CHAPTER TWELVE
Saturday, October 8
"So." I said slowly.
"So." Marcus mimicked with a smirk and I laughed. This was one awkward date, not the worst I'd ever had, but definately awkward. (I mean, really, it'd have to be a heck of a lot more awkard t beat a date with an 11-year-old at a kids birthday party, and that scaredy-cat boy that Lilly set me up with when she was dating Lucas. Then there's also the date where Roxy came to movies and put a cat bell on his arm, the one where I tried to be both me and Hannah to try and get him to like Hannah, the time I had to pretend to dat Jackson, and just a couple of weeks ago in Malibu when Rico blackmailed me into fake-dating him.) Honestly, as far as dates go, this was probably one of the better ones. In saying that the King, Marcus and I were all awkwardly sitting in some sort of living room or sitting room or something and the King wouldn't stop staring at us.
"You know what, we're going to my room." I decided, jumping up quickly. "This is just way too weird for me." Marcus got up as well and I'd finally managed to memorise the way to my quarters so I didn't need to ask anyone.
"Well, that was awkward." Marcus commented dryly.
"Awkward is having a bell tied around your dates wrist in a movie so every time he makes a move he goes ding. That was just plain weird, and way too protective father before the prom." I shook my head and Marcus laughed, I liked his laugh.
"You deserve to go out on a real date." Marcus murmured as we reached the double doors to my quarters. A date. With a boy four years older than me. I was actually dating a boy four years older than me. A boy I was possibly going to have to m-...
"Why don't we just get to know each other?" I suggested, the idea was haunting. I wasn't even fifteen until next month and I was going to have to get married.
"That's cool." I curled my feet up under me as we sat on one of the couches in my sitting room.
"So..." I sighed, absently playing with the tassles on one of the cushions.
"So..." Marcus mimicked. "What's your favourite movie?"
"Steel Magnolias." I couldn't help but smile. "You?"
"Transformers." Marcus shrugged and I quirked my lips in a little smile. That was Jacksons favourite too. A typical boy movie with action, violence and hot girls.
We kept talking, about everything and nothing at the same time. Marcus was nice and he makes me laugh, I like a guy that makes me laugh. And he always seemed to be complimenting me just to make me blush because he says I look cute when I blush. I guess I must have fallen asleep at some point because I woke up to Marcus stroking my hair softly and humming as he played on his phone. I can't remember when we moved so my head was in his lap, but I liked it, waking up and looking up at him. His smile, his blonde hair, his perfect baby blue eyes.
"Hey, Gorgeous." Marcus grinned when he saw me and I felt myself bblush even when I was still half asleep. I rubbed my eyes with my fists and slowly sat up.
"Hey." I mumbled, scratching my head and starting to stretch. "How-how long have I been out?"
"About two hours." Marcus shrugged and I nodded.
"I'm hungry." I decided and then blushed, making Marcus chuckle.
"Then let's get something to eat." Marcus stood up and held his hand out for me. His hand was warm and smooth and strong as it held mine.
"Carlton." I whined when we left my quarters and I looked around in confusion.
"Yes, your Highness?" Carlton appeared and I smiled at him.
"How do we get to the kitchen?" I asked with a small pout and Carlton laughed and shook his head.
"This way, your Highness."
"Did you know you talk in your sleep?" Marcus said conversatinally and I felt myself both pale and blush at the same time.
"W-what-what did I say?" It was no news to me that I was a sleep-talker, but lately my dreams... Let's just say that the dreams I was having were not good to have now that I was apparently dating Marcus.
"Miley." Marcus pulled me to a stop and I saw Carlton keep going for a while until he stopped just far enough away to give us privacy. "Do you really want to date me?"
"Yes!" I said quickly, my eyes wide. "Marcus, I like you, I really do." I said earnestly, I do like him. Marcus sighed and held both of my hands, running his thumbs abesntly over my knuckles.
"You kept saying Shane... You were dreaming about Gray, weren't you?" He guessed and I looked down guiltily. "You like him!" It was a statement not a question.
"He confuses me." I shook my head desperately. "I promise, Marcus, I like you, I-I want to date you." I hope he didn't notice that I stuttered, but I doubt he could miss it.
"Let's just get something to eat." Marcus sighed and I nodded, frowning. I frowned deeper when Marcus let go of both of my hands and we kept walking.
"I'm sorry, Marcus." I whispered, looking down.
Princess Miley
Sunday, October 9
"Good morning." I mumbled as I sat at the dining table. The King was already here.
"Good morning, Miley." King Altiyan greeted and I looked up at him, he sounded different.
"Are you okay?" I asked, frowning. he looked pale and slightly sickly.
"Nothing for you to worry about, Miley." He dismissed and I frowned deeper. King Altiyan coughed slightly and frowned when he pulled his hand away.
"How bad is it?" I asked softly, picking at my eggs.
"You just focus on your school work and weekend lessons." The King tried to dimiss again and I sighed.
"My lesson isn't till this afternoon." I said, looking up shyly. "Do-do you wanna hang out?"
"That would be very welcome." The King agreed and I smiled a little. Half an hour later the King and I were walking through the grounds of the palace just like we did that first day after breakfast.
"How bad is it? Really?" I asked lowly, toying with the hem of my top. "I can handle it, I'm not some little kid."
"You are a remarkable young woman, Miley." King Altiyan complimented. "You have been through a lot in the last few weeks, you're not going to like this."
"What is it?" I stopped and so did the King.
"The doctors have reviewed their last diagnosis." My breathe caught and my heart stuttered.
"It's worse, isn't it?" I choked out. I didn't even know him that well, but... I mean, we share blood, he's my grandfather. I'd already lost my Mom, I never even knew my biological parents, I've already lost one grandfather, my biological grandmother, now my biological grandfather too? People around me always seemed to die.
"Six months." King Altiyan sighed and I felt tears sting my eyes.
"Is-isn't there some sort of treatment?" I bit my lip and felt like collapsing.
"They've been trying, it was caught too late and it's spreading." He denied sadly. I swollowed thickly and the King led me over to a bench. "I understand that this is not ideal for you - having a closer deadline than-"
"You're dying and you're worried about my deadline?" I cut in slightly hysterically and he looked confused. "You're dying." He put and arm around me and I couldn't help but lean into him. "I've already lost three parents, and two grandparents, I don't want to loose another one." The thought slightly sickened me.
"Why don't we cancel your lesson for this afternoon and... Watch a movie?" The King suggested and I nodded silently, still struggling against crying.
"You know, just 'cause I act like I don't like you, doesn't mean I don't. I mean, you're still family, you're still my grandfather." I said lowly as we walked back inside. "Sometimes, even with music, I just-I don't know how to say what I feel."
"It's perfectly alright, Miley." King Altiyan waved it off and I sighed. "I do believe it's the curse of being a teenager in todays society." We were silent until a doorsman opened the door to what I found was a cinema room. "I do believe I'm in the mood for a comedy, what about you?"
"Sure." I agreed easily, picking a seat in the middle and sinking down.
"Two chocolate and malt milkshakes, popcorn and some of those chocolate covered mints, if you please." The King requested of the waiter dude who appeared out of nowhere. "What do you say to... Legally Blonde?" The King suggested, looking through a list of movies.
"Reese is good." I nodded, settling in and trying not to think about what I'd have to think about when the movie finishes. The movie was over way too quickly and I was wishing that it was longer. "I have to use the bathroom." I muttered, getting up. Not even Legally Blonde had been able to get my mind off what the King told me this morning.
The King was dying. My grandfather is dying. I locked the door to the bathroom and sunk down. This was too much. I bit my lip sharply to keep the sob in, but it didn't work. I felt the tears streaking down my face and the sobs trying to choke free. We'd actually been getting along more the last couple of times, but now... Those times were limited. Six months, twenty-six weeks, one-hundred and eighty-two days. And then... What? He wouldn't be here anymore? He'd just cease to exist? Does Heaven actually exist or is just something made up to make little kids feel better when someone dies? Would he actually go to a better place or would his heart just stop beating and would that be it?
Princess Miley
Monday, October 10
I had worked even harder to avoid everyone else today, my guards seemed to understand that I wanted to be left alone. It was almost lights out and I was sitting alone in my room. I didn't like being alone right now, but I didn't want to be with anyone else. Catch 22. I could call Marcus seeing as we were dating now and all, but things had ended kind of rocky - what with me saying another boys name in my sleep. The other boy. I was up and and out my door, knocking on Shane's door before I could stop myself.
"Wha-?" Shane opened the door and cut himself off when he saw me. "What are you doing here, Princess?" His voice changed from slightly annoyed to soft as he avoided my eyes.
"I-I-" What was I doing here? I was dating Marcus, Shane had made it... Unclear about what he felt about me. "I-... Please, Shane? I just don't want to be alone." I felt my bottom lip tremble a little Shane quickly grabbed my hand and pulled me into his room, shutting and locking the door. As soon as the door was locked Shane was in front of me. He looked at me for all of a second before I sighed because he wrapped his strong arms around me and was hugging me tightly. I inhaled Shane's musky yet sweet scent and I could feel myself start to let go again and cry.
"It's okay, Princess." Shane cooed, and I felt us sitting down, me in his lap. "Don't worry, everything will be okay." I don't know why, but I believed him, maybe it was the strange hold he had over me. I felt his lips press into my hair and I let out a shakey sigh. How could he make everything feel okay again? I stayed there and Shane just held me and whispered sweet nothings until all my tears dried up. By that time we were laying down on his bed, him just holding me. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"My grandfather is dying." I mumbled, my fingers absently tracing the sheild on his Prince Arthurs Prep gym shirt that he was apparently wearing to bed. "The doctors revised their last diognosis during the last week and they say... Six months." I whispered hoarsely. Six months. It scared me.
"I'm sorry." Shane murmured, brushing a hand through my hair soothingly. After that Shane just held me and I felt safe and comfortable in his arms. I knew I shouldn't be there; he kept telling me to stay away, I was dating Marcus, and it was after lights out, we were all supposed to be in our own room sleeping. But, I couldn't stay away. I didn't want to stay away.
Shane kissed my forehead gently and I shifted a little. He kissed my cheek and I leaned up. He kissed my lips. His kisses were better than I remembered. His lips were soft and sweet and he tasted a little minty from his toothpaste.. His tongue gently swiped across my bottom lip and I opened up to him, letting him invade me and tasting him in all parts of my mouth. I held Shane as close to me as I could and kissed back as best as I could with my limited experience.
Slowly the kissed retreated back to the little kisses where he would nip at me and then just little pecks until Shane's forehead was pressed against mine and I slowly forced my eyes open. He was still here. Last time he escaped as fast as he could. I pulled Shane back to me for another kiss and he obliged before he moved off of me. But, he still didn't leave. He was still here, holding me, toying with the ends of my hair. Shane kissed my temple and held me closely.
"You shouldn't have come here." Shane said softly and I braced myself for him to tell me to leave. Instead he just held me a little closer and kissed my temple again.
Why, oh, WHY do you hate me?
Okay, so I wrote a little faster than before, but only three reviews? PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE review more?
Dude, I feel like such a bad Hilary Duff stan; her new book Devoted (sequel to Elixir) came out last week and I didn't even know until the day after. Plus, I haven't once mentioined Elixir before, or Devoted, or the fact that Hilary got married, is pregnant, and expecting a boy. What kind of stan am I?
On the same note of stans, Hilary Duff and Elixir; I don't know if I'm just insane (I am, trust me) but I've always thought that Miley would be a good Clea. And Joe could be Sage.
I've also decided that I was born in the wrong generation. My Mom kept telling me to download old 60's and 70's songs during the weekend; Bridget the Midget the Queen of the Blues, Witch Doctor, everything by Skyhooks, One Eyed One Horned Flying Purple People Eater, Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini... The list is endless.
Please review; let me know your favourite song from before you were born. A band you think is greatly underapreciated. Just review; anything will make me happy.
XOXO
Peace, Love, Hilary Duff