Chapter 17~

Eventually I must have fallen asleep cuz the next thing I know, I'm waking from a nightmare where Dad's being tortured somewhere in Transylvania while the princess he was supposed to be saving is shot to death. My heart pounds and sweat pours from my face, even though my room is freezing. I try to roll over and go back to sleep, but it's too late. I'm too afraid of finishing my dream if I fall back asleep.

The clocks says it's 2:15am, but I'm wide awake. There's a short silky light purple robe hanging on one of the wooden posts of the bed. I pull it down and tie it loosely around my waist, then tiptoe outside, trying my hardest not to wake up Ed. The night is still warm and breezy, albeit dark. I walk out to the balcony and look out. The pool lights are on, casting the water and the deck in a flickery kind of glow, which gives me an idea.

I rush back into my room and trade my tank top and shorts for my favorite black bikini, then slip the robe back on, grab a towel from the bathroom, slip on my flip flops and slip back outside. My flip flops are much louder than they should be as I shuffle down the stairs to the pool deck, but thankfully, no one wakes up. The pool looks even prettier up close, although I'm sure dating a pool boy has made me a little more sentimental about stuff like this.

As I lower myself into the water, I can't help but think about what Rosie said in the submarine about Armando and me not really dating. I mean, he sure acted like my boyfriend today, but Rosie's right. He never actually used the word "girlfriend." If we're not official, what does that make me? His summer hook-up? I mean, that's all that this is anyway, right? As much as I would love to think that we could last forever, the reality is that we're headed completely different directions at the end of the summer, regardless of whether or not we're officially dating.

I dive into the cool water and force myself to only think about each stroke as I swim from one end of the pool to the other, drowning out all thoughts about Dad or Armando. The water's calming, therapeutic almost. I come up for air, then go back under. When I resurface, I see a guy with dark hair walking towards me. My heart does a back flip before I realize that it's Petros, not Armando.

"I'm sorry," he apologizes when he sees me. "I didn't realize anyone else was out here."

"It's okay." I pull myself out of the water and dry off with the towel I brought. "I don't own the pool."

"Right. Your best friend does." Petros sits down cross-legged by the pool and takes off his sandals.

"Can't sleep?" I offer lamely as I wrap the towel around myself.

"Not so much," Petros replies, putting his feet in the water. "You?"

"I miss my dad," I admit. "I know he's okay, but I can't stop worrying about him, you know?" I stop and shake my head. "I have no idea why I just told you that."

"It's fine," Petros says. "I know what it's like, missing someone."

"Yeah, I'm sure you miss all your girlfriends back at the palace." I dip my toe into the pool and kick droplets across the surface.

"It's not that like," Petros argues, then pauses. "My aunt and uncle betray my family, steal my throne and try to have me and my sister killed and once I'm safely away, all I can do is miss them. How screwed up is that?"

"They're your family," I say softly. "I'd be more worried if you didn't miss them."

"I was the one who found out, you know," Petros says. "I overheard them talking about getting rid of us and taking over the country for good. I was one who called Princess Protection."

"You knew they would only save Megrin and you called them anyway?" I'm shocked.

"Pretty stupid, huh?" he cracks a half-smile. "I guess I figured better one of us survive than both of us die. That way the throne would still be in the right hands."

He runs a hand through his new dark hair, almost reaching his shoulders now. In a weird way, I kind of like it longer, but I'm still not used to it not blond. I wonder how much longer he'll have to pretend to be Greek.

"You sacrificed yourself to save your sister." I muse. "Pretty noble."

I could swear he's blushing. "It's not that big of a deal. I just did what I had to do."

I realize he doesn't want to keep talking about it, so I stop. We just sit there, not saying anything, just kicking out feet in the water. Occasionally, one of us will reach down and fling a handful of droplets across the surface of the pool. It's nice to just be, to not have to worry about running for our lives or have any decisions to make, to just enjoy the cool island breeze and the beautiful pool without it being ruined by small talk.

Eventually the pitch black night fades to dark blue.

"We should porbably try to get some sleep." Petros pulls his feet out of the water.

I agree reluctantly, taking my feet out of the pool too and then drying them off with my towel. I hand the towel to Petros so he can do the same. I tie my robe back around me, but I guess I still look cold cuz Petros unzips his jacket and hands it so me.

"So this whole arrogant player thing is just an act?" I ask as I put the jacket on, raising a skeptical eyebrow.

"Depends." Petros tilts his head to the side and cracks a sideways grin. "Did you find it charming?"

I just laugh and shake my head, knowing he doesn't really want an answer. Petros laughs too, then throws me back my towel. I catch it and sling it over one shoulder.

"Same time tomorrow?" I tease as we walk back towards the palace.

"No way!" Petros insists. "I like my sleep, thank you very much. Get your boyfriend to do it. That pool's basically his kingdom, right?"

"And there's the stuck-up jerk I was expecting." I shoot back.

Petros laughs a little. "Good night, Carter."

"Buonanotte, Peter," I reply mockingly and then we part ways – him to his suite and me to mine.

It isn't until I'm back in my room, checking the time (almost 4:30am) that I realize I'm still wearing Petros' jacket.