Kate took a sip from her soda when she saw Anna from the corner of her eye, Anna's gaze met hers for a moment and then she immediately turned away. She saw Carmen coming towards her with a loaded tray, and glanced at her watch to realize she had one minute before she has to go back to chemistry class.

"What's her problem?" Kate asked as Carmen was taking her seat in front of her, she was busy arranging her meal. "Who's?"

"Anna's" Kate said taking another sip. Carmen raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"You're kidding right?"

"No, what the hell, I didn't do anything wrong."

"I know, but you did kind of well, "stole" Michael from her." Carmen said taking a whole bunch of French fries into her mouth.

"And just exactly how could I steal him if they're still together?"

Carmen now raised her glance from the food to Kate's eyes, for a minute forgetting there was food in her mouth. "I'll fin' it hard to believe they are."

"Why?! I'm missing a whole point here!" Kate exclaimed. Carmen placed her food on the tray and took a sip from her water bottle. "We haven't really talked about what happened Kate, I don't know why, maybe partly why I also didn't try to persuade you to speak is because we had a deal – moving on, remember? It's a pretty huge issue I know, but what can I say? Apparently our Mikey is planning to drive us crazy, so just, for your own good – " Bell. "Ignore Anna, Michael and all the rest."

"I'm just not sure I understand what you mean I –"

"We'll talk about it in a more convenient time, I'm late for class. Don't think about it too much."

It's just a song I wrote, I'm not sure he even took credit for it, why is it such a big issue? Why is Anna so hostile towards me? How does she know?!

"Okay, later."

"You really are getting better!" Adam shouted through the loud music as Kate flipped a bottle into the air and caught it right on time.

"It's pure talent baby!"

The bar was really crowded tonight. The music was a little bit happier and louder. The Thought Criminals were going to perform once again and they were all seated by the bar drinking and chatting.

"Katie!" Joe called, rushing his way through the many people to the bar.

"I need four martinis with olives right now! It's crucial."

Martini Olive could be a good name for a Latino mafia leader or something, right? Seriously, haha.

"We're out of olives, what about cherries?"

"No, no, no! I need OLIVES. How come we're out of olives?! Look Katie, I have some very important people here, if they want olives – we give them olives. You're going to have to go to the market or something, have someone give you a ride, just do it quick, for Lord's sake."

"But look at the pressure here, I can't j-"

"Never mind the pressure! You're not working here alone. Who can give you a ride?"

"I have a car here –"

"No Adam I need you here!"

"I'm with my car here if you want." One of the band members said, it was the coke- guy, James.

"Good! Thanks a bunch pal, just what's your name?"

"James –"

"Okay Jamie, just do it quick please. Table 14, Adam make the martinis already, you get the olives, just drop them in and they're ready to go. Go, go, go!"

James and Kate sat both silently in the car as he was driving past the avenue. The only noise they heard was the car's engine.

"So… thanks for the ride" Kate said, trying to break the tension.

"Not like I had a choice in the matter, did I?"

Pffffft.

"You did have a choice. Saying no."

He smiled to himself. God, she hated his arrogance.

"With this crazy James Belushi at me? No way."

He parked the car and they got off.

"Hey, Katie"

"It's KATE."

"Okay, KATE, you're going the other way."

She turned around in surprise and bumped into him, he caught her shoulder, and they were so close she could smell his cologne – she could tell it was the new Lacoste, she smelled it once. He was much taller than her, one head taller, she looked up at him uncertainly, and he smirked at her, turned back and kept walking.

"You know you don't have to be such a jerk"

What was that for?

He turned around. "Excuse me?"

"I know we're not friends or something and you just give performances in the bar, but I don't know why you're being such a jerk. I'm just saying you could be friendlier, that's all."

He stood for a minute, with his stupid smile on his face. She seriously wanted to punch him.

"Friendlier. Are we not friends?" he said, in what seemed like a sarcastic tone.

"God, forget it, move, we need to hurry"

She walked fast past him to the conserves section, and grabbed a couple of olive cans. She placed them on the cash register, and the cashier removed them into a paper bag.

"Five dollars, please"

Shoot, Kate panicked for a moment.

"I forgot to ask Jo-"

"There" James handed the money to the cashier with a smile.

They returned to his car with Kate carrying the paper bag in both her arms.

"Thanks" Kate hissed.

"Anytime, Katie." He turned from the wheel and smiled at her with the same annoying smile.

"Kate…"

Kate and Carmen packed their things after the class and were glad this long school day was behind them. "Wanna meet later?" Carmen asked, as they took the steps. "Sure, we can go to the mall, I need some new t-shirts."

They exited the school's gates and walked through the path when suddenly –

Flash. Flash. Flash.

Kate was blinded and leaned back with her hands covering her eyes.

What the hell?!

When the flashing stopped she saw a whole crew carrying microphones and cameras rush towards her.

"So Patton, what could you tell us about Michael Green?"

"Kate, do you and Michael have any sort of intimate relationship?"

"Miss Patton, what was your first reaction to the article?"

WHAATTT THE HECK!?

She and Carmen exchanged gazes.

"What are you guys talking about?! What article?"

The interviewers looked surprised.

"You haven't seen it?"

She motioned Carmen to come after her and they escaped quickly.

"It's out I guess?"

"What is?"

"The article"

Kate took her bag off and placed it under her desk. Then realizing after a moment what Carmen just said -

"What? Did you know about it Carmen? Why didn't you tell me?!"

Carmen's eyes widened "I thought you knew!"

"All I knew was that he was using my song in his performances, apparently he went through the trash can and found it or something. I hadn't imagined anything like this – what did you guys hear that I haven't? Why is Anna so upset?!"

Carmen sighed, she couldn't believe it.

"Well, Michael just kind of announced something on the radio. A formal intention"

Kate took a seat on her bed.

"Your song, I'm guessing you're not a radio person because you don't know it, but it's a big hit."

Kate's green eyes now widened.

"Everyone wanted to know the story behind the song, that's all. Michael said that it was some girl, blah blah, that wrote it, and now in the article he apparently mentioned your name I –"

"What a jerk!! I can't believe it!! Of course Anna hates me!"

"I even called to his room hotel in Chicago and tried to prevent him from doing i-"

"What Carmen?! You needed to tell me about it before!"

"I didn't want to upset you!"

"Well you did!"

Carmen grabbed her bag. "Whatever Kate, come to your senses, then we'll talk."

Oh great, now Carmen hates me.

Kate wore big sunglasses and sneaked into the convenience store near her house.

The only thing missing is the James Bond theme, eh?

Then she saw it in big letters "MICHAEL GREEN" in smaller letters underneath "a fresh new talent with a fresh new story". There was a large picture of him holding a guitar in one hand while looking to the sky, there was a beach beyond him and his clothes and hair seemed to be flowing in the wind.

How sexy. Kate thought bitterly.

She grabbed the paper and was going to turn around to pay for it when-

"Miss! That's a nice looking guy you've got there!"

An elder man with a gray mustache exclaimed, she handed him the money, and turned to leave.

"What a catch! A famous singer!"

Kate sat on her bed and opened the magazine to the page of the article; there was another picture of Michael, lying on sand with his shirt semi-unbuttoned.

Michael Green has become in no time the new hot thing in the music industry, with his own written songs My Road to Life, Eyes Watch Lips, Hollywood Ain't So Far and one song that has became the biggest hits of all – the song carrying a story behind it, 'Little Mermaid'.

What?! Who gave him permission to name my song?

In an interview we were lucky enough to get with him, we spurred him to talk. 'So Michael, who is this girl who wrote Little Mermaid?'

'If you want a name, I'm afraid I can't be of any help to you. All I can say is that this girl is a very talented one with a voice of an angel. You might have gotten the impression that she and I are really close, but in fact we're not getting along too well at the moment.'

You bet we don't.

'So why did you decide to get this song published? Wouldn't she be upset?'

'I don't know, she might.

Oh, really?

But I published it from personal motives, I mean, she would know what I'm talking about.

Bummer, I don't.

This song she wrote maybe represents her feelings towards someone, but this song also represents my feelings in a way.'

'Your feeling towards her? I understand. So by publishing this song and singing it you're actually trying to say something, to her?'

'Yes.'

'Michael. We couldn't help noticing you had another girl named Anna Hazlett accompanying you, I supposed she is your girlfriend?'

Michael nods at me.

'Isn't she upset at the song and the girl?'

'Yes she is, I think everyone took it out of proportions, my saying, that is. Everyone got the wrong message.'

So what is your goddamn message Michael?!

'So what is your message, Michael?'

'My message is for the person who it is for to understand, nobody else. Whoever needs to get the message, will eventually get it.'

'It seems like by your message you try to motivate the mysterious girl to be with you, do you not?'

Michael looks a bit angry now.

'That's for her to understand.'

Kate's eyes wonder to the rest of the article, where is her name mentioned? She flips a page and she can't believe her eyes, there's a paparazzi picture of her sitting at Starbucks with Carmen.

WHAT THE?!

Kate Patton, the supposedly mysterious girl. It says under the picture in small letters.

Kate and Michael worked in a bar together and met each other on an almost daily basis. Kate herself sings her songs, after Michael's encouragement. Their mysterious love story isn't being exposed to us, but you can feel it with the sense of Little Mermaid, there's something very deep and profound in that song.

Kate shut the magazine and pushed it into her drawer angrily. She picked up the phone and tried to locate Michael's hotel. A girl answered "Hello?"

"Hello. May I ask for Mr. Green?"

"He isn't here; he's in his hotel room, who's speaking?"

"Kate. Kate Patton. I need the name of the hotel right now."

The secretary answered with an "Oh"

Luckily enough, he was staying not too far away. It was 30 minutes drive.

"Okay thank you." She hung up the phone and looked for the car keys.

While driving all kind of sentences from the article popped into Kate's mind.

This song she wrote maybe represents her feelings towards someone, but this song also represents my feelings in a way.

Feelings for who? She tried to recall the song's words.

Every night under the spotlight

I look at you, you smile at me

You sing your heart out and I lose my mind

In your words…

I wish that I could tell you just exactly how I feel

But it seems just too hard to make it real

I wish that I was Little Mermaid breaking free

By the spell of your sweet lips on mine

I wish that my mind would let go of this thought

I wish that you would feel the same for me.

Kate pulled over when she saw the big sign HILTON.

Oooh, I wonder if Paris and Nicky are in there.

She walked to the reception and waited for the receptionist to finish his call. She glanced at a mirror beside her, she looked horrible, with her sneakers untied and her sweatshirt tied lousily around her waste and her ponytail looked like she had just woken up. She tied her shoes and fixed her ponytail, and re-tied the sweatshirt around her waist, then turned back to the receptionist who had just placed the phone.

"May I help you?"

"Yes, I need Michael Green's room"

"Who are you?"

"Kate Patton."

She glanced nervously at the paper in her left hand. He picked up the phone and dialed a number, then placed the phone back. "He seems to be unavailable"

"Can you give me a key?"

"I'm afraid not."

"I'm his fiancée."

The receptionist studied her for a moment. She pulled out the paper and placed it in front of him.

"See? Me."

"Uhh… this is one time, don't tell anyone. I'm just really busy here."

He went to the back and pulled a key.

"Room 325"

She took the newspaper back "Thank you very much sir."

Michael grabbed a towel and dried his hair with it, then wrapped it around his waist. He stepped out of the shower looking for a comb when he heard his door open, he turned around.

"What the hell is thi-"

"AHHHH!!"

"OH MY GOD AHH!!"

Kate?!

She covered her face with the magazine.

"What the hell is this Michael?" She walked around with the magazine covering her face and sat on the bed, she placed the magazine beside her and stared at the couch.

Michael freaked out and started looking for a shirt, when he spotted one in the couch in front of her.

"Can you… give me that shirt in front of you?"

"What?-" she turned around then facing his shirtless body she covered one side of her face with her palm both to prevent awkwardness and also to hide her pink cheeks. She reached for the shirt and stretched out her hand backwards. He quickly snapped it from her and wore it. "Wait a second" he said, going back to the bathroom to get dressed and comb his wild hair.

He came back a minute later "You can turn around".

Surprisingly she got up and got hold of his shirt, she shoved the newspaper in his face angrily. "Tell me just what exactly do you think you're doing?! I don't mind the fact that you used MY song and sang it without my permission, I don't mind you speaking of the creator on the radio or whatever, but what the hell do you think you're doing by mentioning my name?! Why do I need to find MY picture, which was taken without MY acknowledgment, published for the whole world to see? For MY PARENTS to see? For my school to see? Why do I need to be chased after school with cameras and m-"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on a second. Sit down." She let go off his shirt and he held her shoulders and sat her on the bed, then kneeled beside her.

"I DIDN'T mention your name. It wasn't my intention at all; the only reason why I did is was bec-"

"Because you wanted to look like you're Valentino or something. That's why."

"No. I wanted to make up for my behavior, yes. That's one reason, but that's not all. I also hoped you'd realize –"

"Realize what? They got my name, how did they get my effing name?!"

Michael sighed.

I should have used bloody, it’s more threatening, isn't it? HOW DID THEY GET MY BLOODY NAME?! haha. British humor.

"I have a guess. God, I tried to stop it. I know, it's a mess… I didn't think it'd come to this, I just wanted to send a LITTLE message to you, that's all."

"If it wasn't you…"

Michael nodded.

"Anna? But how did she know?"

Michael rubbed his face with both hands and then ran his left hand through his wet hair.

"We had a fight, about the song. She made me tell her, so I did. Then she was really mad…"

"I can't believe it Michael how dare you!" she got hold of his shirt again, and pulled him to the floor and then she kneeled above him, he was too tired to protest.

"We're pretty violent today aren't we?"

"Shut up! How dare you ruin my friendship with Anna like that? She and I were good friends! I DIDN'T know you guys were together when I wrote this song, because you didn't tell me. Oh, does she know that?! I'm guessing not! Now she's mad at me instead of kicking your little musical butt!"

Michael bent his hands and lifted his head, so he could lean on his shoulders.

"Look, Kate. Anna's my girlfriend, okay? I've done some mistakes before, I know. I couldn't be untrue to her again, so yes I told her. I knew I was risking my relationship with her when I made this article, but it was important for me that you'll get this little message, apparently you didn't, so it wasn't worth all this crap I've been through and that I'm in at the moment."

Kate got up and took a seat on the bed.

"What message? For God's sake."

He took a sit beside her.

"That I never did what I did, for instance, not telling you about Anna and me, because I was a 'player'. I don't play around, okay? I'm not a lousy boyfriend, although it looked really bad, I know. But I DID like you when I made all these mistakes; I wasn't playing around, not with you and neither with Anna. I guess it really kind of messed up my relationship with her, because it makes her insecure about my feelings for her. Can't blame her really, I'd dump me if I was in her shoes. But she didn't, and I will do my best to prove her that I'm capable of loyalty."

"What made you fall inlike with me?"

He giggled.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing." He smirked at her and wrapped her shoulder with one arm.

"I just want to know where I failed, it's girls stuff."

"You didn't fail, I just kind of made myself stop liking you."

"Why would you do that?"

Michael almost felt sorry for her, he really treated her badly. She looked like an innocent hurt child asking him questions he had no answer to.

"Because it wasn't healthy, both for me and for you."

She nodded in agreement. He took his hand back.

"Say, how'd you get in anyway?"

She smirked to herself.

"I have magical powers." She shoved the key in front of his face.

"So, you're not coming to sing at the bar anymore?"

He got up from the bed and grabbed something from his desk.

"Of course I will, when I'm done with this tour."

"When will that be?"

"Uh, almost three months"

She nodded, getting up herself.

"So, friends?" he asked, almost shyly. She smirked at him and nodded.

"Whatever"

Then he hugged her closely so she could feel his warm body and smell his shampoo.

"I'll take off. Enjoy your tour." She told him at the door step. He watched her until she stepped into the elevator, giving her a small wave, until the next time they see each other.

author note:

I hope that settled the confusion! So what do you guys think of Mike shirtless? I say yum! (sorry boys!)

Pleaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaase review!