Here's a new chapter! Thank you all for reviewing the last one, I hope you enjoy this one as much. Also, earlier this week I posted a oneshot called A Little Bit More, so if anyone wants some Sydrian, check it out! I own nothing, the amazing Richelle Mead does. I am sorry for mistakes, misspelled words and things like that. There are spoilers ahead, so be careful. If you have a minute, please review, follow, favorite, let me know what you think in any way that suits you. Enjoy!

I didn't think the kiss would ever end, nor I wanted it to. I'd love to drown in the sweet, sweet oblivion. But nothing in my life was ever that simple.
"Jill, are you coming!?"
Angeline's yell woke me up from the heaven I'd been experiencing. I could've ignored it easily and forget about everything, but Eddie, the responsible one - as always - broke the kiss gently. I opened my eyes with a very legitimate fear that it was over, that the magic would dissappear... But the brown depths of Eddie's eyes were looking right back at me with the same love. His smile was just as wide as mine. No, he wasn't sorry. It was all real. The fairytale has begun.
"JILL, THE DAMN PLANE IS LEAVING IN FIVE MINUTES, ARE YOU COMING OR NOT!?"
Eddie and I exchanged mischevious smiles.
"Um... Take the luggage back out. We're not leaving yet," I replied. Yeah, there was no way I was leaving him behind now.
We both ran up the stairs to the entrance and helped carry the luggage. Angeline had gotten the hang of the whole guardian thing enough that she didn't ask any questions and just got to work, along with the confused Trey. But even with the help of Sydney and Adrian, the flight that ended up leaving without us was a bit delayed.
"Okay, what is going on?" asked Angeline as we watched the academy's private jet dissappeare into the evening sky. The sun was just rising and the colors above the horizon were shining in beautiful red and purple shades. I never noticed airports were that romantic. Maybe it was because of Eddie's hand in mine.
"Are you two a thing now?" Angeline kept asking, noticing us holding hands. Eddie and I looked at one another. We both smiled at the same time and nodded.
"Well, that's great, it really is, I'm so happy for you two," she said. I knew she meant it, but the confusion on her face told me she excpected a deserved explanation of what would happen next. "But what now?"
"I don't know, I really don't," I sighed. The smile on my face couldn't be erased. "The only thing I can tell you is that we're going nowhere today. We'll talk about what's next soon. I guess."
I felt kind of bad for ruining all the painstakingly made plans about me and for stealing more of Lissa's already limited time to talk about what to do - she still considered me her responsibility -, but at the same time I wasn't sorry one bit. I was too busy being head over heels in love.
"So what made you change your mind?" I asked Eddie. It was two hours after the airport events and we were walking down my beloved river, hand in hand, trying to make up for the lost time. We were supposed to meet Lissa the next afternoon. I wanted to spend every moment until then with him. Everyone had gone somewhere and I just wanted to be next to him. Well, to think, I'd wanted that before. Now I was allowed to it.
"You changed my mind," he replied. Like me, he couldn't stop smiling as well. I couldn't believe we waited for that long. It almost seemed to good to be true.
But I didn't understand how I changed his mind. What did I do? Ten thousand kisses and speeches couldn't change his mind, what could then? Noticing my confused look, he continued: "It was the song you sang. Remember? The lyrics spoke to me... I know it sounds weird, but think about it. They told me to live my life the way I want it, and that's with you."
I looked down. I didn't want to show that my eyes were watering up. Of course I knew what he was talking about. The song I sang? That was so adorable and romantic and cute...
"Is it crazy?" he asked suddenly. "To let a song dictate my life?"
I looked back at him jerkily. Doubts were glittering in his eyes. How come I never noticed how insecure he actually was?
"Eddie," I said defiantly, holding both of his hands. "You shouldn't let anyone or anything dictate your life."
He shot me a wide grin, put his hands on my hips, lifted me into the air and kissed me. His touch was so exciting and magical, his taste so sweet.
"So I guess we have our song, huh?" I breathed as the kiss was eventually over. He chuckled.
We spent the next few minutes walking in comfortable silence. It was fascinating how it wasn't even awkward between us. We'd been pretry close before, I guess. And we'd been kissing often enough.
I was lost in thoughts about how great everything turned out when something crossed my mind.
"Wait, but you were actually in my room when it happened. Why didn't you just speak your mind?" I asked.
"Well," he wavered. "I didn't know quite what to do. I don't know if you noticed, but I got really confused and shocked and energized, and I had no idea what to do about it. So I just left to get myself together." He paused shyly before saying the next words: "It was like I found all the answers in life."
Thinking back at that afternoon, I remembered that was exactly what I had thought he looked like. Wow, I knew him well.
"So I went to Sydney and Adrian's," he continued. "Adrian got surprisingly excited." I smiled at that. Yes, now I knew why he had been blocking from the bond. "Then Sydney told me I have to do something stunningly romantic and flashy in order to ever win you over and fought with Adrian in the process, while I got some serious doubts about the whole thing. Again. I actually told them I can't do it, but they both almost killed me instantly. Then I suggested I make you a romantic surprise at lunch, but Sydney, the brain of the operation, insisted that the last minute airport run would be the most romantic and movie-like."
I knew the rest of the story.
"Then Sydney drove you by in the last second while Adrian was hugging me for a disturbingly long time and keeping me weirdly still. Then you came and we both know what happened, while Sydney and Adrian both watched from behind a huge pile of luggage," I finished. Eddie smiled. I still couldn't get over how astonishing it made his already handsome face. He was so stunning.
"Bond?" he asked.
"Bond," I replied laughing. "Get used to it, I always know more than I should." Most of the things Adrian'd been hiding have already revealed to me. "I hope it didn't annoy you too much when he tried to change his mind."
"Oh, only in the begining. But it actually helped, you know. He made a few things much clearer to me," he smiled. "And now... Now I wouldn't trade what I've got for anything in the world."
I smiled, feeling my heart melting. His arms wrapped around my waist. We kissed again. I'd comment that we're not getting very far with this walk... But I couldn't mind less.
We were still holding hands when Eddie brought me back home in the late evening. "You can't be in the sun that much," he told me.
I asked him to stay. At least for a little while. I didn't want the day to fade away. I was afraid it would all vanish into thin air when he left. He said he can't deny me of anything. We both sat on the couch, his arm around my shoulders. It was like a dream. "This is all I ever wanted," I kept thinking. Cuddling with Eddie. A day ago I couldn't imagine that. Well, I could imagine, but I was aware very well that it's not real. At least it wasn't.
The TV was on, but we didn't need it. We were talking in the way only we knew, blocking the entire world out. This time it felt even more personal, we were closer than ever. Maybe because we kissed every once in a while. The later it got, the more often we kissed. I stifled a yawn every now and then, but I refused to fall asleep. Eddie must've noticed I became tired. He pressed me another kiss, longer and sweeter than all the ones before. I gave him one last sleepy look and closed my eyes.

I'd never been that happy in my life before, that was all I knew. There was something I should've done, but I was so happy and tired and comfortable I didn't want to move... Everything around me felt warm and soft. I couldn't think clearly, I only realized I'm still half asleep.
A beam of blinding light shone directly into my eyes, forcing me to open them. The sun had just gotten low enough to make its way through the window. I put a hand above my eyes to protect them.
Suddenly memories of the day before hit me. Eddie had changed his mind... Or had it all been just a dream? I didn't know anymore. I haven't woken up completely yet, and panic swelled over me in my sleepiness. Had it been a dream? I didn't know.
My gaze, roaming aimlessly around the room in confusion, fell on the nightstand next to my bed. It was wooden and small, usually where I kept my phone at night, along with a few books. Now my phone wasn't there, but a tiny sheet of paper lay on the surface. It was written all over with a writing I easily recognised as Eddie's. I picked it up, my hands shaking.
You fell asleep. It was really hard to let you go because you looked so adorable when you slept in my arms, but I figured in the end that you wouldn't be very comfortable waking up on the couch. Call me when you wake up.
Eddie
P.S.: I love you.
The further I read, the faster my heart raced. I felt myself blush as my lips curled into a smile. How could he possibly say he always messes everything up? He was the sweetest boyfried ever. And yesterday, the perfect day, the best day of my life was real.
I began looking for my phone, so that I could call him right away. It was nowhere in the bedroom or the living room, I dug through half of the suitcases I was going to bring, making a mess out of the room I'd painstakingly cleaned two days ago, until in the end I found it in the large purse I'd wanted to turn in as my hand luggage.
"Damn," I muttered. But I was still smiling! I felt like nothing could get me into a bad mood anymore. I dialed Eddie's number the moment I got the phone into my hands.
"Hello?" my favorite voice in the world asked. Eddie answered on the second ring. I knew he hadn't in fact been sitting by the phone waiting for me to answer, he was just always available. His tone was as serious and ready to work as ever, but I sensed a glimpse of excitement after that. He had the caller's ID on his phone.
"Hi, it's me," I said happily.
"Hey," he replied, his voice turning even more eager. "I'm sorry I just left yesterday, I-"
"I get it, I'd do the same if I had a sleeping girl in my lap," I chuckled, cutting him off.
"An adorable sleeping girl," he corrected. My heart warmed up.
"Oh, and I love you too," I said, reffering to his note. Gosh, I loved him, I loved him, I loved him! I was so extatic and happy, life was so wonderful I couldn't believe it was true.
"I love you more," he said.
"I love you most!"
"I love you... Man, I don't know a superlative big enough to tell you," he laughed. I sighed happily.
"I can't believe this is really happening. You're going to hear so much of this, but it just seems too good to be true..." I said with a dreamy voice. I was starting to bore myself with doubting the reality when I should just enjoy it, but I couldn't help myself.
"Well, maybe it was too tourturing to be true before. I think this is how love is supposed to feel," he told me.
"I know! I mean, I've been in love before... But it didn't feel quite as powerful and great. It's only been a day, and I've never been happier," I said, another smile drawing over my face.
"I've been in love with you," he replied. "For a year. But it never felt quite as great until we were together for real. It's true, it's only been a day, and I feel like we're meant to be like this."
"That's because we are," I chuckled. I was bursting with happiness that he felt the same as me. "But it still seems so perfect it's unreal... I got scared it was all a dream when I woke up. Are you really mine now?"
"I always was," he said hotly. We were both quiet for a while, then we both laughed.
"Let's get some breakfast," I suggested.
"I was just about to ask if you're hungry," he replied. "In the cafeteria in ten minutes?"
"Are you crazy? I still have to get dressed!" I exclaimed.
"Okay, no hurry," he chuckled. "I'll pick you up in half an hour."
I stood in the room blankly for a second after the end of the call. I wasn't sure what to do first. Should I clean up the mess left after my mad phone search? In my pyamas? I decided to chage first. I grabbed my favorite T-shirt and shorts, along with my toothbrush that I still had packed. I brushed my teeth, showered and got dressed as quickly as possible, then tried to decrease the explosion of clothes on the floor the best I could. I knew he didn't really care, but I instinctly wanted to look my best in front of him.
A knock on the door stopped my hysteric cleaning. Eddie was exactly on time. I dropped the clothes I was holding on the ground and hurried towards the door. The smile on his face took my breath away. I ran into his arms and kissed him.
"I love you," he said after he let go.
"I love you too." We couldn't say it enough.
"I'm so sorry about the mess," I sighed, awkwardly gesturing around the room. Eddie did nothing but smiled in return.
"I really don't mind, as long as I get to see you."
"I'm gonna have to get you a key," I chuckled. He didn't reply, but the look on his face was talkative enough that it was clear he wouldn't mind that.
We were kissing and holding hands all the way to the cafeteria as well. "Wait," I said when he kissed me in front of the entrance. "Should we be hiding? You know, so that we wouldn't attract too much attention?"
He hesitated for a few seconds before answering. "Maybe, but isn't it a bit late for that?" he said in the end. The smile on his face was warm and amused and I knew he was right. This wasn't Hollywood, we had nothing to hide.
"So this is how it's gonna be from now on, huh?" I asked and flashed him a huge smile. I knew things wouldn't be perfect forever and that this euphoria our relationship began with was only present in the beginning. But I wanted to enjoy my fairytale.
"I'd sure love it," he said and pulled me a bit closer, making me giggle in the process. "You said you hardly believe it, and on one hand it's the same with me. But on the other it feels so different that I can't forget about us for a minute. I feel so free-"
"Wow, I should be proud. Not many guys say they feel free in a relationship," I remarked. I knew I'd cut him off, but I just had to. It was worth it to see the grin on his face. "You were saying?"
"I finally know my life is my life," he said. His eyes were glowing in a way I hardly knew in him before. "I mean, I'd still die for you in an instant, but I don't want to treat myself like a shadow of a charge anymore. You never treated me that way in the first place. You, Jill, you showed me there's more to my life than following orders. I'm finally living my life and I'm so glad to have you in it."
I felt tears stinging in my eyes. I was so touched he appreciated my influence on his life so much. One of the tears slipped down my cheek. Noticing that, he carefully wiped it away. At that point we began to kiss again. It felt so good to be a lovestruck teenager again after over a year.
Eddie kissed my hand and gallantly walked me into the cafeteria - finally. We spent the rest of the day together until 4 pm, when were all supposed to meet. I didn't want to separate from Eddie now when he was really mine. I finally realized it was real, and it made me a tiny bit clingy. I didn't see him mind, and he seemed more than eager to spend every minute with me as well. I was probably a bit subjective, but he was the sweetest, most adorable and most romantic boyfried there had ever been. We were so in love it was cheesy.
When we showed up to Lissa's office, where we were supposed to meet (we were a few minutes late due to... being busy), he gallantly opened the door for me. "The last of the gentleman," Rose smirked inside of the room. I couldn't hide the smile on my face.
"How's it going, Jailbait?" Adrian asked, his smile equally wide. He must've noticed my aura. Or maybe the happiness I felt was radiating from me that much.
"Thank you so much," I replied. It didn't make much sense if you only listened to the conversation, but Adrian knew what I meant, I knew that when another smile lighted up his face. I hadn't thanked him before for everything he'd done, and according to Eddie his actions helped quite a lot. I knew he'd understand, and the bond told me he did. That made me realize that... I hadn't heard from the bond since I felt him hiding behind the luggage. He hadn't been blocking from me. My guess was that my feelings were finally stronger than Adrian's, and I'd been so busy with enjoying everything that was out of my reach before that I cut myself off the bond.
I let those thoughts go for the afternoon and focused back on the reason we were first here.
"Jill, I don't know what to do anymore," Lissa sighed. I didn't see the problem, to be honest. "What's the big deal?" I asked. "Okay, I know we missed the flight, but the classes start in a week! We'll just arrange another private jet to go there. Or we'll take a flight to Missoula from Pittsburgh if it's a problem and get some ride to the Academy," I said. Silence. I glanced around the room. Troubled looks around me gave me the feeling I missed the point.
"Getting you there is the least of our problems right now," Lissa said and gave a dry laugh. "I can't send you to the academy - that's extra protected already - with two guardians! You are my sister, but I can't afford special treatment for anyone as the Queen, especially now that the law has passed! I guess you won't want to leave Eddie behind now?"
"Of course not!" I exclaimed incredulousy. A knot formed in my stomach, and I felt as though someone was trying to rip it in two. Now that we were together, they were going to tear us apart? I reached for Eddie's hand in panic. His gaze was already fixed on me, but he didn't look much more optimistic than me. The smile I'd been seeing on his face in the past day faded.
"What then?" Angeline asked. "Are you just leaving me here?"
I winced. Lost in my perfection, I'd completely forgotten about her. My look must've been talkative enough to Angeline. I felt so guilty and selfish because of it.
"You can't take both," said Lissa pationatelly. I was pretty sure she didn't expect ruling the Moroi to include so much dealing with a 16-year-old princess's problems.
"Are you making me choose?" I asked with clear despair in my voice. Yes, she was making me choose. I wanted to take both! But if it could only be one... I tried not to squint at Eddie. And failed. His hold on my hand tightened.
"Oh, I get it! You're taking him," Angeline hissed. "What exactly does Eddie have that I don't?"
"Angeline..."
"What. Does. He. Have. That. I. Don't?" she demanded slowly, incredibly succeeding to add great impatience into the sentence. Her voice was cold, murderous. I really must've pissed her off.
"Well... A sixpack?" I tried to joke. It was a very inappropriate moment to do that, but I was hinting towards the right reason.
And for a moment I thought I'd be going on my own. Because Angeline would be in jail for attacking someone and Eddie would be in a wheelchair because of a broken everything. Angeline knocked Eddie off his chair and started to pull his shirt off. Except for the terrified expression on his face he reacted quite calmly. Pure opposite of the rest of the room, which mildly said exploded. My friends were sure Angeline had finally lost it and reacted in different ways. Neil and Dimitri (along with the few decorational guardians in the room who probably expected no work during this sessions) feverishly attempted to stop her in a way that gave the impression she was on a killer rampage. Lissa and Christian panicked like they were next on the list. Inappropriate thoughts were leaking into my head through the bond and I could've sworn I heard Trey say "Not this again!"
Me, I was one of the few (Sydney was obviously used to the drama, Trey was just sick of everything and Rose and Adrian were having way too much fun) who remained calm. As soon as Angeline was 'removed' from Eddie, I helped him back on his feet.
"You okay?" I asked. I tried not to laugh, but his face was just as amused as mine.
"Only my dignity is hurt," he said. "The student became the master."
"Can I become the student?" I asked, attempting to put an alluring expression on. Eddie threw his head back in exasperation. Or so he thought. I saw his lip corners curling up. "Well, you've waited long enough," he sighed. "Not only for fight practise," I smirked. He smiled and kissed me.
The same sudden way the chaos began, it vanished too. Everyone settled again and all eyes turned to Angeline with the request to explain her actions.
"Well, um," she wavered. "I just... Uh... I have a thing for sixpacks." Her voice was small and she probably felt horribly alone under our scrutiny. She probably felt betrayed by me. I tried to smile, but she didn't give me a single look. Trey was kind of holding back after what just happened.
"Back to the point! Jill, you seem to be so into love. Trey's going to college either way now that he was accepted, do you realize that? You're tearing us even further apart?" Angeline asked. Her voice was as sharp as a knife. She'd do anything to get back to me.
"You think I'd get a position at the academy as a teacher? Or just a guardian?" Eddie asked no one in particular. He was talking about a job like Dimitri had a year and a half ago. But then we'd see each other even less and our relationship'd be forbidden since I was a student...
"Wait a second!" I exclaimed. "Why don't we just sign Angeline in as a student? She hasn't graduated high school yet either way, nor passed the guardian exams, or however you call them."
The idea was so simple it was scary. How come no one had thought of it before?
"Will she get in a week before the beginning of classes?" asked Trey dubiously. A few of my friends exchanged looks.
"Reed Lazar got in just in the middle of school year just like that," said Christian.
"We pull a few strings, and she can become a novice tomorrow," Lissa said with a shrugg.
"Didn't you say no special treatment?" I asked.
"We can do that part annonimously," Adrian smirked.
"So Eddie's her official guardian, and I'm just a novice?" Angeline asked. We all nodded. "I'd take classes either way, right? Okay, cool."
I thought the meeting was over and was about to get going, but Lissa called us back. "You still don't know when or how you're leaving," she said with a wry smile. "Classes start on Monday, a week from yesterday. I figured you'd leave with one of the royal jets, best on Saturday so that you have a little time to adapt before."
Eddie and I exchanged glances and both smiled. I quickly squinted at Angeline too. I really didn't want her to feel left out. She gave me a smile too, and it didn't seem like she was still holding a grudge.
"Sounds okay," I finally told Lissa. She was holding her breath the whole time we made that silent communication and exhaled as I agreed. "Thank God, I didn't have a second option," she said.
We made our farewells then and all left. I was planing to go somewhere with Eddie, but I stopped him as he held my hand and tried to led me off. He gave me a surprised look and I explained I need to talk to Angeline. I barely caught her since her and Trey were already heading somewhere.
"Hey, I'm sorry about earlier... Are we cool now?" I asked, catching the hold of her hand. She broke into a full smile.
"Of course. I'm sorry too, I just got a bit upset... Sorry for attacking your boyfriend," she said. I only laughed. We got into a whole lot of things like this back when we were roommates.
I said goodbye to Angeline and hurried back towards Eddie. He gave me a wide smile and wrapped an arm around my shoulder.
"Everything okay?" he asked gently.
I nodded and kissed his cheek, steeping on my toes. Most Moroi were tall, but dhampir guys didn't stay much behind and Eddie's head was a few inches above mine.
"Really? The cheek?" he exclaimed with fake exasperation.
"Are you saying you didn't like it?" I teased, twirling a lock of my hair.
"I liked it a lot, but not as much as this..." He drew me closer and gave me a full kiss on my lips. I returend the kiss hungrily. I couldn't get enough of him.
Later we were at my place again, making a party out of cleaning my room. Clothes were still scattered everywhere from the eariler mad search. It was astonishing of many of them I managed to pull out in ten minutes. We tucked most of them back to into bags and suitcases. There was no point in unpacking when I'd be leaving in a few days. The conversation between us was light, when once in between there were a few seconds of silence and Eddie's expression strickened.
"You know, I'm worried," he said seriously. An ache of fear stung in my chest.
"About what?" I asked with uneasiness. Eddie, seeing the change in me, held my hand and smiled.
"About how the hell am I going to organise a perfect first date in the next three days."
"Oh!" I exclaimed joyfully and pressed myself closer to him. We were squatting on the floor and kind of collapsed on the ground with that action, both of us laughing in the process. "Then I better leave one nice dress outside, eh?"
"Maybe... Or better, surprise me with it," he smirked. "Not that I'm not loving this. You can come in these clothes if you want."
I smiled and maybe blushed a little. I knew my favorite T-shirt wouldn't let me down. I also knew he would've loved me in my pyjamas and that he couldn't mind the blush less.
"So... Where would you like to go?" he asked. He was trying to joke earlier, but the part about him being worried wasn't a lie. His face was tensed with anxiety as he eyed me expectantly.
"Uh... I don't know." How could I know so quickly? I didn't care either way as long as the date was with him. "Why the hurry anyway?"
"Well, the most appropriate place in the academy campus is the club room and the most romantic movie they have is Fast and Furious. And I don't think sneaking away to Missoula is a good idea," he said with a wry smile.
"Yeah, you're probably right," I chuckled.
"So?" he repeated. "Where to?"
"I don't know!" I laughed.
"I just want you to like it!" he cried.
"I'll like it as long as you're there," I assured him, stroking his cheek gently. It was coarser than it appeared, because the hair on his faice was so light it was almost invisible. "For example, this is just fine."
He moaned with joy quietly and pulled my head to his jerkily. We began to kiss again, and sitting in the floor as we were, it wasn't long until his body was on top of mine, his hands nailing mine to the ground. I was sure he turned me around with some martial arts thaf guardians do move. Maybe it was the high his presence caused me, but it was more likely that he was careful enough I didn't feel his weight one bit. What I did feel was the kiss growing deeper within seconds. I was eventually the one who tore us apart. His face above mine was red, probably a reflection of mine, and we were both breathing heavily. As much as I enjoyed it, I didn't want things to go any further. I pulled myself slightly back. Eddie took the clue in no time and helped me get up. There wasn't a glimpse of dissappointment in his face. He understood it was just too soon for me.
"About the date," I breathed, "You're on your own. Surprise me." Those were the same words he told me earlier and he knew it.
"That's just mean!"
"And you can't ask Adrian about it."
"Now I'm really nervous."
I shrugged and took his hands in mine. "You know I'll love it," I said gently, my voice barely louder than a whisper.
"But I don't want you to love it because it's something I did, I want you to love it because it's something you love for real!" he exclaimed. The only thought in my mind was: is it possible that a person is perfect?
"Oh, Eddie," I sighed. "I'll love it because you know me well enough to come up with something I love."
He didn't bring the topic up again in the next few days. We spent them together without exception. Unlike the whole summer before, the weather sucked. Eddie and I ignored it. Actually, it was almost better than it would be in the warm, because we had an excuse to cuddle and Eddie let me borrow his jacket. It was a bit big on me, but it was also warm and smelled like heaven. Another awesome part was that we went to the pool in the building where Ambrose worked. I loved seeing Eddie in his swimsuit and it was fantastic to be in the water. Whenever it wasn't raining, I actually managed to convince him into fight practise. We often ended up kissing on the groud, but we still got further than back when he wouldn't even consider it.
Friday afternoon, after I prepared the last details for the department (for real this time), I thought of calling Aimee to the academy to explain why I was coming late. We were in nonstop contact now and she knew every detail of my relationship with Eddie. Except since I actually got to spend some time with him, which left me with less time for everything else.
"Oh, my God, so you guys are finally together!?" Aimee squealed.
"I know, right!" I didn't have an opportunity to let out all my excitement until now.
"He's coming with you, right?"
"Yup, all of us on Saturday."
Aimee let out a happy sigh. "I can't wait to see you. We're gonna have so much fun..." she told me. I smiled.
"Hey, did you happen to meet a guy named Reed Lazar?" I asked, changing the subject suddenly. I wondered what happened to him. "We were supposed to fly together, but then Eddie came and... You know." I'd already explained the events earlier in the conversation.
"You two are so adorable..." Aimee gushed. "Anyway," her voice got a more serious note, "Yes, I met this Reed guy. We happened to start talking about you and I told him you were coming later." She paused for a second and then added: "He's really cute, you know!"
"Yes, I know, I-"
A knock on the door cut me off.
"I'll be right back, someone's at the door," I told Aimee and put the phone on the couch where I'd been sitting, screen up. Another impatient nod sounded. I opened up and met Lissa's eyes watching me, identical to mine..
"I'm so sorry about this," she said with no regret at all, "But there's going to be one last event tonight. You have to be ready at seven. Someone's picking you up." I was about to protest, but Lissa didn't let me. "Also," she continued, her eyes shining, "I know from reliable sources that Eddie's going to be there, so make sure to look nice." A comment about how he really doesn't care about my looks, just so that I could argue, was at the top of my tongue, but Lissa hushed me again. "That didn't come from him, that came from me. I mean, you always look gorgeous for these things, but... You know." She blushed under my scrutiny.
"Kiss-up," I scoffed.
"Okay, this went into a strange direction. And don't overdo it, put on something that's cute and comfortable." I rolled my eyes. "Just... Be ready at seven," she said, patted my shoulder and left without saying another word. That was some of the strangest behaviour I'd ever seen in my sister.
I returned to the couch and picked my phone up.
"Did you hear that?" I asked Aimee. I knew she hadn't hung up yet, even if the conversation took a bit longer than expected.
"Yup," she confirmed. "Every word. It was Lissa, right? Your, er, sister?" The word got stuck in her throat, because she was used to me being an only child. Also, Vasilisa would've been the right name, but who could blame my best friend when I'd always reffered to her as Lissa.
"Yeah, it was her," I said thoughtfully. "What do you think that was about?"
"Dunno." Silence hung in the air for a second, then Aimee took a sharp breath that meant she had a realization.
"What? What is it?" I demanded excitedly.
"Uh... Nothing! Probably just a royal dinner. Like Lissa said-"
"Aimee!"
"-What's that? I'm coming!" she said swiftly and hung up.
I sighed and looked for a dress to wear. Of course I had to search through the suitcases again, wondering if the packing - and unpacking ten minutes later - would ever end.
I didn't remember neither buying nor wearing the dress I went with. It was nice; a dress with a tight top that looked like it had several cutouts on the spot that covered my collarbone, but if you looked closely, you could see it had multiple straps, placed so they left rectangulad and triangle bare spatches on my skin, while the skirt was loose, reaching a few inches above my knee. The basic fabric was covered with another transparent layer, giving the dress a lighter, summery effect. The most important fact: it fit me perfectly. It was almost in the same shade of green as my eyes, except that it was a tiny bit more on the blue side. It still matched and looked gorgeous.
It wouldn't be right to let my hair ruin the picture, so I tied it into an acceptable ponytail with a few painstakingly picked locks falling on my forehead. I don't know why, but I wanted to look my best. I even considered applying a little make-up... But I didn't do it. I usually had proffesional make-up artists for that. This dinner was apparently more casual, which I should've realized when Lissa told me to stay comfortable.
And so, I sat on the couch, waiting in my beautiful dress, looking just as pretty and cute and nice as Lissa ordered me to be. "The last time I'm faking the perfect princess," I told myself.
Someone knocked on the door. I checked the clock. 7 pm. That someone was exactly on time. I exhaled and got up to open the door.
Someone was Eddie.
"Oh, so you're the one picking me up!" I exclaimed.
"Of course," he said, smiling. "And I was right. You do get more beautiful every day." His voice had that dreamy note he always spoke with when complimenting me. I felt a blush color my cheeks. I had absolutely no shame with him, but he still did that to me.
"You already saw me for lunch," I chuckled.
"Then I guess I meant by minute, because you look-"
I cut him off by wrapping my arms around him and pressing a kiss on his lips. I couldn't hold on longer.
"Let's go," he said after we separated. He took me in front of the building. I let him the lead because he cleary knew where we were going and I didn't have a clue. As we stepped outside, I took a breath of the fresh air. It was early morning for humans and the sun was on the verge of rising, illuminating the horizon in red and orange colors. After a few rainy days, the sky promised a little bit of sunshine.
Distracted with the surroundings, I didn't notice Eddie led me to a brand new Honda (I didn't know which one since I never had a clue about cars) until we were right there. I was taken aback to have a ride for an event I normally walked to. Especially since I knew Eddie didn't have a car. I smiled as he opened the door to the passenger seat to me. Everything he did made me smile.
"Where did you get the car?" I asked once he hit the gass.
"Borrowed it." His eyes were on the road, but I heard a smile in his voice.
"Why?"
I was surprised to realize he drove a bit out of the center of the Court. Not far, but definetly no place a royal would've hosted a dinner.
"We're not really going to a royal event, are we?" I smirked. Eddie only laughed in response. "Are you kidnapping me?"
"Just for tonight."
I stared at the road blankly while trying to figure out what was going on.
"This is our first date," I realized.
"Yup." Somehow I knew by the tone of Eddie's voice that he's no less excited than me.
"Oh, my God, why didn't you tell me?" I squealed. I felt a wave of shock in my stomach, the kind that came with excitement that I could hardly control.
"Well, you told me to surprise you," he replied, clearly amused with my reaction. "I had no help and... Well, you'll see."
Now I knew why no one told me what was going on. Eveyone but me knew. Even Aimee figured it out since I mentioned the first date conversation to her.
"But you told Lissa to..."
"I only asked Lissa and Rose for their opinion, but Liss insisted on telling you something's coming up. I told her to make up an excuse," he explained.
"Oh... Okay." I was still a bit dumbfounded by the whole surprise thing, but I also couldn't wait. And it strenghtened me in my belief that I couldn't get a better guy than Eddie.
"So, where are we going?" I asked.
"Not far," he said with a shrug. "Actually, we're here." He pulled the car into a macadam exit that only went on for twenty feet or so and parked on the grass. Bushes and trees were the end of the road, so that I couldn't see what was on the other side. "Come on," Eddie said once we left the car, took my hand in his and pushed some of the bushes out of my way so that I could get through. He gestured me to do so, and as I stepped through, I found myself at the bank of my beloved river.
But that wasn't all.
The bank had a ten feet wide sandy lane that looked just like the a beach. On it, there was a short table with two chairs around it and candles everywhere I looked. In the light of the rising sun, it looked beautiful and so romantic I couldn't help but gasp.
"Whoa..." I breathed.
"You like it?" Eddie asked. I tore my look from the patch of heaven in front of me and looked at him. He was certain I'd it - how could I not - but anxiety was crossing his features. He wanted to impress me so much it made my heart ache a little bit. Little did he know I was swept off my feet the moment we met.
"I love it," I said and wrapped him into a hug. His lips found mine and united in a kiss. My heart was racing and the only thought on my mind was that I love him so much it could kill me.
"I should've brought the food earlier," he murmured, his lips still almost pressed to mine. We must've looked like one of those cliche couples on beach photos that looked like just shadows pressed to each other in the setting sun.
"Where is it?" I asked, a bit dizzy from his body next to mine.
"In the car. Wait here."
He slowly took a step back and dissappeared in the bushes. I sat into one of the chairs. Five minutes or so later he appeared again, carrying a huge picnic basket.
"How much food have we got?" I laughed.
He considered the basked again and replied: "For a week or two. Maybe I went a bit too far."
"Or maybe you're actually kidnapping me for longer than tonight. I certinatelly wouldn't mind," I said alluringly.
"How am I supposed to resist that?" he chuckled.
"You don't."
The next moment we were kissing again. It probably took a few minutes for him to break the kiss.
"If we go on like this the food's gonna last for more than two weeks," he remarked. "Not that I mind." He opened the basket and began to take fold out. As I assumed, it appeared to be bottomless.
"When did you get all of this? We spent ninety percet of the last week together!" I exclaimed.
"It was a bit hard to organise," he admitted. "But worth it."
Somehow, we managed to eat all the food. I couldn't think of a single thing he didn't bring; there were all kinds of sandwiches, fruit and vegetables, desserts and a lot more. I don't know how, but after we finished, I flund myself asking: "Do we have ice cream?"
"Of course," he said with a wink that made me sink into the chair because it was so adorable. "I left it in the car in a cooler. I'll go get it."
He even got several flavours. He thought through every single detail.
"You're amazing," I whispered.
"The ice cream made you say that?" he teased.
"Don't underestimate ice cream," I replied.
We also finished the ice cream and stayed on the beach for a while, talking and kissing on the sand. I never thought we'd be doing that after the vacation disaster between us. I thought that was a chance wasted. I was glad it wasn't.
The sun had eventually risen and we didn't need the candles anymore. Eddie, worried about the heat's effect on me, set up a sunshade, even when I told him there's no need. "The memory from Amberwood PE's still too fresh," he said.
Somewhere around 3 am we head back to the Court. We probably should've done that before since we had a flight tomorrow, but we needed one last escape. Eddie walked me to the room and then insisted to leave right away so that I could get some sleep.
"Thank you for tonight," I said. "I know how much you tried for it and it was amazing."
"Well, it was our date and I enjoyed it just as much," he replied cheerfully.
"I love you."
"Love you too."
With a smile on his face, he turned around and left. I closed the door, feeling a smile cross my face. I squealed with excitement and spunn around the room. I'd never been so happy in my life, I couldn't believe it was possible. What he did to me, the way he made me feel, he made me lose control, but I didn't even care because it was so great.
The alarm clock woke me up at 7 am. I groaned and turned it off, wondering why I'd set it up so early when the flight was in the afternoon.
The day passed faster than I assumed it would. We met for lunch this time as well to make our farewell, but it didn't seem as painful and emotional for the second time. Maybe because we'd already said everything we could. Or maybe because I'd gained a much more positive perspective of life in the past two days.
Adrian took us to the airport one more time, this time along with Sydney. It turned out she hadn't come the first time only because she was bringing Eddie over.
But as I hugged them for the last time, I once again felt my chest getting tighter. I managed to hold tears back this time, but I was very close to crying.
"Fifteen minutes, let's go," Trey said.
But when I reached the top of the stairs that led to the private jet, the reality suddenly stroke me. I tightened my grip on Eddie's arm and slowed down my pace. He noticed my hesitation and gave me a gentle look.
"You ready?" he asked. I nodded and tried to smile. It came out as a sigh.
"Can we go say goodbye again?"
"Hey," Eddie said, cupping my face in his hands. "It's gonna be okay. I'm gonna be with you the whole time."
"I know." My voice was shaking. I sighed again. "Why am I suddenly so nervous?"
"Because things are about to change," he said softly. "But you've been through this once before. You can do it."
"Thanks," I whispered and kissed him. Suddenly everything felt a little better. For a second I thought I saw fireworks and lightining bolts...
...But when I opened my eyes, I realized it had been camera flash.

Camera flash? Does anyone know what that means?

I was really insecure about putting this chapter up, because I was afraid it's too fluffy aand cheesy, there isn't as much story and I although I enjoyed writing a horrible lot, I kind of feel like the quality is crap. According to how long we've been waiting fo them to finally get together, it deserves better. It's not my best work when this chapter of all of them should be. I don't know, maybe i'm just overreacting. Please tell me if there's anything you didn't like and I'll try to work on it until the next time. Which is probably going to be a bit longer than usually, because I'm going on vacation tomorrow and I won't have as much time to write next week. Also, I had everything painstakingly planned up tp this, and ahead everything's more foggy. Anyhow, please review!