*REPOSTED* I just got an amazing Beta (RandomatGedz) who only just got the chance to edit it…So, this one's more grammatically correct thanks to her :D
Living Royal
Chapter Three
"Prince Edward has started attending St. Andres University in Scotland almost a week ago. He has not been seen much since then, apparently already immersed in college life. What has come as a surprise to most is that our young Prince has chosen to stay on campus for the duration of his enrollment. The question now is, will Prince Edward take a step back from the life of clubbing that he's accustomed to, to focus on his studies? We certainly hope so…"
Bella turned off the TV. Did they really have nothing better to discuss on television anymore? What about world hunger? Tornadoes and deadly earthquakes? Wars?
No, they'd rather talk about Little Prince Edward becoming all grown up.
Bella tried not to be so damn judgmental, but it was so hard when every time she looked around people were talking about him. What was there to talk about aside from the fact that he happened to be the King's son? Nothing. He was just...normal. Aside from his incredible physique and those damn beautiful green eyes, he wasn't all that special.
It wasn't working, Bella realized.
Lying to herself wasn't working anymore. She sighed in frustration. After the talk they had when he stopped by her dorm room the day before, she'd been softening towards him and she didn't like it. She thought she was stronger than that.
Edward, as he'd asked her to call him, was actually making her feel more and more comfortable every time she spoke to him. He was so…nice. But since when was that a crime?
He was just the complete opposite of what she had expected. She expected someone arrogant, conceited, someone who thought the sun rose and set for him, but he was not at all like that.
There was so much she had found about him that she hadn't known before. She never knew that he spent a year building houses for the homeless in South Africa. Maybe she would've known about that if the media hadn't been so obsessed with only reporting the dirty gossip instead of things that actually mattered.
She also found out that he was terrified of the fact that someday he will be king, and the responsibility that that title would entail. He wanted to do the best he could, but he was not sure that he would be up for it. He even mentioned that he was thinking that if ever the time came, he would abdicate the throne.
"Are you crazy? You can't do that." Bella had screamed at him.
"Why not?" He shrugged.
"Because, you would be the king of one of the most powerful countries in the world." She stated.
When she noticed Edward's frown, she realized that he probably misunderstood her.
"What I meant is that you could have the power to change a lot of things, fix the economy, build more hospitals and schools and even lower the tax rate. You can do all that with just one signature and you want to just give it up?"
During the middle of her outburst, Bella noticed that Edward was smiling adoringly at her.
She immediately blushed, "Um, why are you smiling at me like that?" She asked.
He shrugged, "No reason, except that you're the first person I've ever told about this and somehow, in a matter of seconds, you've put it all into perspective for me."
"Sorry, I didn't mean to tell you what to do." She apologized.
"Don't apologize, Isabella. You've actually helped me make a decision I've been wrestling with for quite some time."
"Uh, you can call me Bella, now. I think it's only fair since I get to call you Edward." She winked.
Oh God, she did not just wink at the prince of England, did she?
Apparently she did, since he was now laughing his head off at her poor attempt at flirtation.
She blushed, again.
"Do me a favor, Bella. Never change."
Bella smiled at the memory.
He didn't want her to change.
Meaning that he liked her just the way she was.
Meaning that he liked her.
"God, Bella, don't read too much into this," Her inner voice whispered.
"Bella! You won't believe what I just found out." Alice yelled as she walked in to their room.
Well, more like bounced actually.
"Alice, can't you speak a little lower? The whole campus doesn't have to find out what we're talking about."
"But, I'm so excited. This is breaking news."
Knowing Alice, no matter how much Bella protested she was going to tell her anyway, so she braced herself for whatever Alice thought was 'incredible news'.
"Okay, then lay it on me."
"You won't believe who I saw on a date with Edward, today!"
Bella's heart fell to her stomach.
"W-who?" She asked Alice, tentatively, not sure she wanted to know the answer.
"Rosalie Hale!" Alice jumped up and down.
Bella felt deflated, she shouldn't have allowed herself to hope, anyway, but she thought that he at least cared about her.
Wake up, Bella, you have a boyfriend!
Yeah and where is he right now, exactly?
Bella didn't know; which annoyed her even more. Her life seemed so out of control since she left home. This should be typical of anyone who has left home for the first time to embark on a new life on their own, but not everyone had a Prince embroiled in their own personal troubles.
"Bella, are you even listening?" Alice whined.
"Yeah, Edward and Rosalie are on a date, so?"
Alice stared at Bella in shock, "You call him Edward?"
Bella's face heated, "Um, yeah, he asked me to." She mumbled.
"He asked you? When? I thought you didn't even like him."
"I don't…not really. And he asked me yesterday when he stopped by to chat."
"Okay, let me get this straight," Alice said, looking flabbergasted. "He asked you to call him by his first name when he stopped by this room, just to chat? Is that right?"
"Yup, pretty much." Bella replied, simply.
"Oh My God!" Alice screamed.
"Alice, for crying out loud, stop screaming!"
"What? But this is amazing, I can't help myself…"
"You can never help yourself." Bella rolled her eyes.
"This is just like a fairytale where the prince falls for the commoner. That's so sweet."
"Alice, you're getting way ahead of yourself. I barely spoke to the guy twice, and now you have me marrying him? Geez, slow down, would you?"
"But, wouldn't it be great though?" Alice said dreamily.
Sometimes, Bella had serious doubts about her best-friend's sanity.
"To someone else maybe, but not to me."
"Yeah, because marrying a Prince would be so beneath you." Alice scoffed.
"I didn't mean it like that. I meant that marrying royalty would be too much for someone like me. Can you imagine the kind of responsibilities the Queen takes on? Plus all the protocols they have to keep up with. I've seen how the media can make a huge problem out of something completely ridiculous like eating with the wrong damn fork, who the hell wants to live like that." Bella said vehemently.
"Um, everyone?" Alice replied.
"Well, everyone but me then."
"Ugh, Bella you're such a grump. Well, you can relax, anyway. I just saw him and Rosalie together and they were all over each other. You know how she is; she'll probably have him proposing to her as soon as possible. Besides, she has all the 'credentials', beauty, money, a well-known family…"
"Yeah, yeah, I get it Alice. Rosalie will be the next Queen of England." Bella muttered, irritably.
"You know, for someone who couldn't care less about Prince Edward, you sure get upset whenever I mention him and Rosalie," Alice teased her.
"Well, can you imagine Rosalie Hale as the next Queen?" Bella scowled.
Bella and Alice stared at each other in mutual horror for a moment.
"God, that would be horrible," They both said in one breath and then dissolved in laughter.
"You know what could get our minds off of that horrible thought, right now?" Alice asked, excitedly.
"What?"
"The party everyone's going to tonight."
"Uh, what party?" Bella asked, clueless
"You've been so cooped up in here that you haven't even heard about it?"
"Apparently,"
"There's a group of guys who're throwing a party in their rooms on the third floor. Everyone's going to be there, it's going to be great."
"But, Alice…"
"No buts, Bella. I've left you on your own long enough. You need to get out there, meet some new people, and forget about that asshole boyfriend of yours."
"Alice…" Bella said, warningly.
"What? He is an asshole." Alice insisted. "What kind of boyfriend doesn't even tell his girlfriend where the hell he is for several days on end, and then when she confronts him, he runs away like a little kid? I don't know how you put up with him, Bella."
Bella was left momentarily speechless. She honestly didn't know why she put up with that kind of treatment.
"You know what, Alice? I think a party is just what I need." She smiled at her friend.
"Yay! Come on, let's get you dressed in the sexiest dress you can find. You're meeting a guy today if it's the last thing I ever do."
Bella followed Alice to their closet to look for a dress. She really hoped she wasn't making a terrible mistake.
(A/N): I still can't believe the amount of reviews I'm getting for this story! Thank you guys so much for giving it a shot! I'm sorry I haven't answered all the reviews even though I've read each and every one of them! Thanks so much!
Now, let me know what you think of this one and…what do you think will happen at that party? Any guesses? :)