That year I met a guy who was amazing, and would prove to become very important to me.. He was in my History of Genovian Parliament class.

"Brock Livingston," he introduced on a hot September afternoon.

"Mia Therm- Renaldo," I corrected myself. I was two different people.

"Well, Miss Therm-Renaldo, may I take this seat next to you?"

I giggled, "Of course Mr. Livingston."
That entire semester he and I exchanged notes during class. He was quite the artist. He had a wonderful picture of our professor going on until it was taken by said professor. "Maybe you are an art student?" the man asked.
"Why, no I am not," Brock replied. He was kind of cocky.
"Maybe you belong at the art school and not in the CAS."

We flirted. He poked fun at the idea of me being royal. "With the atrocious grades you are getting in your calculus class I can only hope that you will have a financial advisor?"
I giggled, "Well, most likely I will have someone to take care of that. I mostly just do the symbolic types of things. My dad does the real work. I'll figure it out eventually. What are you doing for the holidays?"
"Skiing with my mum and dad. At least I think we are...who knows these days. How about you?"
"We are holding the annual holiday ball three days before Christmas."
"That sounds wonderful," he said with rolling eyes.
"Don't tease. I was going to invite you-"
"Sure," he interrupted with a smile.
"But you seem to scoff at the idea of anything royal."
He put his hand over mine on the table. "But not at spending time with you."
I gave him a confused look. "I don't understand."
"Mia, if you didn't get it for the past two and a half months...I kind of like you. And I was hoping you liked me too. Lord, I sound like a school boy, don't I?"
I laughed and placed my other hand over his, no boy had ever been so blunt with me , "I..."
He interrupted me with a kiss. "I hope I'm not being too..."
"Forward?" I guessed.
He smiled, "I suppose I am aren't I?"
I shook my head. "No, not at all..."

He came along with me as my escort for the ball. I had completely forgotten that Joshua had been invited as well, otherwise I would have found him a suitable escort. "Thanks for the update of your love life," he said curtly toward me.
"Excuse me?"
"Silly me, skipping my family so I could spend time with you at your silly little ball," he explained.
"Joshua, you are a dear friend...that is why I invited you..."
He looked almost hurt? Is that what I was reading in his eyes? "Yes, very well then," he said, straightening his gaze toward the strange young man across the room from us. "Do enjoy yourselves," he mumbled before he walked away from me.
"Are you enjoying yourself?" Brock asked, coming up behind me.
I shook myself out of my weird zone. "Yes, you?"
"This is the craziest thing I've ever seen," he said with a laugh. He took a glass of champagne from a waiter.
"Just wait," I said, laughing.
"For?"
"Her," I said as Grandmere entered the ball room.
He nearly choked on his drink. "Who is that?"
"My Grandmere...the dowager princess of Genovia."

After the dinner Grandmere sent William over to ask me to introduce my new friend. "Grandmere, this is Brock Livingston, a classmate of mine at the Academy."
She gave him the non verbal inspection.

Then the questions. "Where are you from?"
I knew better than to answer for him.
"Melbourne, Australia," he replied.
"Pfuit, Australia?" she said, glancing at me. I knew she hated the place. Something happened with the Prime Minister. She holds grudges. "And yet you attend the Academy?"
He nodded, "Why yes I do. I found it to be the best suited for my interests. And I wanted to get away from home for a little while."
"And what exactly does your father do?" she asked curtly. She was acting rather strangely. She has always taught me that it is not proper to be rude to one's guest no matter how much you dislike them (and clearly she disliked Brock).
He put his shit eating grin on. "He is the prime minister of Australia, madame."
My mouth opened wide. We had never discussed his family before. Or maybe I was so self involved that I never bothered to ask. Grandmere must have known. I don't know how she did that.
She smiled knowingly at me. "I see. Do send him my best regards," she said, turning away from us.
"Brock..." I started.
"Yes?"
"Why didn't you say anything to me?"
"Would it make a difference? Hey, come on, let's dance," he said, pulling me to the floor. He wasn't asking me, he was just pulling me.
He held me tightly, "Am I being forward again?" he asked with a grin.
"Brock, I'm still a little surprised about your father..."
"Hey, I didn't treat you any differently when I found out about your royal status."
"You tease me."
"That was a ploy to get you to talk to me."
"So you simply are using childish tactics to get my attention?" I asked.
He kissed my cheek, "It worked, didn't it?"
I giggled. "We'll still have to wait and see." I looked over his shoulder and saw Joshua. He wasn't looking over at my direction though; he was busy talking to the big Genovian socialite, Lucille Priestess.
Good. He wasn't still mad at me.

But he was. At least, I think he was. I didn't talk to him at all that night, and he left early the next morning for home. He had originally planned on spending the holidays with me in the palace, but he as he explained in his note:
Darling Girl-
Sorry for the rush...you know how Mum is. After spending the holidays here last year she is rather upset with me. I hope you enjoyed yourself last night with Crock. -Joshua

 I felt lonely. I was in this huge palace with my father and grandmother and dozens of devoted servants, but still was lonely. I didn't have my mom to watch Titanic with (our old Christmas time tradition, I don't know why...I think it started because we had gone to see it on Christmas eve back when it first came out). I didn't have Mr. Gianni to play bad versions of Christmas favorites on his drum set. I missed Rocky waking me up at the crack of dawn to see if Santa had brought him anything.
I woke up early on Christmas. I tiptoed down the empty halls toward my father's room. I opened the door slightly and peeked inside. He was snoring in his bed. I slowly closed the door and looked around me. The palace had been professionally decorated at the beginning of December, but for some reason I didn't feel in the season.
I walked back to my bedroom and tried to sleep. But I couldn't. I missed New York at Christmas. I missed the stupid tourists taking pictures in front of the Rockerfeller Christmas tree. I missed the busy shoppers rushing back and forth between the shops. I missed crazy men dressed like Santa Claus running around ringing bells.
I wished I could have a little bit of home with me. Maybe Lilly could come by?

Three days later I was at my desk, writing a letter to Joshua when I heard my door open behind me suddenly. No one ever entered my room without announcing themselves first. "Next time I come to this place I am going to demand a private jet," a familiar voice said.
"Lilly Moscovitz!" I screamed, jumping up and running to my best and oldest friend. "What the hell are you doing here?" I said hugging her.
She laughed, "When we talked on the phone on Christmas you sounded kind of down so I thought, why the hell not? It's been forever since I've seen you."
I sighed, "I know...what have you been doing?" I said, pulling her toward my bed.
She went off into a rant, in normal Lilly style. "Well, first of all, remember that guy, Kenny?"
"Showalter?" I snapped.
"Figured. Well, he's going to Berkley as well. He transferred."
"Turd," I said, rolling my eyes.
"Of course. Well, get this," she started dramatically, "HE was asking about you."
"I'm so happy he is concerned."
"Oh, I knew you would be."
"What did he want?"
"He was asking if you were dating anyone."
I raised an eyebrow, "And?"
"I told him that although he tried to publicly embarrass you at our little senior prom, you were able to quickly get over him and met someone."
I made a face, "I have?"
"Well, yeah, Joshua of course."
I hit my forehead, "I never told you!"
"What?"
"Brock."
"Crock?" she asked.
"Brock. B as in Bob."
"Um, who is that?"
"This guy...I think I'm kind of dating him."
"What about Joshua?"
"What about him? He's always just been a friend..."
She shook her head,"I seriously would like to know your defination of 'just friends'. Okay, so tell me about this Brock guy..."

I spent the next two weeks with the best friend a girl could ever have. Joshua kept his distance. I heard that he had started dating Lucille.

Good. She'd be a good match for him. I mean, who wouldn't want a model type girl to be their girlfriend?
I started talking to him again after Lilly left for California again. "So? Long time no see," he said hugging me.
"You are just in time for tea," I said after we pulled apart. I took his hand and guided him to the garden. "I cannot believe you missed Lilly! She is the sole person who made me socially aware of the world."
"And how are things with Brock?" he asked with a snicker. Ignoring my comments about Lilly.
"Fine. He is still on holiday back home."
"Holiday? Not break?" he asked with a smile. "I thought saying holiday confused you."
I smiled despite my own attempts to hide my pleasure in seeing him again. "I suppose I am being European-ized."
He nodded to the servant who gave us tea. "My evil plan is working," he said with a mischievous grin.
"How have you been since...what, Christmas?"
He nodded. "I do believe this is the longest we have gone without talking."
I nodded, sadly. "Yeah."
We fell silent for a moment, "Well, I have been working."
"And Lucille?" I asked, sipping my piping hot tea.
He laughed, "Oh, her..."
"Girlfriend?" I asked carefully.
He stared at me, "Does it make a difference?"
"No...of course not."
"Did I tell you that she is planning a novel?"
I tried not to laugh. "Oh?"
"Yes. She won't tell a soul other than me about the plot."
"That's...nice. I'm sure it'll be filled with wonderful gossip."
He laughed now, "Yeah...she is good with the gossip. So when is it that you are going to be returning to the Academy?"

I got closer to Brock the next semester, and we were officially the hot new couple on the town. We were in a few more classes together, so we spent most of our time together; and therefore I had less time to spend with Joshua.
Darling Girl-
It's a bit sad to be writing to you instead of talking to you considering I live within twenty minutes of your palatial palace, but alas I have no other way to keep you up to date with my life. First of all, I have started receiving acceptance letters from the universities that I want to go to law school in. I need to decide soon, but I really don't want to think about leaving Genovia right now. It's too perfect here. I mean, the weather is absolutely perfect here. The people are always friendly. I am so close to the person who makes me happiest. What more can I ask for in a country? I really think that God threw me to England by mistake, don't you?
Well, Lucie has gotten a job in the publishing business over in America. But from what I understand she will still be working in Genovia. Some top secret job. She isn't really sure if she is going to get it yet but she is hopeful, as am I. She really has become a wonderful friend, but once again she cannot hold a candle to you.
I must go now. Work is calling for me.
All my love,
Joshua

He had a pet name for her. How sweet.

"Amelia, I have called you in here today to discuss your biography."
"Beg pardon?" I asked Grandmere.
"I think it is high time you have an authorized biography. The people barely know you. I think it is high time they get a real background of their future leader, don't you?"
I nodded quietly. "I suppose so."
Grandmere pressed her buzzer.
"Yes, your Highness?" William asked, coming into the room from a hidden door.
"Please send in the writer."
The door opened. My jaw dropped.