"Princess?" Lars said, coming into the room.
"Yes?"
"You have some guests."
"What? Who?"
Lars smiled, but didn't have to say anything.

Rocky ran into the room, "Mimi!" he exclaimed, jumping on top of me, knocking me flat onto the bed.
I started laughing, "Rock Rock!" I said squeezing me arms around him. "What are you doing here?"
My mother and step father appeared in the doorway. They were staring at Joshua, who was still in his kneeling position in front of me. They then glanced at one another. Probably thought he was proposing to me or something foolish like that. I could only dream of him doing that.... "Hi Mia," Mom said with a wide grin. "Joshua."
Joshua stood up and forced a smile, "Miss Thermopolis, Mr. Gianni," he said with a nod.
"Are we interrupting something?" Mr. G asked.
"Joshua," I said softly, "Was this the present? You were surprising me with my family?"
He looked at my mom and stepfather, "Yes, that was it."
I jumped off the bed and gave him the biggest hug possible. "I absolutely adore you, you know that?"
I kissed his cheek, which was absolutely crimson now. "You are very welcome, Princess. I think...um, I should pack my things so that your parents can stay in here. I'll go back to my hotel."
"Mia, Merry Christmas!" Mom said excitedly as Joshua was in the dresser, getting his socks to toss in his carry on.
"I can't believe he did this," I said with the surprise still in my mind. This was the sweetest thing a guy could do for his friend. He knew how much I had missed my mom and little brother (okay, and Mr. G).
She looked at him from across the room. "Right. It was a shock to us as well. Why don't you walk him downstairs?"
I nodded and got off the couch that I'd been sitting on with my mother. "Ready?"
He nodded, biting his lip. "I can see myself out."
"Don't be a silly fool," I replied. "Come on, it's the least I could do. I mean my Christmas gift to you didn't include flying a family of four overseas."
"Fine," he said hastily. "Let's go."

We walked out to the side entrance of the palace, where a car was waiting for him (I don't ask how these people know when we need cars. Maybe they are always just there waiting). "So..." I said with wide eyes. "Will you be back for New Years?"
He shook his head. "No..." he said carefully. He took my hand and rubbed my left ring finger, "Why don't you come to England?"
What else would I be doing? I had to pre-tape a New Years greeting for the populace, but that was being made three days before New Years Eve. "That'd be lovely," I said softly, staring at our hands.
"Hey, you guys are under mistletoe!" I hadn't realized Rocky had followed us.
We started laughing, "Okay Rock Rock, go back upstairs now."
"I don't know how to get back there," he replied. "You have to kiss. Mommy and Daddy always do."
Lord did I know they kissed. I had witnessed it one too many times during high school. "Rock, we don't have to...."I said, avoiding Joshua's gaze. Did little brothers HAVE to embarrass their sisters? I mean, I know that Lilly took extreme pleasure in torturing Michael at any opportunity but that was in her nature as a human being, nevermind a little sister.
"Yes you do. It's bad luck if you don't. "
I looked at Joshua with a goofy grin, "Just to shut him up?"
He nodded and placed his hands lightly on my waist. I leaned up to him and he leaned down to my level. I started to experience those ever so familiar butterflies in my belly. I expected his lips to brush past my own ever so lightly, but no. He let it develop into a real life kiss. I held back my hands from going through his thick hair. But he didn't hold back his hands from finding my waist tighter and pulling me closer. He was surly taking this silly kiss seriously. Or maybe he saw it as more. Please dear God, please let him believe this is more. I want it to be more. He should too.

My mind turned to wasteless matter for a minute and a half that he kissed me.
"Princess?" Lars asked, coming out of no where.
I pulled back, "Hi Lars."
"Sorry to interrupt, but the weather is turning ghastly and the driver would like to take Mr. Bloom back to the hotel. Also, so he can get back to his family," he said, red faced. He was not used to catching me making out with boys. Especially Joshua.
Joshua winked at me and grabbed his small bag in one hand. I just stood there in complete shock. What the hell did this mean?

Apparently nothing. While I spent the week with my family I saw pictures of him and Lucie in London in the National.
"Genovian socialite Lucille Priestess has been seen around the town with the son of Lord Jonas Bloom and law student Joshua Bloom. They were seen leaving the Boom Room in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Witnesses say that they were seen acting rather cozy in the VIP area of the club. More to follow...."
 "Lord and Lady Bloom are hosting a New Year's Eve gala at their country estate. Invited guests include Lucille Priestess, Nicole DuPress, Michael Holden, Tad Henson and Princess Amelia Renaldo of Genovia. Rumor has it that they are hoping their youngest son, Joshua will find true love amongst the very young guest list. This is very likely considering he has been seen with Miss Priestess leaving hotels. He allegedly carried on an affair with Genovia's princess this past summer. Stay tuned to hear about the party..."

Great, they still thought we had an affair when we hadn't even kissed yet. And now that we have they are saying he's with Lucie. Great. I should have told her that I liked Joshua. She would have laid off of him. But no, I'm a stubborn old goat. Now I'd have to watch as they made out in front of me. This wasn't like him, but who knows what he's like in England.
I was thinking about that as I walked into the airport in England after I got off of my private jet. Lars was next to me, chewing on his nicotine gum loudly. "Did you call for a limo?" I asked.
"Yes, Princess. And we will be staying-"
"Princess Amelia! How are you feeling?"
"How long will you be staying?"
"Are you going to be staying with the royal family?"
Lars put his arm around me protectively. We rushed out of the airport as quickly as possible.

The limousine drove past the hotel that I had thought I was staying in. "Lars?" I asked.
"Yes, Princess?"
"We just past the Royal Cont-"
"We are not staying there," he replied, staring out the window.
"Oh..." I said softly, returning my gaze to the street. Maybe too many terrorists knew I was going to stay there. Because everyone knows there are so many plots to kill the princess of a VERY small country.
We pulled up in front of a small shop, a familiar one. "What are we doing here?" I asked nervously.
"Joshua asked if it would be okay if you stayed in his flat. Reports of your staying in the hotel had gotten too much media attention. No one would think to look here."
I had to admit, I was slightly excited. I hadn't even spoken to Joshua since Christmas night, when we had kissed. I was nervous about what he would have to say about that kiss. And even more interested in seeing what he'd been doing with Lucie here in London.
Lars and I walked up to the apartment and entered with a key Lars had. I saw a note on the kitchen table,
"Darling Girl, I'm staying at my mum and dad's while you are in. Can't wait to see you at the party! – Joshua"

Hmmm, no 'Love Joshua'. Great. Now he probably thought that it was a bad idea to kiss and since it was my little brother's idea he blamed me. Thanks Rocky.
I looked around the apartment. He had cleaned it since the last time I'd been here, but I would have hoped he would have. It'd been almost three years? Is that even possible? He had sub let it while he was in Genovia for a year.
I inspected the cabinets. He had stocked up on my favorite snacks, M&M's, pop corn and potato chips. My cell phone rang. "Hello?" I asked.
"Mia, where are you?" Brock asked.
"England."
"Great, me too!"
"What? Are you joking me? What the hell are you doing here?" I asked, picking at the edge of the counter.
"Lord and Lady Bloom have invited nearly every single rich person under the age of twenty five to this little party they are having. My dad thought it might look good if I went and made some connections. Shall we meet up?"
I nodded, once again forgetting that he can't see me nodding. "Right. Sure. Did you want to meet at the party or..."
"Where are you staying?"
"Joshua's."
Silence. "Oh, so you are going with-"
"No...I think he's with my friend Lucie now."
"Okay, very well then," he said, brightening. "Where is his flat?"
I gave him the address and told him he would have to find it on his own because I had no clue. He laughed and said that was typical of me. "I'll see you tonight then?" I asked, popping an M&M in my mouth.
"You know it, pretty lady. Bye bye for now."
"Ta ta."

My make up technician decided that I would go minimal that night. No need to over do anything. She did my hair as well when the stylist couldn't come because of a family obligation. I am sure Grandmere would be taking care of her.
"You look smashing, love," the woman said. Her name was Lacey.
"Thanks Lace," I said pouting into the mirror. "I'm not sure about this lip stick though..."
"Trust me, it'll look great with the lighting they are using tonight. I took the liberty to go out there yesterday to talk to their party planner. He gave me a heads up so I could properly plan your make up."
I giggled, "Thanks, I guess. I don't think anyone has ever gone that out of the way-"
"Princess, Brock is here," Lars said coming into the room.
"Oh, let him in," I said standing up. Lacey straightened out my dress and winked.
I really loved the dress I was wearing. It was kind of fairy like, very light material. Tight up top to make it seem like I had cleavage, and loose on the bottom to make the appearance that I didn't have my hips. And it was this weird shimmery purpleish pink color. I fell in love with it the second I saw it.
"Wow," Brock said with a wide grin. "You look..."
"What?" I asked with smile equally as wide. It was nice to have a guy look at you like that, with complete admiration. He reminded me of how....how Michael looked at me the night of my prom.
"You are showing your legs," he said with a laugh. "With formal events you usually don't."
I rolled my eyes, "Gotta show Lady Bloom that I have nicer legs than she does. She may have been a Rockette back in New York, but I still have nicer gams than she does."
He laughed and put his arm out for me to take. "Shall we?"

We took a long drive before we started on our way to the party. What is the rush? As long as we were there before midnight it didn't matter. And Joshua didn't seem keen on seeing me so I didn't care.
We grabbed some dinner as well before we arrived, "These parties never have the good food. Always little hor d'ouvers but nothing real," he explained.
We started our way to the party at nine o'clock and my cell phone rang, "Yes?" I asked, not recognizing the number.
Brock started playing with the partition buttons (you know the little thing that separates the passengers from the driver). "Hello?" I said into the phone when no one answered.
"I-I just wanted to wish you a happy new year," the voice said. It was male.
"Who is this?" I said giggling at Brock's actions.
"You don't recognize my voice?" he asked softly.
I shook my head. I really needed to stop that. "No," I replied. "Should I?"
"You have only known me since you were six years old."