Part 20 (2/2)

Michael P.S. No need to thank me on behalf of your father or Genovia. I only sent it because I thought it might help out your dad in the elections, and that, in turn, would make you happy. So you see my motives were completely selfish.

Now what do I do????

Lars has no answer for me. Well, he does, but it's completely unreasonable. He's like, ”Call him. Go out with him tonight.”

But I can't go out with him tonight! Because I've got A BOYFRIEND! Plus, I've got J.P.'s play tonight. I promised I'd be there to support him.

And I want to be there for J.P. Of course I do. It's just that- What can Michael mean, his motives were entirely selfishly motivated? Does he mean what Lars says he thinks he means, that he only sent the CardioArm because he likes me?

And wants to get back together?

No. That's not possible. Lars has spent too much time in the desert sun, setting off explosives with Wahim. Why would Michael want to get back together with me, when I am so obviously a crazy person? I mean, when we were together last time, I went positively Britney on him. I can't imagine any boy would ever sign up for a second helping of that.

Even though, of course, like Dad said, I have grown up a lot since then....

And we did have a nice time at Caffe Dante. But that was just an interview.

Oh! But he did smell nice! I don't suppose he thought I smelled nice, too?

I've got to check with Tina...even though she's nuttier than I am, if you ask me.

But never mind about that. I'm forwarding his text to her...And, dang, we're at Grandmere's now, I've got to go endure trying on clothes for hours. Who has the patience for fas.h.i.+on when all THIS is going on?

Wednesday, May 3, 8:00 p.m., the Ethel

Lowenbaum Theater

It's really very hard to write in here since the lights are down and J.P.'s play is going on. I'm doing this, in fact, by the glow of my cell phone.

I know I shouldn't be writing in my journal at all-I should be paying attention to the play, since the senior project committee is here (and so are J.P.'s parents, as are all our friends who didn't stay home to study for finals), and I should be trying to look like I support J.P., and all.

But I just have to write more about Michael's e-mail.

Because, of course, I couldn't keep it to myself. I had to show everyone at Grandmere's.

Grandmere said it just proves that Michael harbors une grande pa.s.sion for me. She says a million-dollar piece of medical equipment as a gift isn't quite as romantic as a three-carat diamond and platinum promise ring.

”But,” she went on, ”the fact that Michael donated it without your having asked for it is rather extraordinary. I'm starting to wonder if I wasn't wrong about That Boy after all.”

Honestly, I nearly fainted on the spot. I have NEVER heard Grandmere say she was wrong about ANYTHING!!!!!

Well, hardly ever.

Anyway, this was such a startling thing to hear coming from Grandmere's lips that I nearly tumbled off the stool Sebastiano had me standing on while he stuck pins into the gown I was modeling. He said, ”Tsk, tsk, tsk,” and asked me if I wanted to be stuck all over like a porcupine.

Only, of course, Sebastiano still hasn't grasped the basics of the English language, so he just called it a ”porc.”

”G-Grandmere,” I stammered. ”What are you saying? Sh-should I give Michael another chance? Should I give J.P. his ring back?”

I swear my heart was slamming so hard inside my chest, I felt like I could hardly breathe as I waited for her reply. Which is weird because it's not like I particularly VALUE advice from Grandmere, as she is, in fact, a certified lunatic.

”Well,” Grandmere said, looking thoughtful. ”It is a terribly large ring. On the other hand, it's a terribly expensive piece of medical equipment. But you can't wear a robotic surgical arm.”

See what I mean?

”I know what you should do, Amelia,” Grandmere said, brightening. ”Sleep with both of them, and whichever young man performs better in the boudoir, that's the one you keep. That's what I did with Baryshnikov and G.o.dunov. Such lovely boys. And so flexible.”

”Grandmere!” I was shocked. I mean, seriously: How evil is she? How could we even be of the same bloodline?

Honestly, I don't consider myself a prude. But I think you should at least be in love with someone before you do that with them (something I have tried unsuccessfully to impress upon Lana. Oh, and my grandmother).

Anyway, I told her not to be stupid, that I'm not sleeping with anybody. Mia Thermopolis's Big Fat Lie Number Nine.

But what am I going to do? I've gotten a confirmation e-mail back from Tina. (She's here tonight with Boris. But, of course, we can't talk about it. Not with J.P. around. Oh, and Boris.) She thinks Michael's note meant what Grandmere thinks it did (but who even counts what Grandmere thinks, as she's clearly unhinged): Michael really did send the CardioArm for me. ME!

Tina says I've got to write him back and truly make some kind of arrangement to see him in person. Because, as she just texted from her seat: You can't leave Michael hanging. He could just be flirting with you...but I doubt it. He went to a lot of trouble to send that CardioArm...not to mention Micromini Midori along with it.

And the only way to find out what's really going on with him is to see him in person. You'll know when you look him in the eye whether he's playing or for real.

This is serious, Mia: You could find yourself TORN BETWEEN TWO LOVERS!!!!

I know you're probably really upset about this, but is it wrong that I for one find it VERY VERY EXCITING????? Okay, I'm sorry, I'll stop bouncing up and down in my seat. Someone in the next row just shot me a very annoyed look, and Boris wants me to pay attention to the play now.

I'm glad someone's happy about it, but I personally am not. I honestly don't know how it happened. How could I, Mia Thermopolis, go from being the most boring person on the planet (except for the princess thing), who has basically never left her house for the past year and a half because she was always working on her senior project, a history on Genovian olive oil pressing, circa 12541650 (and, okay, it was really a historical romance novel, but so what?), to a girl who is being sought after by two highly desirable men?

Really, how????

And, according to my best friend, what I'm supposed to do about it is arrange to meet the one to whom I am not engaged-to-be-engaged....

But how can I arrange to meet Michael now, knowing my weakness for him-especially the smell of his neck-when he might possibly like me-enough to send my country a CardioArm (and someone to teach our surgeons how to use it)?

I can't do that to J.P. J.P. has his faults (I still can't believe he hasn't read my book), but he's never met his exes behind my back (not that he has any exes, besides Lilly). He's never lied to me.

And admittedly, I don't think that whole Judith Gershner thing is as big a deal now as I used to, considering it all happened before Michael and I ever went out. I never did flat out ask Michael if he'd ever been with anybody else before me, so, technically, it's not like he actually lied.

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