Such Great Heights

Chapter Six

Headlines

News flash: camera flashes are very blinding when they're all flashing at once. Most people would never find this out, but of course, I have to be one of the people who does. Whenever I go to Genovia, cameras, cameras, and more cameras. And the fact that I am now dating a rockstar back home really doesn't help. I hate cameras.

And of course, when they started snapping their damn cameras in our faces I just stood there idiotically, since I was focusing on trying to regain my vision. So Michael tightened his grip on my shoulders and guided me throughout the numerous flashes to...the limo.

It was seriously a pure miracle that I'd forgotten to tell Lars not to pick me up, or else the limo wouldn't have spotted us being mobbed on its way to get me.

Michael opened the door and gently nudged me in, since I was still a bit dumbstruck. He climbed in after me and slammed the door closed. I never thought I'd be so thankful for the tinted windows. "Sorry about that," he said. "I can't go anywhere anymore without them following me."

"It's okay," I said. Usually when I get mobbed by reporters, it's expected. When I go out and walk around Genovia, I always bump into someone. But I never expect it here, back home. God, I was so stupid. I was dating a rockstar; of course the press was going to find out and make it public.

And they'll look up everything about me and we'll become one of the those celebrity couples, which I don't really want but I guess it's unavoidable-.

Shit.

They're going to find out that I'm a princess. They're going to publicize it.

Oh, I'm in some deep trouble.

God, why I'm I such a procrastinator?

Not to mention that now I'll have to deal with the press 24/7 in the states, Grandmere will make a big deal about it, and I'll no longer have the freedom to wander around Manhattan without Lars or some form of protection. Oh, and of course Grandmere is going to want to meet this new 'prince consort', and she'll already disapprove of him because he's a rockstar, and automatically irresponsible and rebellious in Grandmere's point of view. What kind of nightmare had I gotten myself into?

I really should have told Michael once I realized what was going to happen. Hell, I should've told him a long time ago. I can't imagine what he'd say if he found out from the gossip magazines rather than be told by me. But it's kind of difficult to tell someone something like this when they're kissing you, especially when pulling away is the last thing you want to do.

But lying to him made me feel absolutely horrible, and kind of ruined the moment for me. He seemed perfectly content, though. Of course, he wasn't the one who was lying to the person he loved, so why should he have a problem.

He walked me to my door once we reached the loft. "Lars'll give you a ride home," I said.

"Hey, what was that you were telling me before?" he asked. And here's where I screwed up. Big time. Remember those fears of confrontation from my early years of high school that I thought I'd gotten over? Yeah, well here's proof that they only went into hiding. Because as I stood there staring into his eyes and digging my foot into the ground, desperately wishing that the concrete would break apart and I would fall through, providing a perfect opportunity to procrastinate some more, my vocal chords disappeared. I couldn't generate any sort of sound besides a pathetic "uhhhhhh."

He gave me some sort of confused look, and I shook my head. It was hopeless. The whole situation was hopeless. "It was nothing," managed to croak. God, what was my problem?

He nodded and leaned in to peck me on the lips. "Love you, Thermopolis."

"Love you too. G'night," I said as I stepped through the doorway.

"G'night," he smiled and turned away, jogging back to the limo.

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Michael Moscovitz Dating Genovian Princess

That's what the cover of US Magazine read the next morning. My heart skipped a beat. I'd at least thought it'd take a few days for this to reach the public eye. God, I'm so naïve. I panicked. It was about 9:00 when I ran out of the house and onto the subway, rushing to reach chez Moscovitz.

I hoped upon hope that he hadn't gotten up yet. Maybe Lilly did me a favor and kept him away from the dreaded magazine. Wait, how many magazines had published this story?

Shit. Shit, shit, shit.

Once off the subway, I ran to the apartment at a sprint, dodging annoyed commuters and bumping into several people on the way. I could care less.

The outside of their building was mobbed with reporters, and I felt amazingly unsafe without Lars, so I went around the back alleyway. Thank God I knew there was an alternate way in, or else I'd be dodging reporters for the next hour. I pulled open the door and dashed up the staircase, not wanting to bother with the elevator, since I might just run into someone who'd seen the goddamned article.

I reached their floor and made my way to the apartment door, knocking frantically and panting like crazy.

Michael opened the door, the magazine in his hand. He seemed dumbstruck, and looked up at me with the most hurt look I have ever seen. I felt like I was one inch tall.

"Wha?" he managed to say softly.

"Let me explain," I said in a rush.

"Why didn't you tell me?" He asked, shocked to the extreme. He seemed so hurt, which surprised me. I expected him to be angry or something other than this. But he wasn't. All I could see in his eyes was sheer pain, and I felt like the worst person in the world because I knew I'd caused it.

"I...I... don't know." I was almost sobbing by now.

He sighed and mumbled something like, "I need to go think." And then he stalked past me, over to the elevator. I didn't bother to follow him. I knew I wasn't wanted.

Tears fell uncontrollably down my cheeks, as I stood there frozen in front of the door. Lilly walked out of her room and gave me a sympathetic look, leading me inside wordlessly and sitting me down on the couch. She put her arms around my shoulder and said nothing about how badly I handled this whole situation or how she was right and I was wrong. She just remained there comforting me as I cried.

[Author's Note]
I'll update soon, I pwomise :D Especially now since I'll be home for a while, with full access to my own computer.
I'm going through a bit of a Taking Back Sunday obsession right now for some odd reason. Anyone have any idea why? I think it's because the new cd made me realize how good they USED to be and what we've all lost. –shrugs- Who knows, maybe it's just lack of Brand New. Ugh, I still have to wait till January for the new cd! -cries-
I seriously doubt any of you read that extremely pointless ramble.
So just review and ignore me. Haha.