Such GreatHeights
Chapter Eight
Change of Plans

I did not want to attend the ball that was scheduled for that night, but, apparently, there was no way to excuse myself. Grandmere had already pulled together an appointment with a stylist at the last minute and decided what I was to wear in a mere time-span of 3 hours, even with her busy schedule. I tried to argue that I was exhausted from my trip, but she refused to accept that and just waved her hand impatiently at me, indicating for me to shut my mouth and proceed to my suite, where the last-minute stylist was awaiting my arrival.

The dress was one that Sebastiano had previously created months earlier for a different ball that she had been unable to attend. It was a subtle mint-green; a slinky gown that reached down past my ankles and angled perfectly around my curves to take the attention off of my non-existent chest. After much work was done on my hair and make-up, I turned to the mirror and sighed contentedly. I actually looked, dare I say it...beautiful. Sebastiano always knew how to make me look perfectly gorgeous, and I absolutely loved him for it. It had helped my self esteem rise a lot during my awkward teenage years.

I pronounced myself ready for a night of acting royal, and headed towards the palace ballroom.

The ballroom was brilliantly decorated, as it always was on big occasions. I wasn't exactly sure what the occasion was intended to be on that particular night; probably some sort of political Genovian holiday or something of the sort. Somehow Grandmere had angled the ball more towards my own return to Genovia. Rene was my escort, as he always was. I could never convince Grandmere to let me choose my own escort, but by now I think I prefer Rene's company to anyone else's. Except Michael.

I mentally scolded myself. Don't think about Michael, I kept telling myself. At least not tonight.

My mood must have shown on my face, because at that moment Rene returned with our drinks and asked, "Are you okay, princess? You seem more glum than usual."

"I'm fine, Rene. It's just a major case of heartbreak, is all. I'll be fine." I said, trying to be truthful for once in my life.

"Oh yes, I understand. Well, don't you worry yourself, lovely. I myself can say with confidence that it will all work itself out," he assured me confidently.

"Oh really? And how is that?" I said, amused by how certain he seemed. He was so full of himself.

"Yes, really, because you two are meant for each other," he answered me simply, but there was a spark in his eye that hinted towards something else that I was unaware of. Was he keeping something from me? But I shrugged off the eerie feeling of suspicion and took another sip of my champagne.

"And this," I could hear Grandmere's voice bellowing as she approached us, leading an elderly couple over towards Rene and I. "This is my Granddaughter, Amelia. She just moved from her previous home in Manhattan to take up her duties as a princess in Genovia. Awfully courageous of her, don't you agree?" The couple nodded and smiled, and I shook their hands, smiling and playing along with Grandmere's charade.

"And this is her new beau, Prince Rene," she continued casually, and the couple did some more smiling, followed by some more hand-shaking on Rene's part. I shared a meaningful glance with my cousin, which consisted of a covert eye-roll and a soft sigh. He returned my glance, this time accompanying it with a soft laugh, but I wasn't at all amused. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"Um, excuse me for a minute, please," I said politely, providing no explanation for my escape. I simply stalked off towards the bathrooms, keeping my tears and sobs locked inside of me until I was safely out of the public eye. I wasn't exactly sure why I was so suddenly on the verge of tears, but this had been happening a lot lately and I'd learned to become used to it.

I locked myself behind the bathroom's heavy wooden door, leaning against it and sinking to the floor. What had my life become? Everyone was right; I just kept running farther and farther away from my problems, and as a result I only dig myself into a deeper and deeper rut. Searing hot tears rolled down my cheeks, making my face red, sticky, and tear streaked. I got up and ran my face under cold water. Screw make-up. I'd survive the night with the lack thereof.

Once I had regained my composure, I took a deep breath and opened the bathroom door, ready to re-enter the ballroom with a smile on my face. But the door at the end of the hallway was awfully enticing. It lead to the gardens, I could remember that much about the palace's floor plan. It was the alternate entrance to the rose gardens and the stables, as opposed to the entrance through the ballroom.

Within seconds I had formed a flawless escape route in my head. It was an awfully rebellious decision, the type of thing that I normally didn't follow through with because I was afraid of Grandmere's reaction. But at this point, I felt there was nothing else to lose.

I snuck out of the door and closed it quietly behind me. I crept around the sides of the palace, steering clear of all windows and doors as much as possible. I wouldn't go to the gardens. I would leave the palace property altogether and go to the docks. I had my mind made up. The docks were only a mile or two away, and not much of a walk. It was simple enough, considering the palace property wasn't even fenced in at the moment. The palace had been going through some renovations, and they had just recently tore down the only fences in favor of getting more state-of-the-art ones, so at the time being nothing was stopping me from crossing through the thick cluster of trees onto the side street that was located at the other side.

And that's exactly what I did.

[Author's Note]

pip: Haha, yeah, there were tons of great bands there. And true, Sum 41 and Blink 182 were missing, but the lineup was amazing anyway, because they DID have Thursday, Taking Back Sunday, Matchbook Romance, Coheed, etc etc.
fizzie-lizzie: I'm still a bit unsure of where I'm going with this so far, but I promise you I'll try to avoid anything that's been overdone at all costs.
rabbitTsukino: Thank you! Yeah, the Princess Diaries fandom is great, isn't it?
Contraversial-Roses: I love Fall Out Boy! Updated, as you can see, but I'm afraid not as soon as I would've liked to.
Ekrith: That was my original idea: to have them make up at a party. But that whole thing kind of went down the drain, so you'll have to keep reading to find out what happens!
hgill: Who doesn't find Rene amusing?
Ash-of-Evenstar: It's okay to sound blonde. I do it all the time, and my hair's brown! Thanks and I'm sorry it wasn't updated sooner.
SRAndrews, moonstone209, PeaceBabe, kazzylvschris: Here's your update! Thank youuuu.