SUMMARY: Wanting to break free from the castle walls that imprisoned her, she created a genius plan to escape. A princess reported missing for how many days/months. She was actually taking comfort on the neighbouring country. There she met a hot leader of a famous boy band who actually hid something blue within his blood. Will love blossom between them? What will happen to the man to whom she was engaged into? Will she show the other side of her which has been unknown to others?

ROYALTY MUSIC

VERSE SEVEN

"Your voice was the soundtrack of my summer"

-Boys like Girls-

GENERAL

Lights dimming. Music blowing. Hips swaying. People drinking. These were the things that momentarily froze the moment Mikan Yukihira stepped inside the room. All eyes were on her. Well, what do you expect? She is really gorgeous –naturally both inside and out. Yet upon that statement, people used to stare at her which made her more and more insecure. She sweat dropped. Boys were looking at her with pure lust, not to mention some were heavily drunk. Meanwhile, girls looked at her with pure hatred, especially the ones that were included in her witch list. She gulped the surprisingly big lump on her throat as she stopped in her tracks. Nonoko and Anna, on the other hand, decided to grab and squeeze both her arms to assure her they were there with her. Mikan smiled upon the little comfort they both offered.

"Umm, why don't we go find a table?" Anna offered as she chuckled nervously. The people, more like their classmate's eyes towards the brunette were unfaltering. Both Nonoko and Mikan agreed with no hesitation. So, they scanned the room, trying not to notice the lustful and glaring eyes of their classmates. After minutes of scanning, finally, Nonoko found the perfect spot by the corner.

"There!" she yelled though just enough so that only the two could hear her as she pointed the spot she thought was right. Both Mikan and Nonoko followed her pointing finger. When they already get where she was pointing, they gave her their approval. Anna beamed before each grabbing their hands and pulling them towards the corner. Little by little, thankfully, the people resumed to their normal selves though some still managed a secret glance towards the brunette.

They continued advancing towards the table, now perfectly aware that the others were back to their usual selves. They sighed in relief.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the 8itch and her stupid mutts," an evil voice spoke from their backs. Upon the voice, the three of them turned towards it in unison.

Mikan sigh in complete anger and annoyance. Behind her was Luna once again, still with heavy make-up. Wait, much heavier make-up. Guess she's miserably trying to cover the bruises in her face yet also miserably failed to do so. Despite the blush-ons, a perfect contusion was still seen in both her cheeks. If you examined her more closely, bandages also filled her body, a few on her arms and mostly on her legs. She also had a left black-eye but it's not that obvious, taking account that she also put some heavy mascara on her right just so to erase the obviousness in her left. The same goes with her two other goons by the way, the blond and the brown-haired girl.

"Guess you're really that desperate to attend the party, huh? Tell me, how many make-ups you used to cover yours?" she asked mockingly. Mikan sneered. She was about to retort when Nonoko beat her to it.

"Just so you know, 8itch, Mikan never uses make-ups to enhance her physical appearance unlike you who now looks like a circus clown," her friend answered back loudly, gaining the people's stares once again. Her classmates, who looked immediately, turned their attention to Luna, who was now fuming in complete anger.

Still, Nonoko was right. She does look like a heavily injured seductive circus clown. I mean, she was wearing an almost see through tank top, mini skirt, heavy make-up yet her whole body is filled with bandages. How would you try to imagine that? Still, you can't actually blame her. Everyone knows she only wanted some attention. And since she wanted it that bad, people finally did recognize her. They turned to look at her before they all started… laughing. More or less, at least she gets what she wants, right? Attention.

"What are you laughing at?" she furiously yelled, pertaining to the laughing mob. They all just shrugged, their pranks never subsiding.

"Oh, you forgot to cover your red nose! So look like a clown," Anna last said before turning around and pulling her friends once again. Their classmates' laugh grew louder and louder. Some cannot restrain themselves pointing at her while rolling on the ground. Luna fumed before screaming and crookedly stomping towards the exit. "You'll pay for all this, Mikan!" she yelled.

Meanwhile, "God, I can't believe her," Nonoko uttered. They were already sitting on the round table by the corner. Anna nodded.

"What actually happened to her, Mikan?" Anna questioned. Mikan shrugged. She was being honest. To think of it, she really did not know what happened to them. All she remembered was that she was beaten mercilessly by the three yesterday afternoon before Hotaru came. Maybe what happened to them right now has something to do with the coming of Hotaru? She shrugged once again.

"Anyway, why don't we go grab some drink?" Nonoko said, trying to ease the awkward tension. She raised her hands, gaining the bartender's attention.

"What would you want to order, Mikan?" she asked her. Mikan shook her head.

"Sorry but I don't drink!"

"What?" they both yelled in unison. Poor Mikan has no choice but to cover her ears.

"Come on, you've got to be kidding, right?" Anna asked. Mikan again shook her head, catching her friends off guard.

"O-kay! So, let me order for you," Nonoko said, finally recovering from the shock. Mikan was about to decline when Anna told her to just let her be OR ELSE. God, are people here used to blackmail other people?

Finally getting their orders, the bartender excused himself. The three were now left alone on the table. Minutes later, the music was lowered down as the people stopped dancing and started clapping. Lights were now fixed on the stage which Mikan failed to notice before.

Out of the stage, a certain raven-haired lad appears together with three more blond guys. She raised her right brow as she narrowed her gaze up front.

"Wait, isn't that…" she asked, pointing towards the stage. Anna, who was the first to notice her question, merely nodded at her.

"You don't know? Natsume is the lead vocalist of the famous boy band, Crimson Flame, here in the country," she answered. Mikan simply mouthed an Oh as she turned to face the raven-haired lad in front.

Natsume was checking his guitar and the microphone when he felt someone staring at him. He looked ahead, trying to find the person until he spotted her on the table by the corner. He smirked as he saw her looked away.

"Natsume," Kitsuneme, the one in charge for the bass guitar called his best friend, their leader. Natsume turned to look at him before checking the rest. Koko was already positioned by his drum set. Yuu was already prepared with his organ and effects set. Without further ado, "Let's go," he instructed as the rest nodded.

Koko started by striking both drum sticks together three times. Then, the rest followed. The two started strumming. Meanwhile, Yuu, not having the opportunity to play the organ, merely tried to work on with the song's effects. Natsume started singing. In no time, everyone started cheering, singing with them as the girls started drooling and yelling.

"Natsume-sama!"

After the intro, Natsume let go of his guitar, letting it freely hang around him, placing his trust on both Kitsu and Yuu as he grabbed the microphone with both hands. He slowly closed his eyes before unhurriedly opening them once again. Girls squealed louder at this feat. Little did they know, as his eyes opened, his gaze were only transfixed on a certain brunette by the corner. Thankfully, even with him not strumming, everything went on smoothly, courtesy to Yuu.

Hope dangles on a string
Like slow spinning redemption
Winding in and winding out
The shine of it has caught my eye

And roped me in
So mesmerizing, so hypnotizing
I am captivated

I am Vindicated
I am selfish
I am wrong
I am right
I swear I'm right
I swear I knew it all along

Being sulked up in the song, the trio didn't notice their drinks being served. They kept on looking forward. Meanwhile, Mikan was awed by Natsume's voice, not to mention his tantalizing crimson orbs that seem to magnetize her entire being, her eyes glued only to his.

And I am flawed
But I am cleaning up so well
I am seeing in me now the things you swore you saw yourself

Both Natsume and Mikan couldn't stop staring at each other until Nonoko finally noticed them. She cleared her throat. Nothing. She cleared it again, much louder, finally gaining both Anna and her attention. "What?" they both asked her in unison. Nonoko just shrugged. "Our drinks are served," she reasoned out. Both Anna and Mikan looked at the table, indeed she was right. So, they grabbed their drinks and started sipping.

So clear
Like the diamond in your ring
Cut to mirror your intentions
Oversized and overwhelmed
The shine of which has caught my eye
And rendered me so isolated, so motivated
I am certain now that

Natsume, on the other hand, didn't fail to notice that the blue-haired girl finally observed their certain connection. His eyes were still fixed in her direction as he saw her, with the other pink girl, turn to look at the blue's direction. The blue-haired girl said something to them that made her look at the table and grab her drink. Because of it, a smile slowly and secretly slipped out of his lips. Not a bad tactic.

I am Vindicated
I am selfish
I am wrong
I am right
I swear I'm right
I swear I knew it all along

And I am flawed
But I am cleaning up so well
I am seeing in me now the things you swore you saw yourself

After, though with a dizzy head, Mikan turned to look at the stage to see a staring Natsume. Geez! Natsume can be a full stalker! In no time, Mikan and Natsume were back into staring each other, sulked into the world they only unknowingly knew.

So turn
Up the corners of your lips
Part them and feel my finger tips
Trace the moment, fall forever
Defense is paper thin
Just one touch and I'd be in
Too deep now to ever swim against the current
So let me slip away [3x]
So let me slip against the current
So let me slip away [4x]

I am Vindicated
I am selfish
I am wrong
I am right
I swear I'm right
I swear I knew it all along

And I am flawed
But I am cleaning up so well
I am seeing in me now the things you swore you saw yourself

Slight hope
It dangles on a string
Like slow spinning redemption...

"So, that's Crimson Flame with their number one hit single Vindicated. They'll be back after a short break. So, back to partying everyone," the DJ, Tono, said as the band members descended the stage which were instantly greeted by a mob of hungry-looking fan girls. The boys gulped as they tried to get away.

Note: I'm sorry I wasn't able to follow your reviews. I was hurrying in updating each chapter. Anyway, I'll try my best to check and edit it if I got time. Hope you liked the song I chose. I'm really a fan of Dashboard Confessional though not that big. Thank you for your reviews. I didn't expect to have this many. I'm really grateful. It boosts my inspiration and confidence. If ever, please keep up your reviews. Thank you.

Poll request: Please look at my profile and vote. Voting ends when I complete this fiction. It's for my next story. Thank you once again.

Lyrics used from the song: Thunder by Boys like Girls

Other songs used: Vindicated by Dashboard Confessional