MICHAEL:
My hands were clammy. I hadn't been this nervous since the night we got together. I began to think about the past few months and how much we had both changed, for the better.
I saw the royal photographer waiting for Mia to descend. And then his camera went off and I looked up. There she was.
She looked absolutely amazing. I realized now that I was the luckiest guy in the entire world. She seemed too good to be true. I definitely did not deserve her.
She stopped at the top of the stairs and smiled at me. I raised my eyebrow to her in approval. Not that she needed my approval or anything.
I knew enough that I needed to bow when she approached me. She tried to hold back her laughter. We had talked about how stupid it was that I needed to bow to her at the formal events when what we really wanted to do is grab hold of one another .
"You look wonderful," she whispered. We posed for the photographer.
"Wish I could say the same for you," I teased.
She poked my ribs. "Gee thanks Michael. You know, that picture will be in history books?"
"What?"
"Well, Genovian books at least. Isn't that weird?"
"So in a hundred years the future king or queen of Genovia will be looking back in the books about his or her ancestors and see us?" I said with a smile.
She widened her eyes. "I suppose so!"
Her grandmother and her father passed us. "You look nice, Michael," Prince Phillippe complimented. I never knew appearances would mean so much to my life.
"Thank you, er, sir...your royal highness."
He smiled and laughed a little. They were announced and they entered the ballroom. I put my elbow out for Mia to take. "Shall we, Princess?"
She squared her shoulders and stuck up her nose, "I suppose so," she said, trying not to laugh. "Thank you, Michael. I couldn't do all of this without you."
I kissed her forehead. "Of course you could. Good luck with your speech."
"Hopefully I won't screw it-"
"Her Royal Highness, Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Renaldo, Princess of Genovia!" the voice from inside the ballroom announced.
She looked at me, we both noticed that Thermopolis was dropped from her list of names. She rolled her eyes as we started on our way out.
I was told I could not smile. Escorts are not supposed to because we (ha, I'm talking like I'm from a big club or something!) are not supposed to draw attention to ourselves.
I brought her to the podium from which she was supposed to give her speech. I gave her hand a squeeze before I went to my seat at the head table.
She never ceases to amaze me. I watched her give her speech, not once studdering or looking nervous. She looked completely sure of herself and in control. She made eye contact with the audience. I honestly did not listen to her speech for very long. I had something else on my mind at the time.
Her grandmother placed a new tiara on Mia's head. It looked so heavy. I do not know how I was going to dance with a girl who had something that is so big, so expensive on her head.
Her father nodded to me and I stood up and walked over to the stage. "The princess will now share her first dance of the evening," he started. Mia looked really confused. This wasn't part of the itinerary that she had been given. Her eyes were asking me what the hell I was doing on stage instead of by her side for our dance."But first, a surprise for the princess."
The lights went off and a screen came down behind the family. Mia turned with a dazed look. I picked up my guitar and sat on a stool. Her father motioned for her to join me on the stage. She looked scared almost. She sat next to me, facing the screen. I started my surprise. (a/n, this song is by Oliver James and can be heard in What a Girl Wants, I definitely do NOT own it!)
Thank you for this moment
I've gotta say how beautiful you are
Of all the hopes and dreams I could've prayed for
Here you are
If I could have one dance forever
I would take you by the hand
Tonight it's you and I together
I'm so glad I'm your man
And if I lived a thousand years
You know I never could explain
The way I lost my heart to you that day
But if destiny decided I should look the other way
Then the world would never know
The greatest story ever told
And did I tell you that I love you tonight?
I don't hear the music
When I'm lookin' in your eyes
But I feel the rhythm of your body
Close to mine
It's the way we touch that sends me
It's the way we'll always be
Your kiss, your pretty smile, you know I'd die for
Oh baby, you're all I need
And if I lived a thousand years
You know I never could explain
The way I lost my heart to you that day
But if destiny decided I should look the other way
Then the world would never know
The greatest story ever told
And did I tell you that I love you?
Just how much I really need you?
Did I tell you that I love you tonight? Tonight...
And if I lived a thousand years
You know I never could explain
The way I lost my heart to you that day
But if destiny decided I should look the other way
Then the world would never know
The greatest story ever told
And did I tell you that I love you?
Just how much I really need you?
Did I tell you that I love you tonight?
The screen was showing all the pictures that I loved of Mia and I together. That is what Lilly had to help me with. Mia recognized the song immediately and started to tear up. She of course could not cry because that would ruin her makeup and Grandmere would be flipping out.
No one could see us since it was dark, so she hit me with the sweetest kiss I had ever experienced. "Thank you, Michael. Thank you so much."
The lights turned on and the song we were scheduled to dance to came on. It was a boring old ballad that her grandmother chose. But it didn't matter. Not one bit.