Chapter 5: Camilla
Stephanie, Jo's friend suggested this restaurant called El Pasta, about 20 minute drive from the inn and we decided to eat there tonight.
Jo, Brett, Steph, and myself were packed inside the 4x4 Steph's parents owned as Sean drove us to the restaurant.
"It seemed pretty packed in there." Brett remarked.
"Its okay, I made a reservation earlier so its no big deal." Steph smiled.
The gang got out of the car and in to the restaurant where the waiter escorted them to their table.
Brett pulled Camilla's chair, Sean did the same for Jo and Steph. The waiter gave them the menu and were obviously eyeing the twins but Brett nonchalantly put his arms around Cam and Sean scooted closer to Jo. The waiter got the idea and ran off.
"Did you see that twerp's face?" Brett laughed out loud and Sean grinned.
"He looks like he was gonna cry!" Steph joined in the fun. If only Shane was here, she thought.
Camilla saw Jo's attention went to the next table where a gorgeous guy just sat with a younger girl and a much older woman. She guessed the older woman was the young man's mother and the younger woman was his girlfriend.
Camilla turned her attention silently to the guy and she saw him smiled at Jo. Uh oh. Jo smiled back.
"Hey." Brett touched her hand. "You okay?"
"Yeah." Camilla smiled, just then, her phone rings.
DAD.
"Shit!" Camilla hissed. Jo and Brett looked at her. She looked at Jo. "Dad." Jo froze for a moment then nodded.
"Hi Dad!" Camilla said happily, but her heartbeat's beating like crazy inside her chest.
She put it in loud speaker mode and put her fingers to her mouth, signaling everyone to be silent.
"Darling, where are you right now?" Her father said in a demanding tone. The three royals looked at each other. They knew they should tell the truth because the king might be a step ahead of them if they lied.
"Iowa dad. With Brett." She said, her throat feels dry now.
"Put me in a loud speaker." The king demanded. You already are, they all thought.
"Okay dad." Camilla said after awhile.
"Brett, you there?" He asked.
"Yes sir." He knows he can't say your highness right now because everyone will know he's guarding both princesses of England.
"Good. You taking care of my girl?" Phew, he didn't say Lord.
"Yes sire, in fact. We're about to eat dinner." Brett said nervously.
"Okay. Camilla, I will call you later." The king said and the phone beeped.
"Oh my god my heart was about to explode!" The duke said and he tried to breathe normally.
"So much for overprotective." Steph mumbled but Jo heard her loud and clear. If they found out they were having dinner with the princesses and a duke, they would overprotect them too. They would probably taste the food first if it has poison, or drink the wine, if it was blood.
Their dinner arrived and they ate in silence.
After the dinner and a walk to the park, Brett and Camilla decided to go to the inn already and since the park is near the inn, they decided to just walk.
Jo knows that Camilla has feelings for Brett and Brett feels the same for the princess. The only thing that's stopping them is that Brett has a girlfriend at home. It's totally not his fault though, his dad was meddling with his life and besides she's an Empress.
Sure, Empress Akihira of Japan is older than him. 10 years to be exact, but he needs to date him, for the sake of the nation.
Camilla's hands were hanging on her sides and Brett held them.
"What are you doing?" Camilla knitted her eyebrows.
"Something I should've done a long time ago." Brett pulled her hand, making her stumble and that caused her body to be so close to his. His face hovers her, his hazel eyes looking right through her.
Then out of the blue, he kissed her. All of the walls between them seemed to disappear. The world stopped. The time stopped but they never did.
"Wait." Camilla stopped him, her hands resting against his chest. She can feel his heart beating so fast just like hers.
"What about Akihira?"
Brett looked into her eyes and he saw her break inside, although she never says anything. He puts his hand against his chest, where her hand, "In 2 days, we'll return to London, I'll break up with Akihira and all will be well.
"But your dad..." Camilla started but Brett cut her off.
"Don't worry about my dad. I'll handle him." He smiled gently. "Now c'mon let's go inside." Their hands still connected.
Usually every night for the last four days, they say good night then they enter their own rooms but tonight was an exception.
Still soaking up their happiness and freedom, they went inside Brett's room. They spend hours showing their suppressed feelings, how much they love each other.
-—-—-
5B: Alex
Alex woke up with a start. He barely slept last night mainly because he was so nervous about today. Today, he'll admit Aaron to a Mental Hospital with their mom. Amber had just turned 18 and two weeks ago, she graduated from High School. Taking care of two crack pots aren't really gonna help Amber to build her own life, and he didn't want that for his sister.
He showered, brushed his teeth and change in barely 10 minutes. He decided that he'll grab breakfast on his way to the hospital.
He rode a taxi to the hospital but the traffic is jammed so he decided he should walk instead, it's exercise and it's only a 10 minute walk.
He got off the taxi and payed the guy. He saw a hotdog stand and decided to have breakfast right then and there.
He was about to sit on the bench near the stand when out of the blue, someone bumped him, causing his breakfast to dive on the pavement. Great, just great.
"Hey!" He shouted. She stopped and apologized but before Alex could say more, she took off again. He threw the food in the garbage.
He arrived at the hospital and went to the psych ward.
"Hi, I'm Alex Karev, I'm here to move Aaron Karev." He informed the nurse on the desk. She asked him to wait for a moment.
"Mr. Karev?" A tall red haired guy with an Irish accent asked loudly and Alex stood up. "I'm Dr. O'Connor, if you could just follow me please." He said.
He was led to a room on the end of the hallway. Dr. O'Connor opened the door and there was his brother sitting on the floor laughing.
"Aaron?" Alex cautiously approached his younger brother.
"All right everybody quiet." He was silent for a moment. "I said quiet!" He suddenly yelled.
"Alex! It's so nice to see you again." Aaron hugged him, for a second, he was almost like his old self. Polite, smiling.
"Nice to see you too, Aaron."
Aaron fidgeted with his fingers like he did when he was young indicating he was afraid to ask something or just nervous.
"What is it, Aaron?" Alex scrunched his eyebrows. "C'mon, you know you can ask or tell me anything."
He laughed lightly. "Alex, this is my girlfriend." He gestured to his side, his hand forms like he was holding someone's hand.
"Aaron! She's not real." He tried to tell him calmly.
"What do you mean?" He asked, confused. "Look at her!"
Alex sighed. This is going to be a long day.
He finally played along with Aaron just to have him committed in the mental hospital. He told Aaron that they will move into a new town with a new house that Alex bought just for Aaron. He told him that he will have a lot of neighbors and new friends.
Before they head out the hospital, Alex brought a club sandwich from the hospital cafeteria. They rode the ambulance provided by the hospital.
About 20 minutes later, they arrived. Aaron's hand is still about 5 inches from his body, maybe still holding his imaginary girlfriend's hands.
Entering the place, there's lots of crazy people doing something weird. Talking to themselves, playing alone. They checked Aaron in.
"Aaron, I'm gonna leave now, okay?" Alex said so gently that he might be talking to a child.
The young blond man, responded with just a nod. They hugged and Alex kissed his little brother's head but Aaron suddenly pulled away.
"Alex! What are you doing?" Aaron yelled. "Don't embarrass me in front of my girlfriend!" He whispered.
Alex laughed but hugged Aaron once more then left.
He rode a taxi once again but it was rush hour and the traffic was jammed so like earlier he got off the taxi and walked to University of Iowa for a shortcut.