DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of The Royals characters, however I own some original characters that you'll get to know them one by one.
Soooo, this chapter is going to be a short one, but I couldn't help but end it where it ended... I hope you'll enjoy it... It's very cheesy!
And to the guest reviewers: Thank you so much for the support :) After seeing those trailers, we all need a bit of Jaspenor in our lives :(
The song used in this chapter is "Need You Now" by Lady Antebellum.
HERE WE GO:
Chapter10_Need You Now
"Did you change your mind?" Eleanor whispered with her head resting on his shoulder and they both could clearly hear the hint of hope in her broken voice. And even though it pained Jasper, he whispered before gently pulling away and putting an end to their dance: "No…"
Eleanor stood in front of him and observed his face and the pain written all over it. She looked down at their intertwined hands and asked calmly: "Then why did you come here?" Jasper squeezed her hand on instinct and said: "I just… I couldn't help it…"
But then she pulled her hand away and yelled: "You can't DO this!" Jasper frowned, not knowing what made her upset so suddenly, and she went on: "You can't tell me we're not the same anymore and then come back and dance with me! This is ridiculous! You can't…"
Jasper watched as anger traveled through her body and left it in an instant. She calmed down soon enough to say: "I never thought… I thought you were so many things… someone who lies and blackmails people… but I never thought you were a coward as well…"
She didn't move and watched the effect her words had on him, they broke him. He looked down at his feet and then raised his head but his eyes were unreadable. He whispered: "I'm not a coward." Eleanor exploded: "Of course you are!"
Jasper took a step towards her and hissed: "Do you think I have a choice? I so much as talk to you, your mother's going to have my head on a silver platter. She will ship me to the middle of nowhere. Do you really not understand that? I have to stay here and kiss her ass because I want to stay close to you, GOD DAMN IT!"
Eleanor narrowed her eyes and said: "That's your idea of being close to me? Always standing in the corner? Watching me dance with other guys while you clench your fists?" Jasper opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out.
Eleanor straightened her dress and said colder than ever: "You have to make up your mind. If you want to stay and work here, then you have to stay the hell away from me." Jasper could swear he heard his own heart breaking at the moment but he managed to ask: "And if I leave, then we could be together?!"
It was Eleanor's time to stay quiet and Jasper pushed: "You're a princess and I'm your mother's bodyguard… And even if I quit and become God knows what, you're still going to be a princess. And princesses don't end up with nobodies."
Eleanor looked at him, desperately trying to come up with a solution, but she couldn't think of one. He scoffed bitterly and said: "I never should've come here. Your mother is right, I don't understand boundaries." And Eleanor sniffed and looked down, avoiding his eyes intentionally.
He whispered defeated: "I'm sorry, Eleanor…" She nodded, with her head still down, and he stood there for a moment, deciding what to do next. He kissed the top of her head before he could stop himself and heard her quiet gasp.
She raised her head and stared at him through her teary eyes and he smiled weakly. Eleanor watched as he took a step back, turned around and left her all alone and then she clutched herself tightly and let out a whimper.
She felt like a large stone was pressed against her chest, clenching her heart, and blocking her Oxygen. Tears started running down her cheeks as the realization that they were truly over hit her. She was going to lose the man she loved before she even got the chance to tell him that she loved him. And there was nothing she could do about it. Fighting her mother was useless because she couldn't stop her; she had tried it several times in the past, but she had always lost.
She heard the damn click of the door and turned around to shout so whoever it was could leave her alone. But it was Ophelia, walking towards her silently, and before she knew it, Eleanor threw herself in her arms. Ophelia patted her back gently before whispering: "It's going to be alright…"
But it wasn't.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Jasper straightened his tie, still waiting for the queen to leave the king's hospital room, and avoided any eye contact with Eleanor who was standing somewhat close to him, whispering something to Peter. Jasper kept his eyes on the wall in front of him but he could clearly hear Peter's chuckle and the urge to punch him returned.
Thankfully the queen finally walked in the hallway and Jasper walked to her, waiting for an order. She nodded for Eleanor to go inside and then turned her face towards him: "The doctor has informed me that Simon's improving and…"
But she was interrupted by the loud shriek of a woman, and not just any woman, Eleanor. And Jasper lost control of himself. He ran towards the door and burst it open. Eleanor turned around and he saw tears on her cheeks and before he could process what was going on, she was in his arms.
The world faded away when she was finally where she belonged after a long week. He wrapped his arms around her and pressed her to his body securely. He only heard her whisper: "He is awake…" And then everything became clear. The queen was shouting for doctors, nurses were running in and out, and Peter was giving him nasty looks. But none of it mattered because Eleanor was still in his arms.
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"And we'll drink to that!" The queen announced and everyone raised their glasses with joy. Jasper was standing in the shadows, as always, watching the celebratory feast go on for hours. The king had finally gained consciousness and the whole country was celebrating alongside the royal family.
He watched as Eleanor finished her fourth drink and whispered something in Liam's ear and he laughed in response. Ophelia joined in and apparently asked what was so funny and a moment later, she was chucking as well.
And it was then that Jasper noticed how different they were. Eleanor and Liam always had a seat on the table. Ophelia had one because she dared to have one, she fought the queen, her own father, and tabloids and in the end, she got what she wanted.
He took a look at the queen who was deep in thought in the middle of everything and then looked back at Eleanor. Their eyes locked but she quickly looked away and he could swear she was blushing. She drank her fifth glass of Champagne before whispering something else in Liam's ear.
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Eleanor was lying in her bed, staring at the ceiling, thanking God for bringing her father back to him and she realized how long it had been since she'd prayed. She felt like a weight had been lifted off her because she no longer feared her father was going to be taken away from him.
And right where she remembered him opening his eyes and closing them tiredly, she was reminded of Jasper. How he had crashed into the room when he heard her scream, faster than Peter, or anyone else for that matter.
And she only felt glad he was there at that moment. He had promised her so many times that her father would survive and he was right and he was there, right in front of her, with a worried look on his face. And she had to run to him.
After what happened on the balcony last week, she barely even saw him, let alone talk to him, and she thought it was for the best anyway. Ophelia started hanging out in her room more often, trying to take her mind off Jasper, and it worked, to a degree.
Jasper was on her mind constantly and whatever she did, she couldn't erase him from her life. The need to see him, talk to him, touch him, they were hammering on her brain all the time but she knew she was not going to stomp all over her pride.
He had decided that it was for the best to end it but he never thought about how she'd feel. And she knew it was mainly because he didn't know how she felt about him. Just like she wasn't certain about him having feelings for her. But were words really necessary? Maybe they were.
Picture perfect memories
Scattered all around the floor
Without thinking, she grabbed her phone from her night stand and called him but his phone was turned off. She frowned and put the phone down with a grunt. Maybe it was the universe's way to tell her it was a wrong idea.
Reaching for the phone 'cause
I can't fight it anymore
She let her mind picture different scenarios about where he was and what he was doing at the moment. Was he standing behind her mother's room with his eyes closed and thinking about her? Was he wishing their story had another ending as well?
And I wonder if I ever cross your mind
For me it happens all the time
She couldn't let the universe defeat her so she got up, checked her hair and makeup, and dismissed Peter before walking towards her mother's room. She started practicing what to say to him when she'd see him but all of the words vanished when he saw another guard behind her mother's room.
It's a quarter after one
I'm all alone
And I need you now
The man bowed his head and informed her: "Her Majesty is resting at the mom..." She asked before he could finish his sentence: "Where's the last guy?" And the whole world came crashing down when she heard him say those two words: "He quit."
Said I wouldn't call
But I've lost all control
And I need you now
Jasper was gone.
And I don't know how
I can do without
I just need you now
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Jasper downed his next shot without hesitation and slammed the glass back down. The bartender gave him a look but poured him another one. He drank the next one as well and as his throat burned, his mind stopped picturing Eleanor for a second, but then she was back.
Another shot of whiskey
Can't stop looking at the door
After watching Ophelia earlier, he couldn't help but wonder if he really was a coward like Eleanor called him one. And there was no use fighting it, Eleanor had conquered his life, and she wasn't going to go away anytime soon. So he did something he never thought he would do. He quit.
Wishing you'd come sweeping
In the way you did before
But he decided not to tell her just yet, and as he drank the next shot, he started to regret that. He gave up the only thing he had in his life, his job, for her and she had no idea. And he wondered what she was doing right then? Was she asleep? Was she thinking about him and their little moment at the hospital?
And I wonder if I ever cross your mind
For me it happens all the time
He stood up and paid for the drinks and got out and headed for his apartment. He couldn't go back to the palace and he couldn't call her since his battery had died an hour ago. But he knew if he had to wait all night so he could call her in the morning, he would.
It's a quarter after one
I'm a little drunk
And I need you now
He loosened his tie and threw it in the trashcan next to the bar. He no longer needed to dress up for the job, at least quitting had a few benefits. He imagined being next to her as he walked past people on the street and a goofy grin was planted across his face and he could care less about them giving him strange looks.
Said I wouldn't call
But I've lost all control
And I need you now
He climbed the stairs of his building tiredly but then a familiar scent hit his nose, cinnamon and apples. He figured he was probably hallucinating so he shook his head and went on until he was on the third floor. And then he raised his head and his breath caught in his throat the moment he saw Eleanor leaning against his door. She saw him at the same time and they both stared at each other.
And I don't know how
I can do without
I just need you now
She took the first step and started walking towards him and he felt his legs move on their own and towards her. She smiled from ear to ear when she saw joy replace shock on his face. He stuttered: "Wh… why are you here?"
Guess I'd rather hurt than feel nothing at all
She shrugged and whispered like it was the most obvious thing in the world: "Because I love you…" Her words echoed through his head when her heart was beating harder than ever, wanting to tear open her chest.
I just need you now
She patiently waited for him to say something but he was still staring at her. She was close to losing hope when he sighed and finally admitted in a quiet voice: "I love you…" And she bit her lip shyly in response.
I just need you now
He leaned in and finally tasted her lips after all that time. He couldn't describe what he was feeling at the moment, he just felt above the ground. Eleanor on the other hand was already lost and couldn't think straight. And in the middle of the haze of their kiss, they both knew one thing:
They loved each other and there was no going back now.