When You Wish You had Forgotten..., chapter 1

Mike walked out of the coffee shop. Tre was inside hitting on the barista, which just made him sick, so he stepped out. Billie joined him, laughing.
"Tre is crazy... " He said.
"We all know that," Mike answered, chuckling a bit. "Hell, most of the world does too,"
They watched the people walk past, hurrying to their jobs on the busy Seattle street. Sipping his coffee, someone caught his eye. Dark skinned and dark hair, the woman swept by, not noticing Mike, who was, by now, staring openly.
"Mike, are you okay?" Billie asked, a touch of worry in his voice. Mike didn't answer. He just kept watching. He racked his brain for as to why she was so familiar. And then he knew.



~*~ flashback ~*~
"Look, Mike, I just don't know... " He watched as tears filled her eyes. Looking at Mike down on one knee with a diamond ring in his outstretched hands, she didn't know if she could say what she needed to.
"Amira, I love you, and always will. I promise to keep you safe. Always. I'll try to make you happy... " he said passionately. And he meant it. He couldn't bear to be without her, he wanted her next to him, forever.
"Mike... Please... Please don't freak out... I'm just not ready for this... " Amira pushed the words out of her mouth. They weren't the only ones she had to say, but those had to do for now. She watched as Mike's face fell.
"What do you mean?" he asked, tears in his eyes now.
"I mean I can't get married to you," his eyes grew stormy, and she hastily added, "But I love you, Mike, I really do. But marriage... It's huge. And I know you're ready... But I'm not."
Mike bit back the harsh words that tore at his throat. He felt as though she ripped his heart from his chest and was currently smashing it under her stiletto heels.
"I see... " he croaked.
"Baby... " she tried. She sank down next to him. "I know you don't. Can you try? For me? Be happy, please?" His response was empty eyes watching her mournfully. Amira sighed. "We are both going to change. We'll move on... I'll get the job in Florida, you'll stay here with the guys... "
"What?" he asked sharply, as though being shaken from a dream.
"I'm leaving... You know that. You need to stay with the band. You're going to get big one day, and you'll see me in the crowd, screaming right along with you... "
"No, please... no," He was crying now. "You can't leave me... I love you... "
She didn't know what to do. She lay him down on the couch.
"Shhh, love, I'm right here for you... " Amira lay down next to him, facing Mike. "I love you... "
He looked at her. He tears had stopped. "I love you too," he murmured, and wrapped his arms around her, and they both fell asleep.


The next morning Billie Joe came into Mike's little 'apartment', which, in reality, was just an addition to his own house. Smiling, he observed first the obvious, and then, frowning, took in the details. Mike lay there with his long-time girlfriend, and she lay in his arms, but Mike looked tired and worn even in his sleep, and little trails of tears were on his face.
Billie crept out and made his way to the kitchen, thinking.
"Hey sweetie, how'd it go with Mike?" His mother asked brightly.
"I dunno... He didn't look so good... " He answered, sitting down.
Her face fell. "Oh, no... Mike must be devastated... " She sat down across from her son.
Billie nodded slowly. They sat in silence for while before his mom got up to start breakfast. Mike appeared in the doorway.
"Morning, Ollie," he greeted her. He sat down as well.
"Hey, want some pancakes? Eggs?"
He shook his head and was silent for a moment.
"She said no... " he stated, as though telling it more to himself than to Ollie or Billie. "I don't believe it. She's leaving. For Florida. Job there. She's leaving me. She's gonna be gone... " Ollie and Billie glanced at each other. Mike started to cry. "I love her still... She says she loves me. But why is she leaving?"
Ollie hugged Mike tightly. "It's going to be fine, sugar. You love her, but you'll love someone else too. I promise." She drew back. "Now honey, she is gonna come in here and see you crying. Do you want that?"
Mike shook his head, and wiped his eyes

~*~ end flashback ~*~


"Hey Billie... " he asked, never taking his eyes off of her. "Remember Amira?"
Billie grunted. "Yeah. You were so fucked up after her... Damn. Didn't come out of that until Rachel... " Billie trailed off. "Why?"
Mike smiled. "One second."
Billie watched in both amazement and confusion as Mike got up and ran after a girl.

Stopping at the signal, the girl tapped her foot. Mike smiled again.
"Umm... Amira?"
She turned.