You. Yes. You.
A/N: This is a one-shot fic. This is an odd take on how Michael and Mia could've gotten together. Mia's going out with Kenny, she never sent Michael those cards, and instead of making Mia a computer program, Michael decides to do something else at the Nondenominational Winter Dance to try to win her affections. Not that the whole castle computer program was a bad idea. The story has both Michael's and Mia's POV. Hope you like this and review! =D
Disclaimer: I (obviously) do not own the Princess Diaries or any of the characters. I also do not own "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" by the Ramones.
***
MichaelI'm going to do it.
I have to do it. And this time, I mean it.
I'm going to tell Mia that I love her.
Not in a platonic sense, either.
I, Michael Moscovitz, am in love with my younger sister's best friend, Mia Thermopolis (who also, besides being my little sister's best friend, is the Princess of Genovia…yes, princess). How did this happen to occur, I ask myself.
I DON'T KNOW. It just sort of…happened (obviously). I've tried over and over again to convince myself that I don't like, let alone love, her but…I can't help it. I can't help the way I feel.
Which really sucks, because if I had been able to choose, I wouldn't have chosen to fall in love with Mia. But, there's something about her…besides the fact that she is just plain incredible. No, more than incredible: perfect. When I'm feeling morose, just the sight of her smile brightens up my day.
Cliché, right?
So, that is why I have planned out how I'm going to tell her how I am in love with her. I had originally thought of making a computer program for her but instead of letting a program tell her, I want to actually tell her that I love her.
Say it, I mean.
I have connections.
MiaGrandmere has gone insane.
Well, actually, I figured that out awhile ago but she's gone even more insane.
She got me this poofy white dress to wear to the Nondenominational Winter Dance. Which I'm going to with Kenny Showalter.
My boyfriend.
Yes, I, Amelia (Mia) Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo, have a boyfriend.
The only problem?
I DON'T EVEN LIKE HIM.
I mean, I like him as a friend and all but as a boyfriend…?
Nope, it's never going to happen.
And why don't I like Kenny?
Because I am in LOVE with Lilly's older brother, Michael. Yeah, that's right. My best friend's older brother. It doesn't help that he's totally gorgeous, smart, and got into Columbia, early decision. Not one bit.
Oh, and his peat bog eyes don't exactly improve the situation either. His beautiful peat bog eyes…
But, of course, I can't let anyone know how I feel about Michael. Not Kenny. Not Michael. Not Lilly. Especially not Lilly, because she might tell Michael. And I can't tell Kenny, obviously. And definitely not Michael. Because then he might laugh in my face and tell Lilly.
Life is so unfair sometimes.
The Nondenominational Winter Dance is tomorrow.
Now, all I need to do is get the flu or something so I won't have to go with Kenny.
And I won't have to see Michael dancing with Judith Gershner.
MichaelPeople are still talking about how Mia "sold out" by appearing that supplement in the Sunday Times. She probably already has enough pressure on her without adding yet another burden. Mia already took her Algebra final and I wonder if did okay on it. Hopefully.
Or she might not want me to tutor her in Algebra anymore.
The Jade, which is the band playing at the Winter Dance, is going to pull some strings so I can admit my feelings for Mia. I honestly hope everything will go all right, and that Mia might even return my affections.
Well, I can dream, right? Does she like me or not?
I would say no. But then again, I haven't always been very optimistic about personal matters.
Who knows what will happen when I tell Mia that I love her? In front of the whole school?
My parents will find out, of course, and do some serious psychoanalyzing.
I mean, even I have doubts about telling Mia that I love her. One of them being how it would work out, seeing as how she is a freshman and I'm a senior. But hey, it worked for Josh Richter and Lana Weinberger, didn't it?
Okay, forget that. But, the worst thing she can say is that she doesn't love me back. And, of course, that would probably literally break my heart. But, supposedly, you can function with a broken heart. You'd feel miserable but still, you could live.
So, thinking positively, this whole thing will work.
And, by the end of tomorrow night, I might not have a broken heart.
Better yet, it might be functioning again.
Ha ha.
MiaI got a B minus on my Algebra final…and I hugged Michael Moscovitz.
Wait, what was that?
I HUGGED MICHAEL!!!!!!!
I couldn't help it. There was just some sort of force that made me wrap my arms around Michael.
Now that I think about it, he didn't fight the hug or seem even remotely frightened.
No, not at all. He even hugged me back.
I hugged Michael and he hugged me back. What more could I ask for?
Oh, yes. I wish that I could tell Michael that I love him…
Or even better: I wish he would tell me that he loved me.
Hey, it could happen, right?
So, due to my lack or courage, I will spend the entire night slow dancing with Kenny.
Oh God, I don't even want to think about it.
MichaelThe Computer Club's booth for the Winter Carnival has been a success, to say the least.
It's basically a game in which you walk through the halls of Albert Einstein High School and you see the teachers in these funny costumes. Mr. Dianco, for example, is wearing a slinky purple dress, heels, a wig, and heavy makeup. It was Judith's idea; she's the brains of the operation, being the Computer Club's president, after all.
"Come on up!" I exclaimed as I saw Mia and her friend, Tina Hakim Baba, heading for our booth. This caused a lot of grumbling from the long line but I didn't care. As Mia looked laughed at the computer program, I couldn't help but sort of stare at her. Though I hope she didn't notice.
She really is very beautiful. Her hair's sort of medium-length and blondish-brown. Sort of mousy brown with streaks of gold. And she has really magnificent gray eyes, though I overheard Mia complaining how boring they were once, comparing them to a dirty sidewalk. They always reminded me of a beautiful black-and-white painting, though they're neither of those colors.
Wow, I'm starting to act really weird.
After the program was over, Mia rose from her chair, facing me.
"That was really cool, Michael," Mia said, a broad grin on her face. I felt my heart pounding hard. "Though Mr. G usually wears boxers to bed, not footie pajamas." She let out a small laugh and I laughed, even though I didn't even want to begin to imagine Mr. G in his boxers.
"Yeah," I said quite simply, smiling like a dork, probably. "So, um, you're going to the dance tonight, right? It seems kind of stupid to me. I don't know if I'll be going." I didn't know what else to say! Sue me.
"Oh, um, you're not? I'm going with Kenny because he ask—"
"I know," I said, interrupting her. "Actually, you know, there was this one person I was thinking about going with…"
Now she's going to think I'm a schizophrenic.
MiaI knew it!
He doesn't like me; he wants to go to the dance with Judith Gershner but he probably is too nervous to ask her.
But I thought that they were going out…
Or maybe, they were flirting that whole time and Michael wants to go out on their first official "date" tonight…
Oh my God. What am I going to do?
Now I really can't tell Michael that I love him because he's in love with Judith.
Not me. Judith.
MichaelI look so ridiculous in this stupid penguin suit.
Well, on in the name of love, right?
Well, now I look even nerdier, and I hadn't that that it'd be possible.
It almost reminds me of the Cultural Diversity Dance.
Except, you know, I probably won't be slow dancing with Mia tonight.
No, she'll probably spend every second with Kenny, talking about anime or something.
Oh, did I mention? Kenny is an anime freak. Seriously.
I'd choose Buffy the Vampire Slayer over Dragonball Z any day.
MiaI felt so stupid standing there in my big, white poofy dress while all of the other girls (cheerleaders, mostly) were wearing these low-cut, slinky black dresses. Not that I've got anything to show. It certainly didn't help when Lana sneered at me and said, "Where do you think you are? A wedding?" though I must say, she's not doing so well with the insults these days.
Kenny said that I looked very gorgeous and he was so proud that I was his girlfriend. If he only knew.
The band at the dance, The Jade, weren't half-bad. On the contrary, they were very good, though, to my distress, they kept playing all of these slow songs. So, I was forced to sway around with Kenny, who, by the way, is extremely tall. And I'm 5'9."
"I love you, Mia," Kenny whispered, though I pretended that I didn't hear him, keeping my eyes on the band. That's when the band stopped playing and guess who should come on the stage?
MichaelOkay, so that was my excellent plan. I walked onto the stage and Conor, the lead singer, handed me his microphone. Everyone had their eyes on the stage, wondering why the music had stopped. The band already knew what to do but I had something to say before…I did it.
"Um," I said, a weak smile on my face. I was feeling a lot more nervous now that everyone in the dance was staring at me. "Before the night goes on, I wanted to, um…" I, trying to gain back my nerves, paused for a second.
Then, I knew, I was ready.
"Well, this song is dedicated to…you." I looked straight at Mia, who was looking confused. But then she noticed my eyes on her and, even though the lighting over the dance floor was quite dim, I think I saw her blush.
"Yes. You." And then I started singing. And suddenly, I didn't feel nervous anymore.
Hey, little girl I wanna be your boyfriendSweet little girl
I wanna be your boyfriend
Do you love me, babe?
What do you say?
Do you love me babe?
What can I say?
At that moment, I sort of jumped off the stage (it wasn't very high) and walked right up to Mia. And now, yes, she definitely knew that I was singing to her. Kenny sort of looked at me oddly and, judging the not repulsed look on Mia's face, walked away. I looked right into her beautiful gray eyes and continued singing.
Because I wanna be your boyfriendHey, little girl
I wanna be your boyfriend
Sweet little girl
I wanna be your boyfriend
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ahh
- Because I wanna be your boyfriend
And, right at that moment, I took the microphone away from my mouth, leaned in, and I kissed her.
That's right: I kissed Mia.
And, I'm happy to say, she kissed me back.
Never looking away from her face, I set the microphone down on the ground.
"I love you, Mia," I said, not a trace of nervousness in my voice. "I have always loved you…well, you know, except for when I first met you considering the fac—"
Mia interrupted me with a kiss. A soft, gentle kiss.
"I love you, too, Michael."
And, the music still playing in the background, applause erupted around us (most of which, I noticed out of the corner of my eye, were members of the Computer Club and Mia's friends clapping). But, I didn't notice too much.
All I could think about how I had been waiting to hear those four words for over two years.
Could things get any better?
Definitely not.
***
A/N: So, what did you think? =D Good, bad, cute, horrendous? Please review! I promise to get another story (even if it's only another one-shot fic) out as soon as possible!