A/N hey, y'all! How are ya? Good here. I'm having so much fun writing this story. As it gets longer, it gets easier to write. And I'm having fun twisting Lana's character around! Just wanted to let you know that when summer rolls around (June 3rd for me) I won't be getting the chapters up as quick. I don't have access to a computer (courtesy of my step dad crosses eyes), so I'll be writing them on paper and getting them up when I can. Sry! Well, here's the next chapter! I hope you enjoy it as much as you (hopefully) enjoyed the others! Hope there's enough fluff for everyone! J/k. Please R&R! Ciao!
Mia's POV

May 5th

Oh, my god! Today's my ball! I'm going as Michael's date! OMG, OMG, OMG! I'm sooo nervous! Jeez, this is ridiculous. I've been trained how to do these things (for once, I'm grateful to Grandmere) so I shouldn't be nervous...but I AM! Ok, it's only seven in the morning. I've still got eleven hours until I pick them up. What to do, what to do. Ok, that's it. I'm calling Grandmere. I'm too desperate.
I called Grandmere, and she said to come over and to get ready over there. Well, the good thing is that she's finally acting sort of like a grandmother. Finally. I got there, and she brought my Chanel dress out. They did a GREAT job on it! I love the color! Grandmere decided we're going to go get me a manicure, pedicure, haircut and highlights, facial, waxing, and professional makeup. Well, I guess I'll be busy. I just hope we're not going to Paolo.
I asked Grandmere and she's all, "goodness, no, Amelia. Not after he outed you like that. I won't give that – that twink the satisfaction of getting my business!" Thank god.
First we went to the nail salon. They did my nails a powder blue color and my toenails to match. First they soaked my fingers in this weird liquid. Then they fussed with my cuticles. Then, they glued fake nails on. Then, they put on some clear stuff on them. Then the powder blue polish and some more clear stuff. And in between all those coats, they had to dry first. Ay-yi-yi. Now I have (once again) tiny surfboards glued to my fingers. And come to find out, they custom-made that color for me. When will this ever end? Grandmere is fussing with Rommel trying to get him to quit trying to squirm out of his sweater. It's about time that stupid dog got a clue.
"Rommel, sit still!" Grandmere kept saying.
Good dog, I silently thought. Keep squirming. Make Grandmere mad and let me go hope...or at least get by with as little as possible.
After we went there, Grandmere dragged me to the hair stylist. Thankfully, not Paolo. They just evened my hair up (there was a chunk they weren't too happy about that I got caught in the curling iron and had to cut loose) and put in a few highlights. That's the least Grandmere's ever done to my hair!
Next, she dragged me to the spa where I got a mud bath (how much more disgusting can you get?). That did make my skin quite soft, so I guess it wasn't totally wasted. I got a sauna facial and leg, armpit, and eyebrow waxing. OUCH!
After going through all this torture, we went home and got my dress. By this time, it was about five o'clock. Only one more hour to go. Only one more hour to go. I kept chanting to myself silently. We went back to Chanel where we got the dress, and got my makeup done. I told them to keep it natural and not use any that had been tested on animals, please.
THEN I WAS DONE! I headed over to Lilly's in the limo decked out in all my glory. When I knocked on the door, I heard Michael go "I've got it!" he opened the door and stood there staring. He was dressed in a tux with a blue bow tie, and looked even hotter, if that is even possible.
"Do you like it?" I asked worriedly.
"I –I love it!" he said quietly. I smiled.
"Okay, I'm ready to –" I heard Lilly say. "Wow! You look great, Mia! I love your dress! You weren't kidding when you said it was nice! Well, come on Boris!" she shouted back into the house. "No need to stand in front of the mirror for ever. You look fine! Let's go!"
Boris finally came out of the bathroom. He was dressed in a tux with a red bow tie. Thankfully, his suit wasn't tucked in. Lilly took his arm and we started out for the limo to got to my sweet sixteen ball.
Michael's POV

I still can't get over how beautiful Mia looks. I opened the door when she got to my house and just stood there staring. I couldn't believe my eyes! Her dress fits her beautiful curves perfectly, and shows off her body without being sleazy. Perfect.
We got into the limo to go to the ball, and I found out Lars wasn't there! He was going to meet us at the ball and (thankfully) keep his distance. He was still going to watch Mia, but give us privacy at the same time. Why can't he do this at school? That's why I haven't asked her out before. Oh, cut that out, Moscovitz. You're just scared and you know it, I said to myself.
"Are you excited, Mia?" I asked.
She smiled at me. "Very," she replied. I was on cloud nine. A beautiful girl was sitting next to me in a limo, and we were on our way to a fairy-tale ball! How much better can it get?
When we got there, I jumped out and took a hold of Mia's arm to escort her in. she smiled at me. We entered and a man announced, "The guest of honor, Princess Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo and her escort Michael Moscovitz." I held my head high, and walked her in. it seemed like everyone was looking at us, but I was proud. After all, I was escorting what had to be the most beautiful girl in the world!
We started dancing and I couldn't hold it in any more. "Mia," I said carefully. "Can I tell you something?"
"Of course," she said looking at me curiously.
"I – I've liked you as long as I can remember. I just haven't had the courage t-to tell you."
"Michael!" she breathed. "You're not joking, are you?"
"Why would I joke about something like this? You're beautiful, smart, talented, everything a guy could want."
"I – I feel the same way. I thought you always just thought of me as your little sister's best friend." She said happily.
"And I thought you always thought of me as your best friends annoying brother," I said. "Would-would you want to...well...go out with me? You don't have to if you don't want to."
"I'd love to," she said, and kissed me right there. It was the best feeling ever. And it felt so right...and then, right in the middle, I heard a bunch of clicks, and realized the paparazzi was taking pictures. Great. The first kiss Mia and I shared would be all over the cover of New York Times. Then I looked at the door.
Lana Weinberger was standing there.
Lilly's POV

We got to the ball and Mia and Michael got separated. Later I saw them dancing together and they were talking quietly. How sweet! I don't know if Michael could have held her any closer without squeezing the breath out of her. Boris and I started dancing, and I found out he is actually quite good at it.
The next time I looked for Michael and Mia, they were locked in a lip lock and the TV and magazine people were snapping cameras at them. Then I looked at the door for some reason.
Lana Weinberger was standing there.
Lana's POV
It was no fun trying to get out of the house without Mother knowing where I was going. I ended up telling her Josh was taking me out...even though I broke up with him today. He didn't really take it that hard, though. He's already dating Anna. And they hooked up about two hours after we broke up. I guess I'm better off without him. When I walked in I looked around for Mia. She was out on the dance floor. Kissing Michael Moscovitz. Wow. When did THAT happen? Anyway, when I walked in, I handed my gift to the doorman who put it on a stack about as tall as...well...I don't know what, but it was TALL! Anyway, at that moment, Michael looked up and saw me standing there and he just looked like, if you even THINK about ruining this for Mia... just the opposite. The doorman asked me my name, and he held up a microphone and said "Late entrance, Lana Weinberger!" At that moment, Mia looked up, a shocked look on her face. That was all it took.

I snatched the mic from the doorman, who tried to take it back. I looked at him and said, "I owe an apology to the princess, and I want to give it publicly." He stepped back and let me have it. I walked up to the stage where the bad was playing, and turned to face the crowd.

"First of all," I said, "I am not invited to this ball." Everyone had stopped to listen. "My name is Lana Weinberger. I invited myself because I have something that needs said to Princess Mia. We go to school together, and I would always torment her. She'd walk by; I'd trip her. She'd try to get by; I'd block her way. I would tease her mercilessly." I looked down at Mia who was looking at me in total amazement. I went on. "All of this was because I was, well, jealous. She had these friends that stuck by her and she could talk to. She wasn't being badgered by her mother to excel. But my mother was different. It wasn't grades I had to excel in – even though those were important. I had to look great, be popular, date popular people, and overall...be perfect. Just like she was. But, I'm getting off the subject. I've always felt horrible about doing this. And I just wanted to say, Mia, in front of everybody – press included – that I'm sorry. Very sorry. You might not believe me, but if you know Lana Weinberger, you know I wouldn't be up here making a fool of myself for nothing. I hope you'll forgive me. And sir," I turned to the doorman, "thanks for the mic, dude!"

Everyone laughed, and I felt great. I had apologized. Mother would probably pick up the New York Times and see me in there apologizing to Mia. But it was worth it. I stepped down from the stage, said "thank you," gave the mic back to the man, and started to leave. After I got outside, I heard a voice saying "Lana!" I turned around and Mia was running toward me with an incredulous look on her face.

She looked at me. "You're not joking, are you?"

"No, Mia, I'm not. I feel terrible, and I just wanted you to know that."

"Why did you? I have a feeling you didn't say everything up there in front of God and everybody."

"No, I didn't. I did it because I needed to be popular. I wanted to feel secure and my mother was pressuring me. She was prom queen, homecoming queen, Miss Greenvale High, and everything else you can think of. I had to live up to her expectations. Which were very high, by the way!"

Mia laughed. "Come on back in and enjoy the party," she said. "By the way, you look great!"

I stared at her. "You're not mad at me?"

"Why should I be?" she asked. "You just got up in front of five hundred people, are going to have your face plastered all over the papers, magazines and TV tomorrow, and probably angered your mom just to apologize to ME. Of course I'm not mad. Come on in." With that, she hooked her arm through mine and steered me back into the ball where everyone was waiting for the guest of honor.