Forever Princess (24 page)

I didn't want to. I really didn't!

Not because it was stupid and touristy and I was afraid someone would see me (of course I didn't care about that, because secretly it's something I've always longed to do). But because—it was a romantic horse-and-buggy ride! With
someone who wasn't my boyfriend!

Worse, with someone who was my ex-boyfriend! And whom I'd sworn I wasn't going to get close to today.

But Michael looked so sweet standing there with his hand out all expectantly, and his eyes so kind, like,
Come on. It's just a cheesy carriage ride. What could happen?

And at the time, all I could think was that he was right. I mean, what harm could one buggy ride around the park do?

Also, I looked all around, and I didn't see any paparazzi.

And the red velvet bench in the back of the carriage looked roomy enough. We could definitely both fit on it and not touch or anything. Like, I could easily sit there and not run the risk of smelling him.

And really, in the end, how romantic could a cheesy touristy buggy ride be to a jaded New Yorker like myself? Despite J.P.'s portrayal of me in
A Prince Among Men
as a kook who is constantly in need of rescuing (which is completely inaccurate), I'm actually very tough. I'm going to be a published author!

So, rolling my eyes and pretending to be all
I'm so over this
, I laughingly let Michael help me into the carriage and sat down on the lumpy bench. Meanwhile, Lars climbed up beside the lady in the top hat, and she started the horse, and we got going with a lurch….

And it turned out I was wrong.

The bench was
not
that big.

And I'm
not
that jaded of a New Yorker.

Even now, I can't really say how it happened. And it seemed to happen pretty much right away, too. One minute
Michael and I were sitting calmly beside each other on that bench, Not Kissing, and the next…we were in each other's arms. Kissing. Like two people who had never kissed before.

Or, rather, like two people who used to kiss a lot, and really liked it, and then had been deprived of kissing each other for a very long time. And then, suddenly, were reintroduced to kissing, and remembered they liked it. Quite a bit.

And so they started doing it again. A lot. Like a couple of kiss-starved maniacs, who had been in a kissing desert for approximately twenty-one months.

We basically made out from, like, Seventy-second Street, all through the park, and up to Fifty-seventh. That's, like, twenty blocks, give or take a few.

YES. WE KISSED FOR TWENTY BLOCKS. IN BROAD DAYLIGHT. IN AN OLD-TIMEY HORSE CARRIAGE!

Anyone could have seen us. AND TAKEN PICTURES!!!!

I have no idea what came over me. One minute I was enjoying the clip-clop of the horse hooves and the beautiful scenery of the lush green leaves of the park. And the next…

And yes, I will admit it did seem like Michael was sitting AWFULLY close to me on that benchy thing at first.

And, okay, I did sort of notice his arm went around me when the carriage first lurched forward. But that was only natural. I thought it was sweet. It was the kind of thing a friend—a guy friend—might do for a girl friend.

But then Michael didn't take his arm away.

And then I got another whiff of him.

And it was all over. I knew it was all over, but I turned my head to tell him—in a polite way, of course, the way a princess would—not to bother, that I'm with J.P. now and that it's hopeless, I won't do anything to hurt or betray J.P. because he was there for me when I was at my most despairing, and Michael should just give it up, if that was what he intended. Which it probably wasn't. But just in case.

But somehow those words never came out of my mouth.

Because when I turned my head to tell Michael all that, I saw that he was looking at me, and I couldn't help looking back, and something in his eyes—I don't know. It was like there was a question there. I don't know what the question was.

Okay. I guess I do.

In any case, I'm pretty sure I answered it when he brought his lips down over mine.

And, like I said, we kept on kissing, passionately, for twenty-something blocks instead. Or whatever. Math's not my best subject.

Actually, as long as I'm confessing everything, I should admit there was more than kissing. There was a little—
discreet
—below-the-neck action as well. I really hope Lars did what Michael asked and didn't turn around.

Anyway, when the carriage stopped, I finally came to my senses. I guess it was the fact there was no more clip-clopping sound. Or maybe it was just the final lurch that practically threw us both off the bench.

That's when I was like, “Oh my God!” and stared up at
Michael, all horrified, realizing what I'd just done.

Which was make out with a boy who wasn't my boyfriend. For a really long time.

I guess the most horrifying part was how much I'd liked it. Which was a lot. A whole lot. That major histocompatibility complex thing? It does NOT mess around.

And I could tell Michael had felt the same way.

“Mia,” he said, looking down at me with his dark eyes filled with something I was almost afraid to put a name to, and his chest going all up and down like he'd just been running. His hands were in my hair. He was cradling my head. “You
have
to know. You have to know I lo—”

But I smashed my hand over his mouth just like I'd done to Tina. My hand that used to have the three-carat diamond ring on it. From another boy.

I said,
“DO NOT SAY IT.”

Because I knew what he was going to say.

That's when I said, instead, “Lars, we're leaving.
Now
.”

And Lars hopped down from the top of the carriage and helped me from the bench. And the two of us went to my waiting limo.

And I climbed inside. And I totally did not look back.

Not even once.

And there's a message on my phone from Michael, but I'm not looking at what it says. I'm NOT.

Because I can't do this to J.P. I
can't
.

Oh my God, though. I love Michael so much.

Oh, thank God. We're here.

Dr. Knutz and I have a
lot
to talk about today.

Friday, May 5, 6 p.m., limo home from Dr. Knutz's office

When I walked into Dr. Knutz's office, Grandmère was there. AGAIN.

I demanded to know why. WHY she keeps insisting on violating my doctor-patient confidentiality. And okay, today was supposed to be my last therapy session ever, but still. Just because I'd invited her to join me a few times before didn't mean she could keep showing up to my appointments ALL the time.

She tried to use the excuse that this is the only place she knows she can find me. (Too bad she didn't look out her window at the Plaza a little while ago, she could have seen her granddaughter going around Central Park in a horse-and-carriage in a lip-lock with a boy who is not her boyfriend.)

Which I supposed (then) was a reasonable excuse. But that still didn't make it RIGHT, and I told her that.

Of course, she fully ignored me. She said she needed to know if it was true I'm getting a romance novel published and if so how I could do this to the family and why didn't I just shoot her if I wanted to kill her, and get it over with? Why did I have to do it this way, by slowly humiliating her in front of all her friends? Why couldn't I be more like Bella Trevanni Alberto who is such a perfect granddaughter (I swear if I have to hear this
one more time
…)?

Then she started in about Sarah Lawrence (again) and how she knows I have to pick a college by election day (also PROM), and if I'd
just pick Sarah Lawrence
(the college she
would have gone to if she'd bothered going to college), then everything would be all right.

I let out a shriek of frustration and stormed right past Grandmère and straight into Dr. Knutz's office without waiting to hear any more. Because really, how ridiculous can that woman be? Besides, I was in crisis mode, what with this thing with Michael. I don't have time for Grandmère's histrionics.

Anyway, Dr. Knutz listened calmly to what had just happened—with me and Grandmère, I mean—and said he was sorry, and that obviously, since this was my last session, it wouldn't happen again, but that he'd speak to Grandmère if I wanted. For what good that will do.

Then he listened to me describe what had just happened with Michael.

And his response was to ask me if I'd given any thought to the story he'd told me last week about his horse, Sugar.

“Because as I was explaining, Mia,” Dr. Knutz went on, “sometimes a relationship that seems perfect on paper doesn't always work out in reality, just like Sugar looked like a perfect horse on paper, but in real life, we just didn't click.”

SUGAR! I pour my heart out about my romantic travails (and pain-in-the-butt grandmother), and Dr. Knutz still can't talk about anything but his stupid horses.

“Dr. K,” I said. “Can we talk about something else besides horses for a minute?”

“Of course, Mia,” he said.

“Well,” I said. “My parents have told me I have to pick
out a college to go to by Dad's election—and my prom. And I can't decide. I mean, it seems as if every school that let me in only did so because I'm a princess—”

“But you don't
know
that to be true,” Dr. Knutz said.

“No, but with my SAT scores, it's pretty obvious—”

“We've discussed this before, Mia,” Dr. Knutz said. “You know you're supposed to be concentrating on not obsessing over things you have no control over. What, in fact, are you supposed to do instead?”

I raised my gaze to the painting behind his head, of a herd of stampeding mustangs. How many hours have I gazed at that painting over the past twenty-one months, wishing it would fall on his head? Not enough to hurt him. Just enough to startle him.

“Accept the things I cannot change,” I said. “And pray for the courage to change the things I can, as well as the wisdom to know the difference.”

The thing is…I know this is good advice. It's called the Serenity Prayer, and it really does put things in perspective (it's supposed to be for recovering alcoholics, but it helps recovering freakoutaholics, like me, as well).

But honestly, it's something I could have told
myself.

What's becoming more clear to me every day now is that I've graduated. Not just from high school and princess lessons, but from therapy, too. Not that I'm self-actualized or anything, because Lord knows, I'm not…I don't believe anyone can ever achieve self-actualization anymore. Not and still be a thinking, learning human being.

I've just realized the truth, which is: No one can help
me. My problems are just too weird. Where am I going to find a therapist with experience helping an American girl who finds out she is, in fact, a princess of a small European country, who also has a mother who married her Algebra teacher, a father who can't commit to romantic relationships at all, a best friend who won't speak to her, an ex-boyfriend she can't stop kissing in a Central Park carriage, a boyfriend who wrote a play revealing intimate details about them, and a grandmother who is certifiably insane?

Nowhere. That's where.

I have to solve my own problems from now on. And you know what? I'm pretty sure I'm ready.

But I didn't want Dr. Knutz to feel bad, because he had helped me a lot, in the past. So I said, “Dr. Knutz. Would you mind looking at a text message with me?”

“Not at all,” he said.

So we opened Michael's message together.

It said:

Wow.

Also…
wow.

Even Dr. Knutz agreed. Although I doubt Michael's note made his heart pound faster—
Mi-chael, Mi-chael, Mi-chael
—the way it did mine.

“Oh, my,” Dr. Knutz said, about Michael's text. “That's very direct. So. What will you do?”

“Do?” I said sadly. “I'm not going to
do
anything. I'm going out with J.P.”

“But you aren't attracted to J.P.,” Dr. Knutz said.

“I am, too!” I said. How did
he
know that? I'd never admitted that. To him, anyway. “Or, at least…Well, I'm working on it.”

Science. The problem is, it's science. Which I've never been very good at.

But there are ways to beat science. That's what scientists, like Kenneth Showalter, do. All day long. Find ways to beat science. I have to beat this thing with Michael. Because I can't hurt J.P. I
can't.
He's been too kind to me.

“Mia,” Dr. Knutz asked, with a sigh. “Are we not actually done here?”

Uh…yeah. We totally are.

“I can't break up with a perfectly nice guy,” I said, wondering if I was going to have to explain my dad's theory about me being a tease, “just because my old boyfriend wants to get back together with me.”

“You not only can, but must, if you're still in love with that old boyfriend,” Dr. Knutz said. “It isn't fair to the perfectly nice guy, otherwise.”

“Oh!” I dropped my face into my hands. “Look, I know, okay? I don't know what to do!”

“You do,” Dr. Knutz said. “And you'll do it, when the time is right. Speaking of time…ours is up.”

AAAAARGH!!!!

And what is he talking about, I'll know what to do when the time is right? I have no idea what to do!

Actually, I do: I want to move to Japan and have food in real plates delivered to my door, living under an assumed name (Daphne Delacroix).

Friday, May 5, 9:30 p.m., the loft

Tina just called. She wanted to know how my lunch date with Michael went. She's called a few times before, actually, but I didn't pick up (J.P.'s called a few times, too). I just couldn't face speaking to either of them. The shame, you know? How could I possibly tell her?

And how can I possibly ever speak to J.P. again? I know I'll have to, eventually. But…not now.

Anyway, I didn't tell her now when I spoke to her, either. I just went, “Oh, lunch was fine,” all breezy and casual. I didn't say a word about old-timey carriages or making out for blocks on end or anything about below-the-neck fondling.

GOD! I'm such a slut!

“Really?” Tina said. “That's so great! So…what about MHS?”

“MHC, you mean? Oh, fine, fine. All under control.”

A slut and a LIAR!

“Well…” Tina sounded like she couldn't believe it. “That's great, Mia! So, you and Michael really can just be friends, then.”

“Sure,” I said. Mia Thermopolis's Big Fat Lie Number Twelve. “No problem.”

“That's great,” Tina said. “It's just that…”

“What?” I said. Oh, no. What had she heard? Had Lana and Trisha finally gotten their rowing under control and followed us? I'd gotten a text from Lana that just said,)(&$#! Which I took to mean Lana had had too much sake at Nobu, a usual event on a Friday.

“Well, I was talking to Boris,” Tina said. “And did you know, he was telling me that the whole time Michael was in Japan—you're going to laugh when you hear this, I suppose—he had Boris kind of…well, keeping an eye on you. You know, while you guys were in Gifted and Talented together? I can't believe Boris didn't tell me before. But he said Michael said not to say anything to me. They're better friends than I thought, I guess. Anyway, Boris says he thinks Michael's seriously in love with you, and always has been. That he never stopped loving you, even after you guys broke up. I guess he just thought it wasn't fair to ask you to wait for him while he was away, trying to prove himself to your dad, or whatever, you know? God, it's just…it's so romantic.”

I had to move the phone away from my face, because I'd started to cry. And I was afraid Tina would hear my sniffling.

“Yeah,” I said. “That
is
romantic.”

“Not like Boris was spying on you, or anything,” Tina said. “I mean, I've never told him any of the stuff you and I have talked about. Anyway, Boris told me the reason Michael left your birthday party the other night when J.P. pulled out that ring was exactly why I said…because he couldn't stand seeing you get engaged-to-be-engaged to another guy. Boris didn't say Michael said this, but I don't think Michael likes J.P. very much. On account of him being jealous, because J.P.'s with you now. Isn't that just the sweetest thing you ever heard?”

Tears were totally streaming down my face. But I pretended like they weren't.

“Uh-huh,” I said. “Sweet!”

“But he didn't say anything about that at lunch?” Tina asked. “You guys didn't talk about it at all?”

“Nope,” I said. “I mean, Tina…I'm with J.P. now. I would never do that to him.”

Liar!

“Gee,” Tina said. “Well, of course not. You're not that kind of girl!”

“Nope,” I said. “I gotta go. I'm gonna hit the hay early to get my beauty sleep for the prom.”

“Oh, sure,” Tina said. “Me too! Well, see you tomorrow!”

“See you,” I said, and hung up.

Then I bawled like a baby for, like, ten whole minutes, until Mom came into my room looking all bewildered, and was like, “What's the matter now?”

And I just went, “Hold me, Mommy.”

And even though I'm eighteen and a legal adult, I crawled into my mom's lap and stayed there for, like, ten minutes, until Rocky came over and went, “YOU'RE not the baby! I am!”

And Mom said, “She gets to be the baby sometimes.”

So then Rocky thought about it, and finally said, “Okay,” and patted me on the cheek and said, “Good baby.”

Somehow, this made me feel better.

At least a little bit.