From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess (6 page)

“That we're sisters? Yes, of course it's really true.”

“No, that you'll take me to any destination of my choosing?”

Princess Mia looked a little more relaxed, which was what I wanted. She seemed very tense and worried. More tense and worried than me! And that's saying a lot, considering the day I'd had so far.

“Yes,” she said, with a laugh. “That's really true, too. Why? Is there somewhere you really want to go?”

I couldn't believe she didn't know.

“Yes!” I cried. “To meet my dad!”

Princess Mia smiled. “I was hoping you'd say that.”

 

Wednesday, May 6
4:45 P.M.
Limousine

I'M GOING TO MEET MY DAD.

IN NEW YORK CITY.

I'm sorry to write it so big, but I'm very, very excited.

We should be there in a little over an hour. Cranbrook, New Jersey, is only sixty-four miles from New York City, but I've never been there. Nishi has been there lots of times with her family, and Aunt Catherine and Uncle Rick go there a lot, too
—
to Broadway shows and baseball games and fancy restaurants and stuff.

But not me. I've always ended up having to stay home with Mrs. Tucker, our neighbor who owns the cats, or with Nishi, because Aunt Catherine says the city is too dirty and dangerous for children, even though I'm not exactly a child and they take Sara all the time, which I've always thought was a little weird since she's not that much older than I am.

But now I am starting to realize that it probably had something to do with my being a princess.

Aunt Catherine never put it that way, though, of course. She always said, “Oh, Olivia, the city is so dirty” and “You'd just have been bored at the show we went to.”

I guess my mom was pretty serious about keeping this whole princess thing a secret. She made my dad promise not to tell
anyone
, not even his own mom (who is my grandma. Mia says she likes to be called Grandm
è
re, which is French for grandmother).

“I can't believe he didn't tell
me
,” Princess Mia keeps saying. “I wish I'd known sooner, because I've always wanted a sister.”

“Me, too!”

The one thing I've always wanted, and it's come true!

And it turns out Princess Mia and I have a lot in common:

She has a diary, too. She saw me writing in this notebook and asked if I was doing homework and I said no, that my dad said to write down my feelings when I was getting overwhelmed.

That's when Mia got a funny look on her face and said, “Hmmm, I think I know where he got that idea.”

“Where?” I asked, surprised.

“My mom told me to do the same thing when I was about your age.”

“Really?” I asked.

“Yes,” she said, and smiled. “So what else do you like to do, besides write in your diary?”

“I like to draw.” I showed her a couple of my wildlife illustrations.

“Wow, those are really good! You must have inherited that talent from your mom, because I can't draw at all.”

“Oh, that's not true,” I assured her. “My art teacher, Ms. Dakota, says anyone can learn to draw if they practice a little every day. The thing she wants me to practice right now is perspective. She says it's easy with practice. But even though I've been practicing and practicing, I still can't seem to get it right.”

Princess Mia glanced again at my drawings. “Your perspective looks good to me. Better than mine, that's for sure.”

“Aw,” I said, feeling myself blush. “Not really.”

She smiled. “The first thing you'll have to learn, Olivia, if you're going to get this princess thing right, is how to take a compliment. When someone says something nice to you, don't put yourself down. Just say ‘thank you.' Try it.”

I blushed harder. “Thank you.”

“You're welcome,” she said, laughing. “See, that wasn't so hard, was it? It's like what your art teacher said about perspective. The more you practice, the easier it will get.”

I frowned. “I never thought of it that way.”

I'd only said “Not really” because I didn't want to seem like a snob.

But I guess saying “thank you” when someone pays you a compliment doesn't sound snobby. It's the polite thing to do.

So then to change the subject, I showed Princess Mia my “Who Am I?” worksheet (not that I like to do homework, of course, but it's due tomorrow), and she started to help me fill it out, saying she'd be happy to answer any questions I had about our Genovian ancestry.…

Except then she got a call on her cell phone that she said she was sorry she had to take.

I said I understood. Being a princess really is hard work.

The thing is, I have some questions I don't think Princess Mia can answer, such as:

If my mom was so serious about me not knowing my royal heritage, why did she name me after so many Genovian princesses?

Is it for the same reason Aunt Catherine said it was my mother's “dream” that I learn to speak French, and why she makes me take it in school, even though everyone else takes Spanish? French is the language they speak in Genovia.

I can't help thinking it's because my mom meant to tell me the truth someday, and go with me to Genovia. She just died before she ever got the chance.

Her making me learn French is already doing me some good, though. I don't mean to be eavesdropping, but I can understand some of what Princess Mia has been saying on her cell phone (in French).

I should probably interrupt and mention that I take French. But I don't want to be rude. Also, it's kind of interesting.

One of the ladies-in-waiting (Tina) let me borrow her extra cell phone (when you're royal I guess you're so rich you have two).

“So you can play games and won't be bored during the drive,” she said kindly, but I think it's more so that they can talk amongst themselves.

Instead of playing games I'm going to text Nishi (she taught me how in case I ever got my own cell, and obviously I have her number memorized, since I can only ever call her from the wall phone in the kitchen).

Nishi is never going to believe any of this!

NishiGirl

Olivia

Hi, Nish, it's me, Olivia! I'm using the phone of one of the royal ladies-in-waiting. ;-)

OMG I'm so glad ur OK! I've been so worried! The police came after u left!

The police? Why? To arrest Annabelle? HA HA HA.

Ha, no, though they should have. I couldn't believe it when she jumped u!

Thanks for having my back.

Anytime. The police came because no one would get on their buses!

Really???

Really! Dr. Bushy was so mad. I think he called them, but Quetta says Annabelle did. She's so immature. So is it true????

Is what true?

What Annabelle said: That ur a princess!!!!!!

Oh. Yes.

How can u be so calm about it????

I'm not, believe me! I'm already getting princess lessons!

Where???

The limo!

What's it like?????

It's cool. I get all the chips and soda I want! And the ceiling lights up all pink and purple and green when you press a button.

Cool!

I know. But my sister said to please stop pressing it because it was making her want to throw up.

What's ur sister like???

She's super nice. But I don't think she's used to 12 year olds. She asked me if I want to go to the American Girl doll store for tea!

HA HA HA!!!!! Did u tell her u don't have an American Girl doll and that u r 12 not 7?

No! These people are ROYAL. I'm trying to be polite.

I would totally go!!!

I know you would. You're the one who had lunch at Disney World at the Beauty and the Beast castle last Christmas and got your picture taken with the Beast.

IT'S MY PROFILE PHOTO!!!

I know. Listen Nishi, my sister is on her cell phone and I can't understand everything she's saying because it's in French, but I think I heard her say the word “stole.”

You better stop eating so many chips.

Not about me! I think it was about Aunt Catherine and Uncle Rick!

I TOLD u it was strange that they own 2 Ferraris. Most people don't even own 1.

They aren't car thieves!

How do u know? They have a lot of tools.

The tools are because they own a home design and construction company!

I knew there was something weird about u moving to a place where everyone has to cover their faces! They're on the run!

I love Nishi, but she can be so dramatic sometimes. I think it's from living with her grandmother, who watches a lot of Bollywood movies, which are great but not very realistic. I have never seen a whole room of people get up and do the same dance at the same time.

NishiGirl

Olivia

The men in Qalif don't have to cover their faces, Nishi, only the women. Just forget I mentioned it.

OK, but don't say I didn't warn u. Where are u going now? To have tea at the American Doll caf
é
?

Ha ha. No. To meet my dad! IN NEW YORK CITY!

☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺
!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!

I know! I'M FINALLY GOING TO MEET MY DAD!!!!

OMG, this is so cool. It is the coolest thing ever. Can I tell everyone?

I think everyone already knows about the princess thing.

No, the part about ur dad. And they don't know the princess part for real. U just confirmed it!

Well, I think Princess Mia confirmed it when she showed up at school in a limo, but OK, I guess you can tell them.

YAY!!!!! I can't wait to see Annabelle's face tomorrow when she hears!

Why?

Because now ur officially a princess! And she's going to be sick with jealousy!

Nishi, Annabelle hates princesses, remember? She's NOT jealous of me.

Duh! She hates princesses because she knows she'll never be one, not even on the inside. People who r that snobby and mean r always super insecure. That's why she wanted to beat u up.