Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters since Princess Diaries 1 & 2, and its characters are the property of Disney, Buena Vista, and Meg Cabot. I make no money from this work of fiction.
Basketball as Stress Relief
"Grandma? Where does Joe play basketball in Genovia?" Mia asked abruptly one day in the middle of her 'training' for the State dinner that evening.
"Basketball?" Clarisse looked blank.
"Yeah. He was playing it on the school roof yesterday in the rain while I was talking to Lilly. He's really good. He hardly ever missed a basket. He has to play it a lot to be that good."
"I have no idea. What IS basketball?"
"You don't KNOW?" Mia stared incredulously at her grandmother. Then she looked at Charlotte. "Do YOU know where he plays in Genovia?"
"Actually, there is a games room in the palace, and a gymnasium," Charlotte responded promptly, "with the basketball court marked out, as well as volleyball and badminton, both inside and out."
"What do you do, throw balls into baskets?" Clarisse asked, trying not to sound too sarcastic.
"Right." the fifteen-year-old said, missing the faint inflection in the queen's voice. "Can I ask him where he plays here? He's gotta keep that great shape he's in SOMEHOW, don't you think?"
Charlotte smothered a laugh in a cough as Clarisse stared at the teenager. "WHAT did you say?"
"I want to know where he ..."
"Amelia, that's enough." Clarisse suddenly stood up. "No more talking about Joseph in such a manner. He is your chauffeur and bodyguard ..."
"But Grandma," Mia protested, even as she automatically rose with her grandmother, Charlotte scrambling to her feet as well, "Joe's such a cool old guy ... well, actually, Lilly said he was HOT. I mean, you HAVE to notice his bod, don't you? I expect a kiss from him would be a REAL foot-popper, not like the kiss from that creep Josh. My hand even feels all tingly when Joe kisses it. But maybe that's the moustache tickling it. Doesn't it just make you swoon when Joe touches you? I was almost breathless when I was dancing with him last week, and just mortified when I crashed into him, but he was so sweet to me. I felt so graceful and beautiful when I was in his arms. Have you ever danced with him?"
In spite of her agitation and complete disinclination to continue this discussion with her precocious CHILD of a grand-daughter, Clarisse couldn't help her thoughts flying swiftly to her first dance with Joseph, right after Mia had left last week. She had to admit that she, too, had felt graceful and beautiful in his arms; she, too, had fallen under his spell and had been completely mesmerized by his eyes as they had moved so fluidly to the music. She had never felt so alive or so ... desirable ... in her life! And it was Joseph who had made her feel that way! JOSEPH! Her Head of Security, her trusted friend, JOSEPH!
"Your Majesty," Charlotte's timid voice broke into Clarisse's thoughts. "If you would be interested in seeing a basketball game, I know that the security team is playing right now in the consulate basement."
"Oh, Grandma, please? Can we go watch them? We can have our tea down there, can't we? Iced tea, this time, instead of hot tea?"
For a moment, Clarisse wavered, uncharacteristically indecisive. Then she yielded. "Why not? We have a bit of time before we have to get ready for the State dinner. Lead the way, Charlotte."
After a quick stop at the kitchen to pick up the tray Charlotte had hastily ordered, the three women made their way downstairs to the basement of the consulate, following the shouts and laughter coming from a room at the far end. For a moment, Clarisse wondered wildly what she had agreed to, but she stepped into the room after Charlotte, with Mia close on her heels.
Instant silence except for a ball bouncing away greeted their arrival, then Joseph was at their sides. "Your Majesty! Your Highness. Charlotte," he acknowledged the others, but his eyes remained on Clarisse.
Mia grinned as she read what was inscribed on his black t-shirt: "Real Men Wear Black". She nudged Charlotte who merely glanced at Joseph, then turned to a table nearby and set the tray down.
"We came to watch you play basketball, Joe. I told Grandma how good you were, and she wanted to see," Mia explained.
Clarisse's lips tightened almost imperceptibly, and Charlotte quickly added, "If it wouldn't be a bother."
"No problem at all." Then Joseph smiled slightly and, with a twinkle in his eyes, bowed and asked politely, "Your Majesty, would you care to play?"
"No, thank you. I prefer being a spectator," Clarisse said with dignity, sitting very straight in her chair with her ankles properly crossed. "I believe it is better to watch men get all hot and sweaty than for ME to get all hot and sweaty." She regretted her provocative words the moment they passed her lips, especially when the wicked light in Joseph's eyes told her he had not missed them. "I'm not very athletic," she amended, knowing it was too late to salvage the moment, and succeeding with heroic effort to keep her blush down.
Mia grinned. "So I take after you in more ways than one, I guess."
"Well, I'd better get back to the game. And speaking of getting hot and sweaty," Joseph pulled his t-shirt up and over his head, dropping it on the empty chair beside Clarisse. Then he joined the other men on the basketball court, half of them bare-chested, half clothed in t-shirts.
Clarisse felt her mouth grow dry as she stared at a very nice expanse of bare tanned skin lightly dusted with dark hair. Here was a man who didn't worry about his exterior ... and why should he? Women of all ages only had to take one look at Joseph before starting to drool. Without thinking, she swiped surreptitiously at her chin with her fingers. Luckily they came away dry. She knew she was going to have to take control of herself before she did something foolish, like throw herself at him. She really HAD been without a man for too long. She and Rupert had been good friends, BEST friends, but never lovers after Philippe's birth.
Taking a sip out of the glass of iced tea in front of her, Clarisse looked around nonchalantly, trying not to notice the one man in particular as the men were playing their game. It was hard, with Mia and Charlotte cheering him on. Mia tried to explain the rules, but Clarisse was still confused. She noticed, however, that whenever Joseph had the ball, he managed to wind his way down the room, bouncing it all the way and, despite the efforts of some of the other men, throw it over their waving hands and through a hoop and net.
"Isn't he GREAT, Grandma?" Mia asked, excitedly, clapping madly when Joseph sank another basket, and not waiting for a response from the queen.
When the game appeared to be finished, Clarisse was still confused as to what she had been watching. She only knew Joseph had been one of the winners by Mia's enthusiastic cheers. Charlotte tried to explain that there had been two teams, t-shirts versus no t-shirts, and that Joseph's team had handily beat the other team.
Joseph walked back for his t-shirt and pulled it on. Then he audaciously picked up Clarisse's glass of iced tea and drained half the glass before he set it back down. "Until later, ladies. We're hitting the showers now, and I'm sure you need to prepare yourselves for this evening," and he winked at Charlotte and made a mocking bow to both Mia and Clarisse before walking away.
"Now that IS one real man ..." Charlotte sighed dreamily, referring to the inscription on his t-shirt.
Clarisse struggled not to glare at the silly woman. Joseph was MUCH too old for HER! Then she was angry at herself for even thinking such a thing. Joseph meant nothing to her that way. He COULDN'T. It was simply unthinkable and definitely not acceptable.
"I wonder why it seems to be so sexy when a man drinks out of your glass like Joe did yours, Grandma," Mia mused, leaning her head on her hand as she watched Joseph and the others head back upstairs, "but the thought of having to share a toothbrush ..." she shuddered.
"MIA!" Clarisse exclaimed in horror. "A princess NEVER speaks of a man as being ... what you just said."
"You mean sexy, or what?"
Clarisse closed her eyes momentarily, struggling to regain control. "Yes. Please do not say that publicly again."
"But this isn't public, is it? I mean, it's just you, me and Charlotte. It's, like, family, you know?"
"Mia ..." Clarisse's warning sounded strained to her own ears.
"Gee, Grandma, don't get so hung up on a word. Don't you think Joseph's sexy? You agree with me, don't you, Charlotte?"
Clarisse abruptly rose to her feet. "Come, we must get ready for tonight. You will come in yourself, Mia ..."
"Yes, Joe told me that yesterday. He showed me how to come down the stairs. He said he would be waiting at the bottom and take care of me, since you won't be entering until later."
Obviously she was not going to be able to turn her grand-daughter's mind from Joseph. Clarisse bowed to the inevitable. "That's right, Mia. You'll be fine with Joseph. Just ... do as he says, and you'll be all right."
"I hope so, Grandma. I really don't want to disappoint you again. I'm SO sorry I was such an idiot at the beach party ..."
Clarisse held up a hand to stop her grand-daughter. "There is no need to discuss that incident further. Put it out of your mind. Joseph assured me ..." she paused. For heaven's sake, now SHE was bringing the man into the conversation! She continued determinedly, "that it was mostly the young man's ego at work, and not your fault at all."
"Thanks, Grandma. I hope I don't disappoint you tonight." Mia beamed.
"I hardly think that is possible." Clarisse smiled at the girl. She may not allow herself to reveal it much, but Clarisse was growing to love her grand-daughter dearly. She still hoped the girl would change her mind and agree to become the crown princess of Genovia. If all went well at the State dinner tonight, the possibility was definitely nearer to success! As for halting the burgeoning change in the relationship between herself and Joseph, Clarisse was going to have to work even harder at keeping her emotions under wraps if she were to hope for any possibility of success in THAT field.