Disclaimer: Meg Cabot owns all characters.
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Mia's POV
It's been about a month since Lilly and Michael arrived, and not that much has changed.
Michael is still as hot and unattainable as ever, and Lilly is still hanging out with Tina and me. Which I don't mind, especially since it means I get to be closer to Michael! And we all get along anyway.
And she still hasn't figured out who Michael's secret mystery girl is, or if she has she isn't sharing the information with me. But I think I prefer not knowing, because at least now I'm not obsessing over why I don't look like her.
This Friday is the Non-Denominational Winter Carnival and Dance. And not surprisingly, I don't have a date.
Everyone else has a date. Tina is going with Dave; Lilly with Boris; Ling Su and Shameeka both have someone; and I bet Michael will be bringing his mystery girl. He has probably been waiting for some kind of event like this to ask her out.
And I'll be going with… Lars I guess. If I go at all that is. Maybe I'll just skip it. God, I'm so pathetic.
But actually, not having a date to the dance is the least of my problems right now.
My cousin Sebastiano, aided by my doting grandmother of course, took it upon himself to print the photos he had taken of me wearing his dresses (he's a designer, not a cross dresser) in a full page advertisement for his new collection!!!
It was horrible. I looked like a model snob! Have I ever wanted to be a model? No! But does that matter to Grandmere? NO!!!
Now people are going to think I'm a sell out. They're going to think I wanted to model those clothes. Nobody is going to believe it isn't my fault.
Oh God, I hope Michael didn't see them. How embarrassing if he did.
I wanted to stay home from school today, but mom wouldn't let me. Does she not care about what I'm going to go through today? She says she does, but that she cares more about my education. So I'm on the way to school now. We always swing by Tina's apartment on the way, to pick her up. There is no point in us both taking limos to school.
She hopped in and started talking straight away, as was her custom. "Hi! I saw it, you looked great!" she said with added enthusiasm.
"What are you talking about? They were horrible. I am never speaking to Grandmere again. Everyone is going to think I'm a sell out."
"So? You looked hot! I'm positive this is going to get Michael's attention," she was talking in a whisper now. "And if it doesn't, he must be gay."
"Tina!" I cried.
"What? It's true! I'm only saying."
"Urgh. This couldn't have happened at a worse time for me. How am I supposed to concentrate on Finals with this kind of stress?"
"Just don't think about it. I'm sure you'll do fine." Tina was doing her best to be the supportive best friend I needed.
"I just hope I do ok in Algebra. I don't think I could stand going off to Genovia on Saturday knowing that I got an F. Dad would make me study non stop at the Palace. Wouldn't that be a fun way to spend my break!"
"I thought you were doing better in Algebra since Michael has been tutoring you?"
"Yeah, kind of. But it's just so hard to concentrate with him around. In some ways it just makes it worse."
"You'll do fine."
I hope she's right, because I don't want to have to explain to Michael that I still failed, despite his help. Because I'd have to tell him it was because he distracts me. He'd think I was a weirdo. And then he'd stop helping me!
Michael's POV
Poor Mia. She's stressing so badly.
She made her modelling debut on the weekend, although Lilly says it was unintentional. I'm glad, because I was worried Mia was turning into Lana.
Lilly says that Mia spent the whole of lunchtime defending herself from all the people in school who felt their thoughts about it needed airing.
Apparently, her grandmother gave her cousin permission to use the photos, without getting Mia's permission herself!
Her grandmother must be one piece of work, my grandparents would never dream of doing that to me. I hope.
Mia's POV
Seriously, what did I ever do to deserve the life I have?
Apparently it's not bad enough that I have finals this week, as well as a dance to which I so far have no date, but now I have to put up with the taunting from people in school too? It's just not fair.
I hate my life.
Michael's POV
I spoke to Judith Gershner today about doing a webzine. She was really up for it.
Judith is the Computer Club President, so she doesn't have very much free time to maintain one herself, but she said she would help out with mine.
I started working on it again tonight. I'm actually still working on it now. I still need a name though...
Lilly barged in my room without knocking, "Hey, jackass," she said.
"Don't call me jackass. Now get out." I wasn't in the mood for Lilly right now.
"What would you prefer? Crackhead?"
Crackhead? Crackhead? Where did she pull that from? Crackhead… Hey, maybe it would actually work as a name for me webzine. Finally Lilly is not as useless as she seems to be. I scribbled it down on a piece of paper in front of me.
"What do you want, Lil?"
"Chill, would you? I just wanted to know if you are going to the dance on Friday? You know, with a date."
"Why would I want to go to a stupid school dance?" I asked. I really had no intention of going.
"Oh, I dunno, I was just wondering. So that means you don't have a date then? Hmm, I might know of someone else who doesn't have a date, if you want me to set you up…" she had a twinkle in her eye as she said it. That generally means Lilly has an ulterior motive.
But I couldn't help but wonder who she was referring too. Mia? No, she couldn't have meant Mia. I bet Mia has a bunch of guys, European Princes no doubt, just lined up to ask her to something like this.
"I'm not interested in being set up with any of your friends, Lil. If I wanted to find a date, I could. But thanks anyway," I added sarcastically.
"Ok, well I guess she can just go with Lars then…"
Lars? As in Mia's bodyguard Lars? Does this mean it is Mia who doesn't have a date? Or does it mean someone else is going with Lars? But who would bring Lars to a school dance as a date? A bodyguard, sure. But a date?
"Lars? Why would he be anyone's date for the dance?" I was playing dumb, skirting around the real questions I wanted to ask. I didn't want Lilly to know I had a vested interest in Mia or anything.
"Not as her date, you doofus. I just meant that Mia would have to go stag, with only her bodyguard. Or she might just not go at all. It really is a shame, I'm sure she'd love to go."
Lilly was hinting at something. Not just at something, she was hinting at me taking Mia. But why would she want that? She couldn't possibly know I like Mia. Could she?
I didn't know what to say in reply to her hinting, without burying myself further into a hole I wouldn't be able to get out of. So I settled for, "You can get out now, Lil. I'm busy."
"Ouch. Fine, whatever," then she stormed out; obviously not happy with the way our conversation had turned out.
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Aw, we all knew they had to get together eventually, it just wouldn't be the same if they didn't. But... how will they do it? And will devious Lilly have anything to do with it? Questions will be answered... SOON!
**************************************************************
Mia's POV
It's been about a month since Lilly and Michael arrived, and not that much has changed.
Michael is still as hot and unattainable as ever, and Lilly is still hanging out with Tina and me. Which I don't mind, especially since it means I get to be closer to Michael! And we all get along anyway.
And she still hasn't figured out who Michael's secret mystery girl is, or if she has she isn't sharing the information with me. But I think I prefer not knowing, because at least now I'm not obsessing over why I don't look like her.
This Friday is the Non-Denominational Winter Carnival and Dance. And not surprisingly, I don't have a date.
Everyone else has a date. Tina is going with Dave; Lilly with Boris; Ling Su and Shameeka both have someone; and I bet Michael will be bringing his mystery girl. He has probably been waiting for some kind of event like this to ask her out.
And I'll be going with… Lars I guess. If I go at all that is. Maybe I'll just skip it. God, I'm so pathetic.
But actually, not having a date to the dance is the least of my problems right now.
My cousin Sebastiano, aided by my doting grandmother of course, took it upon himself to print the photos he had taken of me wearing his dresses (he's a designer, not a cross dresser) in a full page advertisement for his new collection!!!
It was horrible. I looked like a model snob! Have I ever wanted to be a model? No! But does that matter to Grandmere? NO!!!
Now people are going to think I'm a sell out. They're going to think I wanted to model those clothes. Nobody is going to believe it isn't my fault.
Oh God, I hope Michael didn't see them. How embarrassing if he did.
I wanted to stay home from school today, but mom wouldn't let me. Does she not care about what I'm going to go through today? She says she does, but that she cares more about my education. So I'm on the way to school now. We always swing by Tina's apartment on the way, to pick her up. There is no point in us both taking limos to school.
She hopped in and started talking straight away, as was her custom. "Hi! I saw it, you looked great!" she said with added enthusiasm.
"What are you talking about? They were horrible. I am never speaking to Grandmere again. Everyone is going to think I'm a sell out."
"So? You looked hot! I'm positive this is going to get Michael's attention," she was talking in a whisper now. "And if it doesn't, he must be gay."
"Tina!" I cried.
"What? It's true! I'm only saying."
"Urgh. This couldn't have happened at a worse time for me. How am I supposed to concentrate on Finals with this kind of stress?"
"Just don't think about it. I'm sure you'll do fine." Tina was doing her best to be the supportive best friend I needed.
"I just hope I do ok in Algebra. I don't think I could stand going off to Genovia on Saturday knowing that I got an F. Dad would make me study non stop at the Palace. Wouldn't that be a fun way to spend my break!"
"I thought you were doing better in Algebra since Michael has been tutoring you?"
"Yeah, kind of. But it's just so hard to concentrate with him around. In some ways it just makes it worse."
"You'll do fine."
I hope she's right, because I don't want to have to explain to Michael that I still failed, despite his help. Because I'd have to tell him it was because he distracts me. He'd think I was a weirdo. And then he'd stop helping me!
Michael's POV
Poor Mia. She's stressing so badly.
She made her modelling debut on the weekend, although Lilly says it was unintentional. I'm glad, because I was worried Mia was turning into Lana.
Lilly says that Mia spent the whole of lunchtime defending herself from all the people in school who felt their thoughts about it needed airing.
Apparently, her grandmother gave her cousin permission to use the photos, without getting Mia's permission herself!
Her grandmother must be one piece of work, my grandparents would never dream of doing that to me. I hope.
Mia's POV
Seriously, what did I ever do to deserve the life I have?
Apparently it's not bad enough that I have finals this week, as well as a dance to which I so far have no date, but now I have to put up with the taunting from people in school too? It's just not fair.
I hate my life.
Michael's POV
I spoke to Judith Gershner today about doing a webzine. She was really up for it.
Judith is the Computer Club President, so she doesn't have very much free time to maintain one herself, but she said she would help out with mine.
I started working on it again tonight. I'm actually still working on it now. I still need a name though...
Lilly barged in my room without knocking, "Hey, jackass," she said.
"Don't call me jackass. Now get out." I wasn't in the mood for Lilly right now.
"What would you prefer? Crackhead?"
Crackhead? Crackhead? Where did she pull that from? Crackhead… Hey, maybe it would actually work as a name for me webzine. Finally Lilly is not as useless as she seems to be. I scribbled it down on a piece of paper in front of me.
"What do you want, Lil?"
"Chill, would you? I just wanted to know if you are going to the dance on Friday? You know, with a date."
"Why would I want to go to a stupid school dance?" I asked. I really had no intention of going.
"Oh, I dunno, I was just wondering. So that means you don't have a date then? Hmm, I might know of someone else who doesn't have a date, if you want me to set you up…" she had a twinkle in her eye as she said it. That generally means Lilly has an ulterior motive.
But I couldn't help but wonder who she was referring too. Mia? No, she couldn't have meant Mia. I bet Mia has a bunch of guys, European Princes no doubt, just lined up to ask her to something like this.
"I'm not interested in being set up with any of your friends, Lil. If I wanted to find a date, I could. But thanks anyway," I added sarcastically.
"Ok, well I guess she can just go with Lars then…"
Lars? As in Mia's bodyguard Lars? Does this mean it is Mia who doesn't have a date? Or does it mean someone else is going with Lars? But who would bring Lars to a school dance as a date? A bodyguard, sure. But a date?
"Lars? Why would he be anyone's date for the dance?" I was playing dumb, skirting around the real questions I wanted to ask. I didn't want Lilly to know I had a vested interest in Mia or anything.
"Not as her date, you doofus. I just meant that Mia would have to go stag, with only her bodyguard. Or she might just not go at all. It really is a shame, I'm sure she'd love to go."
Lilly was hinting at something. Not just at something, she was hinting at me taking Mia. But why would she want that? She couldn't possibly know I like Mia. Could she?
I didn't know what to say in reply to her hinting, without burying myself further into a hole I wouldn't be able to get out of. So I settled for, "You can get out now, Lil. I'm busy."
"Ouch. Fine, whatever," then she stormed out; obviously not happy with the way our conversation had turned out.
******************************************************************
Aw, we all knew they had to get together eventually, it just wouldn't be the same if they didn't. But... how will they do it? And will devious Lilly have anything to do with it? Questions will be answered... SOON!