{Mia's POV}
It was Christmas time. I was thoroughly in the spirit, but I didn't want to overdo it especially when Robert didn't have any family left to celebrate Christmas. I wasn't even sure if he was up to celebrating with me or if I'd have to go to my parents for Christmas. After just a few days, Robert's face continues to look like someone punched him. We sat in the office waiting for House to arrive with a case. I had gifts for my nurse friends and the group in a bag nearby.
"Santa needs our help." House says as he throws a file at Robert.
{Robert's POV}
I wasn't looking forward to seeing House. I'd taken a few days to avoid him so he didn't see my face. Mia thought it looked horrible and tried to have a look at it every time I was close enough to her. It hurt a little to kiss her, but kissing her was worth the pain.
"Have you gotten that looked out?" House asks.
"It's fine." I say. Cameron suggests what the little people of this case has and every time House makes a dwarf or elf joke, Mia narrows her eyes angrily.
"My best friend growing up was a little person! She was a great person with a great personality regardless of her height." Mia says.
"She must have had very little confidence then if she's no longer your friend." House says. This was the first I'd heard of Mia's friend. I just knew of her college friends. She didn't talk about any friends from growing up. Every time we spoke of it, she just got quiet just like now. Mia was staring at the folder on the table in front of her. I reach over under the table and take her hand. Cameron begins working on the patient. I pull Mia aside and I look at her. She smiles at me.
"Mia, why don't you talk about your high school days?" I ask. Her smile fades and she looks away. She gets glossy look in her eyes as if she's going to cry.
"That bad babe?" I ask and she looks at me with wide eyes. It was the first time I'd called her babe. It just sorta slipped out. I gulp as I look at her.
"Uh, well, yeah, a little." She says.
"Tell me about it when you get a chance and feel like it?" I ask and she blushes as she nods. I walk away to get some work done.
{Mia's POV}
"Tell me about it when you get a chance and feel like it?" Robert asks. I blush before nodding. He walks away to get some work done.
The things that happened between me and my group of friends during high school will be something I'll never forget. I could still see our last today together vividly in my mind every time I look at my cell phone picture of us. I stood in the middle hugging my friend who with Dwarfism from behind around her shoulders and neck with two girls and a guy with me. I was grinning, Miranda, the little person friend, was pouting as her hair was wet. The twins, a boy and girl named Arina and Viktor, and Sophia stood behind us. All of us were wearing swimsuits.
{Flashback-Normal POV}
The five teenagers were having a party a few days before graduation. It was actually warm enough surprisingly to go swimming. Arina and Viktor Stafstrom were going to be going back to Russia a few days after graduation. Their parents had business associates in America that were looking after them. This would be their last day to see each other since their last names made them separated in the graduation line. The group decided to meet at their favorite hangout then head over to surprise Miranda before heading back to Sophia's to have their party.
Upon arrival at Miranda's, she was shocked that her friends had come to find her. Mia helped her find a swim suit and they headed to Sophia's place. Right away, Miranda started to complain about the pool. It was how she was. The group decided they were going to get her to swim with them. They all head over to her and manage to throw her into the pool. She quickly got out and they all posed in a picture Sophia's mother.
"Hey, Mia?" Sophia asks and Mia walks over to her.
"Yeah, what's up Soph?" Mia asks replying with her nickname for Sophia.
"Viktor only has a few more days. I'm going to tell him and hope that he likes me too." Sophia says.
"Huh? I didn't know you liked Viktor." Mia says.
"Of course!" Sophia says, "He's so dreamy!"
"Well, I'm rooting for you!" Mia says.
Within a few hours, Sophia called that Viktor had rejected her. Then Mia gets a call from Viktor wanting to meet up. She heads to their favorite hang out to yell at him. Upon arrival, she noticed he was all dressed up nicely. He blushed and looked at Mia.
"I don't want to go back to Russia." Viktor says.
"Why not?" Mia asks.
"I want to stay here and be your boyfriend!" Viktor says and Mia's eyes widen. She was flattered. She steps back from him and looks down.
"No." She says.
"Why not?" Viktor asks.
"I came here to yell at you! How could you not even listen to Sophia's feelings?! She is the one in love with you!" Mia says.
"But I don't love her." Viktor says, "I want to support you in your dream to be a doctor!"
"No." Mia says and takes off running.
Arina had followed her brother. She told Sophia and Sophia assumed that Mia had said yes so, she stopped talking with Mia. On Graduation day, only Mia Miranda were the ones who stood in the stop they arranged to meet. They took a few pictures before they said goodbye. Mia's mother did send a copy of the picture to everyone before the twins left so they'd all have pictures together.
{Present-Mia's POV}
That was the last time I saw my friends. I wonder how they are doing now. I sigh before I head to get to work. I find the group talking about the patient in the office.
"Where have you been?" House asks.
"Uh, thinking." I say. Cuddy comes in and takes over the case. She sends us off to do some work. We head to the MRI room. I watch the patient while the group talks.
"This is wrong." Cameron says.
"Cutting House off?" Foreman asks, "Might not work, but it's not wrong." I stare at the patient named Abigail as I think about my friends.
"Guys." I say and rush into the other room as the girl was coughing up blood. I hold her hair. It was obviously her liver and not her lungs.
We go give our report to Cuddy. The group begins fighting over who is right over what is wrong. Mainly Cameron and Wilson were arguing. I sigh as I listen to the argument. The team struggles to find the correct problem and I get deep into my thinking.
The treatment the team had fails and the group tries to figure out exactly what is going on. Cuddy goes to deal with House who ends up solving the case. When the team is finally able to go home, I sit in the passenger seat of Robert's car. He was driving home.
"Something did happen." I say.
"Hmm?" Robert says.
"With my high school friends." I say.
"Oh, are you finally ready to tell me?" He asks.
"I've always been ready, it's just been difficult. I made a mistake just before High School." I say.
"Mistake?" He asks.
"With my friend Sophia. She was in love with this guy. Turns out he liked me and when I rejected him for Sophia, I never told her. He went back to Russia and Sophia went off to college where she turned to drugs and alcohol. Basically, ruined her life. All because he rejected her. I guess Miranda blamed me for our friends all breaking up because I never heard from her again." I say.
"It's only been six years." He says.
"I do feel I was responsible. I never told her the truth." I say.
"If you could have the chance now?" He says.
"I don't know where anyone else. I don't have contact information." I say.
"Right." He says.
"But I would give anything to apologize. I miss Miranda the most I guess." I say. He takes my hand as he drives and I blush at him.
"H-Hey! Drive!" I say.
"I am." He says, "How about we try to find Miranda and the rest of your friends. I think after six years you should get back together."
"Well, for Viktor and Arina it'll be a bit difficult." I say.
"Why?" He asks.
"They were foreign exchange from Russia." I say.
"Oh." He says.
"Yeah, so that will be a bit difficult." I say and he nods.
"Well, I still want to try." He says.
"Thank you." I say.
"Of course." He says.
"So, um, tomorrow is Christmas." I say.
"Yes, your parents are arriving at ten and your brother has been out getting the food all day. I am cooking dinner for my girlfriend and her family." He says and my eyes widen as I look at him.
"Robert! You've been secretly planning this haven't you?" I ask.
"Yes, I have actually." He says and I giggle as I look at him, "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas." I say.