26/6/00

Clarisse told me that Amelia said she was going to appear on a television programme tonight, which she was excited about because she thinks her granddaughter needs to get used to public appearances. She told me to watch the show, but I did and Mia didn't show up. After the show, Clarisse came to my room and asked me if she missed her appearance while she wasn't looking and I told her that she must have been given the wrong date. She was quite disappointed because there was another programme she wanted to watch and she missed it because she was watching, "Shut Up and Listen".

I thought it was a very boring show because all that happened was card guessing. She's going to ask Mia about it sometime tomorrow.

28/6/00

We found out why Mia didn't appear on the cable show, she was at a beach party being manipulated by a young boy. It was much more serious than that though, she was caught practically in the nude on camera. Clarisse was furious when she read the paper this morning, she came straight to me (while I was still sleeping, might I add?) and told me to drive around and pick up Amelia before school. My eyes were heavy, but nevertheless I put on my pants and a shirt, grabbed a jacket and drove very slowly. I asked Mia if she wanted to stop for ice cream along the way, but she said she just wanted to get it over and done with.

I listened to the two talking and thought that Clarisse was being far too harsh. A friend of a friend told me some information that gave proof that it wasn't entirely Mia's fault, which I told Clarisse after she'd finished talking with Mia. She told me that after today I no longer have a responsibility to drive Mia everywhere or look after her since she has decided she doesn't want to be a princess anymore. It seemed a bit selfish to me that she doesn't care if her granddaughter is protected or not now that she's not going to be a princess, it's as if she thinks she's of no use.

I drove Mia to school afterwards and for once, she sat next to me in the passenger seat.

"My dear, I'm sure your grandmother didn't mean to speak in such a harsh tone."

"So you were listening."

"Yes, I was. She's just a bit upset because she's under a lot of pressure at the moment."

"Why can't she be like a real grandma? One that would offer sympathy instead of placing blame. One that wouldn't just jump to a conclusion. You know she didn't even ask me for my side of the story? She just believed what the papers said and went along with it."

"I'm sure she'll realise her mistake and come around."

"You think?"

"Sure I do."

"Why can't she be more like you Joe?"

"Because she doesn't possess the compassion of a gentleman such as myself."

She smiled slightly and kissed me on the cheek, surprising me a little as it was unexpected.

Slowly I pulled up along side the entrance to her school and stopped the car, "Are you sure you want to attend school today, young lady?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine."

"I'll walk you to the door then."

As usual there were reporters surrounding the entrance, so I carefully made sure none of them touched Mia as I walked her into the school and hugged her goodbye.

When I got back to the palace, I decided that I needed to talk with Clarisse privately to tell her just how upset Mia was. She wasn't in her office, Charlotte informed me that she was having a massage in her suite, so I went there and waved the masseuse away, he then left the room.

Clarisse couldn't see me because she was lying face down on the table, so I decided to take over the duties of the masseuse. After squeezing some oil onto my hands, I carefully ran them up her back and started massaging her shoulders. Her skin was nice and smooth, I liked rubbing my hands along it and hearing her moaning. I wasn't quite sure how to start off what I wanted to talk about, nor did I have time to think about it because I heard her moan, "Lower."

I moved my hands down to her lower back, but apparently that wasn't far enough, "Lower!"

I tensed, but lower I went. I didn't go too far down, only an extra inch below her back, "Joseph, if I say lower, I mean lower!"

"How did you know it was me?"

"You wear far too much cologne, that's how. What are you doing here anyway?"

"I've come to talk about your granddaughter."

"Oh god, not this again."

"Clarisse she's really upset! She thinks you hate her."

She pulled a towel over her breasts and turned around to face me, "I don't hate her, it's quite the opposite."

"Funny way of showing it."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You treat her like an object, like your using her to secure the throne."

"I have to act that way, one must think without using one's heart. That's why people prefer male rulers."

"But you need to think of her as family, she needs to be treated with care. Tell me, do you have any loving feelings towards her whatsoever?"

"Of course I do, I love the girl."

"Have you told her that?"

"No, but..."

"I think you should go around and talk to her."

She paused for a moment, "You're right, we'll see her tomorrow before the ball after we pick up my dress."

"No, you will see her, I will drive you."

"Fine. Thankyou. Now where were we?"

She lay back down on the table and put her head back into the head rest. I resumed running my hands up and down her back, it was relaxing. She started tensing as I moved onto her sides, she was fine when I moved my hands downwards, but when I moved them up towards her breasts, she would lie there shaking slightly. I wondered what the problem was, because usually she would be happy for me to touch her breasts. I decided to test her a bit more by massaging her hips, but she didn't flinch, she didn't shake, she just groaned my name. After I tried a few other places, I tried to find out what would happen if I massaged one side and not the other, that's how I found out what her problem was. She didn't want me touching her left breast, she didn't seem to mind about the right, just the left. I carefully slid my hand up under her arm in order to get a reaction and she bit me! She bit me! I decided to leave it at that, so did she.

I watched her roll herself off the table and put on a robe, then she issued me out in order to get changed. A horrific expression was on her face, as if she'd just seen a ghost or something. I'm honestly worried about her, she hasn't come out of her rooms since I left.

7/7/00

I am currently on my way back home from America with Amelia. I can't wait to see Clarisse.

The day of the Genovian Annual Independence Day Ball:

Stressful it was, I didn't even make it back to my own room.

It started at the tailors, Clarisse was on-edge because they accidentally ripped her dress whist altering it, so she spent roughly two hours abusing them before rushing across the street to buy an identical one which was one size too small. She said if it didn't fit, she would simply wear a girdle underneath. After we left the shop I drove Clarisse to Mia's house because she wanted to apologise and drop off Philippe's birthday gift. I thought it was sweet how she made up with her, I didn't actually see it, as I found myself being talked to once again by her next-door neighbour (who now thinks I am a spy), but Clarisse told me all about it on the way home. She said she hugged her for the first time and apparently it felt good. She said Mia told her she seriously didn't want to be a princess, but Clarisse thought that there was a possibility that she would come around. She went silent for a few minutes after our conversation.

Through the rear-view mirror, I noticed her running a hand along the side of her breast whilst looking out the window. She wasn't doing it as some poor attempt to seduce me, that much I knew, she looked sort of sad, upset and unhappy.

"Clarisse, are you feeling alright?"

She obviously didn't hear me, "Clarisse?"

Her hand fell into her lap and she looked at me, "I'm sorry, did you say something?"

"Are you feeling alright?"

"I'm…fine thankyou, Joseph."

I didn't question her further, I just continued staring at her eyes until we arrived back at the consulate.

I accompanied her on a walk around the place to check on last minute details and she seemed to become a little more cheerful, until she saw the garden. It looked "crowded" according to her, she didn't care for Charlotte's planning in the slightest. I think her exact words were, "That's what you get when you hire Americans."

Quite racist for a ruler, but I later realised it wasn't meant to be a personal attack, she just had other things on her mind.

At five o'clock Clarisse left and went upstairs to get ready for the ball. I decided to quickly change into my formalwear and wax my head before inspecting the ballroom, by then it was six o'clock. I started talking to one of the musicians who plays a violin, she told me about how she practiced the violin on the boat on the way over to the country. She said she became very fond of it, so decided to make it her professional.

That's when Charlotte came up to me and asked me why I hadn't left to pick up Mia, because she said Helen told her that Mia was waiting for me. I put two and two together and figured out that she was going to run away to avoid making a speech. I quickly grabbed the chauffeur, dragged him out to the car and sped over to her house. As it takes a good half an hour to drive to Mia's house, it was dark and raining by the time we got there. I saw that her car was missing, so I spotted the man next door and asked him in a spy-like way where Mia went. He gave me some vague directions, which in time led me to her. She was lying across the seat of her mustang being soaked by the rain when we found her. She was happy to see me and vice versa, I thought this would be a nice treat for Clarisse.

When we sat down in the car I asked her why she was coming back and she said it was because of her father, I didn't quite know what she meant by that and still don't, I guess it's a secret.

We arrived at the consulate in the middle of Clarisse's opening speech, I was taken back by how the dress looked on her. It was very tight and she seemed to have to move very slowly and carefully in order for it to sit properly, I think perhaps she should have gone for the larger size after all.

She was so happy to see Mia, yet shocked at the same time. My guess is that she wasn't expecting her to show up, because she wouldn't have had it not been for me. After she announced Mia's arrival, I helped her away from the podium and quietly commented on her gown, just one word – woah.

Mia made a long, boring, but meaningful speech. I only thought it was boring because I don't like speeches, I tend to tune out during them. I noticed Clarisse was a little bored with it towards the end, too, so she pretended to clear her throat to hurry it along. I loved watching the expression on her face as Mia announced that she would take her place as princess. She was so happy, I took that as my cue to fetch the tiara from the table. Very gently she placed it atop her head and Prime Minister Motaz sang the national anthem. Charlotte was asked to rush upstairs to fetch the cape, so she brought it down and I helped Amelia into it. The camera flashes went off and everybody was happy, it was sort of like an ending to a predictable movie.

Clarisse went with Mia to get her changed into a proper gown and they came back half an hour later. I spent that time chatting to the people in the ballroom and eating some snacks in the kitchen.

When the two entered the ballroom, we all bowed and stared in wonder. The music started up and Sebastian Motaz asked Clarisse to dance. I was quite jealous about this, so I waited a minute or so and took her away from him.

"My dear, I cannot express enough how beautiful you look in that dress."

She blushed, "Thankyou. Joseph, do you have any idea who that boy dancing with Amelia is?"

I smiled, "That's her best friend's brother. I think they're attracted to each other or something."

"Oh, how sweet."

We watched them head out to the balcony for a secret kiss and I mentioned to Clarisse that I had the same idea for her, she giggled and we continued waltzing around the floor for a few hours. She seemed really happy about Mia's choice to become a princess, "Do you have any idea how grateful I am to you for bringing her back here, Joseph?"

"No, why don't you show me?"

"Here?"

"Why not?"

"Because there are people around."

"Then maybe we should find somewhere more private."

It would have been a romantic moment if Mia's C.D didn't start blaring away.

"Maybe we should."

We discreetly waltzed over to the hall entrance and let go of each other, making sure nobody in the ballroom was watching. I waved the men at the end of the hall away and took her hand, she seemed a little shocked that I was expressing my love in public, so I pretended I just wanted to kiss it and she was happy again. We walked down another hall and stopped at her door, I opened it, looked around to see if anybody was watching and then ducked inside with her.

I sat down on the sofa and watched as she took her tiara off and placed it on the vanity cabinet. She arched her head back and ran her hand through her hair, then she removed her gloves, shoes and earrings and sat down next to me, laying her feet in my lap. There were stockings covering her legs, but that didn't stop me from sliding my hands up and down them. A smile came to her face and she closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation, "My feet are so sore."

My senses told me she was hinting for me to move to her feet, so I did. They felt very hot feet from all the dancing we had done. I didn't allow anyone to take her away from me during the ball, she was mine for the evening – I earned that privilege.

Slowly and cautiously I ran my hands up under her gigantic skirt and pulled down the stockings, she didn't seem to notice nor did she seem to mind.

"Joseph, do you know how happy I am right now? I'm partially stress free!"

"Partially, darling?"

Her eyes shot open, "I mean my biggest cause for stress has been relieved."

"Your granddaughter?"

She nodded.

"What else are you stressed about?"

"Umm…uh…the…flight home, that's it."

"Really? Why?"

"Because you won't be joining me."

"Why?"

"Because you need to fly over with Amelia in a weeks time when the school holidays begin."

"Me?"

"Yes, you."

"When did you plan to tell me this?"

"Right now, I just thought of it."

"What if I don't want to?"

"I'll just have to convince you."

I placed her feet on the floor and sat closer to her, "How?"

She kissed my lips and threw her arms around my neck, pulling me closer to her. I slipped my hands around her waist and stood her up, her hands rested on my chest as I kissed her some more and attempted to find a zip on her dress. There was no zip. I attempted to lift the dress over her head, but it was so tight that it couldn't slide over her breasts, "How do you get this thing off?"

"Don't ask, it took three women and two hours to get it on in the first place, they had to sew up the bow so it wouldn't come undone," she laughed.

"You're trapped in there?"

"Afraid so."

"Can't I just split it open?"

"No! I want to keep this dress."

"Why, you're never going to wear it again."

"How do you know?"

"Because you, my darling, never wear the same gown more than once in a lifetime."

"If I did, the press would have something to say."

"Hmm."

I sucked her neck and attempted to pull the dress down over her shoulders, but it was just too tight. I gave up and resumed kissing her passionately, we ended up at the edge of the bed. I lay her down and moved myself on top of her, running my hands over her breast and having one brushed away. What was the deal with that? I asked myself. She allowed me to touch the right breast, but not the left, "Clarisse?"

"Mmm?"

"Is there a reason why I'm not allowed to touch you here?"

I pointed my hand at the 'no-access' area, "No, no reason."

"Are you sure? Because-"

"I'm sure."

"Fine then."

I proceeded to kiss her and caress breasts until suddenly I found myself tumbling onto the floor, "Ouch, Clarisse! What was that for?"

She rushed to my side and apologised repeatedly, "I'm so sorry Joseph. I lied, there is something wrong with me, I just didn't want you to find out."

She helped me up off the floor and sat me down on the bed, "What is it?"

She took a long breath, "When I was getting a massage yesterday, Gerald found a lump on the side of my breast and I have no idea what it is. I'm scared that it might be cancer."

A tear fell from her eye.

"Oh my god…have you booked a test?"

She shook her head, "I'm too scared to go, I fear that if I do I'll find out that my life is in danger."

"But it will be in even more danger if you just forget about it and it does turn out to be…cancer."

"I know that. You just don't understand what it's like to find out something like that growing inside your body."

I drew her into my arms and sat her on my lap, kissing her forehead, "Well whatever it is, I'll stick by you no matter what."

A sob escaped her mouth, "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere."

"I wouldn't be surprised if you left, I can be so horrible to you at times."

"I know."

"Why do you put up with me?"

"Because even after all you've done to me, I love you more than anything in the world."

She broke our embrace, "You've never said so."

"Really? Well surely you knew?"

"I did know, it's just that I don't remember you ever saying those three words to me."

"I was sure I did."

"Joseph?"

"Mmm?"

"I liked hearing them."

The sparkle in her eyes seemed to be demanding that I say the words again, so I did, "I love you, Clarisse, I always will."

"Always?"

"Unless you totally turn into a psycho-maniac on me."

She playfully slapped me across the face, "I am not a…psycho-maniac, I'm a mentally challenged individual, but only during a full moon."

We both laughed and hugged each other again, falling onto the bed and kissing some more. We lay face to face with our arms around each other for most of the night just talking, laughing and occasionally crying. We didn't 'sleep together' in the tense meaning 'sex', we didn't even change out of our formal clothes. She really is terrified about that lump and so am I; I really don't want to lose her so soon after we've gotten together.

The morning after the ball:

To my surprise, she was still there lying awake in my arms and studying my face, "Morning, my love."

She smiled, dried up mascara lines cracking as she did, "Good Afternoon, Joseph."

It took a few seconds, but it finally clicked, "Afternoon?"

"Well we were up talking all morning."

"Mmm. I had a lot of fun."

"As did I, we'll have to do it again sometime."

"I'd like that."

We did end up doing it again, because-

The next night:

I snuck into her rooms and greeted her with a warm and passionate kiss. We spent all night talking (as it would be the last time we'd see each other for two weeks), and we spent an hour (early in the morning) making love. She wasn't being evil or anything and she didn't injure or hurt me in any way, she was being the Clarisse I fell in love with.

At five o' clock Charlotte knocked on the (locked) door and asked her if she was almost ready to go, "I'll be out in a minute."

Frantically she threw on some clothes and asked me to discretely leave the room at a time that pleased me. She backed up to the door after grabbing her bag and stopped, "Don't I get a kiss goodbye?"

"Of course."

I stood up and walked over to her, she was dressed completely in white, a change, I thought, from when we first arrived. I pressed my mouth against hers and spoke in between kisses, "Don't…forget…to make…an appointment…when you…get back…"

Sliding her arms tightly around my waist, she whispered, "I won't forget."

She ran her hand down my cheek and smiled at me before kissing me one last time and walking out the door.

I am anxiously awaiting her test results, if she actually took them, that is. I hope to god she's okay.

Well what do you know? It is possible to go through the movie without putting in any direct-speech movie dialogue. I don't think I put in a single direct line (said by a character) that was actually in the movie. That's how clever I am lol.

I think that while doing this, I noticed a fault in the movie. The beach party was held on a Saturday, but Clarisse is talking to Mia the next day and she's in her school uniform. Perhaps maybe she has to go to school on Sunday?

This is the longest actual chapter I've ever written. Took a hell of a long time too.

I'm looking forward to seeing my take on the second movie (haha) later on. I think I'll only do three to five in-between movie chapters, just so youse don't get bored.

Once again, thankyou for your reviews, more will be greatly appreciated.

Bai!