Chapter 1~

(Carter) Most girls in Louisiana have dads the own bait shops or frozen yogurt shops. My dad, Joe Mason, works for the International Princess Protection Program.. His job is to save and protect princesses from all over the world. Yeah, he pretty much has the coolest job ever. Okay, so I didn't exactly think so a year ago. My dad's job tends to take him all across the world, meaning he's gone a lot, helping everyone but me it seems. It wasn't until he brought one of the princesses to stay with us that I really understood the importance of what he does.

Princess Rosalinda Marie Montoya Fiore was placed into our care, pretending to be my cousin Rosie Gonzalez, last fall when her small island nation, Costa Luna, was invaded and her mother was captured. I was mad when Dad brought Rosie home without warning me, but we became best friends over time. I even helped saved her life and get her country back. In reward, my friend Ed and I got to go to Costa Luna over winter break to watch Rosie's coronation. She's queen of Costa Luna now and I could not be more proud of her. I mean, it's a big deal to rule a country at only seventeen. And she's doing an amazing job. I just miss her a lot. Texts and Skype calls can only get you so far.

The rest of junior year was pretty boring without Rosie. I mean, I had fun. The popular girls Chelsea and Brooke left me alone after Rosie and I proved to them that I didn't need their permission to be confident. The Princess Protection Program was so impressed with my somewhat brave mostly dumb attempt to save Rose that they made me a junior agent. That means Dad officially had permission to train me whenever he could, which was really fun. I can do all sorts of martial arts moves and stuff that I couldn't do a couple months ago. That would have come in handy against General Kane last year. Oh well…

Also in notable news for the rest of the school year, Ed asked me to prom, which is sort of a big deal because he was a senior, but not that big of a deal because we've been friends forever. He's dating Brooke now, the prettier dumber half of the mean girl duo who tortured me all the way through high school. I guess Brooke saw the error of her Chelsea-clone ways and now gets good grades and feeds the homeless or something. I still don't get it.

Next year Ed's heading off to NYU to study film, of course. His documentary on the Homecoming Queen elections actually won an award at a local film festival. It was really cool! He's going to be a great director someday. It just kind of sucks that I am going to have to go to school next year without either of my best friends.

For now, I'm just trying to focus on summer. Yes, my dad has the best job in the world, but it also means that he's hardly ever home, so Queen Rosie invited Ed and I to spend the summer with her in Costa Luna. A whole three months in an island paradise with my two best friends? Yeah, I can think of worst ways to spend my summer.

"You almost packed?" Dad knocks on my bedroom door, even though it's already open.

My room's a mess, I suddenly realize. There are clothes and shoes all over the floor, but my suitcase is till mostly empty.

"Carter…" my dad scolds.

"I'm sorry!" I insist. "It's just, it's three months. It's a long time to pack for."

"You know Rosie and her mom will give you whatever you need," Dad reminds me.

"Will they give me my favorite sneakers?" I dangle a worn pair of orange Converse over my open suitcase. "Or my lucky bracelet?"

"You're supposed to be on that helicopter in an hour." Dad checks his watch.

"I know. Just give me twenty minutes." I throw in my favorite pair of ripped jeans.

I'm not stalling. I'm not. I've been looking forward to this trip for weeks. But three months is a freakin' long time to be away from home and away from Dad, away from my job at the bait shop and everything I've ever known.

Ed meets us at the landing strip with two bags in hand, a small duffel for his stuff and a larger bag for all his film equipment. He wants to get lots of footage of our friend the queen in action. He leans in to hug me and I swear he's gotten taller, which is ridiculous considering he already towers over me. His hand is as big as my face.

"I wish you could come with us," I tell my dad for the one hundredth time.

"You're gonna be fine," he assures me.

"I don't want you to leave," I blurt out, tears starting to prick my eyes.

"This is what I do," Dad says gently. "I protect princesses. You're my princess. I'm only sending you away to protect you while I'm gone. I'll visit as soon as I can. I promise."

Dad gives me a big hug, then kisses the top of my head.

"You and me, Dad," I say.

He smiles. "You and me, pal."

And then he kisses me one last time, helps me into the helicopter and waves until I'm just a dark speck in the sky.