And, honestly? How can I tell anyone the truth now? I can’t. I just can’t.
Dr. K says this is the cowardly way of dealing with things. He says that I’m a brave woman, just like Eleanor Roosevelt and Princess Amelie, and that I can easily surmount these obstacles (such as having lied to everyone).
But there are just ten more days of school to go! Anyone can fake anything for ten days. Grandmère’s faked having eyebrows for the entire time I’ve known her—
Mia! You’re writing in your journal! I haven’t seen you do that in ages!
Oh. Hi, Tina. Yeah. Well, yeah, I told you. I was busy with my senior project.
I’ll say. You’ve been working on it for the past two years, almost! I had no idea the history of Genovian olive oil pressing was that fascinating.
It is, believe me! As the main export of Genovia, olive oil and its manufacture is an extremely interesting subject.
I can’t believe myself. Listen to me! How sad can I sound??? As the main export of Genovia, olive oil and its manufacture is an extremely interesting subject?
If only Tina knew what my book was really about! Tina would die if she knew I’d written a four-hundred-page historical romance…Tina adores romances!
But I can’t tell her. I mean, it obviously isn’t any good if I can’t get it published.
If only she had asked to read it…but who’d want to read about olive oil and its manufacture?
Okay, well, one person.
But he was just being nice. Honestly. That’s the only reason.
And I can’t actually send him a copy. Because then he’ll see what it’s really about.
And I’ll die.
Mia. Are you all right?
Of cour
se! Why do you ask?
I don’t know. Because you’ve been acting sort of…funny the closer we’ve gotten to graduation. And as your best friend, I just thought I’d ask. I know you didn’t get into any of the colleges you applied to, but surely your dad can pull a few strings, right? I mean, he’s still a prince—not to mention, soon to be the prime minister! Well, hopefully. He’s sure to beat that jerk, Prince René. I just know your dad could get you into NYU…and then we could be roomies!
Well…we’ll see! I’m trying not to worry about it too much.
You? Not worry? I’m surprised you haven’t had your nose stuck in that journal for the past six months. Anyway, what’s this Lana tells me about you not wanting to go prom dress shopping with us this afternoon? She says you’re going to J.P.’s play rehearsal?
Wow, news travels fast around this place. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. It’s not like any of us seniors is actually going to do any work the last two weeks of school.
Uh-huh. Gotta support my man!
Right. Except didn’t J.P. forbid you from attending all rehearsals of his play, because he wants you to be completely surprised by the show when you see it opening night? So…what’s really going on, Mia?
Great. Dr. K was right. It’s all blowing up in my face. Or starting to, at least.
Well, all right. If I’m going to start telling people the truth I might as well begin with Tina…sweet, nonjudgmental, always-there-for-me Tina, my best friend and total confidante.
Right?
Actually, I’m not sure I’m going to the prom.
WHAT? Why? Mia, are you taking some kind of feminist stand against dances? Did Lilly put you up to this? I thought you guys still weren’t even speaking.
We’re speaking! You know we’re speaking. We’re…civil to each other. I mean, we have to be, since she’s the editor for the Atom this year. And no one has updated ihatemiathermopolis.com in almost two years. You know I think she still feels kind of bad about all that. Maybe.