Her eyelids paced from side to side before fluttering open. A huge bright light was shining in Eleanor's face. Why was she engulfed by such a bright light? Was she dead? What the hell happened last night? She felt a burning sensation in her throat and was more lethargic than she had ever been in her life.
"The princess has awoken!" someone shouted as Eleanor furrowed her eyebrows. She winced at a doctor covered in scrubs hovering over her.
"Get OUT of my goddamn way," she heard a familiar voice hiss. "Eleanor. We thought that we lost you. How could you be so THICK as to-"
"Your highness," a soft voice interrupted Eleanor's mother, Helena, the queen of England. "I understand that you are upset, but it is in the best interest of the princess for everyone to remain calm."
What the hell happened last night?
Eleanor attempted to speak which registered as a scratchy whisper. "Where am I?"
"Darling," her mother attempted to speak in a softer tone. "You went off the rails last night. How could you consume this much at your birthday party? And take it this far? I knew that the party was never a good idea.."
"Mum- do not blame Len," Eleanor heard her brother's voice. "It was both of our party and I should have done a better job of looking after her."
A slight smile came across Eleanor's face as she slowly moved her eyes in Liam's direction. Hearing the warmth and protection of his voice always made her feel safe.
"I deeply apologize your Majesty, Prince Liam.." the doctor chimed in. "But once again, the princess needs to rest, and it would be best if you waited outside for a little while."
Her mother huffed as she picked up her ridiculously expensive handbag and stormed out of the hospital room. Liam planted a soft peck on top of Eleanor's forehead. "I love you Len, you will get through this."
The night before was essentially an enormous blur. She and Liam had thrown a joint birthday party and the night started out great.. her and Mandy got dressed up together.. she wore the huge beautiful diamond that they had taken without permission and made it into a necklace.
And then.. Eleanor felt tears welling up in her eyes but her body didn't have enough energy to cry. That bitch stole from me. And Jasper plotted against me this whole goddamn time. She looked around the grim hospital room as the memories painfully flooded back at an exponential pace. She didn't have the energy to think about this, or how she ended up in this depressing hospital room. All she knew is that she needed to sleep.
Hours later the princess woke up, unfortunately to her knowledge, in the same dreary hospital bed. There were nurses pacing in and out of the room checking her vital signs. She looked down at the IV that was placed into her arm.
Shit.. I really fucked up this time.
"Princess," a voice softly spoke which made Eleanor lightly jump. "Someone is here to see you."
Without any energy to challenge the nurse as to who was her visitor, she remained silent. And then, he entered the room. The six foot man; stunning, tousled brown hair and piercing blue eyes with a mysterious expression on his face entered the room with a bouquet of bright flowers. He was wearing blue jeans and a tight black shirt. He had a solemn look on his face.
Eleanor violently attempted to sit up in her bed but abruptly started coughing and fell back into the pillow. "What. Are. You. Doing. Here." she hissed through her teeth as she met eye contact with him.
Jasper ran his hands through his hair and rubbed the back of his neck as he moved his vision to the ground. "I... I'm-" he trembled as the words came out of his mouth but he couldn't say anything further.
"Get out," Eleanor squeaked as her coarse voice failed her.
"Len.. I just needed to see you, I-"
"Get the FUCK out of here NOW!" she screamed, her voice painfully cracking and hurting her throat.
James Hill promptly entered the room. "Is there a problem here?" he demanded, closely eyeing Jasper.
"No- no, I was just leaving," Jasper whispered as he slammed the bouquet down onto a table next to the door. He quickly showed himself out.
"Your highness," James approached her bed. "Forgive me for asking, but did Mr. Frost do anything to you? I allowed him, thankfully in retrospect, to enter your bedroom. He looked distraught.. as did you when you entered your room."
This brought back another wave of memories. The numerous vodka shots, the ecstasy.. the cocaine. She began to feel sick to her stomach as she quickly snapped out of it and gave James a warm smile.
She shook her head. "Nothing for you to be concerned about Mr. Hill," Eleanor spoke attempting to steer from the bullshit. She could tell that James did not believe her.
"Alright then. I will be outside this door and beside you as long as you need me," James nodded as he gracefully walked outside of her gloomy hospital room.
A few days later she returned to the palace after receiving the proper fluids and medications to accommodate her overdose. Her mother and Cyrus did an exceptional job at hiding the reality of what had happened to Eleanor, and frankly she was okay with that.
"I never meant to kill myself." Eleanor pensively stared into Liam's eyes as she laid in her bed, still feeling weak.
"I know you didn't Len," her brother replied as he grabbed onto her hands. "But your partying has gotten out of control. I can't help but feel responsible, I should have been there.."
"You don't understand, Liam," Eleanor expressed with a sigh. "I have been hurt and let down so many times in my life, I just wanted to escape-"
"What happened?" her twin interjected, pulling up a chair next to her bed. It was almost as if he could read her mind.
Before she could spit out his name, they both heard a knock on the door as Jasper cautiously entered her bedroom. Eleanor inhaled a sharp breath as her brother thankfully took the lead.
"What is it Jasper? We're in the middle of a conversation.." Liam inquired sounding bothered.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I recovered some footage from the birthday party.. I figured you may want to take a look at it, Liam. I found the girl that you spoke of at the party."
While Jasper spoke, he was oddly staring at Eleanor the whole time. Liam did a quick glance to Eleanor apparently realizing this as well and cleared his throat.
"I'm sorry Len, this is very important. But I promise you that we will pick back up later tonight," he said letting go of her hands. He stood up promptly and passed Jasper as he exited her bedroom.
Jasper never broke his stare with Eleanor.
"Go on then," she challenged him, straightening up in her bed. Jasper slowly backed away as her heart sank. She didn't want him to leave.
What the fuck is wrong with me?
With the similar painful feeling she had when he left her in the tunnel, Eleanor watched Jasper disappear into the other room.
