“Da-ad!” I whispered. “Come on! It’s not that! I mean—” I lowered my voice even more, grateful for the din of the cafeteria. “He broke up with me, remember?”
“That was almost two years ago,” Dad said. “You’ve both done a lot of growing up since then. One of you, in particular.”
He meant me. I knew he meant me. He certainly didn’t mean Michael, who’d never been anything but calm and understanding, whereas I’d been…
Well, not.
Geek.
“Mia, what’s going on?” Tina wanted to know. She looked worried. “Is your dad all right?”
“Everything’s fine,” I said to them. “I’ll tell you in a minute—”
“Mia, I have to go,” Dad said. “The press is here. I don’t think I have to tell you that something like this…well, it’s big news in a little place like Genovia.”
No, he didn’t need to tell me that. People don’t make donations of million-dollar, state-of-the-art medical equipment to Genovia’s dinky hospital. Something like that was going to get major media coverage.
Way more, in fact, than René’s efforts to open an Applebee’s.
“Okay, Dad,” I said, in a daze. “Bye.”
I hung up, feeling totally confused. What was going on? Why had Michael done this? I mean, I knew why my dad thought Michael had done it.
But why had he really done it? I’d seen how he’d walked out of my birthday party like that. It didn’t make any sense.
Love, Michael.
“What’s going on, Mia?” J.P. wanted to know.
“You look like you just ate a sock,” Tina said.
“It’s nothing,” I said quickly. “It was just my dad to say that the Royal Genovian Hospital got a donation of a CardioArm from Michael’s company. That’s all.”
Tina choked on the sip of Diet Coke she was taking. Everyone else took the news calmly.
Including J.P.
“Oh, hey, Mia,” he said. “That’s great! Wow. That’s a generous gift.”
He didn’t look a bit jealous.
And why should he? It’s not as if there’s anything to be jealous about. Michael doesn’t like me like that, despite what Dad—and Tina—might think. I’m sure he just donated the CardioArm to be nice.
And Micromini Midori…the fact that he sent her to teach the surgeons how to use it? That doesn’t mean she and Michael aren’t going out. It just means they’re in such a stable relationship that they can be away from each other for weeks at a time and it doesn’t bother them a bit.
What am I blathering about? Who cares if Michael and Micromini Midori are dating? I’m wearing a promise ring from another guy! To whom I am going to lose my virginity after the prom this coming Saturday! What is wrong with me?
Really—What IS wrong with me? I shouldn’t even be thinking about any of this stuff! I have a French final in fifteen minutes!
WHAT AM I GOING TO DO ABOUT THE FACT THAT MICHAEL SENT A CARDIOARM TO THE ROYAL GENOVIAN HOSPITAL?????
And I can’t stop thinking about him for even one second, and I’m due to lose my virginity to my boyfriend after the prom in four days (three if you don’t count today)????
Wednesday, May 3, French final
Mia—Are you done with the final? T
Yes. That was horrible.
I know! What did you get for number 5?
I don’t know. Future perfect, I think. I don’t remember anymore. I’m trying to block it out.
Same here. So. I know you probably don’t want to talk about it, but what are you going to do about Michael, and the fact that he did what he did? Because, no matter what you say, Mia, you can’t deny—no guy is going to send a CardioArm to the country of a girl he doesn’t like.
See, I knew this was going to happen. Tina takes everything and wraps it up in silver tissue paper and puts a big bow on it and calls it Love.
And I’m supposed to be the romance writer.
He doesn’t like me! Not like like me. He just did it to be nice. For old times’ sake. I’m sure.
Well, I don’t see how you can be sure when you haven’t even spoken to him about it. Have you spoken to him about it?
Well, no. Not yet. I’m not sure I’m going to, either. Because, in case you don’t remember, Tina, I’m promise-ringed to someone else.
That doesn’t give you the right to be rude! When someone goes to all the trouble of donating a CardioArm to your country, the least you can do is personally thank him! Although that doesn’t mean you have to sleep with him, or anything. I’m sure Michael isn’t expecting anything like that. You could kiss him though.
Oh my God.
Whose side are you on, anyway, Tina? J.P.’s, or Michael’s?
J.P.’s, of course! Because that’s who you’ve chosen, right? I mean…haven’t you? It would be pretty weird if that’s NOT who you’ve chosen, seeing as how you’re wearing his ring, and plan on spending the night with him on Saturday.
Of course I chose J.P.! Michael broke up with me, remember?
Mia, that was almost two years ago. Things are different now. You’re different now.
WHY DOES EVERYONE KEEP SAYING THIS?
OH MY GOD YOU GUYS I JUST GOT OUT OF MY LAST GERMAN FINAL EVER! No more German finals ever! At least for me! I think in college I’m going to take Spanish because then I’ll be able to order more things when I go to Cabo for break instead of just tacos.