When Love & Hate Collide
      Chapter 3

Michelle felt his eyes piercing through her as she walked away from him. It was if she had been hit by a ton of bricks but she was powerless to stop herself from looking back at him.
She smiled at him. He had smiled back. She felt dizzy with the excitement that filled her. So many hidden feelings came flooding back. All those distant memories were now in the forefront of her mind.
There he was standing there in his ever present black suit and tie, but all she could see was those gray boxers that he had worn to bed every night. All the time they wasted fighting one another. Well more like her fighting him. Pushing him away. Fighting the ever growing feelings that she had for him. She kept telling him that all she wanted was her life back. And when he had given her just that she wanted nothing more then to run back to him.
She shook her head ridding herself of all of it. That was in the past. Dylan Pierce was her present and more then likely her future. But Danny had given her hope that there was a glimmer of feelings still between them.
        "Hey girlfriend," Drew said running up to Michelle forcing her to forget about Danny Santos for the moment, anyhow.
        "Hey." Michelle smiled throwing her arms around her friend. "So how's the bride to be?"
        "Crazed," Drew opened the trunk for Michelle to drop her bags inside. "Things at Millennium are out of control, lost a bartender, trying to train two new girls, Jesse is on his way to New York to set up a gallery showing."
        "New York?" Michelle sounded surprised.
        "Yeah, can you believe it? Two weeks before the wedding and he's off doing his own thing. He left me holding the bag for all the arrangements."
        "Hey that's what I'm here for," Michelle countered.
        "I know. It's so great to have you back. I've missed you so much." Drew rested her hand on her friends.
Michelle held back a tear. She had missed this too. E-mail was fine but the personal contact, nothing beat it. "So where do we start?"
        "First I would have to say some girl talk. We have some serious catching up to do."
        "Drew, we talk nearly everyday."
        "Yeah, so?"
        "You already know everything there is to know. What more can we say?"
        "It's not what you say Michelle. I want to see your face when you say it. I want to see you get the goofy grin of yours when you talk about this guy Dylan." Michelle playfully punched her friends shoulder. "See there it is!" Drew pointed, "I knew it was the real thing with this guy."
Michelle had thought so too until minutes ago. Seeing Danny again had thrown her for a loop. Right now Dylan was running a very distant second. She tried her best to picture his face and remember his voice but all Michelle was able to come up with was Danny Santos.
        "Hey, Michelle....." Drew snapped her fingers in front of her eyes, "You in there girl?"
        "Yeah sorry. What ... what were you saying?"       
        "Do you want to grab a bite at Company before I take you back to your house?"
        "You know Drew I really am kinda tired. Would you mind if we just met up in the morning?"
        "Yeah, sure. You okay?"
        "Yeah I'm fine." Drew knew better though. She had seen that look on Michelle's face before. All those years ago when she was struggling with her feelings for Danny. Maybe it had been wrong to ask her to come back. To relive something that should have been dead and buried.
Drew pulled into the Bauer driveway. "So tomorrow then?"
        "You bet. I'm really glad you're back. Even if it is only for a couple weeks."
        "Me too," Michelle leaned in to hug her friend again. "You are going to make a beautiful bride. You know that?"
        "I hope so."
        "You will. Talk to in the morning."

Michelle walked into the house. Drinking in the firmilar surroundings. How she missed this kitchen. How she longed for her talks with Aunt Meta. She had distanced herself from everything when she left for New York. She was looking to start fresh but she knew now that a part of her would forever belong to Springfield and more importantly Danny Santos.