Hello everyone! So sorry for the long wait, I've been having writer's block. Enjoy!
Chapter 6: Memory Lane
When he got back to his room, Puck groaned when he found Sara sitting on his bed.
"What do you want kid?" he asked. "I'm tired and I would like to go to sleep."
"What was that with you and that princess? You were flirting with her all night."
He shrugged as he sat down on the bed. "Just trying to get to know someone new. What's the big deal?"
"Rachel was watching you the entire night and she's not exactly happy about it. It was like you completely forgot you were at your ex's party and just went on to whoever was available."
"It wasn't even like that. I just wanted to have some fun and the party became the perfect opportunity to do it. Besides I just saw Rachel and she seemed perfectly fine."
Sara hit him on the arm. "It's called an act stupid. Of course she's not fine after seeing you flirt with some other girl. It was like you completely forgot Rachel existed."
"Relax, I didn't completely forget about her. I just put her to the back of my mind so I could actually have fun during this trip. I have to watch the girl I was in love with fall for someone else just because he's royal and I'm not. I think I deserve to enjoy myself while doing it."
Realizing that he was right, Sara sighed and nodded. "Okay I guess you're right except for one thing."
"What?"
"You're still in love with Rachel. It's obvious just by the way you looked at Rachel when you saw her tonight. It's okay to admit it."
"There's nothing to admit Sara. Rachel and I are over and I would appreciate it if you would get that idea out of your head. Now get out so I can sleep."
Sara rolled her eyes as she walked out of the room. Her brother could deny it all he wanted but it was obvious how he felt about Rachel. He wouldn't be so upset about watching Rachel marry someone else if he wasn't still in love with her.
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The next day, Rachel was sitting in the garden waiting for her mother so she could have her lessons on becoming queen. Even though she knew they were important, the only thing she could think about was Puck and Arabella. If he really liked her, would he be willing to go through what he went through to be with her?
Her thoughts were interrupted when Shelby walked up to her. "Darling are you alright? You look upset."
Rachel shook her head. "No I am fine. I just have a few things on my mind."
"Like what?" she asked, sitting down next to her.
"Noah and Arabella. They got along well at the party last night and it was like the way he used to be with me."
"Well I am sure it is nothing you need to be worried about."
Before Rachel could respond, Daniel walked up with Arabella behind him. "I am sorry to interrupt but Princess Arabella would like to see Mr. Puckerman. Do you know where I could find him?"
At first the princess forgot how to speak. "Um I believe he is in the bowling alley with Ryder and Sara."
Daniel nodded before walking away with Arabella following him. When Rachel looked back at her mother, Shelby had a sympathetic look. "Perhaps we should try to regroup in a few minutes while you get yourself together."
Giving her a grateful smile, Rachel got up and went in the same direction Daniel just went. Finally she found them in the bowling alley and stood nearby to listen to their conversation.
"What are you doing here?" Puck asked. "I thought you would've had too many princess duties to come back."
"Well there was a break in my schedule and I thought I should come back and thank you again for a lovely evening last night. You were certainly the highlight of the party," she smiled.
He smiled back. "I'm glad I made your night better."
"Well I also wanted to ask if you were busy this evening. I was hoping you would come to Maldove to have lunch with my family and me tomorrow."
"That sounds-"
"Inconvenient," Rachel cut in, rushing over to the two before she realized what she was doing. When she realized Puck and Arabella were staring at her waiting for an answer, she quickly thought of something. "Noah will not be able to come to Maldove. He has already promised to help me look through family possessions to get me more familiar with my bloodline so I am fully prepared to become queen."
When Arabella looked at Puck to confirm this, he felt conflicted. Part of him was interested in Arabella but the other part of him, as much as he denied it, still wanted Rachel. And here she was trying to make up a reason as to why he couldn't go with Arabella out of jealousy and he couldn't say he wasn't happy about it so he nodded. "Yeah I completely forgot she had asked me to help her. Maybe some other time."
Arabella nodded. "Very well. Let me know when you are free."
Puck nodded in agreement. "I will." As Daniel led her out, he turned to Rachel. "So is there a reason I'm just now hearing about this task that I'm supposed to be helping you with?"
"Well I just thought that you would be the perfect person to help me. Sara will be with your mother and I remember that you enjoyed when I talked about being royal."
"So you're not just doing this so I won't go out with Arabella?"
She shook her head. "Not at all."
Even though he didn't believe her, Puck decided not to question it any further and agreed to meet in the library before going back to bowling and she went back to her lessons.
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The next day, Puck met Rachel in the library and found her going through boxes. He walked over to her and sat next to her.
"So what is this stuff?"
"Possessions of the past kings and queens of Mercier. I am going through them to familiarize myself with what greatness looks like so I can be ready to become just like them."
"Sounds like a lot of pressure."
She nodded. "It can be overwhelming at times but I have to remember it is all part of becoming a leader. Father always tells me that the goal is not to make people fear you, but respect you. When you have accomplished that, then you have become a true leader."
He looked at her. "Well I think you're going to be a great leader."
"Thank you," she smiled at him before pulling out a frame. "Oh look at this. It is us the day you left to go back to Lima."
He took the picture and looked at it. "Oh yeah. I forgot we actually left the bedroom that day." He smirked as Rachel's cheeks reddened thinking about how they spent their last day together. "I'm surprised you kept it."
"Why do you say that?"
"I figured you would've thrown it out after everything that happened," he shrugged.
She shook her head. "I would not be able to. You were part of my life and I can't erase that no matter how much I want to."
"Why would you want to?"
Rachel thought for a moment. "After everything that happened, I figured picking a prince would be easier if I forgot about you and how much you meant to me but it got pretty hard. Finally I couldn't take looking at this picture anymore but I couldn't throw it out so I just put it in here."
It was silent for a moment before Puck looked back at her. "Look Rachel I'm sorry that things ended the way they did. It wasn't what I wanted to happen."
"Me either. But it did and we just have to move on and accept it."
He thought for a moment. "Yeah I guess you're right. I guess all we'll ever be is a memory."
"Right. A distant memory," she agreed, staring into his eyes.
Even though she wanted to believe that their relationship were nothing but a memory, she couldn't ignore the butterflies in her stomach that she got from being so close to Puck. It amazed her that even after all these years, her body still had the same reaction towards him as it did when she was sixteen.
Puck felt himself leaning in, desperately wanting to feel Rachel's lips on his again. He didn't care that it was stupid and had the potential to be disastrous. He just wanted to feel them again after being without them for five years. This was the one girl he was willing to throw everything away for and not think twice about it.
Before their lips could make contact, they heard footsteps coming close to them. They pulled apart as Daniel and a handsome young man stood before them.
"Princess, I am sorry to interrupt but I would like to introduce you to one of the eligible princes who has been dying to meet you, Prince Collin Ellington of Amantia."
Here comes a prince for Rachel. How do you think the arrival of Prince Collin will interfere with her and Puck? Let me know your thoughts. Bye for now :)