Preventing a Royal Engagement
A/N: Thank you for the reviews! On with Chapter 4! =D
Chapter 4: Chatting with Günther
It had been a few days since the arrival of the royal family in America and Tinka had managed to avoid any long conversations with Anton. She figured that if she purposely ignored him long enough, he would get the hint and call off the arranged marriage.
Unfortunately, Tinka had no plans the following night, so she had no choice but to endure a long dinner in her apartment with her parents and the royal family. The blonde dancer, who was seated directly across from Anton, looked incredibly displeased and silently cursed her mother for making the seating arrangements so uncomfortable for her. Despite that, Tinka was able to get through the appetizers and the main courses without speaking a word to Anton.
During dessert, Tinka's cell phone vibrated from inside her pocket. She quickly glanced at her parents, who were talking to Kamil and Anna, and looked back down at her phone, to see a new text message from Ty, which said:
How's dinner with the Royal Jackass, babe? Do I need to rescue u?
Tinka let out a soft giggle as she started typing a reply. Earlier that day, she told Ty about the dinner with her parents and the royal family, which she had no excuse not to attend. Even though Ty insisted that he watch her from the fire escape, to make sure Anton did not cross the line, Tinka warned him about the risk of getting caught by her parents and he withdrew the idea.
LOL everything's fine. We have not spoken 2 each other yet 2nite. Don't worry, I can handle him.
Once her reply had been sent, Tinka resumed the consumption of elk pudding in her bowl. She was on her third bite, when she received another text message from Ty, which said:
K, I'm tired so going 2 bed early. Call if u need me. G'nite baby, love you! ;)
Tinka smiled at Ty's protectiveness of her and quickly replied to his recent message with:
Love you, too! Sleep well! ;)
"Tinkabell," Kashlack said, giving his daughter a curious look, "are you on the phone with someone?"
Upon realizing that everyone at the dining table was watching her, Tinka quickly sent the reply and slipped her phone back into her skirt pocket.
"My darling, it's rude to use your cellular device at the dinner table," Squizza scolded, waving a reprimanding finger at her.
Normally, Tinka would frown at her mother for making her look disrespectful to the royal family. However, Tinka was still angry at her mother for arranging, with the help of Kashlack, her marriage to Anton, and wanted to make her look like the disrespectful person in the situation. Fortunately, she knew how to do just that.
"Forgive me, everyone," Tinka answered, apologetically. "My friend, Dina, requested the biology homework from me because she was absent from school today, due to an illness. Being a good friend, I wished to send her the textbook questions and my get well soon wishes. I hope you don't mind."
Anna bought her sweet act and detailed lie, and said with a smile, "Oh, no need to apologize for being supportive of a friend in need. We completely understand."
"Yes, Squizza, do not be so harsh on your daughter," Kamil told the Hessenheffer matriarch. "She did not do anything wrong."
Tinka masked the smug look on her face with a sweet smile, when she saw her mother turn red in embarrassment.
"So, Tinka," Kamil said, once he finished scolding Squizza, "we were just discussing the upcoming ball that Anton is sponsoring."
"A ball?" Tinka repeated.
"Yes, Anton is sponsoring the annual Chicago Autumn Ball, which takes place this Saturday night," Anna explained, happily.
"Oh, how wonderful!" Tinka commented, faking enthusiasm.
"And we would like you and your family to attend," Anton added, speaking for the first time that night.
"Kashlack and I would be honoured to attend!" Squizza gushed, happily.
Tinka raised an eyebrow, silently noting the overload of enthusiasm in her mother's voice when she accepted the royal family's invitation to the upcoming ball. It was obvious to Tinka that Squizza knew about the ball before Kamil officially announced it during dinner. In fact, she had a strong suspicion that Squizza planned for the ball to take place on such short notice. After all, such an extravagant event would be the perfect place to make an important announcement, or perhaps, in Tinka's mind, execute an official marriage proposal.
"Well, Tinka," Anton said, anxiously waiting for her answer, "will you grace my family and I with your presence at the ball?"
Normally, Tinka would politely decline the invitation, but she could feel her parents' gazes on her and knew that it would be foolish of her to refuse such an invitation. However, she did not want to confirm her attendance right away, as it would make her parents think that she was no longer objecting to Anton's advances towards her.
"A ball sounds like fun," Tinka said to Kamil and Anna, rather than to Anton, "but I must check with my boss. I must make sure that there's no dance broadcast Saturday night."
"Yes, your commitment to work is very important," Anna said with a nod of her head. "It is good to hear that you do not wish to slack it off."
Tinka nodded and faked a smile. She knew for weeks that the broadcast was on a Sunday night that week, but she felt that her parents did not need to know that. Putting off her response to the invitation would give her, hopefully, some time to come up with a better reason to not attend the ball. There was no way she could pull off a fake television broadcast to fool her parents and the royal family. It seemed impossible.
"Thank you, my Queen," Tinka said, sweetly. "I promise, I'll give you my confirmation of attendance to the ball, as soon as I check and make sure I don't have work that night."
"We will patiently wait for your reply," Kamil said, understandingly.
"Oh, Tinkabell, that reminds me!" Squizza said, excitedly. "You're more than welcome to invite CeCe, Rocky, and Dina to the ball. I'm sure they would love to spend some time with you."
Tinka smiled faded slightly, which went unnoticed by everyone at the table. She would love to have Rocky and Dina at the ball with her, so she would not have to endure Anton's advances alone. CeCe, however, had not spoken to Tinka since the outburst the day before, and the blonde was not going to invite someone to the ball that she was not on good terms with.
"Yes, the more the merrier!" Anna said, cheerfully.
"I'll be sure to invite them," Tinka answered, knowing that her answer was expected. "Of course, Rocky and CeCe also work with me and may not be able to attend should we have to work on the night of the ball. Dina may have plans already, but I'll check with her, as well."
"Well, just be sure to let us know if you and your friends can attend the ball," Squizza told her daughter. "Oh, and they're more than welcome to bring dates."
Tinka nodded and said, "May I be excused? I wish to retire for the night."
When Squizza nodded, Tinka stood up, wished everyone a good night, and exited the dining room. She walked down the hallway and into her bedroom. She quietly shut the door behind her and then sat at her computer desk, in front of her laptop.
The blonde dancer sighed to herself as she logged onto her instant messaging account. She did not want to go to the upcoming ball because she had a strong feeling that Anton was going to propose to her there. She felt pressured by her parents to accept, should the prince propose, and knew if she did not accept, she would bring shame to the whole family. It seemed like there was no way out for her.
A green icon on her contacts list indicated that Günther was online. Tinka eagerly right-clicked his name and requested a video chat with him. If there was anyone that knew her as well as Ty did, it was her twin brother, Günther, and Tinka hoped that he could give her some advice on how to deal with the situation she was in.
Günther obviously accepted the request because, then, two separate screens popped up. One screen had Tinka on it, which showed how Günther was viewing her, and the other screen had Günther on it. Judging by his sparkly clothes and combed hair, he did not seem to have changed much since he moved back to the old country. However, he had certainly gotten more attractive, if that was even possible.
"Hello, dear brother!" Tinka greeted, cheerfully.
"Hello, sister twin!" Günther replied, just as cheerfully. "I miss you!"
"Oh, I miss you, too, Günther," Tinka told him. She quickly did a mental calculation, raised an eyebrow, and added, "Um, why aren't you sleeping? It's early morning in the old country, isn't it?"
"It is, but I woke up early and couldn't go back to sleep," Günther explained. "So, did anything new happen since I left?"
"Actually, yes," Tinka said, frowning at the first thing that came to her mind. "You will not believe what happened to me."
"Did Prince Anton propose already?" Günther asked with an air of surprise.
"No, but –", Tinka began, "- wait, how do you know that Anton is here?"
"Mama and Papa e-mailed me a while ago and told me that the entire royal family was visiting," Günther explained.
"So, you know about my arranged marriage," Tinka said, sadly.
"Yes, I was told about it in the e-mail," Günther replied with a nod of his head. "Originally, I was to be arranged to marry Princess Kasia, but Prince Anton is older and the heir to the throne. You marrying Prince Anton would ensure that a Hessenheffer reigns over the old country again. Even if I was arranged to marry Kasia, I could never go through with it. Despite the long distance, I have been dating CeCe for two years and I could never imagine being with anyone else other than -".
"Wait, hold your goats!" Tinka cried as their recent conversation replayed in her mind. "Why did you ask if Anton proposed to me already?"
"He did not propose yet?" Günther asked, looking puzzled.
"Yet?" Tinka repeated, sounding horrified. "You mean he really is going to propose?"
"Oh, sorry, Tinka, I thought he did already," Günther said, sympathetically. "I did not mean to ruin the surprise."
"It is okay, you confirmed my suspicions," Tinka explained, calming down slightly. "The royal family told me during dinner about the upcoming Chicago Autumn Ball that Anton is sponsoring, and I had a strong suspicion about it when they insisted I should attend."
"Oh, Mama didn't tell me about a ball, nor when the proposal was going to take place," Günther said. "She just told me, in a recent e-mail, that Anton was going to propose to you. She hoped the proposal would make you more open to the marriage."
"Well, she shouldn't get her hopes up," Tinka said, angrily. "Anton's proposal will not make a difference; I will not agree to marry him."
"That reminds me, how's Ty?" Günther asked, curiously. "Did he take the news of your arranged marriage well?"
"No," Tinka said, shaking her head. "I think he wants to murder the prince."
Günther laughed and said, "Ty loves you, he would kill for you if he had to."
Tinka cracked a small smile as a tear slid down her cheek. She knew that Ty loved her immensely and she loved him just as much. If only her parents knew that she was in love with him. If only they knew that he would rather die than hurt her. If only they accepted their relationship so she could stop all of the secrecy and not have to marry Anton. The thought of being trapped in an arranged marriage brought more tears to her eyes.
"Sister twin, what is wrong?" Günther asked, concerned.
"Günther, I love Ty!" Tinka sobbed, wiping aside some tears. "I don't want to marry Anton, but Mama and Papa won't take no for an answer! I don't know what to do!"
Günther's heart broke at the sight of his sister crying. He could not bear to see her so miserable and vulnerable. He did not like the idea of Tinka being forced to marry Anton, and he would do anything to help her get out of the arranged marriage.
"Tinka, you know what you must do then," Günther said, softly.
Tinka blew her nose into one of her sparkly handkerchiefs and asked, "What?"
"I know why you and Ty decided to date each other in secret," Günther said, "but if you really love him, and if you really want to show Mama and Papa you don't want to marry Prince Anton, then this secret is one not to be taken to your grave."
Tinka nodded, understandingly, and said in a quiet voice, "I have to tell them, don't I?"
"I am afraid so," Günther said. "I know Mama and Papa don't like Ty at all, but perhaps you can convince them to give him a chance. It will not hurt to try."
"It's probably the only way to get out of my arranged marriage," Tinka said with a sigh. "I have no choice."
"Do not worry, I'll be there to support you," Günther reassured her with a smile. "In fact, I'll be in Chicago in two days for a visit."
"Really?" Tinka exclaimed, her face instantly brightening. "Oh, I can't wait to see you!"
"I can't wait to see you all," Günther said, happily.
"You should go try and get some sleep now, Günther," Tinka suggested. "You don't want to be too tired and miss your flight."
"Okay, I'll try," Günther said. "Oh, and Tinka, don't tell CeCe that I'm visiting. I want it to be a surprise."
"I will not say a word about it at all," Tinka promised him. Technically, it was the truth; she would not talk to someone she was not on good speaking terms with. "It can be a surprise for everyone."
"That sounds good," Günther said, nodding in agreement. "I'll e-mail you my flight number and arrival time before I go to bed, so you can meet me at the airport on Friday."
"Okay," Tinka said, affirmatively. "Good night, Günther."
"Good night, Tinka," Günther replied.
Tinka closed the chat screens and logged out of her instant messaging account. She quickly changed into a pair of sparkly pyjamas and smiled, for the first time that night, at the thought of Günther visiting. She knew CeCe was going to be surprised when he arrived and, despite still being angry at CeCe, she felt happy for her and Günther.
As she climbed into bed and scooted underneath her glittery blanket, Tinka thought of possible ways to reveal her relationship with Ty to her parents and to the royal family. A thought barely crossed her mind, as exhaustion carried her off to sleep.
Chapter 4 Up! Questions? Comments? Should I continue?
Please Review! Reviews are greatly appreciated! =D
~TeenQueen661