'What are you doing here?' he wanted to know. 'Does Mr. G know you're here? You're going to get into trouble again . . .'
'Never mind that,' I said. 'Just tell me. Did you mean it when you said you'd go to the prom if the guys from your band went, too?'
'I guess so,' Michael said. 'But, Mia, the prom got cancelled, remember?'
'What if I told you,' I said all casually, like I was talking about the weather, 'that the prom was back on, and that they need a band, and that the band the Prom Committee has chosen is YOURS?'
Michael just stared. 'I'd say ... get out of town.'
'I am totally serious,' I informed him. 'And I will not get out of town. Oh, Michael, please say yes, I want to go to the
prom so badly . . .'
Michael looked surprised. 'You do? But the prom is so ... lame.'
'I know it's lame,' I said, not without some feeling. 'I know it is, Michael. But that does not alter the fact that I have been dreaming of going to the prom for my entire life, practically. And I really believe that I could achieve total self-actualization
if you and I went to the prom together tomorrow night. . .'
Michael still looked like he couldn't quite believe any of it - that his band was actually being booked for a real gig; that that gig was the school prom; and that his girlfriend had just confessed that her way up the Jungian tree of self-actualization might be speeded along if he agreed to take her to said prom with him.
'Uh,' Michael said. 'Well, OK. I guess so. If you feel that strongly about it.'
I was so overcome with emotion, that I reached out and grabbed Michael's head, just as I had grabbed Lana's. And just as
I had done with Lana, I dragged Michael's head towards me and planted a great big kiss on him . . . only not between his eyebrows, like with Lana, but right square on the lips.
Michael seemed very, very surprised by this - especially, you know, that I'd done it right in front of Mrs. Weinstein. Which is probably why he turned red all the way to his hairline after I finished kissing him, and went, 'Mia,' in a sort of strangled voice. But I didn't care if I'd embarrassed him. Because I was too happy. I went, 'See ya, Mrs. Weinstein,' to Michael's stunned-looking English teacher and skipped out of there, feeling just like Molly when Andrew McCarthy came up to her
at the prom and confessed his love to her, even though she was wearing that hideous dress.
And now I am sitting here - having told Lana that Skinner Box would definitely be performing at the prom -trembling with excitement over my own good fortune. I am going to the prom. I, Mia Thermopolis, am going to the prom. With my boyfriend and one true love, Michael Moscovitz. Michael and I are going to the prom.
MICHAEL AND I ARE GOING TO THE PROM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TO THE PROM!!!!!!!!!!!!
PROM!
Friday, May 9, 7 p.m., the Loft
I really do not have time for all of this bickering between my mom and Grandmere. Don't these women know I have more important things to worry about? I AM GOING TO THE PROM TOMORROW WITH MY BOYFRIEND. I am
supposed to be getting plenty of rest and anointing my body with precious unguents right now, not refereeing fights between
the post-menopausal and the hormonally-challenged.
WHY CAN'T YOU BOTH SHUT UP??????????? I want to scream at them.
But that, of course, wouldn't be very princesslike.
I am going to put on my headphones and try to drown out the noise with the mix Michael made for my birthday party.
Perhaps the dulcet tones of The Flaming Lips will calm my fractious nerves.
Homework
Algebra: Who cares? Michael and I are going to the prom!!!!!
English: Prom!!!!
Biology: I'm going to the prom!!!!!!!!
Health and Safety: PROM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gifted and Talented: As if
French: Nous Allans Au Promme!!!!!!
World Civ.: WORLD PROM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PROM!
Friday, May 9, 7:02 p.m.
Not even The Flaming Lips can drown out Grandmere's strident tones. Am switching to Kelly Osbourne.
Friday, May 9, 7:04 p.m.
Success! Finally, I can hear myself think.
Michael just emailed to let me know that he and the band would probably be up all night practising for their first big gig. But it
is fully all right for the GUY to show up at the prom with dark circles under his eyes (look at that guy who ended up at the
Time Zone dance with Melissa Joan Hart in Drive Me Crazy}. It's just not OK for the GIRL to look less than petal smooth and daisy fresh.
The guys in the band aren't exactly stoked about the whole playing-at-the-prom thing. In fact, rumour has it Trevor even said, 'Oh, man, can't we just stick forks in our eyes, instead?'
But Michael says he told him a gig is a gig, and that beggars can't be choosers.
Michael signed off on his email with this:
See you tomorrow night. Love, M
Tomorrow night. Oh yes. Tomorrow night, my love, when I enter the prom on your arm, and see the jealous gazes of all of
my peers. Well, just Lana, because she's the only freshman besides me who is going. Except for Shameeka. Only she would never look at me jealously, because she is my friend.
Oh, and Tina. Because it turns out Tina is going to the prom, too. Because of course Boris is in Michael's band, and since he
is going to be there, he is allowed to bring one guest, and he chose Tina, because she, as he put it at lunch today, 'is my new muse, and sole reason for living.'
Oh, how thrilled Tina looked to hear those words uttered from the lips of her new love! I swear, she practically choked on her Fruitopia. She beamed across the table at Boris, and though I never thought I would write these words, I swear they are true: