I could make thousands of excuses but I can only try to do better with updating in a more timely manner. My Apologies.

Any mistakes are mine, per usual.

The American Princess

Chapter 13

BPOV

I finish unpacking my belongings in yet another one of Edward's guest room dressers and sigh.

What the hell am I doing?

"What the hell are you doing, Bella?"

I turn to roll my eyes at Emmett. "I have no fucking idea."

"Look, I know you have a hard on for this guy but we both know it can't go anywhere. So why are you wasting your time?" Trust Em to get right to the heart of the issue.

I sag down on my borrowed bed.

"I don't know. I know I like him. I know he is so much more than he realizes. I could be good for him, you know?"

"No, I don't know. This isn't a fairy tale, Bella. He isn't going to sweep you off your feet and make you his princess. You can't save him from his life." He softens at the look on my face and he sits down next to me.

"I don't mean to be harsh, but my job is to protect you- all of you. And I can't do my job if you keep giving in to this guy's whims."

"I just want to see where this goes."

"It's gonna go nowhere and then you'll be devastated."

"I'll be fine. And what are you doing with 'Rosie'?"

"What the hell are you talking about? It's not the same at all."

"Oh, so you aren't getting to know her?"

"Yes. I am, but not like that. I have no interest in becoming tabloid fodder."

"Neither do I! So, what, you gonna take her down to the neighborhood 'Cum and Go'?"

Now, we're both pissed. Standing nose to nose and spitting out words at each other.

"I would never disrespect her like that so take. That. Back." He demands.

"No. You are implying that I'm staying to fuck up the royal family and you want to get all pissed when I throw it back at you? You call her Rosie for fuck's sake. No one has ever called Princess Rosalie that and she lets you? Obviously, she likes you in a way that is 'most unsuitable for the King's only daughter'. And it seems to me with your blatant defense of her that you like her as well. So, cut the shit, Emmett. You're as fucked as I am. Admit it."

"No!"

"Er… is everything alright in here?"

Edward loiters at the door, concern making the lines of his eyes crinkle.

Em glares at me one last time before turning on his heel. "Everything is just peachy, Prince Charming."

I roll my eyes at his theatrics. I'm the actress here, asshole. I school my features as I respond to Edward.

"Everything's gonna be fine. Just a disagreement."

I can see he doesn't believe me but I also know he won't prod.

"Are you hungry?" He asks instead.

"I could eat." I'm starving. It's not like I could eat anything at the disastrous dinner earlier.

He beckons me to follow him and as I do, he asks," What exactly is a Cum and Go?"

***TAP***

About an hour after I bitch his question, cause there is no way in hell I am answering that, we are settled on his no doubt expensive couch eating. I have to admit when he said food, I thought he meant some kind of fancy cuisine but instead consists of chips, dip, cube cheese and fruit. He was so adorable setting this big ass dining room table with the food he 'prepared'.

What's more adorable is the look on his face when I insist we eat in front of his freaking amazing mounted flat screen. His 'but we don't eat in front of the telly' was overruled with my 'but I do and I'm your guest'. Good manners won out and we are currently watching an episode of The Crown. What's more more adorable is his look of baffled amusement at watching a show based on his family. I keep hushing his muttering about 'that isn't completely accurate' and 'this is made up for theatrical purposes'.

I finally turn it off, tossing the remote on the marble coffee table for effect. Gently tossing. That thing probably costs several thousands.

"Hey! I was watching that."

"There wasn't any watching being done. You wouldn't stop talking. You're one of those people who talk the whole way through a movie, aren't you?"

"I do not." Then he seems to reconsider. "Okay, maybe I am."

"Total deal breaker," I joke.

"Oh, that's a deal breaker? So, it's okay for my family to completely disrespect you, but me nattering through an episode on the telly is your break off point? That makes sense."

"How many times do I have to tell you, I knew what I was getting into… kind of. It's not like it's forever."

He looks contemplative. "I meant what I said. I want to see where this goes."

"Nowhere," I reply simply. "Well, nowhere good anyway."

"Emmett is wrong. I think we could be good together," he objects.

"So, you did hear the whole conversation." Busted.

"Well, not all but you were screaming at each other and this is a pretty small house." A pause. "Will you two be alright?"

"Em and I?" He nods. "Yeah. This is just how we are. He's like the brother I never asked for and got anyway. He's worried, justly so."

"I won't hurt you."

"You can't promise that, Edward. There is a lot at stake here."

"Like what? My father. He's nothing."

"He's the King of the England. You're his predecessor. That's some pretty big nothing."

"You know being king is not what I want." He shrugs like it's no big deal.

"So, what, you just gonna abdicate the throne? For what?"

"For you." He sits up straight and grabs my hands. I blink spastically.

"Oh, no. You don't get to do something like that which obviously you have wanted to do for some time and say it's for me. No way in hell. Your father would throw me to the lions that may or may not be in your dungeon."

"You're being ridiculous. We don't have lions. My family prefers Corgis. He could probably rustle up a shooting squad though," the bastard looks thoughtful. I jerk my hands from him and scoot my ass several feet away.

"All jokes aside…"

"I'm not joking," I interrupt.

"I think I have the right to explore this option," he finishes.

I raise my eyebrow.

"So, I'm an option?"

"That came out wrong."

"Ya think?"

"Ugh!" He scrubs his hands over his face which is showing some delicious stubble which I may or may not want to lick. But I digress, as I'm supposed to be outraged right now. "Nothing I say is right."

"You do tend to put your foot in your mouth," I agree.

"It's you! I'm not this way with anyone else."

"How very lucky for me," I reply, sardonically. "But I'm sure it's because no one has ever told you no before."

"Well, some people would think they were very lucky. I mean, me being a prince and all. And my father tells me no all the time, which is why we're currently here in this position."

"True but yeah, you don't impress me."

He grins. "I know. I think that's one of the main things I adore about you. You don't care about any of this."

I look around. "This is all window dressing. You… right now… sitting here with me, guard down, laughing. That's who I met that first night. That's who I'm here for."

"What do you mean?"

Okay, here goes.

"I'm not here for Edward. I'm here for Masen."

"They're the same person, Bella."

"No, they're not. Edward has a stick up his ass. He's arrogant and sometimes oblivious to my feelings. Masen is… he's sweet and kind. He laughs wholeheartedly and he knows how to relax."

"That makes absolutely no sense. And my guard was merely down because you belted me with a shoe. Also, it's rather confusing talking about myself in third person, I'll have you know."

"And this is one of the times when Edward and Masen intertwine. It gives me whiplash."

"You sound certifiable."

"Meh, wouldn't be the first time someone called me crazy," I shrug.

Edward just sits back looking slightly stunned at the turn our conversation has taken. Good. God knows, I've been out of my element for days now.

Just then, Emmett returns. He takes a look at both of us. "What did you do to him?"

"What makes you think I did something?" I ask, belligerently.

"He looks dumbfounded and you look smug."

I wipe the smugness off my face and glare at him.

"Where have you been?" I ask, changing the subject.

"Not at the neighborhood Cum and Go," he snaps. Still touchy, I see.

I just wait.

"I was with Charlie."

"You tattling cock sucker," I hiss.

That snaps Edward out of his daze. "I didn't realize you were gay, Emmett. Hmmm, I could've sworn my sister had you gob smacked."

A loud laugh escapes and I slap my hand over my mouth at Emmett's look of pure bewilderment.

"I'm not gay, Edward. Your 'girlfriend' here just has a potty mouth. And I'm not sure what Bella has told you but Rose hasn't smacked me."

"No, gob smacked. It means… never mind." He rubs his temples. "I suddenly have a headache and I'm quite knackered so I'm going to go to bed now." His eyes bore into mine. "We will talk more tomorrow. Good night. Try not to kill each other in my absence."

"That's a tall order there, Prince," I mutter.

Emmett tiredly drops into the seat that Edward vacated and rests his head on the back cushion. "Man, this couch is comfortable." He lolls his head towards me. "What was with the heavy faces?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Bella, I love you and I am only looking out for you. I don't agree with any of this but no matter what, I'll always have your back."

I reach over to squeeze his hand. "Thank you."

We're comfortably silent for a while, in a way only Em and I can be with each other.

"He wants to abdicate and says he will do it for me."

Em whistles lowly. "Wow. Heavy is the head that doesn't wear the crown."

"I'm a convenient excuse for something he wants to do, long before I ever threw that damn shoe at him. We haven't even begun to scratch the surface of what we could or could not be with each other. I will not be his scapegoat," I scowl.

"I don't think he means it like that. I think he's getting way ahead of himself but you represent freedom to him."

"Maybe."

"What did you say to stun him like that?"

"I told him I wasn't here for him. That I was here for Masen."

"Come again?"

"Yeah."

"Dude, they're one and the same."

"Not entirely."

"Yes, entirely. Masen was just some name he gave so you wouldn't know who he was. It was always Edward and you sound bat shit crazy right now. If I were him, I'd run far far away."

"Oh, so now he needs to run away from me. Earlier, it was I needed to run away from him. Make up your damn mind."

He's silent for a moment.

"You're right."

"I know," I pause. "Wait. About what?"

"I like Rosie. In a way that is totally unsuitable for the King's only daughter."

"No shit, Sherlock."

We both laugh.

"By the way, I love you, too, Em."

"What are we going do, Bells?"

"Hell, if I fucking know."

We both sigh.

"Let's get some rest," Emmett suggests. "I'm suddenly quite 'knackered', myself. You coming?"

"No, I'm just gonna watch some more 'telly'."

"We sound like morons, Bella."

He dodges the throw pillow I toss and laughs his way out of the living room, waving off my "you're the moron!"

And then it's just me, alone with only my thoughts to keep me company.

Guess it's better than nothing, but it's far from peaceful.

Things start happening faster for our Prince and Actress next few chapters. Hope to have another chapter done by next week. I'll take any motivation y'all can send my way.