And that’s when he picked up his guitar and there, in the light from the security lamp, he serenaded me with “our song”—the one he wrote about me, “Tall Drink of Water,” which goes:

Tall drink of water

Can’t say how much you want her

How long you’ve tried to stay cool

But she doesn’t even see you

Wait for her in the lobby

Your knees are getting wobbly

She glides by in her pink dress

Towers over all the rest

Hands starting to get sweaty

You really think you’re ready

To take a little walk over there

Tell her how much you care

What will you say now

Will she make your day now

She looks this way now

Get moving, don’t delay now

You think you’re ready for your close-up

But she’s not China doll made-up

Or a picture-perfect teacup

She’s more real than any girl you’ve ever seen

You’re not gonna make it

But this is it, you just can’t fake it

She’s the girl who makes your heart sing

Means more to you than anything

She’s a tall drink of water

Can’t say how much you want her

How long you’ve tried to stay cool

But she doesn’t even see you

And it was the best Valentine I ever got.

June 5, 9 p.m., private jet to Genovia

ME, A PRINCESS???? YEAH, RIGHT.

A Screenplay by Mia Thermopolis
(first draft)

Scene 45

INT/NIGHT—A girl (sixteen-year-old MIA THERMOPOLIS), trembling on the verge of womanhood, sits in a sumptuous leather seat aboard a luxurious private jet. She has just finished reading the contents of a black-and-white Mead composition notebook. She closes the notebook, looks up, and sighs.

MIA

And Michael and I have had happy Valentine’s Days ever since….

Oh, whatever, that isn’t even true. Michael STILL refuses to celebrate Valentine’s Day, insisting it’s all a plot by Hallmark, 1-800-Flowers, and Russell Stover to make us do their corporate bidding.

But he doesn’t mind celebrating Lupercalia on February 15.

Except that they don’t make Happy Lupercalia cards. Which I’m pretty sure is why he likes it so much.

And, I have to admit—so do I!

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Many thanks to Beth Ader, Jennifer Brown,
Barbara Cabot, Michele Jaffe, Laura Langlie,
Abigail McAden, and my Valentine,
Benjamin Egnatz.

Books about
PRINCESS MIA

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

Valentine Princess:

A PRINCESS DIARIES BOOK (VOLUME IV AND A QUARTER)

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