Author's Note: Look at the bottom for a preview of the Prequel to All My Life.

MIA:
I am dead. Well, Grandmere won't kill me; I'm the only heir to the throne after my dad. She can kill Michael though. She can make me never see him again. "What are we going to do?" I said a second time.
He put his fingers through his hair. This was NOT how our night was supposed to go!
He threw on his loose fit jeans and grabbed a hooded sweatshirt. "Call Lilly," he ordered. I grabbed my cell phone. "She's at a concert though, she might not have it on," I explained as he tossed a jacket towards me.
"Just do it."
"Okay," I said softly. I was scared shitless at this point. It would only be a matter of hours before those pictures are on the internet or where ever they go.
She picked up the phone. "What are you calling me for?" she demanded.
"I don't know. Michael, why am I calling her?"
"Tell her to get over here. To give the paparazzi attitude. And to act like she was meeting up with you here."
"We got interrupted," I started. "Can you get here and help me out? Tell the reporters that you were meeting me here?"
She started laughing at me! "Reporters? How cute, they want to report about you losing your virginity! Aww....Yeah, we're like ten minutes away."
"So that explains why I am here," I started after we hung up. "But not gonna cover up the pictures..."
"You are under eighteen, they can't publish those pictures," he said, pacing. "But they'll have a story..."
I felt like I was a little kid sitting on his bed. He was the adult here.
"I got it. You just got out of the shower and I was going into the shower. Your Grandmere will buy that, right?"
A knock came to the door. We looked at it together. He had chained the door shut so no one could get in, even Denis and Lilly. He peeked out the peephole. "Mia, come here, ya gotta hear this!"
I walked over to the door silently and listened, "Excuse me? What gives YOU the right to come to my brother's apartment to spy on the princess, who by the way is waiting for ME to come back. She and I are going to my apartment. Not that it's ANY of your business! And furthermore," she said, I could tell she had her hands on her hips. "It's a disgrace to journalism to have people like you around."
"So why was the princess naked if you are meeting her here? Why was the boy?"
I looked out the peephole. Lilly had her pug face.
"Of course she was getting dressed asshole. My brother was probably just heading into the shower. Clearly he wasn't in the room with her when she was naked."
She didn't know that, but nevertheless,
"So I'm REALLY not seeing a story here."
She turned and knocked on the door again. I had my coat and backpack with me, "Ready to go?" I asked, opening the door. I kissed Michael goodbye and left with Lilly.

MICHAEL:
I walked into the kitchen the next morning, day dreaming about what should have happened only hours before. Denis was waiting for me.
"Hey, what a cock block, huh?" he asked, showing me the entertainment section of the New York Times. "Nice to see that your lack of a sex life is entertainment for the masses."
I rolled my eyes. "Must be a slow news day. I am impressed with how quickly they got those pictures out though."
He nodded and laughed. "That's true. So...nothing?" he asked with a squinted eye.
I opened the fridge and shook my head, "Nothing. I think I am an eternal virgin."
"You'll be fine."
"How'd the press find us?"
"Rumor has it that there is someone keeping an eye on Mia at all times to get a good shot of her. That's what I read on page six at least."
The phone rang, it was Mia, "Hey babe..."
"Michael, I wanna go outside. It's so gorgeous out. Wanna meet in the park? At the penguin house?"
"Sure, whatever," I said softly.
"And have Denis meet Lilly at...where?" she said, drifting away to ask Lilly where to meet Denis. "At Pei Kings?"
I laughed. Denis always had obscure places for dates. I'm guessing this was one of them.

We hastily got dressed and separated so we could go meet our girls. That sounds so...nineteen fifties, but so what?
When I got to the penguin house I saw her outside of it, snapping several photos of the New York architecture." Are you sure you don't need Lars?" I asked, coming up behind her.
She smiled sweetly, "I have someone to protect me," she said with a wink.
I shot her a mischievous grin, "But who will protect you from me?" I said as I started to tickle her on the sidewalk.
I saw a camera go off, and it wasn't hers. She glanced in the direction of the flash and rolled her eyes, "Those are the people from that show 'Celebrity Uncensored'," she explained. "They've been hounding me all morning. Let's give them something good!" she said as she pulled my lips toward her. Then she yelled over, "Get a good shot of that one?"
The photographers laughed and threw her some high fives. She took her camera and aimed it at them. "Let's see how they like it!" she exclaimed.
She started taking stills of the paparazzi, and giggled the entire time. I was so happy that she had found a passion like this. She no longer left her house without her camera.
"Princess!" someone yelled. "Princess, what do you do for fun?"
She smiled at me, "Why?"
"For the magazine," the man says as he came closer to us.
"Oh, of course, for the magazine!" she said sarcastically.
"Well?"
"I go out with my friends just like any other teenager."
"And this is the love?" the man asks. I start feeling uneasy.
"I think we should go see Grandmere," I say, pulling Mia away. She gave me a weird look. I would never suggest going to see Grandmere. Besides, she wasn't even in the city today.
"Okay," she stammered..

When we got away from the paparazzi she looked at me, "What happened?"
"That guy was not from the press."
"What do you mean?"

"He was a creep. I bet his next question would be to ask where you hang out so he could show up."
"Michael, stop overreacting."
I put my arm around her, "Sorry, I just don't want some weirdo out there following you."
"Other than you?" she teased with a twinkle in her eye.
"I love you Mia Thermopolis."
"I love you too Michael Moscovitz."
"I- I had fun last night...you know, til all that..." I said softly.
I was surprised she heard me over the traffic. "Me too. Thank you for being so wonderful to me. Every girl should be so lucky to have someone so understanding..."
"Nope, I'm one of a kind," I teased.
She smiled, "You certainly are."
"Have you heard from the parental units?" I asked.
"I told my mom the story Lilly told the press. She bought it. I haven't heard from Grandmere because she is in Florida for a skin peel. I'm practicing saying this story without my nostrils flaring..."
"So you are not in trouble?"
"No. Surprisingly not.

She took about three rolls of me that day. She always took a picture when I wasn't paying any attention to what she was doing. One of the shots was after I had fallen into the fountain. "Go right ahead, take my picture, and don't help me or anything!"
"You better not pull me in with you, you'll ruin the film," she warned. Her cell phone rang. "Lars, what's up? I'm at Central Park- yes I was with Lilly last night....well, see, we started getting freaked out by some weirdo calling so we decided to go over Denis and Michael's apartment....I know I should have called but I totally forgot. I'm sorry Lars. Well yeah, then she and Denis went to some concert he forgot he had tickets for...I was showering! Yeah, then Michael was after me... Okay, I'll see you in a little bit."
"Good cover story," I said with a laugh, squeezing out some water from my t-shirt.

We spent the next two weeks spending as much time together as we could before we both started school. I wanted to spend every waking hour with her.
On her last night of being able to stay out late before school I took her to Beauty and the Beast and dinner. Then she insisted on going to my apartment. Her mother had given her permission to stay over for the night, as long as she called when we got back from the theater and dinner, and that there would be no funny business. Well, she would at least call, but no promises for no funny business.
She struck a deal with her mom for the whole school year:
The deal was like this. She was allowed to stay over one night of the weekend, but that was it. Which was fine with me because I had secretly planned on sneaking over to the loft late at night so I could sleep in her comfortable room.
But the strangest thing is this, my room felt like it was ours. We had our own place, ya know? She had some clothes at my place, mostly pajamas and t-shirts. I loved this. I could definitely get used to it. She even had left her scent on my pillows, which was comforting when she was away.
But getting off my tangent, we casually sat in the living room around midnight, we had taken a shower because it was raining outside. Okay, we just wanted an excuse to shower with one another. It wasn't even sexual though, it was just practical. We needed every moment available to us. I know, we are total losers but we love it. And I love her.

MIA:
I don't know how I pulled this deal off. I convinced my mom to let me stay at Michael's apartment one night of the weekend from now on. I mean, after that whole fiasco when he and I were almost having sex....We just couldn't tell Grandmere or Dad about our deal. I love how my mom liked going behind their backs!
Grandmere and Dad accepted our story, but were still skeptical. They told Lars to watch my every move.
Anyways, Michael and I were taking a shower on my last official night of vacation when the power goes out. I don't know why, but I wasn't scared. "Climb out and dry off," he ordered. "Your robe is on the door."
"Okay."
I quickly followed his orders and he did the same. He guided me to his bed room and I threw on some pajamas I had left there. I climbed into his bed and he followed me. We cuddled up, "We do have to preserve heat afterall," he teased.
I placed my cheek on his bare chest. I loved the summer because he wore his shirts even less often than in the winter. "It's really dark in here," I whispered.
"Tis true," he said with a fake British accent. I don't know why he used this accent, but I laughed. "What?"
"What is with the accent?" I asked with a giggle. I could see the outline of his face.
"I do believe that I should shape up with my speaking and vocabulary if I am to become the prince consort of Genovia one day."
"Michael, I don't want you to just be that. I want you to be you, goofy silly Michael. Please don't think you have to change for me or my family," I pleaded. I didn't want a stuffy old aristocratic gentleman. I wanted my oft rude, American, sometimes gentleman.
He kissed my forehead, "I promise I will not change a single bit my love," he whispered.
I smiled and kissed him full on the lips. "Are you tired?" I asked seductively.
"What do you have in mind?" he asked, playing with my hair.
I leaned onto his chest, "Well, I could," I started before I whispered something into his ear.
"Yes, I would fully support that," he agreed with a sly smile.

"And if you ever, ever, want to leave you know to just go to your group leader and they'll get you out of there, you know that, right?" my mom asked.

I rolled my eyes, "Of course, Mom." I wouldn't do that though. I didn't want to come back to New York. Too many painful memories. Okay, that's being overdramatic a bit. But Michael was here. With his girlfriend.

"So, kid, you are finally growing up, huh?" Mr. G said with an awkward grin. Whether I wanted to admit it or not, I was finally starting to love the guy like a father.

"Yup. My flight is going to be called in a little bit …"

Mom attacked me with a huge hug. "I love you Mia. So much more than you can imagine," she said with tears in her eyes. I guess I should be crying too, after all, when my trip to South America was over I was going straight to Genovia and to my new world of Princess life.

"You too Mom. I'll miss you bunches and bunches."

"WAIT!!!!" a voice screamed, bounding down the hallway.

I laughed. Only one person would do that. Lilly Moscovitz.

"Hey Lil!" I screamed, running up to her with open arms. God would I miss this girl.

"Here, take this," she said handing me an envelope. "Read it on the plane, okay?"

"Yeah, sure, whatever you say," I said, hugging her so tightly.

She wasn't normally one for public displays of affection, but she hugged me back, "You'll come back, every once and awhile, right?" she asked.

I nodded. "I'm sure I will. But I don't know what is waiting for me in Genovia. Maybe my prince…"

She rolled her eyes, "Or maybe that prince is right here."

My flight was called. "I g-gotta go. I'll call when I get the chance, okay?"
"Yeah, sure. Don't forget to read that note."

"I won't. Love ya."

"You too."

Walking away from her was the second most difficult thing I'd done in the past month. Well, maybe it'll take the third place. Saying goodbye to Mom, Mr. G and Rocky was even harder.

"I love you so much baby," my mom said, the tears flowing freely now.

"You too Mom. But I really gotta go."

She kissed my forehead and let me go. My little brother grabbed hold of my leg. "No. Mi-Mi no go!" he screamed in his obnoxious three year old voice.

"Rocky, get off her leg now."

"No Mi-Mi, don't go! I wuv you!"

I pulled him off my leg and put him on my hip, "I'll send lots of gifts, okay? I love you too much to just up and leave completely."

He smiled. I loved it when he smiled because he had the chubbiest, cutest cheeks that you literally just wanted to squeeze. "I miss you Mi-Mi."

"I'll miss you too Rock Rock."

Mom took him from me and I gave Mr. G a hug. "I'll miss ya kid," he said kissing my cheek. "Have a good time. Meet new friends," he said emphasizing friends. He knew something had happened with me and Michael, but he couldn't put his finger on what exactly.

"I will. I'm sure I will. Love you," I said giving him another squeeze. This was the first time I had verbalized that I loved him.

He pulled back and put his arm around my mother. "Be safe baby," my mom warned.

"Don't be a fool! Wrap the tool!" Lilly screamed, joking. She earned a glare from my mother and step father. I burst out laughing.

As I turned in the terminal to see them one last time I saw Michael running toward them. I gave a wave and continued on my way. I couldn't say goodbye to him again. It wasn't going to change anything. He had his model like girlfriend. I still had responsibilities that he wouldn't want to take on. He was American; why would he give that up for me?