"Lilly, this is your room," she said after we came inside to freshen up. "I hope you like it."
Lilly still was going for the unimpressed routine. "I guess it's fine."

Mia looked worried. "Mia, it's fine for her. It's ten times bigger than her real room. Your only problem will be getting rid of her."

Lilly made an obscene gesture with a certain finger. Mia and I took that as a sign to leave. "Where am I?" I asked.

"Well, this is my room," she said holding onto a doorknob. "And your room," she said running and pulling me behind her. "Is right here," she said opening the door.

The room looked nice. I walked in and took it all in. It looked…rich. I immediately felt out of place, like I did when I had to meet her grandmother at the Plaza for high tea this past fall.

"Um, you don't like it, do you?" she asked nervously, twisting her hair around her index finger.

I finally looked at her. "No, it's just a lot to take in all at once. I like it," I assured her.

"Cuz if you don't, the balcony might make you feel better," she said pointing to two French doors.

I gave her a weird look. "Why?"

She looked exasperated. She was adorable when she was like that. When she wanted to surprise me but I played dumb. "GO look!" she squealed.

I slowly made my way to the doors until she started pushing me. When I opened them I saw the Genovian Bay. "Um, neat," I said, not exactly getting her excitement.

She sighed heavily. "Fine then. I'll show you what I mean."

With that she climbed over some railings onto another balcony. "Mia, what are you…" then it registered into my brain. Yeah. I am a genius right? "That's your balcony, isn't it?" I asked.

She smiled and climbed back over. "Easy right?"

I went to kiss her but that guy, Antoine, came to us and cleared his throat. "The tour will begin in five minutes Mr. Moscovitz."

I rested my forehead against Mia's. "We'll be alone later at least, right?" I asked.

"Well, while you are on tour with Antoine, I have this photo thing with my family. There's this Faberge calendar thingie we have to deal with. Then tonight I have to light the Christmas tree in the town square. Um…then we have this dinner thing….you are going to be bored stiff here, aren't you? You probably want to turn back home-"

"No. I don't," I said with a laugh. "I'm sure Lilly and I can entertain ourselves just fine."

As I said this some maid was in my room setting up a floral arrangement. "Bridgette," Mia said, walking inside, "I wrote that memo about the flowers in here. Michael doesn't like flowers. None in here. You can put the extras in Lilly's room. The Rosebud Room. Thank you."

Damn. I leaned against the doorway and watched as she was being all bossy with the maid. Not even bossy really, just re-explained herself. It was kind of…well, hot. A total turn on.

"So I'll see you tonight then?" she asked, taking my hands and looking at me expectantly. Thank God she cannot read my mind.

"Yeah."

"Your suit is in the closet. You are okay with all this, right?"

I kissed her softly, "I'm fine. Go be a princess already won't you?"

She rolled her eyes and left my room.

That afternoon I was looking through my duffel for my cell phone when I heard it ringing on my desk. How the hell...

"Hello?" I asked.

"Hey, what's it like over there?" Felix asked.

I sighed, "I've been here for a total of five hours. Let me settle in, man."

"Okay...but what is the palace like?"

"Great. Huge."

"Your room?"

"Right next to Mia's," I said, unable to stop myself from smiling. I laid on my bed.

"YOu guys gonna....you know, finally-"

"No," I said quickly. Too quickly. "No. It's just cool knowing that she's so close. Not six subway stops away."

"You going to even bother trying while you are there?"

I looked guiltily at the wall that separated Mia and my rooms. I shouldn't be talking about this with anyone, even Felix. "No."

"Dude-"

"I gotta go Felix. There's some tree lighting thing happening tonight. I have to go support her or something."

He laughed. "Get used to that. Keep me updated though. I have to know when my best friend loses his-"

"Felix, knock it off. I gotta go."

We watched her light some Christmas tree in a town square. She was so sure of herself here. Not an ounce of shyness or awkwardness. She was warm to all of the people. "I do have a boyfriend," I heard her whisper to a young girl, maybe about thirteen.

"Where? Is he here? What's he look like?" the girl asked. She reminded me a bit of Mia. The pre-makeover Mia. The frizzy hair and big glasses. The girl I had originally fallen for (or the shell of her at least)

Mia turned and realized I was listening the entire time, "Here he is," she said proudly, grabbing my elbow and pulling me ove. I liked that she enjoyed showing me off. I'm not a stinkin' piece of meat but I can deal with her bragging to a girl about me.

"Princess…you have all the luck!"

I felt my cheeks turn red (and no, not because it's cold, it was nearly sixty degrees). Mia looked at me proudly, "I know," she said, not sounding a bit snobby. She was sounding…a little surprised that I was sticking around her. That I hadn't found someone else.

Which I'm surprised she hasn't done already. You know, found out that there was someone better out there for her. A guy that didn't have to deal with so much school work and could simply focus on her. A Genovian. From what I've seen all the Genovian men are much better looking than Americans. Tan. Built. Everything I'm not.

We returned to the palace and got changed. I showered to make sure I was totally awake (seriously, after I take long cold showers I am fully alert. And no, not cold showers for any other reason than alerted ness). I put on the suit Mia had picked out for me.

"Wow, already acting like a married man I see," Lilly teased, waltzing into my room. Apparently the silent agreement we had back home did not stand in Genovia.

"What do you mean?" I asked, straightening out my tie.

"She picked out your clothes?"

I shrugged, "So?"

"Wives do that brother dear."

"Are you intentionally trying to freak me out? Mia never talks about that stuff with me."

She laughed, "I'll see you at dinner." I didn't like how she laughed. Like she knew something I didn't.

"You are changing, aren't you?" I asked, turning to see her in a WWJJD t shirt. "I mean, seriously."

"I know what I'm wearing," she snapped and left the room.

That girl had no respect for our hosts. I mean, she knows that Mia's grandmother would not like a Joan Jett t-shirt at her Welcoming Dinner. Not with royalty from around the world arriving and attending the meal.

Antoine escorted me and Lilly down to the dining room, where Mia was entertaining her guests. I liked seeing her like this. Different than New York where everyone bossed her around. She could be the boss here. No one, including Lilly could ever tell her what to do in her own country. In her own palace.