Forever Princess by Meg Cabot Page A

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    I know! And I have a boyfriend! A boyfriend I love! Even if—well. There’s that Other Thing.
    So I was like, It’s fine, we’re in the last row, we’ll just sneak out when he’s done talking.
    I really thought it wouldn’t be any big deal. Lars was still out in the hallway with Wahim, even though I could see him peeking in at me and giving me the evil eye (which he completely learned from Grandmère). There was no chance of us getting busted unless Lana or Trisha began making out with one of the other members of the press who was sittingaround us, none of whom was cute, anyway, so that seemed pretty unlikely.
    But then Michael started introducing the other members of the CardioArm team—you know, who’d helped him invent it or make it or market it or whatever?
    And one of them was this totally cute girl named Midori, and when she came out on the stage she gave Michael this big hug, and I could tell…I mean, I could just tell…
    Well, anyway, that’s when I knew they were a couple and also when I could feel the oatmeal with raisins I’d had for breakfast almost coming up into my throat. Which made no sense because we’re broken up and, oh, yeah, as mentioned previously, I HAVE A BOYFRIEND.
    Anyway, Tina saw the hug, too, and leaned over to whisper, “I’m sure they’re just friends and they work together. Seriously, don’t worry about it.”
    To which I whispered back, “Yeah, right. Because all guys just ignore the girl in the micromini at work.”
    Which, of course, Tina had no reply for. Because Midori’s micromini looked as super cute as she did. And every guy in the room was ignoring it. NOT.
    And then Michael presented his CardioArm—which was way bigger than I thought it would be—and everyone clapped, and he ducked his dark head and looked adorably modest.
    And then Dr. Arthur Ward surprised him by giving him an honorary master’s degree in science. Just, you know, as one does.
    So then everyone clapped some more, and the Drs. Moscovitz came up on stage with Nana and Lilly (Kenny—I mean, Kenneth—hung back, until Lilly finally signaled forhim to join them, which he did, after a lot of hesitation and her waving at him, and finally stamping her foot kind of imperiously, which was very Lilly-like, and made people laugh, even people who didn’t know her) and the whole family hugged, and I just…
    I started bawling. Really.
    Not because Michael has a new girlfriend now, or anything lame like that.
    But because it was just so sweet, to see them all up there hugging like that, a family that I personally know, and who has been through so much, what with Michael and Lilly’s parents’ almost-divorce and now their getting back together and Lilly’s general psychoness and Michael’s going off to Japan and working so hard, and…
    â€¦and they were all just so happy. It was just so… nice . It was this wonderful moment of success and triumph and wonderfulness.
    And there I was, spying on them. Because I wanted to use Michael, to get something that, yes, my country needs, but I don’t in any way deserve. I mean, we can wait, like everybody else.
    Basically, I felt like I was totally invading their privacy, and that I had no right to be there. Because I didn’t. I was there on false pretenses.
    And it was time to leave.
    So I looked at all the other girls—as best I could see them through my tears—and I was like, “Let’s go.”
    â€œBut you haven’t even talked to him!” Tina cried.
    â€œAnd I’m not going to,” I said. I knew as I said it that this was the princessy thing to do. To leave Michael alone.He was happy now. He didn’t need crazy, neurotic me messing up his life anymore. He had sweet, smart Micromini Midori—or if not her, someone like her. The last thing he needed was lying, romance-writing Princess Mia.
    Who, by the way,