Part 31 (1/2)

Someday. Not now, though. For now, I'm keeping it a secret, just for Michael and me to share-at least for a little while.

He told me if I want, he'll get me a diamond snowflake necklace as a replacement for the old silver one I have on now. But I said no way.

I love this one, just the way it is.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!.

Anyway, I don't want to go into too much detail about what happened between us here in his loft last night, because it's private-too private even for this journal. Because what if it were to fall into the wrong hands?

But I do want to say something important, and that is this: If Dad thinks I'm spending this summer in Genovia, he's totally nuts.

Oh my G.o.d, DAD! I forgot to check and see how the election is going!

Sunday, May 7, 1:30 p.m., limo on the way to

Central Park

Okay, so Dad WON THE ELECTION!

Yeah, I'm still not sure how that happened. I accused Michael, on top of all the many other wonderful things he's done for me lately, of rigging the Genovian voting machines.

But he swears that, although he is a computer genius, he is not capable of rigging voting machines in a small European country many thousands of miles from where he lives.

Besides, in Genovia they use Scantron.

It actually turned out Dad won by a significant majority. The problem was that they're unaccustomed to voting there, so it took them a long time to count them all. Voter turnout was quite a bit higher than expected.

And then Rene couldn't believe he didn't win, and demanded a recount.

Poor Rene. It's okay, though. Dad's promised a place for him on the cabinet. Probably something to do with tourism. Which I think is very decent of Dad.

I found all this out from Dad on the phone. It wasn't a transatlantic call, though. He was phoning from Grandmere's. Dad's back here for my graduation ceremony. Which is in half an hour.

It's too bad he doesn't fly commercially because he could really rack up the frequent flyer miles with all the time he's put in, jetting between New York City and Genovia this past week. I've already spoken to him about his carbon footprint.

Anyway, everyone acted totally cool when I showed up at the loft wearing my prom clothes with Michael in tow. Like, n.o.body said anything to embarra.s.s me, like, ”Oh, hey, Mia, how was it at the all-night bowling alley?” or ”Mia, didn't you leave the house last night with a different guy?”

Mom seemed pretty pleased to see Michael, actually. She knows how much I've always loved him, and she can tell how happy Michael makes me, which, in turn, makes her happy.

And she never made it much of a secret that she couldn't stand J.P. At least she doesn't have to worry about Michael being a chameleon. He has an opinion about everything.

And he's not shy about expressing it, either, especially when it's opposite of my own, since that gets us arguing, which gets us...well, in the mood for kissing. That's major histocompatibility complex for you.

Sadly, I'm not sure Rocky actually remembers Michael at all. Which makes sense, since the last time he saw him was almost two years ago, and Rocky's barely three.

But Rocky seems to really like him. He right away showed Michael his drums, and how adept he is at pulling out tufts of Fat Louie's fur if Fat Louie doesn't run away fast enough.

Anyway, we're all headed uptown to the graduation ceremony now, where we're going to meet Dad and Grandmere. I've got on the dress everyone chose for me to wear today (another one of Sebastiano's creations, exactly like the one I wore last night, only pure white) under my graduation gown. I'm trying to ignore the 80,000 text and phone messages I've gotten from Tina and Lana, most of which, I'm pretty sure, have to do with where I disappeared to last night. Well, okay, Lana's are probably all about her Westpointer.

But, come on. A girl's got to have some privacy.

One of my text messages, I see, is from J.P. But I'm not opening it with Michael in the car.

Another one is from Lilly. But whatever. I'm going to see all these people in, like, five minutes! So whatever it is, they can just tell me in person.

And now I have to go, because Rocky's discovered the b.u.t.tons that control the moonroof. My little brother has a lot in common with his cousin Hank.

Sunday, May 7, 2:30 p.m., Sheep Meadow, Central Park Oh my G.o.d, Kenny-I mean, Kenneth-is giving the most boring valedictorian speech I have ever heard. All valedictorian speeches are boring (at least, the ones I've heard).

But this one takes the cake. Seriously, it's about dust particles, or something. Or maybe not dust particles. But some kind of particles. Who even cares? It's so hot up on these bleachers.

And no one is paying the slightest bit of attention to him. Lana is actually sleeping. Even Lilly, the valedictorian's own girlfriend, is texting someone.

I just want to get out of here so I can go have cake. h.e.l.lo? Is that so wrong?

Yeah. I guess it is.

Ack-someone is texting me....

Mia, what is going on? I've been texting you all morning. Is everything all right? I saw J.P. last night with STACEY CHEESEMAN! They went up the elevators together. Where were U????

Oh, hey, T! It's all good! J.P. and I broke up. But it was 100% mutual. I actually went over to Michael's last night.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

That's what I said!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMG that is so romantic!!!! I'm so happy for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know! Me too. I love him so much!!!! And he loves me!!!!!!!!!!! And everything is perfect. Except I wish this stupid speech would be over so we could all go eat cake.

Yeah, me too. The only thing is, this morning on my way here I could have sworn I saw Stacey Cheeseman making out with Andrew Lowenstein at a Starbucks downtown. But no way right, 'cause she's with J.P. now. Right?

Um. Right!

Oh, another text- Hey, POG. I saw you leave the hotel last night with my brother.

It's Lilly!!!!

Is that a problem? He said you sent him!!!!

It's cool. But you better not break his heart again. Or this time I really WILL break your face.