Hi everyone! Hope you all are safe and healthy during these strange and scary times. Please enjoy this new chapter in *drumroll* the three year anniversary of me publishing this story. So much have happened since the last chapter and my life have been a rollercoaster of events and emotions! I know my update schedule is completely crazy, but a realistic aim for me now is an update once a month, at least.

Without further ado, on to the story:

"I feel conflicted about leaving. In a way, I look forwards to it since I'll be seeing my family again. However, I'll miss you, Chad, Jason, Zeke, Taylor, Kelsi and the team."

"I feel like it's the knowledge that you will see everyone again, but it wouldn't be the same. We won't have the same connections through school and it wouldn't be the same, but that's okay. It's a part of life and it moves on whether we would like to or not…"

Friday
April 4th
Gabriella's POV

Talking to Troy had given me a lot to think about as I walked home. His perspective and thoughts on the situation had both been helpful, yet made me question my future. I was torn. Should I accept the offer from my dream school here in America or should I wait, and see if I got an offer from Royal College of Etrea?

I pondered on the various options while clutching the acceptance letter close to me. I also had to figure out when I should tell mom about Stanford…

Despite the short walk home, it dawned on me. I can't really explain it, or process how it happened, but I just knew what I wanted to do. I knew which future I wanted to proceed and where I could envision myself next year…

Troy's words repeating in my head, tell her how you feel about this.

"Gabi, is that you?" mom questioned as I closed the door behind me. "Yes," I called back before taking a deep breath. Following her voice, I found her in the living room watching the news.

"How was Troy?" she questioned turning down the volume of the TV. "He was alright given the circumstances. Happy I brought the soup," I stated taking a seat in chair beside the couch.

Mom turned giving me a questioned look as I gave her a reassuring smile. "He feared it were due to stress from school. He swore he felt better now because he hadn't done anything today which I hope is true. Always occupied with something…" I muttered the last part as mom smiled, knowing she had heard me.

"That's good news."

"So mom there was something I wanted to talk to you about," I stated noticing how shaky my voice suddenly got.

"Oh everything all right? You seem nervous," mom questioned as I nodded slightly.

"I got the mail earlier today. There were an acceptance letter from Stanford," I told her handing her the envelope. Like Troy, mom lifted out the letter, her face filled with joy as she read the paper.

"Oh this is amazing hija, congratulations," mom exclaimed as overjoyed as I predicted she would be. "How do you feel about this?" she wondered as I shrugged my shoulders.

"I'm happy, but I am hesitant at the same time… Stanford is the school we have been talking about, but I want to wait. I still want to see if RCE accepts my application. If I have to decline Stanford's early acceptance then so be it," I told mom more confident than I did feel.

"If that is what you want to Gabriella, then you should do it. Even though this is an amazing opportunity, you shouldn't jump on it if you don't think it's what you want," mom advised me as I nodded.

"The thing is that I thought Stanford were my dream school, the school I wanted to attend but as I looked more into RCE I were able to envisioning attending the school. How it would be studying there and the thought of studying abroad grew on me."

"Then follow your dream. Don't accept something to please the people around you, even if it is your own family."

"About that…" I muttered as mom gave me a look. "I didn't apply for early acceptance."

"Really?" mom questioned surprised as I sat there nodding my head. "I sent my application before the early decision date, but nothing more than that."

"Well they must have seen your grades along with your application and offered it to you anyways. Now, I think you should sleep on it before making your final decision. There's no rush is it?" mom wondered as I shook my head.

"No there isn't. Thanks mom," I smiled as I moved over giving her a hug.

"You're welcome mi hija."

It was like a burden had been lifted from my shoulders. I knew I had my mom's approval no matter what I decided to do.

Troy's POV

The quietness of the house were oddly satisfying, yet somewhat disturbing. Day had turned into night. Moonlight had been covered by clouds and, in the distance, you could hear the faint rumbling of thunder. I had not looked at the time, but I did not need to know that it was in the middle of the night. It did not look like I was getting any sleep tonight…

My conversation with Brie made me think… Thinking about my own future, what I was doing with my life and I came to the realization that I was not in control of my own life. There always seemed to be someone else telling me what to do and could not do. Weather it were my parents, grandparents, our security, tutor or the press. Everyone always had an opinion. Perhaps for the first time in my life I had complete control.

I started questioning myself again as I thought back to my conversation with Marcus. Did I really want to pursuit the future laid out for me? Did I envision myself become a king and rule a country? Would I be ready? Would I be able to do a good job? Would I be able to bring an heir to the throne? Somehow, the only thing I was able to vision were with Brie by my side, but why would she say yes. Why would she make such a commitment, moving around the world, giving up the only life she know? Trading it with endless hours of training on how to become a 'proper' royal… Images from my childhood flooded my mind, sending a chill down my spine. With trembling hands, I wrapped my duvet tighter around myself, trying to stop myself from shaking. Sitting in bed, my whole body trembling, I tried catching my breath. However, it seemed like there were no air left to breath. Like everything had been sucked out and vanished. My heart starting beating faster, faster, harder, harder. The pounding in my chest seemed to have made it even harder to breathe as I became desperate. I turned quickly, my duvet half thrown off the bed, reaching for my phone. My shaking hand not helping as I desperately tried to dial the number. Using both my hands, I lifted the phone to my ear, trying to keep it steady as I heard the call connect.

Saturday
April 5th
Marcus POV

Dinner with mom and dad had been over quickly as dad had to run off for yet another meeting. He had to be in Iwaki on Monday to propose a solution to a new project Alexander wanted to launch. However, they had not come up with the perfect solution yet. As dad closed the door to his office, already on the phone again, I made my way outside and towards the paddock. Already I could see Archer standing by the fence, waiting on me.

"Hey there boy," I smiled as he neighed in delight, stomping his hooves. "Oh come on, we were out riding just a couple of hours ago," I stated as I reached forwards petting his muzzle, trying to distract him. Archer turned away from me as my phone started vibrating in my pocket. Looking at the caller ID I cocked my head, frowning. Why would Troy call me at this hour?

"Hey this is Marcus," I answered but all I heard were wind blowing through the microphone. Wait, no that couldn't be the wind. "Troy. You there?" I questioned again as I heard a person swallow.

"Yeah," his strained voice answered. It was not like anything I had heard before, it did not sound like him.

"You don't sound like yourself Troy. Are you in some kind of trouble?" I questioned a little fearful of his answer.

"No," came his reply with the same shaky, strained voice. "I… I can't do it," he stated stuttering, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Can't do what?" I questioned perplexed as I had no clue what he was talking about. I listened, waiting on his reply but it was silent.

"Troy, come on talk to me. Let me know you're there," I begged as panic started creeping closer. "Troy I mean it! Talk to me," I begged again as the silence continued. "Shit, shit, shit," I muttered as I dragged my hand through my hair.

Then, relieved, yet a bit terrified, I heard his breath again coming in shallow gasps, mixed with hitched sobs. His next words were a hard punch to my gut.

"Help."

"Troy, focus on my voice," I stated clearly, a million thoughts racing through my brain, most of them fearing the worst. "I am here. I will help you through this," I tried assuring him as his stuttered sobs continued.

"Can't… can't breathe…"

"Listen to me, focus on my voice and not what's going on around you. I am with you Troy. Follow my breathing, in…" I told him as I exaggerated a breath to make sure he heard me, "and out…" I stated as I blew air out my mouth. "In… and out… In… and out… Good Troy, keep it going," I stated as I continued this for several minutes.

"Troy?" I quietly questioned as I could only hear his ragged breath. The sobbing seemed to have stopped.

"Yeah, I'm here," he sniffed as I let out a sigh of relief.

"Thank god. What happened, what's going on?" I wondered as I started making my way back towards the house.

"You remember we spoke together when you came to visit?" he wondered as I nodded to myself. "Uhu," I acknowledged as I closed the door behind me.

"Well I think I might have had that breakdown now. I really don't feel well."

"It is a good thing you called me brother," I answered him closing the bedroom door behind me. "So do you need someone to talk to, or would you prefer just to sit in silence?"

"I don't know. I am a little scared now, suddenly not being able to breathe."

"So you said you had a breakdown. About what? Same as what we talked about or?"

"Partially… I came to the realization that probably for the first time in my life I have been able to make my own decisions. Then the thoughts of where I could envision myself came and I don't know. I am afraid of who I'll eventually become. I am afraid of letting people down, disappointing them by not living up to their expectations. I am scared of losing Brie. I can't imagine that she would move across the world, giving up her life and future just to be with me."

"Would Gabriella really give up her future? I don't think she sees it like that."

"She probably doesn't know what she would say yes to. Not being able to live a normal life, always in the spotlight, everyone scrutinizing your every move. What else is there to say?"

"But have you taken into consideration the possibility of her actually being willing to accept that? She didn't run when you told her your secret, she didn't run after celebrating Christmas with your family and she didn't run after the two of you ended up in that gossip magazine."

"I am afraid of losing her again. She did walk away when I told her who I really am and she did try to leave when things got too bad at school."

"Don't think like that Troy. Don't allow yourself to go there. Troy, remember that she came back both times because she loves you. She cares about you and I can clearly see it when the two of you are together. If that isn't true love then I don't know what true love is."

"Thanks, I guess it's just difficult to fathom everything that has been going on lately."

"I see your point of view, I really do. Feeling any better after talking about it?"

"I feel a little better, exhausted frankly, but yeah…"

"It must be late over there by now," I stated as I looked at the time. "It's a bit after four in the morning yeah…"

"Listen Troy, not to sound like a psychologist or something, but I believe you might have had a panic attack earlier."

"Whatever it was, it was pretty scary," he admitted as I heard the fear in his voice. "Look," I stated as I scooted back in bed. "I believe this might have some correlation with your mom's fear of you developing some form of depression. I think you need some sleep and I'll call you in a couple of hours sound all right?" I questioned as I heard him let out a breath.

"Yeah sounds like a plan," he agreed before I heard something in the background, probably him laying down in bed.

"Let's say I call you in four hours, at eight?"

"Sounds like a good idea brother."

"Good, and do not ignore me because we both know that I will call your parents or whoever will answer. I care too much about you Troy and I fear you're not in the right state of mind at the moment," I revealed to him sinking back into the bed.

"You're right Marcus, I'm not doing well at the moment, but I promise you I feel better now. I'll tell mom myself tomorrow or something, but I should really get some sleep. Night talk to you soon."

"Of course, take care brother," I stated as we hung up. Why hadn't he called me sooner?

That was it, hope you guys liked it!

Reviews and comments are always hugely appreciated!
Until next time,
- FreeFlyingWriter