Hello everyone! I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year! I am going to work on my story as much as possible tonight for not working on it very much this break. It is my Christmas gift to y'all. I think this chapter is 'sinfully delicious'. That's from Will and Grace. Lol Talk ta ya soon everybody. Now read my story! Please.

Happy Hope Day

April 27,

Hi. Sorry I haven't written in you for a while. I have been busy lately. Well Prince Derek is off to fight ogres in three days. He is leaving on Hope Day. I haven't heard too much about this holiday. It is something that the Kyrians celebrate. I wonder what it will be like with him gone. Will I miss him or not? Not of course! I haven't even been around him that much lately. And what can I do about Paige? She is such a pain. The past four days have been nothing but bitchy between us. I wonder if we'll ever be best friends again. Were we ever best friends to start with? I got to go. I volunteered to help with decorating. What a blast I will have! I was being sarcastic, I think. Ta!

I made my way down to help the others. The others being Paige-pain, Nicole-tramp, Derek-annoying, arrogant git, Walt-lover boy, and Ella-cool in every way. This will be interesting to see how it turns out.

As soon as I got down stairs (without asking for directions!) I saw three different scenes. #1-Nicole hanging all over Derek trying to kiss him and hang up mistletoe at the same time. Get a room!

#2-Paige following Walt around like a love-sick puppy. Get a life!

#3-Ella trying to do everything at once. Need some help?

I went over by Ella first and asked her if she needed help. She told me I could make sure that Nicole doesn't break her back trying to hang up the mistletoe. So I went over by her and stood there waiting to catch her if she falls. But being the tramp that she is spoke up the one thing farthest from my mind at that time.

"So are you over here trying to keep Derek away from me?" I almost threw up!

"Excuse me!?!?!?!?!"

"Oh don't put that act on me Princess. I know that for a fact you have been hanging all over every guy you met so far here."

"No I have not!" I replied enraged.

"Oh? So what's all this I hear about you and Kyle? And then practically assaulting my brother. I have no doubt you are trying to manipulate Derek too."

"How dare you accuse me of such things! I don't care if you fall either!" I turned around about to go by Ella to help her. Then she spoke up in a soft voice.

"Always running away from your problems as well too." That put the icing on the cake! I went over and pushed the ladder she was standing on. I need to take some anger management classes! Lucky for her that Derek was standing there ready and waiting to become the knight in shining armor. And that she was only two steps off the ground.

"Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!" the little tramp screamed. I admit I always feel a little guilty after my anger gets in the way of my better judgment. Everyone rushed over to see if she was alright. Though of course she would be unless she fell too hard on Derek. I almost felt sorry for him. He had to stand there holding her big butt up so she wouldn't fall. I could tell she was fine because she was not crying or anything. I wouldn't doubt she was putting on this act to stay in Derek's arms.

"What is going on here?" Ella asked after she dropped everything and saw Nicole here like this.

"That girl pushed me off the ladder. It's a good thing Derek was here to catch me." Nicole said glancing at me when she said girl.

"I wouldn't have had to catch you if you just jumped the two feet from the step." I heard Derek mutter.

"Is this true?" Ella asked disbelief written all over her face.

"Yes," I mumbled.

" I am afraid I will have to punish you Andrea." She said. She used my whole name. This can't be good.

"Oh no need for that. I am just a little woozy." Nicole said trying to be all charitable all of a sudden.

"Yes there is. Andrea I am afraid that you will have to stay in your room for the rest of the week. We will send food up to you and you may have no visitors. Do you understand?"

"Understood." I grumbled. "Wait! Not even to go to the ball?"

"We'll see." Was all she said.

I looked up and saw Nicole giving me a smirk from Derek's arms, Paige was just staring at me. I think in admiration. Walt looked disappointed and Derek, well he looked disgusted, from holding Nicole I believe, and he looked upset as well. Ella had already turned away but I know she was disappointed in me too. I couldn't stand the looks everyone was giving me so I left.

"I think I will start my punishment now. Bye."

I went to my room and began writing in my journal again.

Same as before,

I can't believe I sunk to Nicole's level! She made such a big deal about it! Well she is a drama queen. I feel sorry for any girl who goes after Derek. They will have one hell of a time with Nicole on their case. I am not one bit sorry about what I did though. Well I am sorry for how everyone probably thinks of me now. Oh well. They would have eventually thought of me as a spiteful, hateful girl anyways so why dwell on it? She just makes me so mad though. I suppose that-

Knock-knock

"I am sorry. I can't have any visitors." I started

"A letter for you miss."

"Oh, alright."

I opened the door and a man handed me my letter. It had the Gondola crest on the back. I opened it. It was a letter from Mother and Father. It went like this.

Dear Ria,

How are things so far? I hope you haven't gotten into trouble or lost your temper. (good one! I have accomplished both already!) We hope you are being polite and are making us proud. (HA) Your Mother is getting bigger everyday. Her appetite gets bigger too. -- Sorry your Mother just hit me. We are picking out names for the child. Your Mother even wanted Sparky. I said the baby is not a pet. Hi Ria it's your Mother. Daddy can not write letters very well so I am finishing it. I was just suggesting that name for a joke. Your Father was serious, however, about the name Patrick-for a girl! I said no right a way. The days are long without you here, but we are having a great time together. We miss you lots! Write us soon. We look forward to see how things are going. Hugs and kisses!

Love,

Mum and Dad

P.S. Do you like Derek?-Dad

P.S.S. Don't answer that!-Mum

P.S.S.S. Answer me!-Dad

P.S.S.S.S. Yes do. I am curious as well.-Mum

P.S.S.S.S.S. Love you!-Mum and Dad

Really! Who said anything about liking him! Total invasion of privacy! They will get a piece of my mind! But the rest of the letter was a crack-up!

Knock-knock

Again!

"Ria, its Ella." Whoa! Last person I was expecting! I am intrigued by what she wants. I opened the door.

"Yes?" I asked careful to avoid her eyes.

"I came to ask about what REALLY happened."

"You don't believe Nicole?"

"Partly, she is known to stretch the truth."

"I see."

"Well are we going to talk in the doorway or what?"

"Oh, sorry." I said letting her in farther and blushing slightly.

"You know this was my room when I was first engaged to Char. I loved it. It has this kind of sweet feeling about it."

"Yes now that you mention it. It does."

"I wanted it for you especially when you came here. So what happened?"

"Well…"

"Don't be embarrassed. I am sure that you had good reasons."

"She provoked me! She accused me of several things that I did not do when I was just over there to help her. She pushed me past my limits."

"Yes Nicole can do that. You both are very headstrong girls and I should have known you would have clashed sooner or later. Would you care to tell me the topic you got in your argument about?"

"Not really." I mumbled

"Are you sure? It might explain things a little better to me."

"It was about your son." I said so quietly that she didn't hear me.

"Pardon?"

"It was about your son and several other boys we know."

"I see. Nicole was always sensitive about Derek."

"She accused me of stealing him from her!"

"Were you?" she asked a small grin on her face.

"N-O, NO!"

"Yes I see, of course."

"Why did she do that?"

"Because she is afraid you will ruin her chances with him if you're around. She wanted to bring out your bad points so that he won't like you. I think he sees through her trick though."

"Oh,"

"So your punishment is off."

"Really?!?!?"

"Yes. I would have done the same if I were you." She gave me a wink. "How about a spot of tea now? I am rather thirsty."

"Sounds like a plan."

"I will try and keep Nicole away from you as much as possible. She will wonder what happened to your punishment and I can't handle questions from her. Also she will be kept away for safety reasons." Another wink. "Let's go, shall we?" She stuck out her arm and I grabbed onto it and walked with her to the kitchens. Things were starting to look up.

I didn't run into Nicole at all until the night of the ball. I was having my meals brought to me in my room or I ate a picnic outside. It was kind of pleasant not having to make up conversations with boring people or feeling like I am eating too much or that I look ugly in my dress.

As I said with the ball coming up we all had new outfits made for us. I had a nice pale, shimery yellow dress. I wore a gold chain that had a diamond hanging from it. I wore diamond earrings and a diamond bracelet. My hair was pulled back on the sides with two diamond clips and was let to hang loosely. My hair is naturally wavy so the effect looked quite pretty.

I saw Paige wearing a red dress. It looked stunning on her. It made her cheeks look rosier. It was very pretty. I didn't stay to observe for very long though. I didn't want her to catch me there.

I figured I better find out what Hope Day is or I would look stupid at the ball not knowing one thing about it. I went to the library and found an encyclopedia. H…h…h…ah here it is.

Hope Day- It is the day celebrated at the end of April that is hoped to be the day peace is made between all creatures. Everyone makes one wish at midnight. It is said that if you see a falling star when you make your wish that it will come true. Gifts are usually exchanged between the closest of friends. There is also the tradition of mistletoe. If two people are caught under it then they are supposed to kiss. Many fairy godparents choose to show themselves to their godchild on this day…

Interesting…

When the day finally came everyone was rushing around with last minute preparations. I started to get ready about three hours before the ball was scheduled to begin. I took a rose scented bath. Clarisse helped me get ready.

"So, how do you like it here so far?"

"It is…nice."

"Yes of course it is. Silly me. How do you like the Royals? I suppose you and Paige are good friends."

"Yeah, I suppose."

"There, you look great."

"Thanks."

"Now go get'm girl!" Whoa! What happened to the sweet lady I was just talking to?

"Okay?"

I went to the entrance hall and who did I see first? Can you guess? I give you three tries.

"What is she doing here?" Yup you guessed it. It was Nicole.

"For your information, Ella said I could come."

"Really? I beg to differ. Ella!" She called in a whiny voice.

"Yes?" she asked.

"Is Andrea supposed to be here?"

"Yes. Why wouldn't she be?"

"Ugh! Fine come on Derek."

"Whatever."

"Humpf!" She twirled in a huff and left pulling Derek along behind her.

"Well, a little angry, I must say." Ella said as she came over.

"Yup."

"You would think she would behave more civil on Hope Day."

"You would think."

"Well, shall we enter?"

"I don't see why not."

"Let's go."

Hehe. How was that. I am just finishing this chapter at 12:18 January 1st, 2005. I hope you like it. I hope to finish one more chapter tonight. I understand if I don't get any reviews for this chapter :.( But you still can review if you want! ;)