Wow! What a season finale! We all knew Robert was bad but jeez.. that kid is the spawn of Satan. Anyways, I wrote this chapter about a week ago in how I think the season could have been headed. I will mostly be focusing on our Jaspenor, but also explore Liam's journey with his new ally (?) Cyrus. And of course, the shady past of King Robert.
I'm happy to be back and please leave feedback to help me along the way! Happy reading. :]
It wasn't the fact that he was an extremely positive influence on her.
It wasn't that fact that he could engage in long, emotional, intelligent conversations.
It wasn't the fact that they got along like best mates who had known each other for years.
It was simply the fact that he wasn't him.
Six months overseas by Sebastian's side was nothing short of a pleasant vacation on a personal endeavor to better herself. To spread her talents. To learn to cope in healthier ways than drowning her sorrows in drugs and alcohol.
To truly believe in herself.
"To Her Royal Highness, Princess Eleanor." Sebastian toasts hovering a flute of champagne toward hers. "For exceeding my expectations and growing into a beautiful young woman inside and out, right before my eyes."
Eleanor's cheeks turn a charlotte red as her flute clinks against his.
"To Eleanor!" the group around them roars in agreement.
They were surrounded by a few of their friends who they had met along the way. Also joining them was Sebastian's body guard Colin and Eleanor's body guard Rosie. Eleanor had grown rather fond of Rosie and after several months finally felt as though she could trust another woman. She was more than just a body guard, and aside from James Hill her favorite yet. It was her first female best friend.
But even Rosie didn't understand the suffocating hold that Jasper Frost had on the Princess. No one did.
After so many secrets, betrayals, and unnecessary drama.. Eleanor didn't blame anyone for their opinion.
But they were returning back to London in one week. For reasons that still were not 100% clear, he of all people, was promoted to His Majesty King Robert's body guard. Jasper Frost would forever be lurking around the palace like a spirit of her broken heart. All thanks to her older, stubborn, and mischievous big brother.
Eleanor's vision lifted from the table perfectly aligning with Sebastian's. With a shy smile, he reaches across the table and softly grazes his finger tips across the back of her hand. But with one swift movement she fiercely withdraws her hand before awkwardly clearing her throat.
She could feel everyone's eyes on her but resisted the urge to look back at them.
Within a matter of seconds Sebastian had broken their pact of secrecy. They were to never speak about what occurred. They were to never show too much physical affection since it all happened.
Since that night.
"How could you be so thick," Eleanor plead, her emerald eyes hurriedly scanning his face.
"I-I now know how wrong I was-"
"I AM SO SICK OF HEARING THAT!" Eleanor's voice cracked. She had never screamed at him before. Not like this.
Jasper lightly jolted, his eyes widening.
"Why didn't you come to me," she whispered, visibly struggling to control her anger.
"Len it was only to protect you." Jasper took in a gulp of air while his crystal blue eyes searched the room in desperation.
"If you were trying to protect me, you would have protected my heart." Streams of tears flew out of her eyes without any remorse. "After all, you are a body guard aren't you? Not our god damn PR."
The growing lump in his throat was increasingly difficult to ignore.
He had finally had her. After months and months of chasing after her. Doing anything in his power to make everything up to her.
But he really fucked up this time.
Not only had Eleanor finally forgiven him for all of his bull shit. She trusted him. And if he knew any better she loved him. Deeply.
"That reporter was ready to expose me. To expose you for letting a criminal like me-"
At this point in Jasper's semi-annual attempt at a plea bargain, Eleanor had fully zoned out. There was only one statement left in her mind.
"You're a coward."
His lower lip quivered as he clasped his hands together trying to keep his composure. He kept his mouth shut waiting for her to speak.
"My plane leaves tomorrow morning after Robert's coronation," she added.
"And what's- what's going to make of us?" he desperately plead, his voice hoarse.
"I've never focused on myself, Jasper. I've never considered the endless possibilities of how I could change the world. I'm the god damn Princess of England. Not a pathetic little girl chasing after someone who up to this point has only let me down. For once, it's not about us."
Eleanor picked up the gown from beneath her feet strutting a few feet closer to him. His heart dropped as his eyes involuntarily explored her body.
"And for once, it's time for you to feel heart break," she whispered. Wiping away any trace of tears, she attempted to walk past him toward her bedroom door. With spider like senses he instantly grasped onto her arm stopping her in her place.
"If that's what you want. I would wait for an eternity to have one last chance with you."
He reached a defeated hand into his jacket pulling the Christmas present that he, with Sara Alice's help, had made for her.
"Just please. Please take this."
Eleanor looked up at him with mascara stained eyes hesitatingly accepting his offer. She peered down at the crayon ridden pieces of construction paper.
It felt as though an elephant was sitting on her chest.
But now wasn't the time to show any weakness. She delicately placed the book onto the dresser next to them.
"It's time for my brother's coronation."
During his minimal time off from protecting the new King of England, Jasper frequented his favorite pub down the street. Drinking was the only thing that slightly kept his mind off of her.
It had been the longest six months of his life.
He lightly rotates the glass of bourbon in his hand against the bar top. Out of his peripheral he could make out a woman sitting down next to him.
"Jasper Frost," a familiar voice chimed in.
It was Harper, the reporter who had pestered him into the exact position he was sitting in right now. Her short brunette curly hair looked like it took hours to prepare. The matching smoky eye reminded him of a certain someone. She was wearing a dark blue silk dress with a plunging neckline. She looked like she belonged in a night club, not a hole in the wall pub.
Jasper didn't respond. He resumed tending to his glass of whiskey.
"I was fired last week," she says waving two fingers at the bartender.
"Can't say I'm sorry," Jasper grumbles maintaining his vision straight ahead.
"You don't look so good," she states peering at him up and down. She grasps onto her martini glass lightly stirring it with her hand.
Jasper was dressed in a black sweatshirt with a black baseball cap, and matching dark circles under his eyes due to lack of sleep. His clothes reeked of cigarettes and whiskey from drinking all day.
He lightly chuckles under his breath while slowly shaking his head.
"You have no idea."
Feeling his bicep tighten up, her hand delicately grazes from his forearm to his shoulder.
"The Princess has been gone for quite a few months now," she says in a seductive voice.
Jasper's mouth narrowed into a thin line, his head slowly turning toward her.
"You know, misery loves company. And I sure can think of a few ways to make you feel better."
"I think I'm going to call it a night." Eleanor awkwardly motions with her hand toward the door of her personal suite.
Sebastian slowly nods his head with the hint of a smirk.
"Sorry if I made anything awkward at dinner," he started.
"No, it's ok- it's just.." She bit her lip trying to think of an excuse. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Rushing into her room at the speed of light, she slams the door behind her. She tightly shuts her eyes leaning her body against the door. How could things turn so unbearably awkward? It was the perfect example that friends should never hook up. After all, it was one time. And a very drunken time at that.
After showering and slipping on her night gown she crept into the resort's buttery soft sheets. She checks her phone viewing 9 missed calls from Liam and a text that read: Len. Important news. Call me.
But it was already 4 A.M. London time and she decides to just turn her phone off for the night.
Besides, she would be returning back to the palace and back to reality in just a few short days. He and her rambunctious family could wait just a little bit longer.
She stared for another 30 minutes in the dark as lights from cars outside illuminate the ceiling. Hesitating back and forth in her mind, Eleanor turns on her side switching the lamp on. She opens the drawer next to her retrieving the booklet that Jasper (with a little help) had made for her.
Eleanor finally opens it for the first time.
Harper fixes a piece of hair from beneath Jasper's hat behind his ear. The back of her smooth, fragile hand grazes the stubble across his cheek.
He reflexively closes his eyes. He hadn't felt a woman's touch since she left.
It was like a tall, radiant, bow wrapped bottle of vodka taunting an alcoholic. It was like a piece of juicy fragrant chicken hanging in front of someone on the brink of starvation.
Finishing the remainder of his glass, he slams it on the counter spinning the bar stool toward her.
"I think I'm going to call it a night."