said. She reached in the back seat and grabbed Eric’s plate.
“Right,” Connor said. Mia got out, “Text me later.” Connor said before she closed the door. Mia nodded. She sighed as she turned toward her house. Two down, one to go.
"What is that?"
"Huevos Rancheros" Mia said after swallowing, "you want some?"
"I'll pass..."
Mia shrugged and went back to eating. The drive was quiet. Mia was allowed to think about everything and she might have been mad at Connor, but she couldn't even manage that with memories of her normal happy times with Eric running through her head. If Connor was more like Eric they'd probably be married by now. Mia sighed. But Connor was Connor and Eric was Eric. They pulled up to the side of the road outside her house.
"I'll tell my dad you gave me a ride." Mia said, "I'm sure he'll give you a gold star for your overprotection." She reached for the door and it locked shut. Mia rolled her eyes. Here we go...
"About last night"-
"Connor I was having a great morning until you decided to play daddy and almost beat up my friend so if you would kindly open the door."
"Is that all Wonder Boy is?" Connor said, "A friend?"
"His name is Eric." Mia was starting to get pissed, "And that's none of your fucking business."
"I'm just asking a simple question there's no need to get hostile."
"Connor what do you want from me?"
"Did you?"
Mia saw her opportunity and she showed no mercy, "Yep, we had hot porno sex all night long. What else was I supposed to do after"-
"I already said that wasn't what it looked like!" Connor's voice bordered on a shout.
Mia crossed her arms and turned away, "Connor, let me out of the car."
"I can't," he said through gritted teeth. Mia looked at Connor and his eyes were shut tight as he leaned his head on his steering wheel. His knuckles were turning white from how hard he was gripping the wheel, “I’m not good at this Mia. I’m so mad, but I know if I let you walk out right now...that’s it… you already found my replacement”
You’re my only friend.His earlier words echoed in her head.Oh... Connor
“No one could replace you.” Mia said said. She put her hand on his shoulder, "We're best friends. That doesn't change because you start acting stupid."
He looked to her. It was as if he was seeing her there for the first time. His eyes got wide with surprise. He let go of the steering wheel and ran his hand over his face, “I’m sorry, you can go.” he flicked the switch and the doors unlocked again.
“No,”
“What?”
“You need me.” Mia said, “I’m not going anywhere.”
“I don’t need anyone, just go.”
“No,” Mia said, “Consider it payback.” Mia shrugged.
She put Eric’s plate on the back seat and lifted her legs onto the seat into a more comfortable position. Connor’s leg began to tap anxiously. Mia looked out the window at her front door. She wasn't sure what she was going to walk into when she went inside. Hopefully her dad wouldn't ground her for the rest of her life. She was looking forward to Prom.
“You’re just going to sit there?” Connor said after the silence stretched a few minutes.
“Yep,”
“For how long…”
“Until you start talking to me.” Mia said.
Connor scoffed, “About what?”
“About what’s bothering you.” Mia said, “I can understand you getting worried about me, but getting into a fight with my as you put it,” Mia air quoted, “‘minor’ friend would definitely land you jail time. I’ve never seen you like that before.”
“It’s you.”
“What about me?” Mia said.
“You make me crazy…” Connor said, “I-I can’t think straight when it comes to you and to see you with him...like that…”
“Wait are you saying you…”Mia started. It just didn’t make any sense, “You were jealous...of Eric?” Connor looked at her. Mia didn’t think she’d ever seen him so wide-eyed. She couldn’t help it. She started laughing.
“I’m happy I amuse you.”
“I’m sorry it’s just too ridiculous.” Mia said, “I’ve never known you to be insecure about anything.” Mia tried to stifle her laughter, but it only made it worse.
Connor smirked, “It’s not that ridiculous.” He looked forward again, “Wonder Boy wants you.”
“His name is Eric.” Mia said her giggles finally subsiding, “And he’s just a friend I already said that.”
“Believe me Mia,” Connor said. And he gave her the weird not-blinking-Connor stare, “He wants you.”
“Whatever,” Mia said shaking her head. She sighed and looked at him again, “Are we good?”
“We’re perfect,” He said, “What are your plans for today?”
“Why does everyone keep forgetting I’m in trouble?” Mia said. She reached in the back seat and grabbed Eric’s plate.
“Right,” Connor said. Mia got out, “Text me later.” Connor said before she closed the door. Mia nodded. She sighed as she turned toward her house. Two down, one to go.