AN: I just have to say that I really have no idea where this story is going. Well, some idea but not much. Anyway, thanks to those of you who have been reviewing. The more y'all review the faster this stuff gets written because it motivates me to get it to you quicker. Enjoy!
Monday, February 2
Math Class
Yeah, I brought this thing to school with me today. Writing is a horrible addiction and I have no idea how I'm going to give it up in the future. Maybe I'll get bored with it? I mean, I do go through phases. Like a year ago I was obsessed with learning to play guitar before I learned what everybody in my family had been too nice to reveal--that I was completely horrid at it. Not in a learning-how-to-play kind of bad either. More in a horrible there-is-a-connection-missing-between-my-brain-and-fingers-when-it- comes-to-music kind of bad.
Anyway, as soon as I got out of the limo at school Andrea and Elizabeth each grabbed one of my arms and pulled me to one of the courtyards. George had to RUN to keep up. Okay, maybe not run but he definitely had to at least jog.
The girls pushed me down to sit on a bench then Andrea pulled the paper with Jack and I out of wherever she'd been hiding it. "What is this?" she asked. "How could you hide a cute American boy like that from us? Not to mention the fact that he's your BOYfriend!"
I smiled nervously. "He's not really. My boyfriend I mean. He's just a friend. His parents were here to discuss relations between America and Genovia and Jack and I got stuck together quite often because Colin is so antisocial sometimes."
"Your brother is not antisocial! Tell the truth!" Andrea demanded.
Elizabeth frowned. "Actually, Amanda, Colin is quite antisocial. I don't suppose you notice it because he talks to us often enough but he sits along at lunch more often than not and he would rather be sitting in front of a computer than talking to the rest of our classmates."
"Well, except for me," I said. "He talks to me all the time."
"Of course. You're his best friend," Elizabeth told me. Like I didn't know that.
Colin rushed into the courtyard so I guess he wasn't oblivious to my abduction. He took in the situation and snatched the paper from Andrea. "This thing is ridiculous! Why didn't you throw it in the trash as soon as you saw it, Andrea?" he asked incredulously as he tore it up.
I love my brother. A lot. I was somewhat curious as to what he was going to do with the torn up newspaper though seeing as how our mother was strictly against littering. I smirked when he handed half the mess to George and half the mess to Pierre, his own bodyguard.
Colin grabbed my hand then. "Come on, Chloe. Let's go review the math homework. I'm not sure I got it all correct."
I opened my mouth to tell him we'd gone over that the night before but caught on and just let him drag me away to an empty classroom. We both sat down and looked at one another.
"I'm sorry," he finally said.
"For what? It's not your fault."
"But I should have gone with you two and then none of this would have happened."
"Colin, you were busy. It's fine. It will die down soon enough and then everything can go back to normal."
He made a face. "I hate this. Sometimes I wish we weren't royalty. It's just...such a pain in the ass."
I giggled. "Definitely! I want to go to America again. Live like normal kids for a summer. It was so much fun hanging out with Jack in the city! Like I was normal for once and not a princess! Maybe we should talk to Mom and Dad? Try to get permission to stay with Aunt Lilly and any of our grandparents. Well, minus Grandpere of course since he lives in the Palace with us."
He smiled at me, his brown eyes twinkling. "Of course. Do you think they would let us? I miss New York! Maybe we could even ride the subway again! Do you remember that? With Uncle Rocky?"
"It was so crowded and it smelled! It was lovely!" I declared and my brother laughed but nodded.
"Oh, do you know, I think Dad is up to something. He's been writing songs more lately and he keeps to his room more than he used to," Colin said.
I nodded. "Secret mission time in the Renaldo household again?"
"Definitely!" he said, holding a hand out. I promptly grabbed it and we did this silly secret handshake thing then grinned at one another.
Sometimes my brother was completely brilliant and the most fun ever. Plus nobody else knew what it was like being the child of Michael Moscovitz and Amelia Renaldo, being both rock and Genovian royalty quite as well. No matter how annoying Colin can be, he will always be my best friend. Always.
Outside on the back lawn of the school
We're all sitting outside today because it's just about perfect. Weather here doesn't really get too cold. Well, not cold compared to the United States, which is where I spent the first part of my life. It's in the high 50's right now and the sun is shining so we all ventured outside to eat.
I love this. Andrea and Elizabeth are talking about Prince Philip again. Something about his "golden locks" and no, I'm not kidding. Colin heard them say that, looked up at me and rolled his eyes, then went back to reading some computer magazine. I'm writing in this obviously.
Uh oh...
Monday, February 2, After lunch
French class
I don't know why I'm in this class since I am fluent in the French language but it just means I pull straight A's without any effort and that is always nice.
Anyway, I had to put my journal away at lunch because Giselle Laurent floated over. Giselle can't stand us Renaldos or anybody who associates with us. I don't know why exactly but the day she started school here she made it her mission to make us (me especially) completely miserable. Elizabeth says she's jealous but I wouldn't know why. Giselle's just started modeling for some famous fashion magazines and her father is a very very wealthy French businessman. If you ask me that's better than being a royal tabloid victim.
So Giselle came over, positively oozing bad attitude. "Well well if it isn't the Renaldo brats. I saw you on the cover of the paper this weekend, Princess."
"I think everybody did. What's your point?" I asked, dryly.
"Well, I was just wondering how a horribly ugly girl like you got a cute boy like that to spend time with you. Did your parents BRIBE him?"
Andrea let out a little growl but I just rolled my eyes. "Not quite. He heard there was this really snotty girl named Giselle residing in this city and decided that hanging out with me was his best bet in avoiding her."
Giselle sputtered then stomped off. Guess she didn't have a comeback. The nice and quiet lunch we had been having was completely ruined though. And I would never admit it but what she'd said had stung...a lot.
Bah, this class is so BORING!!!
Monday, February 2, After dinner
The TV room
We're all gathered in here right now. Mom, Dad, Colin, Derrick, Keira, Mikey, and me. Grandpere is out on a date. I don't know how a guy as old as he is still manages to get the women but good for him I guess. It's kind of weird to think about it.
Anyway, we're all watching Beauty and the Beast. Mom's choice. Well, okay, we're not all watching obviously since I'm writing in this. Colin is reading the same magazine he was reading at lunch before Giselle so rudely interrupted us all. I think that must be the fourth time he's read the thing. It's looking rather tattered and well-read.
Mom and Dad are sitting on the couch. Mom's kind of leaning into Dad and Dad has his arm around Mom's shoulders. He just saw me looking at them and he winked then went back to watching the movie although I can't really imagine he's paying much attention. He's seen this movie probably a million times since he married Mom. It's one of her favorites and, since Disney movies are approriate viewing material for Mikey, they're all we've been watching on Family Movie Night. Anyway, sometimes Dad looks down at Mom or at all of us kids and smiles.
Mikey, who is the cutest little boy ever with this mop of baby fine wavy brown hair and light blue eyes, is sleeping on the couch with his head on Mom's lap. He never stays awake for the whole movie unless he's gotten his hands on some sugar at some point during the day. Mom tries to prevent that since Mikey gets really hyper and drives everybody in the Palace nuts when he's had sugar. Sometimes Grandpere manages to slip him some though and then he sits back and laughs at his handiwork. So not amusing to those of us who have to deal with his hyperactivity. Colin and I lock the door to our suite when he's like that because Mikey almost broke our computers once.
Keira is sitting on the floor in front of the couch Mom, Dad, and Mikey are on. She's completely absorbed in the movie. Out of all of us, she's the romantic and I can just imagine what she's thinking. That she'll meet some man like the Beast and live happily ever after. Personally I wouldn't fall for somebody like the Beast. I mean, first of all, he's so hairy! Although he is kind of cute as a human (cartoon). But you have to deal with all that growling unpleasantness and I just can't deal with that. Keira is patient so I suppose she could and she's sweet enough that she could make anybody fall in love with her. She's got the same brown hair as Dad and Mikey along with big brown eyes. If you look into her eyes you pretty much end up loving her. Her eyes reflect her positivity and sweetness.
Colin and I are on the love seat with Derrick sitting on the floor in front of us. Derrick is yawning so I'm pretty sure he's bored with the angry mob attacking the castle on the television. Ha I just nudged the back of his head and he turned around, glaring at me but I was writing in this so now he's looking really confused. Messing with my brothers is just so much fun. Dumb definitely saw what I did to Derrick because he just lowered his magazine to look at me and his eyes were gleaming with laughter. I doubt he'll say anything. He better not. Nope, he went back to his magazine.
Okay, I'm officially bored. I like this movie. I do. It's a classic. But seeing it as many times as this family has should be illegal because it makes you not want to watch it at all. It's almost over so I guess I can wait it out.
...
Hallelujah! It's over! At least Mom doesn't cry anymore during the movie. I remember when Colin and I were little she used to cry during it...but maybe that was because she was pregnant at the time or something. Overemotional and all that. Now she just kind of sighs and leans her head against Dad's shoulder. Uh oh...he just looked down at her all lovey-dovey. I swear, if they start making out in front of us again I'm going to throw up.
Monday, February 2, Right before bed
My room
Colin saw it too. The lovey-dovey looks between Mom and Dad I mean. He cleared his throat. "Hey, Mom, want us to bring Mikey upstairs and put him to bed?"
She smiled at him and nodded. "Please, that would be a big help."
"No problem. You two relax...or something," he said, blushing slightly before shoving his magazine at me and walking over to the other couch.
As Colin gently picked up Mikey I nudged Derrick in the back and titled my head towards the door. He nodded and stood up then walked over to Keira to help her stand. I stood, walking over to the door and waiting for Colin as Keira and Derrick walked into the hallway.
Colin exited the room, holding Mikey, and I followed, closing the door behind me. We all went up the stairs to our wing of the palace. Colin placed Mikey in bed with some help from us (it's really hard to get him into bed just by yourself because the kid doesn't seem to like being put under his covers even when he's passed out). He closed his door then looked at us with a wicked grin.
"Mission impossible, Renaldo-style, time?" I asked with an answering grin, humming the tune from the old Tom Cruise movies. I think I need to start watching more up-to-date movies. All we ever seem to watch at home is the stuff that Mom and Dad grew up with.
"Huh?" Derrick asked, looking from Colin to me and back again.
"Dad's hiding something. We're going to find out what," Colin told him.
Keira's nose wrinkled in thought. "He has been very secretive lately, hasn't he?"
"Definitely. You curious, Keira?" I asked. Out of the four of us standing in the hallway, Keira was the least likely to engage in our mischievous activities.
I could tell she was thinking about it but finally she nodded. "Yes, I am. I'll help."
We looked at Derrick, who laughed. He was the most likely to engage in mischievous activities. "Like you even have to ask," he told us.
I started humming the Mission Impossible theme song and everybody laughed. "All right, let's go check Mom and Dad's room."
Their room is in another wing so we quietly made our way over there, trying to remain in the shadows even though we know exactly where all the security cameras are. It's just more fun to pretend that we don't. We made it to our parents room and Colin and I put our ears to the door and...
Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!! It was gross! You could hear moaning and stuff coming from their room. I swear I heard bed springs squeaking. Gross gross gross!
"What the hell did they do? RUN to their bedroom after we left? Sheesh. We have the grossest parents ever!" I exclaimed and we made our way back to our wing of the palace.
"Don't worry. We'll try again tomorrow or something," Derrick said, with a big smile.
"And hey, at least we know our parents won't be getting a divorce anytime soon," Colin said with a chuckle.
So that was the end of the mission for tonight...thanks to our parents' amorous ways. I wonder if it is possible to be completely traumatized by hearing your parents having sex? I should check tomorrow while I'm in the Computer Lab at school.