I'm so sorry this has taken me forever! I meant to update so many times these past few months, but my life has had me working nonstop! I finally got several small chances to update and combined them all to write this chapter.
Before I begin this chapter, I looked over it and read your reviews, and realized you guys are right. The kiss was WAY too soon. I am glad that most of you guys ignored this however. It made me happy. Also I made a few mistakes in the last chapter, like when I said Oogway has a beard. I for some stupid reason, forgot that he doesn't have one. I also put that the peaches on the Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom were growing, and it was supposed to be winter. I apologize for these things. Here's the next chapter!
I lied awake in my bed. I couldn't close my eyes. I stared at the canopy above my head. I couldn't figure it out. What in the WORLD came over me? Why did I kiss Po? I was so relieved to finally have a friend who I could tell my biggest secret to, and now, I may have ruined it! I wouldn't mind having kissed him so much if it weren't for three problems:
I'm a princess, he's a cook. My parents would NEVER approve.
I just met him and really wanted him to be my friend.
I'M BETROTHED!
Like I said, it's not that I WANT to be betrothed, but it's some stupid tradition that started a long time ago. It's absolutely forbidden that I marry someone else. I don't know what the consequences are exactly, but my parents made it pretty clear a while ago that they were bad.
Anyway, I stayed awake there, with a combination of anger, worry, confusion, slight embarrassment and… happiness? What?
Why was I happy? I wasn't thinking when I did it! I didn't mean to do it!
But… it felt so good.
What?! Pull yourself together Tigress!
You can't deny it! You like him!
No! No I don't!
You might even be in love!
Whoa whoa whoa! WHAT?! Where the heck did that thought come from?
I rolled onto my stomach and screamed into my pillow until my ears began to ring. When I couldn't scream any more, I rolled to my side and gasped for air. Okay fine! The kiss felt good, but it didn't mean anything …did it?
I probably just had a small crush on Po. Yeah, that was all it was! A crush! It would all blow over it a couple days, a week or two tops. After all, the kiss probably meant nothing to Po! It might be awkward between us for the next few days, but we would get over it eventually. We would be friends again in no time!
Come on Tigress, you know-
I shook my head crazily as if I was shaking the thought from my brain. I lied back down and repeated a few thoughts in my head.
There's nothing between Po and me.
It was an accidental kiss.
We're just friends.
But I can't deny-
NO! There was nothing to deny! I pushed the thoughts from my brain and concentrated instead on getting some sleep.
I did my best to make myself comfortable and was finally able to close my eyes. I ignored the nagging feeling of doubt in my gut and fell asleep.
{-}
I didn't see Po the rest of the next day. I know I lived in a big palace so there was a good chance I wouldn't see him until dinner, but I couldn't shake the feeling that he was trying to avoid me. I knew he would be for at least a day or two, but I couldn't understand why it bothered me so much. I had expected this to happen.
I couldn't concentrate in any of my classes. I went from a graceful dancer to a foot stepper in my dancing lessons, I kept forgetting things I had already learned in etiquette lessons and when the tailor was fitting me for my dress for the winter ball, I just stared out the window, trying not to think of Po.
It wasn't until dinner time that I finally saw him. I didn't understand why, but my heart pounded the second he walked out of the kitchen. I wasn't sure what to do as I traced the designs on the table once again. I gave him my best smile when he looked at me. To my surprise, he smiled back. I wasn't sure if he was trying to be proper since my parents were there or if it was a genuine smile, but it still made me feel a little better.
Po set bowls of Wonton Soup in front of us and bowed to my parents and me. "Thank you Po. It looks delicious." My father said.
"It's a pleasure to serve you three, your highness." Po replied and gave him and my mother a smile as well. He turned to leave.
"Oh, Po. I almost forgot." Mother began. "The winter ball will be held in four days. We will need noodles to go around for the crowd at dinner. Can we count on you to make them?"
"Of course, your majesty. It will be my honor to serve the kingdom."
"Thank you. Do not forget, it is a masquerade, so you will need a mask as well." (A.N. Sorry I forgot to mention that before.)
Po nodded and turned to leave again, this time making it back into the kitchen. The smell of the food reached my nostrils. I did my best not to drool. I faced my food and reached for the spoon sitting next to the hot bowl. No sooner did I reach it, than I felt something tickle my hand. I picked up the spoon and looked to find a piece of paper tied to it. I pulled it off, twirled it in my fingers to inspect it a bit and quickly placed it in my lap, deciding to see what it was when I went to my room. I looked at my parents, who thankfully hadn't noticed.
During our dinner, my mother and father talked to me some more about the winter ball. How it would be arranged, what the schedule was, (dinner and then the dancing,) who from our kingdom would be there and a lot more. How on Earth did they expect me to remember all of this? I began to get bored, but I did my best to make it look like I was paying attention. My thoughts were a little more occupied by the paper in my lap.
After eating my soup and what felt like a million years of trying not to fall asleep, my parents excused me from dinner. I rushed to my room, clutching the small paper tightly in my hand. I locked my door and went through my normal routine. The outfit, the blue contacts and the pillows under my sheets.
Before I leapt out the window again, I opened my clenched hand to reveal the paper. I untied the little knot that held it together and smoothed it out. It looked like just an ordinary napkin, but when I turned it over, I saw that there was a small message scribbled onto it.
Tigress-
I'm very sorry about last night. I shouldn't have kissed you. I knew you were betrothed the whole time. I had to write this instead of telling you because I was worried someone might overhear us and discover your secret. Can we still be friends? Let me know tonight.
-Po
I had figured I would be relieved that Po still wanted to be friends, but for some reason, I felt as if my heart was shattered. Tears came to my eyes. What was I so upset about? This is what I hoped would happen! Or… is it what I brainwashed myself into hoping? No, that was crazy! I blinked the tears back, although they kept threatening to appear again.
"Get ahold of yourself Tigress!" I whispered to myself. "What did you expect him to say? 'I love you'? 'I meant to kiss you with all my heart'? 'We're destined to be together'?" Strangely, those thoughts seemed to make me feel warm inside.
I took an extremely deep breath. I needed some fresh air. I went to my balcony and leapt off, trying to make myself feel better. Like I had told myself the previous night, I just had a small crush on Po, I would get over it. With that thought buzzing through my head, I began to feel slightly better as I made my way to the Jade Palace.
There was nothing between Po and I… was there?
(A.N. There totally is!)
To be continued
