[Author's Note]
It actually kinda freaks me out thatsomething that happened actually happened to me not too long ago. The scary thing is that it happened after I wrote it. Freaky, huh? Not that you really care.
But anyway.
On with the story.
[/Author's Note]

Such Great Heights
Chapter Three
Concealed Sentiment

I woke up to a wet dog's nose sniffing my face and a bright light burning my eyes. I opened my eyes and scratched Pavlov behind his ears, sitting up.

"Morning," Michael said from the doorway, shirtless and yawning in his Goonies pajama pants.

"What time is it?" I asked groggily, struggling to keep my eyes open.

"Eleven-thirty." I nodded, half asleep. I'd slept a little later than I had expected, because it's not like I had to rush...

Wait, when was Grandmere coming to pick me up?

Oh no.

I gasped and jumped out of Lilly's spare bed, where I had spent the night. I had a half hour to do my hair, my makeup, and get dressed, all to Grandmere's approval. This would be challenge. And the fact that I had stubbed my toe as I was running to get my bag didn't help. "What's wrong?" Michael asked, as he observed me hopping around the room like a dysfunctional rabbit, holding my injured foot.

"Grandmere's coming in thirty minutes. Must...get...ready," I said, bringing my toe closer to my face so I could see the damage done.

"Thirty minutes isn't enough?" he asked, letting me lean on his bare shoulder as I got myself together. I guess Michael doesn't understand the fact that girls need a substantial amount of time to get ready.

"No. Not when you're dealing with Grandmere," I said matter-of-factly.

"Ah, ok. Well, then I'll go make you something to eat, so you don't pass out in the limo."

"Thanks," I said, taking the time to look back at him and smile gratefully before returning to combing my hair frantically.

I slid into a knee-length black skirt and purple shirt, the only colors that I knew wouldn't offend her in some way. I was lucky I anticipated this little surpirse princess lesson and packed for it. I slathered on some lipstick and blush, not bothering with anything else. I pulled my hair back into a tidy bun and managed to get into pantyhose. Ick. I ran out of the room with my shoes in my hand, sliding across the wood floor right into Michael who responded with a soft "Oof!"

"I'm sorry, I killed you," I said giggling uncontrollably, trying desperately to stop the fits of laughter.

"I think you broke my rib," he said, clutching his bare stomach. Once I got myself settled, I put on a mock sympathetic face.

"Aw, what a shame. You big baby." I kissed him on the cheek. This new-found confidence I had was shocking me more and more. "You might want to put on a shirt before it gets here," I said as he handed me a Pop Tart.

"Should I be afraid of this 'Grandmere'?" he asked, traces of fear shining through in his normally cheerful face.

"Yes," I said, just as her voice rang throughout the apartment. "AMELIA!" I hastily slipped my heels onto my oversized feet, hoping I could drag her away before she came looking for me and saw Michael without a shirt, since he hadn't gotten the chance to change. It wasn't exactly the first impression I'd been hoping for.

I started to walk towards the foyer, but Michael grabbed my elbow and gave me a quick peck on the lips. "Call me later, okay?" I said. "Get my cell phone number from Lilly," I said as I reluctantly pulled away. He mouthed those three wonderful words so sincerely I couldn't pull the smile off my face as I rushed into the foyer to save Lilly from the demon commonly referred to as Grandmere. I whispered "later," to Lilly under my breath as I was roughly yanked into the hallway.

I sat in the limo, eternally grateful that Lars was there to help me survive through these torturous lessons I was forced to attend. I shot him a glance, one of those secretive glances that were only exchanged between girl and bodyguard, the ones that said "get me out of here." Of course, he couldn't get me out of there since Grandmere was his own employer.

Grandmere is really just a very bitter old woman who has a lot of power in our family, and who everyone within our family fears. She gets away with everything because no one wants to tell her "no", since that word is not in Grandmere's vocabulary, though she uses it quite often herself. Her eyeliner is tattooed, her eyebrows are drawn on, and her hair is a regal shade of pure white. She always has malicious intentions with everything she does. I'm sure there's an actual compassionate human being underneath there somewhere, but you'd have to dig past the layers of makeup and ego.

"Amelia," she said beginning her lecture as we entered her suite. "These lessons are ending soon on your father;s request, but I can easily change his mind if I don't feel you're ready so pay attention." It's about time. It's only been... what? Four years? Four years of princess lessons, and half of them were just pointless. Honestly. I was getting sick of this. She spoke on as I doodled on the cover of my beloved diary (I've kept one ever since I was fourteen), which was now covered with countless notes and song lyrics. Come to think of it, a lot of them were from Michael's band, The Endings.

"I wish I could put these feelings for you back where I found them,
Ease the complications and pain in my heart.
I wish I could tell you how I feel,
But I'm not at all sure where to start.
So I'll sit here like this for the rest of my life,
Watching you fall in and out of love with people I could never compare to.
And seeing you sitting so close to him pierces through my eyes like a blade.
Just look at me for a long while and you'll see all the wounds you've made.
These once joyful eyes have lost their bright color,
If only you could notice and realize why they are no longer how they were.
I used to think I'd somehow catch you with my oh so debonair charm,
But I'm not so sure anymore watching you and him, linked arm-in-arm."

I remembered the title almost immediately. "Concealed Sentiment".

And now I was guilty. This was about me? I wondered who exactly he was referring to by "him". Was it Kenny? Or... I scanned through my previous boyfriends in my mind. There haven't been many, only one I'd ever thought I'd loved, and that was Devon. Until I found out he was cheating on me, which sent me into a major depression. That was when I got back into my Michael-obsession, right after that ugly breakup.

And to think that I thought he didn't love me back.

He loved me. I smiled at the thought and let myself soak in the memories of his smile, his toned chest muscular arms, his messy hair. We'd only been officially 'together' for a week and I was already completely enamored. Hell, I was enamored with him BEFORE we became a couple.

But he still has no idea about my dirty little secret, that's not exactly so little, as Lilly persistently reminded me. But I pushed the not-so-plesent thought out of my head. It was something I really wanted to avoid thinking about.

[Author's Note]
You see, when Mia crashed into Michael? Well, I was running down someone's driveway to say goodbye to my lovely boyfriend. Well, it was steeper than I'd expected and my jog turned into a sprint, so I couldn't stop in time and I slammed my chin into Justin's shoulder. AND YOU KNOW WHAT I SAID??? "I'm sorry, I totally killed you." Yeah. If that's not freaky, I dunno what is.
Sorry. I just needed to share that with someone.

Oh, and by the way, I know the song probably sucked. It was my attempt at song writing, and I'm not sure if it was very good one.

On another note, there's the third chapter. Not a very eventful chapter, but the plot will unfold soon enough, I swear. So be patient and review!