Chapter One- The beginning of the end?
The sun had set on a cold Genovian sky. Clarisse pulled the throw over high above her knees and shivered slightly. She hated the winter! Sure, she loved Christmas but the weather she was not keen on. After finding a suitable place in her book she marked it, set it down on the table and got up. She decided to go see Mia to find out the arrangements for her mother's visit for Christmas and New Year.
Clarisse reached Mia's door and knocked softly. She heard no reply so she walked inside and found Mia looking out her window.
"Mia, why didn't you open the door?"
"Go away!"
"Darling, what's wrong?"
"I said go away grandmother!"
Clarisse felt extremely hurt! Never before had Mia shut her out of her problems. Clarisse decided to ask her one more time.
"Amelia, what's happened?"
Mia turned around to face her grandmother and snapped at her.
"Why don't you ever listen to what I say? I am so sick of you grandmother, you never listen to me. You just think of yourself all the time!"
"I do listen to you! How dare you speak to me like that, Amelia. I am your grandmother. Now would you kindly explain what has happened?"
"What's happened? You wanna know what's happened? They're not coming that's what! You have your wish."
"My wish? Mia, I don't have the faintest idea as to what you're talking about."
"Think back grandmother. You know damn well what I'm talking about"
Clarisse fell silent for a moment. She tried to think back to anything she could have said or done to make Mia think her mother, step-father and brother weren't welcomed at the palace.
Then it clicked.
"Oh"
"Yes, 'Oh,' grandma! The next time you have secret conversations with Joe make sure nobody is in hearing-distance!"
"Hang on a minute, how did you hear that? We were on my balcony talking about…um…security matters"
"I was under your balcony taking a walk."
"Ah."
"Well, thanks a lot! You really haven't changed a bit, have you?"
Clarisse was getting angrier by the second. Never had Mia talked to her in this manner. Mia was pacing the floor in frustration.
"For your information young lady I never once said I didn't want them to be here. What I said was since it is your first Christmas in Genovia it was a shame we couldn't spend it just me and you."
"IN OTHER WORDS YOU DONT WANT MOM OVER! JUST SAY WHAT YOU REALLY MEAN FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE!"
As soon as Mia shouted that at Clarisse, Clarisse lost it and wasn't standing for anymore of this.
"I've had it with you, Mia! You're not going to talk to me like that. Not only am I your grandmother, but I am your Queen too and I deserve a bit of respect from you especially. Think what you like and read into that conversation what you wish, I am not staying here to be insulted by you."
Clarisse turned on her heels to walk out of Mia's suite. Mia was in full rage now and threw a vase at the wall which made Clarisse jump and a flash of fear shot through her.
"That's it, walk away! Just like you always do. You are good, at that aren't you? Running away from your problems and not facing up to things you have caused, no matter how much you hurt people."
Mia practically spat out the last line showing nothing but disgust for the woman a nation adored. Clarisse acted on impulse and took Mia by the shoulders, making Mia even more angry and also scared her a little.
"I wondered how long it would be before you used that against me!"
"Well it's true, why not bring it up? Face it, grandmother. You walked out on me and now you're gonna try to get the years back! WELL YOU CAN'T, SO STOP TRYING. YOU'RE PATHETIC!"
That was it. Mia stood in shock and held her cheek. Clarisse stumbled back from Mia and dropped to the couch.
"Mia, I'm...I didn't mean…"
Mia was crying hard, holding her cheek that stung from the rings on Clarisse's fingers. She ran past Clarisse and out of the suite.
"I DONT WANT YOU IN MY LIFE I HATE YOU!"
Clarisse sat still and broke down into sobs.
"Oh...what have I done?"