"Mia, are you just going to watch the wacky hijinks from the bathroom, or are you going to join me?" he asked, looking at my head sticking out
"I was...just trying to remember if I had brushed my teeth."
"You've been in there long enough. I think you have probably."
No. I was actually freaking out that you were sitting in my
room. "Right. Of course."
We talked about Brock and whether or not I was happy.
"Mia...you've been with him for how long now?"
"Six months," I replied automatically. We had just celebrated our six month anniversary.
"And...how do you feel about him?"
I stared at a scene of Ross putting cream on his legs so he could get some leather pants on.
"Mia?"
"I-I dunno."
"Do you love him?" he asked. He HAD to ask that, didn't he?
A magnet moment.
"I don't know. I mean...what is love anyways?"
Our fingers entwined on the cushion of the couch. "Want a fun example?" he asked.
I smiled, "Of course." Keep it light. Keep it fun.
"Okay, basically every song out there is a love song, right?"
I thought. Most of the songs I liked were at least.
"Yeah, I guess. That or booties."
He smiled, "Well, I guess if they are Rooney songs then it counts," he teased. He hated one of my favorite bands because he thought the lead singer and the guitarist were major 'Harry Hoofers.' I'll never understand English slang, but I have a feeling that a Harry Hoofer isn't a desireous nick name. And then he says that the drummer stopped maturing at age five. "Well, you know you are in love when all those songs make you think of that person. All the lyrics make complete sense to you..."
I smiled shyly. "Well, I don't know if any song reminds me of Brock..." I replied thoughtfully. Some reminded me of Joshua, but I wasn't going to admit that to him. I had also written one about him that no one, and I mean no one, will ever see.
"But are you happy for now? Keeping it really casual with him?"
I bit my lip. I wasn't sure if I wanted to just 'keep it casual' with him, or anyone. The very idea was kind of atrocious. I'd feel terrible if I were to...well, to do things with a guy with no feelings toward him. At least without loving him. I would never sleep with a guy unless I loved him. I loved Michael, that's why I had slept with him.
"I dunno..." I said softly.
"Mia, if you aren't happy then break it off. You don't need to have a boyfriend...not now anyways."
"And when shall I need one?" I asked carefully.
"Never. Mia, you are independent. Remember that okay? You don't need anyone at all." He avoided my eyes now.
"To produce an heir I will."
"You would have to have sex then. Your dad didn't get married. He just got his jollies and got an heir out of the deal," he teased. "I suppose you'd have to really love the guy first, after all you haven't before, right?"
My turn to avoid eyes. I definitely did not want him to know about me and Michael that one night. I don't know why, but I just didn't. I had told Tawny, Sophie and Ali...but not him. I didn't want him to look at me differently. "Yeah, well, it'll be quite some time then. Not all of us have drunken ex-sex."
I looked up as I said that last part. He was blushing. "Well, I'll have you know," he started. He pushing my hair behind my ear. "That was the last time I have."
Why was he telling me that? "Oh...I'm sorry," I replied.
He laughed heartedly. I loved his laugh. "Oh I've had opportunities. Just didn't want to."
"Why not?"
He looked out the window behind us. "I used to be like that."
"Like what?"
"I used to sleep around...back when I first started school University that is..."
"So my original 'player' tag was correct?" I teased.
"I prefer play boy," he said with a smile.
"Oh, my greatest apologies," I said dramatically.
"Accepted. But I never had any real feelings behind it, or after..."
"That's terrible. I thought all men finished some of the time," I replied.
He laughed again, "No silly! I meant-"
"I know," I replied. "I know what you mean exactly. I suppose you'll just have to wait until you find the one, huh?
"You know what? I really ought to leave. Go get some beauty sleep, darling girl."
"I need it?"
"Of course you do. You look hideous. Heinous," he teased.
"I have something to show you," I said. "Come on..."
I brought him over to my closet where I kept old pictures. "What I am about to show you will shock and amaze."
"I am all a twitter," he teased.
I took out my eighth grade picture and looked at it once before I put it behind my back. "You promise not to tease?"
"Mia, I am always teasing you. I can't promise that."
I smiled, "Okay..." I handed the picture over.
"This is you?" he asked after a minute.
I nodded.
He handed it back to me and then reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. "Here, the one on the right is me, the other kid is Jonas, my older brother."
I stared at the picture. A chubby thirteen year old brunette boy with big braces and a wide grin. Chubby actually doesn't describe it. He was pretty obese. Like those-kids-who-are-trying-to-sue-McDonald's- for-making-them-fat-big. "Wow. Brown hair?" I didn't even think about the acne or the big old glasses.
"Yeah, it lightened up after I started working outside more. And that baby fat disappeared when I started playing rugby as a teenager."
It was refreshing to see that a good looking man was once an awkward, nerdy looking teenager.
"I didn't even get my first kiss until I was...I'd say sixteen or seventeen."
"Loser," I teased.
"Ouch. No teasing."
"Oh you know I'm just kidding. I was sixteen when I got my first real kiss."
We stayed up all night, sitting on the floor of my closet, talking about when we were young and all the stupid things we did.
"So you spent all those hours in a penguin house....all because you are a princess?"
I laughed, "Well, yeah. I guess I was a little...immature. But how would you feel thinking you were one person, then realize you were a totally different person?
He shook his head. "From what I hear you weren't a totally different person."

Grandmere was slightly upset that he had spent the night. To make it up to her, he agreed to attend mass with us that morning and to visit the children's hospital.
"How'd you do that?" a little girl asked him after he got a coin from behind her ear. "They just washed there this morning in my bath. I know it wasn't there," she said in amazement.
"It's magic," he replied.
"Are you the princesses boyfriend?" she asked with wide eyes.
"You'd make an awfully good prince! You are so handsome and charming."
I laughed, "Amanda I am only nineteen years old! I couldn't
possibly have a prince in mind!"
The ten year old looked at me, "But you are a grown up! So is
he! He could be like your...Aladdin. Aladdin wasn't a prince when he
married Jasmine! And she was only sixteen. And Ariel was only sixteen.
And Belle...hmmm, I dunno, how old was she? It doesn't matter.... Oh, it'd
be sooo lovely! When are you getting married?"
I looked at Joshua and we both smiled, "We aren't silly girl,"
Joshua said. "I am going to live in England soon."
The little girl rolled her eyes. "Why would you want to live
there?" she asked. "It's so dreadful and rainy and...did you know that
we get less than an inch a month here? On average, of course."
"Of course," he said with a laugh. He leaned over to Amanda's
ear and whispered something that made her blush.

"What did you say to that little girl earlier?" I asked.
"What are you talking about? This blasted watch...."
"Joshua, you were wonderful today with the public," Grandmere
complimented.
"Thank you madam," he said with a grin. "And I must say, that
brooch is lovely."
I could swear she was blushing. He had such an effect on woman.
"Would you stop flirting with my grandmother?" I whispered.
He stuck his tongue out at me while she wasn't looking. "I like
older women."

We got out at the gates because it was a beautiful day
outside. "So stop me if you heard this one, okay?"
"Go for it."
"So this man is in a hotel and while he turns around he elbows
this woman in the chest. So he says, 'I am terribly sorry, but if your
heart is as soft as your breast, I am sure you can forgive me.' So she
says, 'If your penis is as hard as your elbow I am in room four oh
six.'"
I burst out laughing, "Joshua Alexander..."
"Mia!" a voice called out.
I looked forward and saw Brock running toward me. "Oh, hey
sweetie," I called back, trying not to grimace. Joshua squeezed my
arm.
"Forget something?" he snapped when we got closer.
"Oh, I-I'm sorry Brock. I totally forgot! When I said I would
have lunch with you I hadn't thought about the hospital..."
"But remembered enough to invite Joshua?"
Okay, key point.
"I was over early this morning to ride the horses," Joshua lied. "And her grandmother asked me to tag along. That's all, Brock. I promise. It was entirely proper."
I nodded, "Right. Proper."
Brock didn't look convinced. "Mia, why don't we try out the beach this afternoon then? We can have some alone time."
I sighed, "Sure, Brock. I just need to nap a little bit."
"I better be on my way," Joshua said suddenly feeling out of place. "I'll talk to you later this week, okay darling girl?" he asked, emphasizing the darling girl part.
Brock glared at him, I can't say I blamed him. It took a lot of balls to call someone else's girlfriend a pet name in front of them.
"Yeah, definitely. Later Joshua..."
"Oh, and remember what we talked about...earlier..."
I nodded.
When he left me and Brock started walking up to the side entrance of the palace. "What did you talk about earlier?" Brock asked sharply.
"About a Genovian rugby team," I lied. "We are considering one, you know."
"Oh, that's wonderful," he said with relief. I am a terrible person.

I feel bad because I was not terribly upset when Brock left to go back to Australia. "I'll see you in two months, it's not a big deal," I said.
He kissed me tenderly. "Maybe you could give me something...to remember yourself?"
I raised my eyebrow, "Beg pardon?"
"Mia, we have been together for six and a half months now. I think it is the right time that we...you know, took this to the next level, don't you?"
I avoided his eyes, "I don't understand. Hey, don't forget to get a picture of the opera house for me okay?"
He grabbed my wrist, "Mia, come on...let's just forget all this running around. Let's just..." he said leaning in to kiss me. For once I didn't let him.
"No. I don't want to kiss you."
"We don't have to then..." he whispered, going for my neck.
I pushed him away from me. "No...I-I don't want this.
"Fine...we can slow it down a little bit."
"No, that's not what I mean."
He walked backwards into a chair. "What exactly do you mean then, Mia?"
"I don't want to be together anymore," I replied.
He didn't say anything for a second. "Then who do you want to be with?"
I thought back to what Joshua had said, that I didn't need anyone. "No one. I want to be alone..."
"Yeah right," he snapped.
"No, really, I do."
"Mia, I love you. I-I can't just not have you anymore...I adore you."
I almost let down right then. "I need to be my own person. To be myself, ya know? I'm sorry Brock..."
I didn't mention that I could never see myself long term with a guy named Brock. It'd be like dating a Backstreet Boy or some other stupid boy band person.
"Don't you love me?"
I felt confused. I cherished his friendship, but not the relationship we had decided to persue. This was JUST like the Kenny situation. This time I wanted the to be right. No Brock four years from now to screw up a major day of my life. I sat down on the couch carefully, "Brock, I care for you, deeply, b-but-"
"That's what I figured. I-I gotta go," he said, storming out of my suite.

Joshua came over that evening with my favourite ice cream and Star Wars. I wish he hadn't brought the movie though, it just made me think of Michael. Made me wonder who he had been watching it with. Who he had been quoting it with.
 "Stop thinking about him," Joshua said, stabbing his spoon into the ice cream carton.
"I'm not thinking about Brock," I said softly.
"I'm not talking about him," he said looking at me. "I'm not stupid enough to think that you have gotten over that Michael kid."
"H-how'd you know?" I asked, surprised.
"Because you always get that look on your face when you think about him. Also, you told me that this was his fave movie."
I put my head on his shoulder, "Brock looked like him," I admitted. "I don't want a serious man now. Fun and flirting, right?"
He kissed my forehead, "Right darling. Right."

We spent the entire summer together. Going to beaches, meeting
new friends. "I can't believe it has been two years since we were in
South America," I said one night. "I mean, this time two years ago we
were living with some of the poorest of the poor. Who'd have imagined
we'd be in Cabonia in a casino now?"
He laughed, "It's really pathetic how much money people spend
here," he said watching a craps game.
"Normally I would never come, but we have to support Cabonia's new casino. The prince, Eddie, has come to so many of our events."
"Look at that woman there," he said motioning his head toward a woman totally decked out from head to toe in diamonds. "Her shoes alone could feed a small country."
"Stop being a hypocrite," I snapped, but laughing.
"Please explain how I am being a hypocrite?"
"You are wearing platinum cuff links my friend. And I am wearing a bracelet that a certain man bought me. I think that it could qualify you in the hypocritical contest."
He looked at his cuff links. "Can we get out of here?"
"Definitely," I replied, taking his hand.

We left the casino with flashes of cameras taking in our images. He held me close and tried to block the lights from blinding me. He took me past my limousine and to a questionable area of the city. "What are you doing?" I asked.
"We'll only be here a moment. Besides, Lars is behind us."
I looked and saw my trusty guard fifteen feet from me. Half of the distance he usually is. "Joshua, I really don't like this..."
"Hold on a moment. Or stay here then. With Lars. I'll go on my own."
"Where?"
But he walked away from me.

Lars and I sat in a coffee shop. I watched every person walking by the window. "What could he be doing?" I demanded.
"I do not know, Mia," Lars said. He probably didn't want people recognize me and attack. That is why I was 'Mia' and not 'Princess'.

"There he is!" I exclaimed, jumping up and running to the door.
"Hey," he said simply. "Ready to go?"
"That's all you have to say? What the hell was that?"
"I am no longer a hypocrite," he explained.
"Huh?"
"I gave my links to a guy on the street. I figure he could get some money for them."
"Well, he won't be wearing them to any balls anytime soon," I snapped. "Joshua, that was so...." I started. How could I be mad at him?
"So what?" he countered. "I just bought that man a meal, and maybe some clothes. Am I a horrible person?"
"No...okay, please don't scare me like that, okay?"
"As you wish," he said simply with a half smile.
I hated how he know my weakness for men who quote from my favourite movies. "You are too good," I said kissing his cheek.