Um, yea. I was hit with the idea for this fic when I read the fifth princess diaries book, and read that Mia told René to dance with Bella. I know that I got A LOT of things wrong in here, but whatever. It's Fanfiction.

You may have read this fic a while ago, under the penname First Of The Geeks. It's still me, only... I can't post this under that sn because certain people who like my L/J fics would kill me. Ergo, I put it here. Isn't that loverly?

Anyhoo, I really like the idea of Bella and René, and since you are reading this, you must think it's even a little interesting. So yea.

Power to you.

Um... Read and Review, please! I would love you forever... just.. not like that. ^_~

Peace

A Not-so Fairytale Princess

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It was a calm night, the moonlight filtering in through the large windows, the red satin drapes billowing in the wind. There was a sweet smell in the air, one that smelled like flowers and water, not an all too bad mixture, if I can so.

It really was too bad that I was sharing such a pretty night all alone.

Well, ok, so I wasn't really sharing it alone. There were plenty of people at the Black and White ball that my grandmother, Contessa Elena Trevanni, had organized, but, I am sad to report, none of them were overly interested in me.

So there I was, standing in the corner like some kind of reject, all the while watching people as they danced around the ballroom, smiling and looking happy. I could see my Grandmother Elena walk around the room and talk to guests and such, all the while keeping an eagle eye on me.

Yup, I really was my grandmother's favorite child.

After what seemed like hours, my Grandmother Elena walked up to me, her fake party smile gone, her bass-like face now holding an expression of great disgust. She stalked towards me and said, quite rudely, "Bella, I must introduce you to Count Vernon. A good friend of mine from school."

I turned towards her, a scowl on my face. "Please tell me that he's not another old accountant who talks all day about his 41K. I don't think I can take another minute of," I lowered my voice, " 'Just remember, Princess Bella, that your portfolio is a something that will help you in life. To get a head...."

My Grandmother Elena cut my off with a glare, and said, "The heir to the thrown of Monaco doesn't go parading around saying such things like that, Bella, about very nice," She didn't mention rich, " people. And especially," the glare she sent me was filled with so much malice, that I had to fight back a shudder. "Not about Count Edward Vernon.

"You will," she continued, leaning down and looking me strait in the eye, "march over to Edward, exchange some pleasantries, and then take him up on his offer for a dance, should he ask for one. Do you understand?" She finished, but we both knew the answer.

"Yes, Grandmother Elena." I sighed as I walked away, my black dress hitting my claves.

When people think of princesses, the first thing that comes to mind is probably a really sappy scene from Cinderella or Snow White, or some other animated piece of crap by Disney. But to tell you the truth, like wasn't all fun and games, or meeting handsome princes and having them sweep you off your feet. In stead, it was more like you met them, talked, and then they forgot about you the next day.

Well, at least that's how it was with me. For some other princesses, such as Princess Amelia from Genovia, things were probably a little different.

I wasn't exactly what you would call pretty. I was short, with very strait brown hair, light blue eyes, and too full lips. Occasionally people would tell me that I was charming or good-looking, but I knew that they were only saying to it get on my good side.

Count Vernon was a tall man with a thick black moustache, and slightly graying black hair. He was wearing a black tuxedo, just like every other man at the ball, yet his tie and shirt were white.

Oh, he was an accountant, no doubt about it.

"Count Vernon?" I asked in my sugary sweet princess voice. My grandmother would have been so upset had she heard me use that voice, but hey, I had a problem with authority. Just ask my old teachers at my ex-boarding school.

"Yes?" He replied in a deep voice.

"Hello, I'm Bella Trevanni." I held out my hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

He kissed the top of my hand and let go of it before he said, "It's a pleasure to meet you too." He smiled. "So, how was your Christmas in Monaco? Fine, I hope?"

My smile became pained at the mention of Christmas, but I was happy, at least, to know that my little stint hadn't gotten around the entire world. Yet. "Yes, it was, thank you."

After that, there really wasn't much left to say, and the count and I lapsed into an uncomfortable silence. I was just about to excuse myself, when my grandmother came up to me and Count Vernon and said, very formally, " Excuse us, Edward, but my granddaughter and myself are needed somewhere else. But perhaps we shall see you later." She grasped my arm and pulled me to her, the very picture of grandparent-granddaughter love.

I tried not to be sick.

It became very obvious, as soon as we got close enough to our destination, as to why Grandmother Elena pulled me out of the conversation with Count Vernon (not that minded) so quickly.

There was Queen Clarisse Renaldo standing at a table, surrounded by a very tall man and woman. I recognized the tall and skinny girl as Princess Amelia, yet the man next to her I couldn't really place.

He was tall, with dark hair, and much lighter green eyes. His close cropped hair reached the collar of his black tuxedo, yet he looked slightly out of place with his black under shirt. Or maybe it was the lack of tie, who knows?

"Clarisse," my grandmother said in her sickening queenly voice as we got towards them. She did an air kiss with her that made me look away with a grin on my face. I don't think that anyone saw it. "It's so good to see you again."

"I know," Clarisse Renaldo replied, a fake smile on her face. "It's been too long." She turned to the young woman next to her, her fake smiling vanishing very quickly.

Kind of reminded me of mine and my grandmother's relationship....

"Contessa, may I please present to you my granddaughter, Princess Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Renaldo?" Next to her, I saw Amelia give a quick look that I think no one but myself glimpsed.

All of us knew who Princess Amelia was. I mean, it was kind of like a fairytale princess coming to real life, gracing the world with her beauty. Though why she looked like a snowflake was beyond my comprehension; I would think that between white and black, I would certainly choose the latter.

"And of course you know Amelia's beau, Prince Pierre René Grimaldi Alberto." Next to her, both Amelia and René turned quickly towards her, both with shocked expressions on their faces. Meanwhile, Amelia's face heated up, and I was suddenly reminded of a Popsicle...

My grandmother than cocked a look towards Amelia, assessing her. She must have agreed with everyone else that she was beautiful, and that, of course, led to her believing that she was with René.

Life really was too easy for beautiful people.

"So that rascal René has finally been snatched up, and by your granddaughter, Clarisse. How satisfying that must be for you." Then my Grandmother Elena shot me a look of pure malevolence that caused me to cringe.

Don't get me wrong, I'm tough (Well, ok, not really. I just have a problem with authority), but my grandmother is one scary person. Especially with her new Michael Jackson fixation on plastic surgery....

"Isn't it though, Elena?" Queen Clarisse asked smugly, knowing that she one over my grandmother; I couldn't even get a date for my Junior prom. Once she was done saying this, Clarisse turned to René and Amelia, her smile still on her face. "Come on, children," she said, and walked away.

Amelia, as they walked away, was beat red. René was looking mildly amused, like the whole matter was just one whole skit on Saturday Night Live. Once they stopped, I saw Amelia throw her hands up and say something that made Clarisse wave her hand. After a moment, René went off towards the table with all the drinks, and got two glasses of champagne.

I was about to make a remark about the whole scene to my grandmother, when I saw that the woman in question was shooting me another glare. I repressed a flinch, and opened my mouth to speak, when all of a sudden, Grandmother Elena was pulling me by the arm towards some old man (And yes, he did look like another accountant).

"Marlon!" She cried enthusiastically, giving him a chaste kiss on the check. "It's been far too long!" This line I had heard too many times, and it was really getting old. I was about to say my piece and get this dreaded meeting over with, when all of a sudden, my grandmother entered me into the picture.

"Have you met my granddaughter, Bella Marie Annabelle Giovanna Trevanni? She's quite the actress, over at her school Georgetown Honors." She forgot to mention the whole fact that I was going to Georgetown Honors only because of the fact that I was kicked out of my old finishing school. "Plus, she got an early acceptance to Oxford. Going to major in..." He words drifted off as I watched a couple dance.

Amelia, despite her good looks and height, wasn't very graceful, moving instead like a new born calf that didn't know what to do with it's many limbs. She paled in comparison to René when it came to dancing, so they looked rather awkward. But they did make a handsome couple.

I was still watching when "Marlon" turned towards me and bowed, grabbing my hand and kissing it. I dreaded what he was about to say, but, somehow, I knew that I couldn't get out of it.

"Would you care to dance, princess?" He asked me, straitening. He was only about six inches taller than me, standing somewhere around five foot six. He probably understood what it was like to be short as well, and perhaps we could talk about something interesting.

But then again, he was an accountant.

Since I hadn't answered right away, and "Marlon" was still smiling at me, waiting for an answer, my grandmother took it to herself to answer for me. Too bad it wasn't the answer I wanted to hear.

"Yes, Prince Trusé. Bella would be honored to dance with you. I'll go mingle with the other guests, and you two can share a dance." She waved as she walked away. "Good bye, till later."

I stared after her, a tight smile on my face. Thanks, Grandmother. Thanks a whole lot.

"May I have this dance?" The prince asked me, holding out his arm. I wanted to know if he was deaf, because hadn't my grandmother already said 'yes' on behalf of me?

"Yes," I said as politely as I could, look up at him. I took his arm, and let him lead out to the floor. I noticed some of the smiles that I got from people, the largest from some man wearing a turban.

Sometimes life was just plain weird.

I wasn't very good at dancing, since I was so small in height, but I knew that I was better than Amelia. That, at least, fortified me, and I was able to dance with as much confidence as I could muster.

Now, I know that I'm not the greatest dancer in the world, and it took pretty much all of my concentration not to step on my partners' feet. So I wasn't exactly happy when Marlon Trusé started talking to me.

And yes, you guessed it, it was about my 41K.

I answered a little bit, only when it was my cue to. Mostly I just nodded my head as I looked around.

Since I had started dancing with the prince towards the middle of the song, people who I had seen dancing earlier were still dancing, yet most of them were looking bored.

One such couple was Amelia and René, only there weren't looking bored so much as tired. I noticed that, as they talked, Amelia had a wistful look on her face. Just as I was about to look away, Amelia turned her head, and all of a sudden I whipped my head around, my long brown hair flying into my face; I hadn't wanted to leave it up, and even though my grandmother protested, there really wasn't much she could do about it.

After a few more moments in which Marlon kept talking and I kept grunting in response, the song ended. I thanked him and walked away, looking for a nice corner that I could hide in. I found it, and started towards it when the band started another tune.

On my way towards it, I grabbed a glass of champagne and strode towards the dark corner that would hide me from my grandmother for long enough. I was just sinking into them when I heard a deep voice ask me, "Would you like to dance?"

I turned around quickly again, this time my hair under control. I felt my black dress hit my claves, and for once I was thankful that I was so short; he probably wouldn't be able to see my blush so well from up there.

"Er..." I said, stalling for time. "Sure..." I answered slowly, setting my glass down on the floor. Hey, even I knew that it was very unprincessy, but hey, what can I say? I was probably as unprincessy as any person was, and I was one.

"Ok then," he said and grabbed my hand, all the while leading me towards the dance floor. All the way there, I kept my head down, not wanting to see any of the sappy smiles that I knew people would be giving me.

Being a Princess sucked.

We got to an open place on the floor, and got into the, now, familiar stance that came with dancing. I refused to look at René, instead choosing to look at other people. I noticed my grandmother talking with some woman, and Clarisse talking with a much older man. I didn't see Amelia anywhere.

I danced with René, concentrating on my feet now more than ever; it wasn't everyday that I danced with a guy that was my age, instead of someone who could be my father. I wasn't even listening to him when he started talking.

"So, I heard you were kicked out of finishing school." I looked up at him, and saw that his green eyes were pools of deep cynical laughter. I didn't even try to be polite when I answered.

"Yea, and I heard that you wear pink G-strings." I replied, still looking around. I seemed to think that the ceiling was just the most fascinating thing that had ever been built.

Suddenly, I felt the entire world moving, and I realized, belatedly, that René was laughing. Silently, so as not to cause too much attention. It wasn't really working though.

After a moment in which René regained his composure, the pace slowed down in the music, and René pulled me to him, his hand resting at the small of my back. I was forced to wrap my arms around his shoulders.

His warm breath danced along my ear, moving the hair along my forehead. His breath had a minty quality to it, unlike Marlon who had smelled a lot like pickled onions. I relaxed in his arms as we swayed to the music, and he didn't even seem bothered about it.

As we danced, we talked a bit, both of us talking in hushed whispers. We talked about mostly nothing, conversations ending with me saying my usual dumb things, causing him to laugh. Midway through the dance, I leaned my head on his shoulder.

I was sad when the song ended.

Once it did, I led René towards my corner, picking up my glass from off of the floor. René got one from a waiter that was walking around with a tray.

"So," René said to me as we leaned against the wall, our glasses in our hands. "Tell me about yourself."

I shrugged. "Nothing much to say, I'm afraid. I'm just your average, everyday princess."

"Minus the finishing school part?" He asked, smiling.

"Yea, but at least I don't wear pink G-strings." I grinned over at him, the bubbles from the champagne tickling my nose.

"Touché," he replied, laughing, and he clicked his glass with mine.

There was a comfortable silence, and I looked around the room. I noticed Marcella Marceline, the twenty-year-old princess of Angoria, was talking with her fiancé, Jonathon Winters, a teacher at one of the schools in her country. The scandal of Marcella and Jonathon had spread like wildfire, as she had been betrothed to a man of royal lineage, but had eloped with Jonathon instead. They didn't go out in public much, so it was kind of appealing to have them at the ball.

"So..." I looked over at the sound of his voice. "How are you liking this party?"

I snorted. "Party? Are you insane? This isn't even as much as fun as a Barney concert." I looked up at him. "'Where is Middle Finger? Where is Middle Finger? Here I am. Here I am....'" I was cut off from finishing my song by René's laughing.

After a few moments, René started choking. Once I realized that it wasn't letting up, I smacked him on the back a few times. "Hey, René! Don't loose consciousness; I don't do mouth to mouth on the first date." This, as it turns out, wasn't the right thing to say either. Finally, I just decided to leave him clutched over, holding his stomach, and not do anything about it.

After about five minutes, René came back up for air. "Thanks for trying to save me from almost certain death. I'm forever in your debt."

I grinned up at him. "Any time." René glared at me in mock indignation for a moment, but then we, once again, fell into a comfortable silence. I had to repress another grin.

Not to sound sappy or anything, but it was nice, for once, to have someone my age there.

After a while, my grandmother walked past up, my shawl in her hands. It was time to go.

"Come on, Bella," she said, wagging the garment in my face. "We really must leave. You have rehearsal tomorrow."

I nodded my head, sighing as I turned toward René. "Well, it was nice meeting you," I said, holding out my hand. He took it and placed a kiss on it like almost every other man in the ballroom did, but for some reason, it meant more to me.

Dammit, Bella, I berated myself. You share one dance and talk for a while, and instantly you're smitten. Get a grip!

"You too, Bella," he replied softly. "Perhaps I'll see you around sometime."

"Maybe," I said as I walked away from him. "Maybe."

As I headed into the limo, I wondered at the change in me. Since when did I care what happened with guys and myself? Especially with guys who I have no chance of getting together with?

Still, it was nice to have a good time at a ball for once, instead of having to talk and dance with old men who didn't even know what was interesting to a seventeen year old girl.

It really was too bad that René had a girlfriend.

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Well, there ya go! The first chapter to the first Bella and René story out there. Well, actually, it's really the only Bella story that I've seen at all...

Anyhoo, I'm not so sure that I like this chapter. It seemed like I was babbling in more than a few parts, and I'm pretty sure that I got more than a few mistakes in here, but I'm too lazy to Spellcheck, so yea.

And sorry if it came off sounding like a Mary Sue. ::shudder:: I SWEAR TO GOD THAT IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN!!

Oh, and if you find any mispellings or errors, tell me, and I'll give you a cookie. Everyone likes cookies. ^_~

Peace, my little friend.

Melissa