As much as I love getting all dolled up and ready to party, I hated the process of getting dolled up and ready to party. I laid on my bed lazily, groaning at the thought of having to get up from under these covers, and straight to doing my hair, putting on my makeup, and getting into some outfit that I had yet to choose.

Mike got out from the restroom, showered and already dressed - minus shoes. He put his hands on his hips and his eyebrows furrowed, "Bonnie! Are you seriously not even out of pajamas yet?"

"Mike, maybe we shouldn't go." I suggested with an innocent smile.

"No way! You were the one that said yes to this, so we are going! I even told you to back out two days ago." He crossed his arms.

"Mikey," I sang. "I just wanna lay down with yooouuu."

He shook his head, "Nope, no way. Get up, c'mon!"

I shot him an ugly face then stood up and walked to my closet. "I hate you."

"I know, I know." He said, collapsing on my bed.

I searched high and low, near and far for clothes to wear. When I was unsuccessful, I grabbed my laptop and then FaceTimed Nicole. Once she answered, I said, "What are you wearing?"

She laughed, "Dude, I was just about to ask you. Help me."

"How about you come over, with booze, and we help each other out."

"Deal. I'll tell Cam to grab some wine so we can start getting drunk." We both nodded at one another and then hung up. I laid back down on the bed with Mike and he stared at me.

"You and Nic always do this?" He raised an eyebrow.

"We're fashionistas, what can I say?" I smirked.

He smiled softly and took my hand in his, playing with it. He rubbed his thumb on my palm and then pushed a piece of fallen hair behind my ear, "My my, Miss Bonnie. You sure are beautiful."

I couldn't stop looking in his eyes for some reason. I couldn't stop looking at his rugged face and his plump lips. I couldn't stop looking at him and I couldn't stop smiling. I leaned forward and kissed him softly, my hand placed on his cheek. His hand went to my back and stayed there as he kissed me back. I felt the chills go up my spine and tingles coursing through my entire body. I had to pull back. I'd never, ever felt that before.

Mike turned his head to the side, confused as to why I pulled back. But, he still smiled nonetheless. "I wanted to ask you something." I said quietly.

"What's up, sweetheart?"

"I'm supposed to be going to New York in a couple weeks for about a week, and since you don't start tour for another month, I want you to come with me. My parents have a really great apartment in Manhattan. You know, if you want. That way it could be our little time together before you leave."

He grinned, "Just us?" I nodded, trying to match his smile. "I think that's a great idea. I'd love to go with you."

"Okay, good." I gleamed before placing a peck on his lips. A couple of minutes later, my doorbell buzzed and I knew that was Nicole and Cam.

Mike and I went down the steps and I greeted him at the door. Cam held up beer and Nicole showed me a bottle of wine. "Thank god." I said before letting them in. I grabbed two wine glasses and we ran up to my room while Cam and Mike stayed downstairs and turned on the TV.

We walked into my room, popped open the bottle, and poured ourselves and nice and full glass before heading into my closet and choosing outfits. "I feel like I should wear my Litas since it is afterall a Jeffrey Campbell party."

"I feel like you should, too." Nicole said flipping through the racks. "It's only right."

"So, Mike is going with me to New York when I go." I mentioned as we threw outfits together.

Her eyes shifted from the clothes to me and she grinned widely, "Bonnie, are you serious?"

I nodded, "Yup. Just Mike and I. I'm kind of excited."

"Does he know that you're going there for buying and whatnot?"

"I didn't mention that the first half is buying, but I'm gonna mention that later."

She was quiet for a moment as her smile faded, "Do you feel like you and him are going a little-- I don't know, fast?"

I looked at her oddly, "I don't feel like it, why?"

"I'm just saying. You and Steven didn't take a trip alone until after you two dated for like a year. Remember that you and Mike have only been together a little over a month. Don't move fast because he's leaving."

I felt offended. I never really felt offended but that one hit me hard. Moving fast? I'm the queen of moving slow. "I don't feel that at all, actually. And I'm not."

She rolled her eyes. "Bonnie, get real dude. You know you two are moving fast. I mean, you've already screwed him."

I stopped what I was doing and I looked at her. Now, I was upset. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"It just means that you know you don't screw guys until later on..."

"Nicole, what the fuck? Are you serious right now?" She raised her blonde eyebrows and then glared at me. "Why are you even saying all of this?"

"Because I'm you're best friend and no one else is gonna tell you. He's met the parents, he's fucked you, and now you're taking him on a little trip to New York. Please dude, you don't even know Mike like I do. You have no idea how he is in relationships - if he even makes it that far with a girl."

I stayed quiet as I took in what she said. What is all of this supposed to mean? What am I even supposed to say? How could she even say all of this to me?

But most importantly, was she right?

---

I felt awkward. I felt like I wanted to leave this party. Believe me, it was cool and all, but I just didn't want to be in the same room as Nicole right now. Mike was mingling with the CEOs of UNIF and I was throwing back the booze, more because I wanted to desperately get intoxicated. Cam and Nicole were on the other side of the room chatting with a couple of people they knew.

Mike nudged me when we got a second alone and he said, "You okay?"

I nodded, "Nicole just annoyed the fuck out of me earlier."

"How so?" He grabbed himself a whiskey Coke from the bar and then looked back at me.

"She's just getting on my nerves." I said shortly, trying not to seem too pissed off at her.

He eyed me, knowing that I was giving all the details, but he wasn't gonna push my buttons to get them out of me. We might as well have a good time since we're already here.

I knew that I didn't know Mike maybe as well as Nic did. But who was I to judge? Even though I wanted to have a great time, I couldn't. I just wanted to get home, get out of this stupid black skirt, and eat some chips and salsa in my bed. Maybe a burger too.

About an hour or so later, Mike asked me softly if I wanted to leave. I nodded in agreement. The alcohol was acquiring a bad taste and the food was getting lame. We said our goodbyes and took a cab back to my place since we had originally rode with Nicole and Cam. I walked into my place, tossed my keys somewhere, it really didn't matter where they flew at this point as long as it was away from me, and then I threw myself on the couch dramatically.

Mike looked at me, his tattooed arms cross across his chest. "Okay, what happened?"

"I told you that we should just stay in. I told you."

"Bons, what happened?" He asked for the 15,000th time.

I chewed on my lip for a moment, seeing if I was witty enough to think up a small lie that I could tell him. But, I'm not witty so I just decided to be honest. "Nicole said that you and I are moving too fast. I told her about our small trip to New York and her attitude changed. I felt like she was calling me a whore because we've already have sex which is stupid because her and Cam had sex around the same time. But, it's not like she should even care if we're having sex or not and then she made it seem like I shouldn't trust you and even if I shouldn't, you haven't given me a reason not to and she said that I'm moving 'fast' with you because you're leaving which is also bullshit." I rambled a mile a minute and Mike's face sunk as I ended my explanation. Oh great, now he's upset. Was it me?

He sighed deeply and shook his head, "I knew she'd turn on me at any second." He joined me on the couch and I looked at him curiously. "Look, I've known Nicole and Cam for a while. And yes, she knows my past relationships but it's not fair to judge me on them for the rest of my life. I know she's being protective because your her best friend but c'mon, give me a chance here!"

"I feel really angry with her and I don't know if I should or not."

"Bonnie, I like the speed we're going." He smirked at me suddenly.

I smiled back, "I do, too. This speed feels like the right one."

"Why is she so worried about New York?"

"Because. Look, half of that week is gonna be spent buying for other stores and shit but New York in the fall is the most beautiful thing ever. My parents hardly use the apartment so I try to head out there when I'm trying to get away from everyone, and I wanted to go there. Sorry for ruining it." I stuck out my lip.

He grinned widely, "You didn't ruin a thing baby. New York is definitely unlike any other in the fall."

He was right. I didn't ruin anything. And Nicole isn't ruining this for me. I won't let her. If this is a mistake, then I'll just hang my head in shame and say nothing. But, I won't know unless I do something about this. Unless I live in this moment with Mike. This absolutely, positively, beautiful moment. I can't miss that.

I glanced over at him for what seemed like forever, but in reality was a split second, and I studied him. I noticed that he never truly stopped drumming his fingers and hands against his thighs and how nimble his long fingers seemed; most seeming to have been broken before. The stubble on his face was enough to never truly know what he looked like without it. And, it seemed like I could see his heart, all wild and soft, and all of its intentions. They seemed good to me.

I will be the first to admit that Mike and I kind of lunged into this, head on, no looking back, but I've never had something like that. Something so unpredictable. I was excited. Can you blame me? He is the first exciting person I've met in years. Yet alone dated. I can't make everyone happy, not even my best friend. No matter what she says.

Notes

HEY GUYS!

I finallllllly updated. If you read my other story update, you'll know why.

Thanks for those who keep on keeping on even when I'm being mean and not updating. You all are the best :)

Tell me what you think of this short chapter.

The argument between Nicole and Bonnie?
The trip that's coming for Mike and Bons?
Nicole's bitchiness?

I'd love to hear it.

Love,
Amber