"So, she wants to see you?", Liam asked his oldest.
She nodded.
"Didn't say why. So I won't be here for dinner.", she replied.
"Maybe one of us should go with you. Its not that I don't trust Trish and Toni, but it just sounds weird", Seth added.
"I'll be fine. Anthony and I have been best friends a long time. He won't let anything happen to me", she said.
Seth looked at Liam.
"What do you think babe?", he asked.
"I think she will be fine. She can take care of herself.", Liam replied.
"Alright, but don't come back too late", Seth added.
"Promise", she said, kissing her dad's cheek.
Going to her room to change. Fixing her hair and dabbing on a bit of make up. She didn't know why she was making such an effort. Trish would never allow her son to marry a guard.
"Wow, pretty.", her dad Seth said, leaning against the door.
She blushed.
"What's up princess?", he asked.
When she didn't respond, she looked away. Seth walked more into her room.
"You and Anthony have been getting closer lately", he said.
"He's my best friend, of course we are", she replied.
She met her dad's eyes in the mirror.
"I just don't want you to get hurt. I wish I could do something to change her mind, but I'm a man and she will rip out my guts if I say something", he chuckled.
Serenity smiled.
"I understand my place in his life, dad", she replied.
"I wish you didn't have too. We love him for you, and…", she stopped him.
"Its okay", she said.
He nodded.
"Have fun", he said, before kissing her forehead and leaving the room.
A driver dropped her off in front of Trish and Toni's castle. As soon as Anthony walked out and saw her, he smiled.
Her heart was beating so fast. He looked at the driver.
"We will give her a ride home", he said.
The driver looked at her and she nodded. They made their way inside.
"Do you know what this is about?", she asked.
"No clue", he whispered.
Which he didn't. His moms didn't tell him anything. Getting to the dining room, they sat.
"Where are your moms?", she asked.
"Should be down soon. They had a meeting", he explained.
She nodded.
"You look beautiful, I love that dress on you", he said.
She blushed. She knew about the dress because it wasn't the first time she wore it.
"Thank you", she replied.
She noticed his siblings weren't here either.
"Where are your siblings?", she asked.
"Private dinner, as my moms put it", he answered.
Private? Then they knew about them. She was here to be told to stay away from their son.
Hearing his moms coming, he stood and Serenity followed. As Trish and Toni walked in with smiles, Serenity bowed.
"No need to do that Serenity, you are family. How are you sweetheart?", Trish asked, kissing her cheek.
"Fine. My family says hello", she replied.
Once they sat, Anthony and Serenity sat.
"So, you are probably wondering why we asked you here. Don't worry you aren't in trouble. It's the opposite really.", Trish started.
Serenity sighed.
"How would you feel about becoming Anthony's guard in the future?", Trish asked.
"Mom…", she held a hand up, stopping him.
She knew she wanted to be a guard, but to become Anthony's would be hard.
"Of course you have time to think about it, but I know there will be a lot of events coming up at school and we need someone to look after him", Toni added.
Serenity looked at Anthony.
"Once you graduate, if you want to still be his guard, the job is yours. Just keep in mind you will not only be protecting him, but his future wife and kids", Trish said.
"Mom, don't I get a say?", he asked.
"Why? Who better to protect you than someone who knows you?", Trish asked.
Because, if they knew his feelings for her, they wouldn't be pushing for her to be his guard.
He wouldn't be able to keep his hands off her. Being faithful to his future wife is out the window.
"Like we said, it's a trial run. It will be great for any future resumes if you don't agree to be Anthony's official guard", Toni said.
Serenity nodded. They were right, it would look good on her.
"I accept", she replied.
She could feel his eyes on her.
After dinner, his moms excused themselves. Anthony took her hand and pulled her up to his room.
"Slow down", she whispered.
Once they got to his room, he closed the door behind them.
"Why would you agree to that?", he asked.
"Because it's a good opportunity for me", she replied.
"And what about me? You think I would be able to resist you? To not cheat on my future wife with you? I just can't shut off the way I feel", he said.
"You are going to have too. Besides, I only agreed to be your guard to start off. Once we graduate, I will stick with either Rao or Hazel", she replied.
"Let me give up my royal title for you. I can be a guard too. We can be together", he said.
"Anthony", she sighed.
He rested his forehead against hers.
"Damn it, I love you Ren.", he whispered.
"You can't", she replied.
He kissed her, and as much as she wanted to stop it, she couldn't. He walked them back to his bed, laying her back.
"Ren", he whispered.
His hand slid up her dress.
"Stop, wait", she said, sitting back up.
He sighed.
"I am sorry. Tell your moms thank you for the opportunity. I won't let them down and neither will you", she said, before leaving his room.
He followed after her.
"I will go with you.", he said.
She nodded. As they got to the car, his driver opened the door for them. They got in the back and he reached for her hand.
He was glad she didn't pull it away.
"I will be meeting future princess's soon", he started.
She tightened her grip. He smiled. He leaned into her ear.
"Don't worry, you are the only princess for me", he whispered.
She blushed.
"Asuka, window up please", he said.
She nodded and did as he said. The window between the driver and backseats went up.
Serenity knew Asuka wasn't stupid. Knowing exactly what was going on.
Anthony leaned into her and she smiled. She couldn't resist him, no matter how hard she tried.
They kissed.
"You never answered me back", he whispered.
"About?", she asked, as he moved down to her neck.
"I told you I love you", he said.
She met his eyes.
"If I say those words, I won't be able to let you go.", she replied.
"Then don't let me go", he said.
He sighed when she didn't say anything. She knew better.
"Ren", he said.
She kissed him again. They had never done more than kiss, which got pretty heavy. Always in secret.
Asuka was the only one who knew straight out. Mostly because she drove them around.
She kept their secret, which they were grateful for.
"Miss Murphy, we are here", Asuka said.
Serenity kissed him once more before he helped her out of the car. Asuka bowed to her.
"Thank you Asuka", Serenity said.
Asuka smiled. Her dad came towards them.
"Hey you two. How was dinner?", Liam asked.
"Good. His moms want me to be his guard till graduation", she said.
"That's great, it will look good on your resume", her dad said.
She nodded.
"Well, I will take my leave now. Thank you for accepting, Serenity", Anthony said, bowing.
"Bye", she said softly.
He walked back towards the car and got in.
"Can you do it?", Liam asked his oldest.
"Of course, he is easy to take care of", she replied.
"Not what I meant", he said.
She swallowed.
"Dad, can we not", she said.
He nodded and hugged her tight.
