“What are friends for?” Lilly asked with a shrug. “And don’t worry. I didn’t tell Michael about that kiss you gave J.P.”
“It didn’t mean anything!” I cried.
“Whatever,” Lilly said.
“It didn’t,” I insisted. And then, because it seemed like the right thing to do, I added, “Look. I’m really sorry about your parents.”
“I know,” Lilly said. “I should have—I mean, I’ve known for a while things weren’t going so well for them. Morty’s been moving away from the neopsychoanalytical school of psychiatry ever since he left grad school. He and Ruth have been fighting over this for years, but it all came to a head with a recent article in Psychoanalysis Today, blasting the Jungians for essentialism. Ruth feels Morty’s attitude toward the neopsychoanalysis movement is merely a symptom of a midlife crisis, and that next thing you know, Morty’ll be buying a Ferrari and vacationing in the Hamptons. But Morty insists he’s on the verge of an important breakthrough. Neither of them will back off. So Ruth asked Morty to move out until he gets his priorities back in order. Or publishes. Whichever comes first.”
“Oh,” I said. Because I couldn’t figure out how else to respond. I mean, do couples really split up over things like this? I’ve heard about people getting divorced because one person keeps on losing the cap to the toothpaste.
But to break up over methodological differences?
Oh, well. At least that’s one I never have to worry about happening to Michael and me!
“Still, I shouldn’t have kept it all to myself,” Lilly went on. “I should have told you. At least it might have helped you understand—you know. Why I’ve been acting like such a freak lately.”
“At least,” I said gravely, “you have an excuse. For freakish behavior, and all. What’s mine?”
Lilly laughed, the way I’d meant her to.
“I’m sorry I wouldn’t pull your story,” she said. “You were totally right. It would have been mean to J.P. Not to mention completely insulting to your cat.”
“Yeah,” I said, glancing over to where J.P. was standing, not too far from Doo Pak, who was breathlessly telling something to Elton John. “J.P.’s a really nice guy. And you know…” Well, why not? The niceness thing hadn’t let me down yet. “…I think he really likes you.”
“Shut up,” Lilly said. But not in quite as listless a voice as she’d been speaking in before. “I’ve given up guys. You know that. They don’t bring anything but trouble and heartache. It’s like I was telling David Mamet a minute ago that—”
“Wait,” I said. “David Mamet is here?”
“Yeah,” Lilly said. “He’s buying the faux island of Massachusetts or something. Why?”
“Lilly,” I said excitedly. “Go up to J.P. and tell him you want to introduce him to someone. Then bring him over to David Mamet.”
“Why?”
“Don’t ask. Just do it. I swear you won’t regret it. In fact, I bet he asks you out afterward.”
“Do you really think he likes me?” Lilly wanted to know, eyeing J.P. uncertainly.
“Totally,” I said.
“Then I’m going to do it,” Lilly said with sudden determination. “Right now.”
“Go for it,” I told her.
And she went.
But I didn’t get to see how J.P. reacted, because at that very moment, Michael came up, and slid an arm around my waist.
“Hi,” I said. “How was Bob?”
“Bob,” Michael said, “is so cool. How are you?”
“You know what? I’m good.”
And I wasn’t even lying, for a change.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Many thanks to Beth Ader, Jennifer Brown, Barbara Cabot, Lexa Hillyer, Michele Jaffe, Laura Langlie, Janey Lee, and Abigail McAden. Special thanks to Benjamin Egnatz, who wrote many of the songs/poems in this book, and also fed me while I was writing it.
About the Author
MEG CABOT is the author of the best-selling, critically acclaimed Princess Diaries books, which were made into the wildly popular Disney movies of the same name. Her other books for teens include the Mediator series, the 1-800-Where-R-You books, All-American Girl, Ready or Not, Teen Idol, and Avalon High, as well as Nicola and the Viscount and Victoria and the Rogue. She also writes books for adults, including The Boy Next Door, Boy Meets Girl, Every Boy’s Got One, and Size 12 Is Not Fat. She is still waiting for her real parents, the king and queen, to restore her to her rightful throne. She lives in Key West and New York City with her husband and a one-eyed cat named Henrietta.
Visit Meg’s website at: www.megcabot.com
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Books by
MEG CABOT
The Princess Diaries
THE PRINCESS DIARIES, VOLUME II:
Princess in the Spotlight
THE PRINCESS DIARIES, VOLUME III:
Princess in Love
THE PRINCESS DIARIES, VOLUME IV:
Princess in Waiting
THE PRINCESS DIARIES, VOLUME IV AND A HALF:
Project Princess
THE PRINCESS DIARIES, VOLUME V:
Princess in Pink
THE PRINCESS DIARIES, VOLUME VI:
Princess in Training
The Princess Present:
A PRINCESS DIARIES BOOK (VOLUME VI AND A HALF)
THE PRINCESS DIARIES, VOLUME VII:
Party Princess
Sweet Sixteen Princess:
A PRINCESS DIARIES BOOK (VOLUME VII AND A HALF)
ILLUSTRATED BY CHESLEY MCLAREN:
Princess Lessons:
A PRINCESS DIARIES BOOK
Perfect Princess:
A PRINCESS DIARIES BOOK
Holiday Princess:
A PRINCESS DIARIES BOOK
ALL-AMERICAN GIRL
READY OR NOT: AN ALL-AMERICAN GIRL NOVEL
TEEN IDOL
AVALON HIGH
NICOLA AND THE VISCOUNT
VICTORIA AND THE ROGUE
THE MEDIATOR BOOKS:
THE MEDIATOR 1: SHADOWLAND
THE MEDIATOR 2: NINTH KEY
THE MEDIATOR 3: REUNION
THE MEDIATOR 4: DARKEST HOUR
THE MEDIATOR 5: HAUNTED
THE MEDIATOR 6: TWILIGHT
THE BOY NEXT DOOR
BOY MEETS GIRL
EVERY BOY’S GOT ONE
SIZE 12 IS NOT FAT
THE 1-800-WHERE-R-YOU BOOKS:
WHEN LIGHTNING STRIKES
CODE NAME CASSANDRA
SAFE HOUSE
SANCTUARY
Credits
Jacket art © 2006 by Howard Huang
Jacket design by Amy Ryan
Copyright
Party Princess
Copyright © 2006 by Meg Cabot, LLC. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright
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Microsoft Reader February 2006 ISBN 0-06-087496-1