Author's Note: Okay, here's the second chapter, which is longer, as requested. We meet a new character. That's about it. So enjoy!

Tuesday, March 4, Homeroom

Lilly says she saw a new kid registering up at the office while she was getting permission from Principal Gupta about filming for her newest show. She passed me this note a minute ago:

"Hey, did you see that new kid registering this morning?"

So I replied back:

"New kid? No, I saw no one new this morning. That could be because I wasn't near the OFFICE this morning, as you very well know."

She told me that I most certainly could have seen him, walking through the halls or something, because he got to the office after she did.

So there's a new kid around. Great. Someone else to taunt me. Or at least to think to himself about how much of a loser I am, despite the whole I'm- supposed-to-be-a-princess thing.

Whatever.

Later, Algebra

Well, looks like the new guy is in my Algebra class. Wonderful. Just great.

So there I was, trying to work my way through the FOIL method once again, when I hear Lana make this little gasping noise. I figured she had broken a nail or smudged her eyeliner or something, so I didn't pay much attention. At least, not until Mr. G asked us to listen up for a minute.

Dressed from head to foot in all black (including huge combat boots), he had dark, disheveled hair and was wearing the most ridiculous glasses I'd ever seen. Mr. G announced that this person was named Jonas, and directed him to the empty seat. right behind ME.

So now he's sitting there, totally not paying attention to Mr. G, who is going on about the distribution method. Instead, he's buried in some book. I think it's a novel by Tolstoy or somebody. Lana just spent the last five minutes hiding behind her swishy hair, whispering into her phone about the "new freak in school". Mr. G. saw her though, and took away her phone. Which happens to be the very same one my DAD had to pay for, because I stomped on her other one once.

Anyway.

The upside to all of this: At least I won't be the only one who's called a freak anymore.

Same Day, Lunch

I think I just had the most bizarre morning of my entire life.

The new guy, Jonas, started talking to me when the bell rang after Algebra. He talked. To ME. Yes, to Princess Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo, aka - AEHS's one and only freak extraordinaire. He asked me my name, and after about 5 seconds, I finally managed to get out, "Uhm.. Oh, uh, Mia. My name is Mia."

He told me his name was Jonas (even though Mr. G had totally already announced that to the whole class), and then he said he hoped to see me around.

EXCUSE ME?!? Are we both living on the same planet here? Okay, so Jonas looks like as much of a loser as I am, but still, nobody who wants to even TRY to be liked at this school would ever talk to me FIRST. Wasn't it obvious to him that I am a talent-less, royal freak and that if he was caught associating with me, he would totally have to suffer relentless torture at the hands of mindless cheerleaders and jocks?

And that's not even all of it. Oh no. Because after going to my locker, I walk into English, and there he was again, sitting in the desk next to mine in the very front! And when I sat down, he started talking to me again! I mean, I figured the little thing during Algebra had been a harmless mistake, but apparently not.

Then to my great wonderment, he started talking again. I just sort of let him go on for a few minutes, and discovered that Jonas is totally nice. He didn't know I was a princess, and started asking all these questions about my family and where I live and stuff. Only after he asked me what my dad does did he figure it out, and then went, "Wow, that's really great. You must feel really pressured, though, huh?" After telling him that, yes, it was a very stressful position, I turned the conversation to him.

Apparently Jonas has been to a lot of different schools, almost one every year. His dad is in the Navy, so they're always being relocated. Plus he gets to stay in these naval houses, since his dad is an officer, and the houses are, like, totally huge, sometimes with pools, and one place in Michigan even had it's own tennis court.

Jonas also told me that he only wears black on his first day at a new school, because first impressions are lasting impressions, and he doesn't want people thinking he's some kind of jock or genius or anything, since he never has any really permanent friends, and doesn't want to have his time wasted by the annoying popular people. Because, trust me, if he had been wearing Calvin Klein, slicked down his hair, and put in some contacts, Lana so would have been all over him.

Anyway, by the time class started, it looked like there would be a new addition to the gang soon. Because Lilly is totally going to interrogate him, and I bet you Tina will be more than interested.

Still same day, Limo

I just finished princess lessons with Grandmere. It was a total nightmare. I had to learn how to curtsey properly, depending on which diplomat from which country I was greeting. Like, for the King of Spain, you have to cross your ankles and only bend from the hip, but for the King of Portugal you have to cross your ankles the other way and only bend from the knees.

After about three hours of this, Grandmere told me I could leave and that we would work more on my curtseying tomorrow. I can't wait. *grimace*

Now I'm in the limo, heading for Lilly's. We're going to start working on her new show, "How Technology has Brainwashed Today's Youth." We're going to try to film Michael on his computer from outside his window. If he doesn't catch us, this should be really fun. I mean, come on, this is Michael we're talking about. He might be sitting there with no shirt on. Or maybe playing his guitar. Or BOTH. : )

And speaking of technology, Kenny told me during Bio that Jonas joined the Computer Club. Oh yes, Jonas will fit in perfectly.