A few weeks later, Julia decided to go and see if Mike
was alright for herself. He'd gotten really cagey, finding any excuse
to disappear. This worried her, and she decided to set things
straight, once and for all.
"Gray," she asked. "Have you seen Michael anywhere?"
Gray paused, puffing his pipe. "I saw him over there a few minutes
ago," he answered, noting Julia's expression. "What's wrong?"
"That's what I intend to find out."
She ventured further, still searching. "Carol? Have you seen Mike?"
"No, Julie, I haven't. What are you up to?"
"I'm going to see whats going on. He's been avoiding me like the plague
the last few days."
TJ happened to be over a few feet away, and caught the last bit.
Quickly he scanned the room for any sign of his best friend, and
frowned.
"Why's he doing that?" asked Carol.
"No clue," said Julia.
TJ continued scanning until he found Mike over talking to Eric.
OH BLOODY HELL!
"What's going on?" asked John.
"World War Three," muttered TJ.
"What are you on about?"
"Can you keep a secret?"
"Yeah, of course I can."
"You know Eric's dating Julia right?"
"Yeah, everybody knows that."
Graham had appeared beside John, a puzzled expression on his face.
"Well," said TJ in a low tone. "Our kid Mike's in love with her."
"Since when?"
"Since the three of them did that Marriage Counselor bit. It's the
Pewty stuff for real, lads."
Graham frowned.
"Promise you two'll keep your mouths shut. Mike swore me to
secrecy."
"Promise," said John and Gray in unison.
The three men watched the scene unfold in front of them.
"There you are!" said Julia.
Both
Mike and Eric's faces lit up when they saw her, Mike's smile
disappearing as he shot a glance to Eric, making sure he'd not been
caught.
"Hello darling," he heard Eric say to her. Mike feeling that puke
feeling again.
"He's practically green!" whispered John. "I didn't know it was
this bad."
"Just wait," whispered TJ.
"Hello love," said Julia, as Eric kissed her on the cheek, she
locked eyes with Mike.
There's that yucky face again! I'm sorting this out.
Mike meanwhile caught the frustrated look on her face, his eyes
widening. OH CHRIST! SHE KNOWS! What do I do now?
"I need to borrow Mike a minute,
dear," said Julia.
"Ok," said Eric.
"But..but.." sputtered Mike.
"No buts," said Julia, grabbing hold of his hand.
"I can't watch this," said TJ. "Tell me what happens."
"I would, mate, " said John. "But they're going out of viewing
range."
"Jules?" asked Mike nervously, once the two of them were away from
everyone else. "What's the matter?"
"That's what I want to know too."
"Eh?"
"Do you hate me?" she asked.
"NO! I don't hate you, Jules!"
"Then
if you don't hate me," she whispered. "Why is it that everytime I even
look your way you get this really awful look on your face?"
"Awful look?" asked Mike, his heart thundering like a jackhammer.
"What'd you mean?"
"Well,
instead of looking like this," said Julia, her expression normal. "You
look at me like this." She then got a really nauseated look to her
face, her features all pinched and screwed up.
Mike's heart plummeted.
"Almost as if I'm Frankestein's monster or somethin'," said Julia.
"You've really had me worried."
"I'm sorry Jules, I didn't mean to seem that way, honest."
"Are you upset with me about anything?"
"No."
""If I ever do wrong by you for any reason, any reason at all, you
tell me. And tell me the truth. Promise?"
Alright,
Jules, you want the truth? Fine. Truth is I'm desperately in love with
you, and I know I can't have you 'cause you're dating one of my best
friends and you just like me as a friend, and all this stuff is driving
me completely mad and the more I try to forget about you the more you
stick around in me head..
"Same with you, Jules, "said Mike. "I promise."
"Good," smiled Julia. "I'd hate to have to tickle you again."
Mike turned a little pink. "Not that," he chuckled. "Anything but
that."
Julia made a face, scrunching her nose, and Mike did the same,
both laughing.
"Now, see? That's a lot better, " she smiled.
"Aye, it is," said Mike. "It sure is."
"I don't have to beg you for a hug do I?"
"No, no," said Mike shyly.
They
embraced for a few minutes, Julia first kissing him on the cheek, but
when he went to return it, they wound up kissing for real. It was only
for about thirty seconds, but it seemed a lifetime for him.
Julia pulled back from him, eyes wide, her expression mirroring
his own. The silence was unbearable until she finally spoke. "Still
buddies then?"
"Aye, buddies and pals," said Mike.
"Don't scare me like that anymore, Meep," she said.
"I won't, Jules."
Meep was a nickname she'd given him, one just between them.
"We'd best get back, 'fore everyone gets worried."
"Right."
The two headed back to rejoin the others in the studio, Julia
heading over to Eric, Mike to TJ.
"You're in an awfully good mood," whispered TJ.
"Aye," said Mike softly, touching his face.
"What? She hit you?"
"No...better."
TJ frowned.
"She kissed me. Just on the cheek, but still she kissed me, TJ.
Then..Then I kissed her."
TJ's eyes went huge. "YOU WHAT?"
"Be quiet!" shushed Mike.
"So you told her you loved her?"
"No."
"What happened then?"
Mike motioned to where Eric was with Julia. "For a minute, just for a
minute, I got to be him."
TJ paused, finally understanding what his friend meant. "You
okay?"
"Yeah," answered Mike. " I am. I really really am."
"Monty Python turns into bloody Coronation Street,"
groaned TJ.
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