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The next morning, when Regina dropped Mike off, they happened to run into Meemaw, who was also just getting home.
As Regina drove away, Meemaw looked at Mike—who was still looking energetic and full of life—and couldn't help but sigh. "Ah, to be young again."
Mike just glanced at her and gave a knowing smile without saying a word.
The "games" last night had been pretty wild, to say the least. If Mike didn't have such a high constitution, he might not have been able to keep up with four "succubus-level" girls.
Gretchen was worth mentioning, too. She was the more studious, quiet type, but after finally "tasting the forbidden fruit," her performance for the rest of the night was every bit as enthusiastic as the other three.
---
With Halloween over, Mike's life returned to its usual rhythm. Of course, he now had one more girl he had to spend time managing.
That Friday, as Mike was packing up his things to head home, he was cornered at the classroom door once again.
"Mike, are you free tomorrow?" Veronica asked with a hopeful smile. "There's a baptism at the church tomorrow morning. We could go together."
This was the same Veronica who had given a "heartfelt confession" to Mike back in the Angel House during Halloween. Ever since then, she had been completely smitten by him. Throughout the week, she'd take every chance she got to strike up a conversation.
Mike knew exactly what she was thinking. However, on a scale of one to ten, she was a seven at best, and her flat athletic build didn't exactly earn her any extra points. Compared to the stunning and curvy Karen and the others, Veronica was definitely playing in a different league.
"I have plans tomorrow," Mike said flatly. He had turned her down formally several times already, but it didn't seem to be sticking.
Seeing her get rejected again, Veronica's eyes dimmed. But she quickly forced another smile. "What about the day after? Want to catch a movie? I actually happen to have two tickets right here."
As she continued to plead, a crowd of students who loved drama started to gather around them. Hearing the whispering increase, Mike realized he needed to shut this down once and for all. If he let her keep chasing him like this, it wouldn't end well for anyone.
Just as Mike was mentally preparing some "tough love" words, Regina and her "Fit & Curvy" squad strolled over. After their recent training sessions, the girls were more radiant than ever, turning heads wherever they went.
"Veronica, is there a problem here?" Regina had fully reclaimed her "Queen Bee" status. Being a senior herself, she had obviously noticed Veronica's little crush. Bringing the whole squad with her today was a clear move to mark her territory.
"No... no problem," Veronica stuttered, her confidence instantly crushed. Looking at the gorgeous, high-status girls in front of her, she felt completely outclassed.
"Good." Regina gave her a dismissive glance before turning to Mike. "Ready to go?"
To the Queen Bee, a plain Jane like Veronica wasn't even worth considering a rival. And she was right—the moment Regina showed up, the competition was over.
Mike took the hint and walked out of the school with Regina's group. Veronica was left standing in the hallway, looking devastated as the other students pointed and whispered. After this, she probably wouldn't be bothering Mike again.
"Veronica, you okay?" Georgie, who had been hiding nearby watching the whole thing, rushed over to comfort her as soon as Mike was out of sight. He knew exactly when a girl was at her most vulnerable.
"I'm fine," Veronica said blankly, still reeling from the shock.
"I heard you're going to the church for the baptism tomorrow. I could go with you..." Georgie said, trying to find common ground.
Hearing that, Veronica looked up. Feeling lost, she was looking for something to believe in. Since she had already decided to become more religious, she asked, "Are you becoming a believer too?"
From their previous interactions, she knew Georgie wasn't exactly the "church-going" type.
"I..." Georgie, a total skeptic, decided to tell a little white lie for the sake of his future happiness. He looked into her eyes and said soulfully, "Yes. I've decided to join the church."
Veronica didn't catch the hidden meaning behind his words. She just thought having an acquaintance join with her might make the experience better.
She smiled. "Okay then, Georgie. See you tomorrow morning."
"See ya..." Georgie watched her walk away, looking totally dazed. That final smile had clearly done a number on him.
---
At the school exit, Regina turned to Mike. "Want to come over tomorrow? We could have another private party." She finished with a playful, teasing wink.
The other girls in the squad looked at Mike expectantly. It was clear the last "session" had been a great experience for everyone. (Mike's "Lunar Aura" trait was definitely doing some heavy lifting).
"I can't tomorrow. I've got other stuff to do," Mike said.
"Going to see Reena?" Regina laughed. "You know, you could just invite her to join us."
Because Mike was so upfront, the girls he was seeing all knew about each other.
"I don't think that's a good idea," Mike said, shaking his head slightly. Since Reena wasn't part of the squad and was in a different grade, there was always a bit of an unspoken barrier between her and Regina's group.
"That's a shame," Regina said playfully. "We were going to invite you to a 'music party' tomorrow."
"You guys play instruments?" Mike asked, surprised.
"We don't yet, but we're learning..." Regina grinned. "Here's a hint: Gretchen is learning the flute."
The "flute," huh? Mike thought, catching the double entendre immediately.
Gretchen, who was still a bit shy, turned bright red when Regina mentioned her. It was worth noting that since she'd started seeing Mike, her skin had taken on a noticeable, healthy glow.
"I've always been interested in music," Mike suggested, feeling tempted. "How about the day after tomorrow? We can... 'practice' together."
It took a fair amount of talking on the way home in Regina's sports car, but Mike finally got her to agree to the plan.
---
On Saturday, Mike spent a wonderful day at Reena's farm, making up for the time they missed on Halloween.
That evening, when Mike showed up at the Coopers' for dinner, he saw Georgie sitting there with a very clear handprint on his face.
"What happened to him?" Mike asked, curious.
George and Mary both looked like they were struggling to hold back a laugh. Meemaw didn't even try—she just burst out laughing.
"I know! I know!" Missy raised her hand eagerly. "At the baptism ceremony this morning, Georgie tried to kiss the girl across from him, and she slapped him!"