Chapter Three
"I don't know what happened in the last thirty minutes, but don't you think we should work this out?" asked Gamal.
I shook my head.
"My father is mad because my mom said we kissed," I told him.
"But we did kiss," he said with a chuckle.
I slapped his arm.
"She wasn't supposed to know! Heck, when I walked in that bedroom, I didn't even know that was gonna happen!"
"Are you disappointed?" he asked with a smirk.
I growled slightly and said, "I could punch you sometimes!"
He chuckled again.
"Come on, then," he said, puffing his chest out with his arms outstretched beside him, "Punch me in the chest."
I laughed and readied my fist.
But, I punched him in the stomach instead. He winced in pain and fell to the ground.
"What the heck?! I told you to punch the chest, not the stomach!" he yelled.
"I couldn't help it! You made me mad, but I feel better now," I told him.
He chuckled.
"I sure hope you do. That hurt!"
He stood slowly and walked to me.
He embraced me.
"We're staying together, okay?"
I nodded.
"Can I curl up in your arms and let the beat of your heart soothe me to sleep? Because that sounds absolutely lovely," I said.
He chuckled.
"You're already tired?" he asked.
I nodded.
"Being scared is tiring," I answered.
He smiled.
"Alright. Change into your pajamas and I'll be back in mine."
I walked to my wardrobe and changed into my nightdress.
I sat on my bed, waiting for him to return.
Soon enough, the door swung open to reveal a shirtless Gamal.
"Gaga, are you missing something?" I asked, containing my laughter.
"No?" he asked, confusedly.
"Maybe your shirt?" I suggested.
He chuckled.
"This is more than I usually wear, Nookums," he informed me.
"You sleep naked?!" I exclaimed.
"You probably didn't know this, but pretty much every other man in this palace does. Sometimes, your mom does too," he explained.
"You've seen my mother naked?!"
"No! Akhenaten walked in on her once and told me," he was quick to debunk that one.
I cringed, the memory of walking in on my dad naked when I was a child entered my mind.
"Okay, well," I changed the subject, "I'm ready for bed."
He chuckled and laid down. I crawled into bed next to him and nestled into him. He gently pushed my head on his chest.
Ba bump. Ba bump.
The only sound I heard.
The heartbeat of the boy who loved me.
That night, his chest became my pillow and his heartbeat my lullaby.
I fell asleep that night knowing we would never leave the others side.
Over the loud thumping of his heart, I managed to make out the words "I love you" before I fell asleep.
~The Next Day~
"Nookums. Nookums? Baby, are you awake?"
When the words left his mouth, they were soon replaced by the recognizable lub-dub of his heart.
I opened my eyes and looked up at him.
I was alarmed, noticing his lack of coverings on his chest.
"Oh, gods! We didn't-"
"No, baby. Not since dinner yesterday. I promise," he said.
"Gaga, I don't-"
"Shh. We won't. Remember the pinky swear?"
I nodded slowly.
"I'll break your pinky," I told him.
He smiled.
"Isn't it breakfast time?"
My eyes widened in horror.
"That's no good," I mumbled under my breath.
"What is?" he asked.
"Breakfast! We're late for breakfast!" I screeched as I quickly got dressed, "Go! Go change! I'll see you after breakfast!"
I took off out the door, attempting to put my shoes on as I ran.
I pushed the doors open and all eyes were on me.
I was slightly embarrassed as I walked to my spot at the pharaoh's table.
As I sat down, my mother asked, "Where have you been, Nookums?"
She seemed much calmer than our previous morning meal.
"In bed, Mama, and could you refrain from calling that?" I answered.
She seemed quite sad at the statement.
"I suppose so, but may I ask why?" she asked, knowing I would crack eventually and tell her about Gamal.
She was right.
"Um, I, uh..." I stuttered.
She eyed me.
"B-Because Gag- I mean Gamal has started calling me that, Mama," I said in a whisper, sad from defeat.
She nodded.
"I knew it. You kissed him, didn't you?" she asked.
"Mama, you kissed before you were married," I informed her.
"I didn't ask that. Answer me, child."
She was mad now.
"I-I never meant to, Mama, it just kinda... happened," I answered.
She sighed.
"I am so disappointed in you, young lady," she said, "I raised you better."
I screamed loud so all eyes would be on me again.
"Here!" I yelled, "I'll give you a reason to be disappointed!"
I picked up my drink and splashed it in her face.
"There!" I screamed as I walked out angrily.
I stormed off to the only place I knew I'd find peace.
The palace gardens.
Gamal, Akhenaten and I used to hang out there all the time as children.
I sat down on a bench and started crying.
I wished to go back to childhood. Before I knew what love felt like. To when I only had crushes.
I stood and found a bush with no thorns. I crawled in and continued bawling.
The next contact I had with a person was a person mocking my crying.
"Waah, Waah," teased the person.
I knew that rude tone anywhere.
"Do you mind not kicking me while I'm down, Akhenaten? I swear you hate me," I managed to say.
"I told you I didn't approve of this relationship from the start," he reminded me.
"I don't care! I love him! Even when no one else approves," I ended in a whisper.
"I wish there was a medicine that would make me feel how I feel when my head finds his chest and my ears pick up the sound of his fluttering heart," I muttered to myself.
"I've had the same feeling, cousin," I heard him say as he stooped next to the bush I was in.
I stepped out and walked to the small stream that was in the garden.
"Excuse me just a moment," I told him.
He looked at me, confused.
I took a breath and put my head under the water.
I let out the breath and opened my eyes. I breathed in the water for a few seconds before Akhenaten pulled me out.
"Nice try, cousin," he said as he picked me up princess-style, "But you can't leave this world yet."
"Put me down!" I screeched as I struggled to release his grip.
"Anuket, I will manhandle you if I have to," he said, setting me down and putting his arms around my stomach, lifting me up as I kicked and screamed.
He carried me all the way to Gamal's room.
"Gamal, your sweetheart here just tried to drown herself in the garden," he explained as he sat me on the bed next to Gamal.
"Nookums, why?" asked Gamal as he wiped the tears from my face.
I tried to tell him, but the sight of him made me cry again.
"Akhenaten, fetch Osiris. Please," he said as he cuddled me close and rubbed my hair as he whispered things of comfort such as, "I'm right here, baby. It's alright."
Osiris arrived soon.
"Milady, what's wrong?" he asked.
"I'd rather not talk about it," I whispered.
My tears had previously stopped.
He stooped next to me and whispered, "Neither of them harassed you, right?"
I shook my head.
"They would never," I whispered back.
He smiled.
"I guess I'll take my leave, if it's okay with the princess," he said.
I nodded.
"It's fine. I've got Akhenaten and Gamal," I told him.
So, he left.
"Akhen, can you leave me and Gamal alone for a bit?"
"Okay," he said, "But keep your lips to yourselves."
I laughed slightly.
"We will," I assured.
As he walked off, I looked at Gamal.
"Gaga, I feel we're moving too fast," I told him.
"Well, if you're worried about us in bed together, we don't have to-"
"No, Gaga. I wanna take a break. Get my head in order."
"Fine," he said as a few tears slipped from his eyes.
He picked me up and carried me to the door, setting me outside it and shutting it.
As I returned to my room, quite a few of my own tears fell from my eyes.
I never meant for things to be this way.
(A/N: I realize everything seems a bit weird with them breaking up already, but don't worry! They get back together! I promise. Drop a review if you like! Bye!)
