A/N- These chapters just keep getting shorter and shorter! AUGH! I'm sorry, guys.
Chapter 11"'Walter went to see the show'?" Philippe repeated with a puzzled expression on his face.
I stared at the piece of paper as my mind drifted in and out. "His grammar is messed up," Laurel noted.
"What?" Maloney asked.
"Well, look at it. Walter's a name, right? But he doesn't capitalize it. He does, however, capitalize show."
Then, it clicked. "Maybe Walter's not the name. Show is…" I said.
"Then why would he put a Walter in it?" Ms. Thermopolis asked.
"Because…because that's not the whole name. The whole name is…Showalter."
A strange silence followed my statement. Then Laurel spoke up. "That's great. Why is this significant?"
"Kenny Showalter is one of Mia's friends," I said as I grabbed my jacket. "He's always flirting with her."
"Wait, is he The Civilian?" Ms. Thermopolis asked hurriedly.
I snorted. "He doesn't have the mental capacity at all. I just think he has the next clue."
"How would some kid named Kenny have the next clue?" Philippe asked skeptically. "I mean, he's just some random high school student."
"Why would some owner of a deli have a clue? This guy works in random ways. That's why he's been able to get away every time."
Before any of them could say another word, I was out the door with Hans in tow. We didn't have time to argue! Mia's life was hanging over our heads, and, oh yeah, the hourglass was tipped over too!
When we had gotten to his apartment, I urgently knocked on the door. The same skinny little Kenny looked up at me, his face paler than usual. "Are you that guy he said he would send?"
I nodded slowly.
He gave me a note and slammed the door quickly in my face. Without another thought, I ripped open the envelope.
Last clue, last demand.
I nearly tore my hair out in frustration. Why can't he just give it to us straight? Why does he have to pretend to be all enigmatic?
When I was back at the Plaza, I threw the note down in anger. "'Last clue, last demand.' That's all it says."
Prince Philippe shared my frustration. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"What, does it look like I know?" I retorted. "He doesn't even say what the last freaking demand is!"
"Maybe he already did," Laurel said as she started searching the tabletop that was stacked high with various sheets of paper. "That letter he mailed before he kidnapped Mia. Maybe he's referring to the last demand that he had given to us."
"All it says is to denounce Mia's claim to the throne." Ms. Thermopolis said.
"Yeah, at the ball."
Suddenly, the same thought came to us all at the same time. "Oh no…" Philippe murmured.
"The ball is in two days." Clarisse and I said simultaneously.
"The same day that Mia will die if we don't get to her on time?" Maloney asked.
I nodded. "But I don't get it. What does he want? Does he still want us to denounce Mia's claim? Or…"
"Or what?" Ms. Thermopolis asked anxiously.
"Or maybe he's just telling us to watch out. Maybe he's planning for something to go down during the ball."
It took a few minutes for my words to settle in. Then, Maloney cleared his throat and broke the awkward silence. "Alright people, if this guy really is planning something for this ball, we have to be ready. Here's what we're gonna do…"
The morning before the ball, I had already woken up at six o'clock that morning, going over the last minute plans with Maloney when the phone rang.
Philippe answered it and the raspy voice over the phone said, "Her Highness has asked to make one last call."
His grip on thereciever tightened. "Put her on the phone," He demanded softly.
"Oh, she doesn't want to talk to you," the man sneered. "She wants to talk to her bodyguard."
My heart starting pounding at incredibly fast speeds. I breathed in deeply and took the phone from Philippe. A slight shuffling was heard in the background and after a few more minutes, a softer, more tired voice murmured, "Hello?"
I gulped. "Mia?"
"Michael…" She whispered.
A lump rose in my throat. Hearing her in so much pain was just as bad as seeing it. "Mia, don't worry, you'll be alright. I promise, we'll get you."
"Michael, I trust you. Remember?"
I nodded, even though she couldn't see me. My throat seemed to close up due to the powerful emotion rising in my chest.
"I just wanted to say this, in case I really don't make it out." She took a deep breath, which must have been hard for her because I heard her shiver. "Michael, the first time I saw you, I liked you. A lot. And then, we started to get to talking and…and somewhere in the middle of allof it,I fell in love with you."
My eyes started to water. "No, Mia, don't say that. I swear, you'll make it out, I promise—"
"Time's out, lover boy." The raspy voice cut me off and with a distinct click, he hung up.
I put the phone down, still staring at it in shock, not noticing everyone's slightly amused glances. Even in my state of disbelief, the hope started to rise in my chest. She loved me…and she trusted me.
I had to save her…I had to get her out of there.
I had to tell her that I loved her too.
A/N- I am impressed. constantlyreading guessed it right! I was so happy.
Okay, um...next chapter will have a little of Mia's POV, so wait for that. I think that the ball will possibly take two chapters, I don't know, it looks to be that way right now.
As for when the next chapter is going to be up, I don't know about that either. I'm leaving for L.A. on Thursday, so I might find some time to write either for this story or Most Eligible Bachelorette.
I finished Harry Potter last night and decided to write because I was feeling sad and depressed. She killed my favorite character! And the only thing that can cheer me up are loads and loads and loads of reviews.