Heartbeat // dreamnotfound

5- Social interacting

George Pov
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Only thirty minutes left.

George sighed, sitting up in his bed. Only thirty minutes until he'd have to stand awkwardly in a room full of strangers he probably wouldn't get along with very well. Though, he would need to improve his social skills becoming a king and all.

The only thing that could make this event at least a bit interesting was the presence of Clay. The only person who didn't seem like a dull, middle-aged idiot only looking at them.

Although, this could also just make things worse. George knew he often exaggerated in his own thoughts. Or well, maybe overthinking would be a better suited word. The worrying was most of the time worse than the actual interacting. But this time his concerns might indeed be reasonable. The lack of social skills wouldn't exactly help him in his useless attempts not to stare like a fool. Neither would the fact that the prince actually seemed intrigued to make acquaintance with him.

A very practical quality for a future king, don't you think?

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The dance and buffet took place in the grace of the ballroom. George was clothed in one of his finest tuxedos, waiting with his family for the guests to arrive.

In contrary to his usual agony with the idea of people, now he actually longed for their appearance. Clay was chatting happily with his sister, not paying George any attention. Hopefully if the guests arrived, they'd be more busy making conversation with others.

George knew he would be a fool if he expected otherwise, but he couldn't help but feel annoyed. Even though he always looked like an idiot trying to make conversation, he really wanted to get to know this man, now that he actually gave even the slightest hint of interest. For the prince it was obviously nothing more than friendship, but George wasn't going to act on his forbidden thoughts anyway. If this man in fact did want to be his friend, it would be the first one in a while.

As you know, George wasn't a big fan of attention. The fact that he didn't have any friends was mostly his own fault, and he didn't really mind. But for whatever reason, attention was exactly what he wanted from Clay. He wanted him to look George in the eyes and listen to his rambling. He wanted him to ask George questions and be interested in knowing more. That was something he lacked in his life- someone who would listen. Ever since he was merely a kid, people just got annoyed at him when he spoke too much, which was probably part of the reason why he lost his spirit in talking. Why he now always stuttered on his words, scared to be a burden. Why he now just chose to stay quiet.

Sure, people could sit next to him and do nothing but hear him speak, but only because he was a prince and it would be disrespectful to do otherwise. But listen? Rarely.

The only person who actually liked hearing his thoughts on the world was his brother. And we all know how that ended.

With the years, he became more and more careful with what he shared with others, out of fear of being ignored. It got to the point when nobody really ever knew him for real, and he spent most days confined in his own room- reading.

Someone to talk to was something he needed more than he knew. He had a habit of suffocating himself with his always so useless worrying, without someone to calm him. Someone to hug when he felt like nothing was okay, someone to reassure him that he was loved. Someone to hold his hand when he was scared...

"Uhm, George- is it?" A familiar voice interrupted his misery. Sometimes he got so lost in thought that he forgot about the real world.

He blinked a few times and looked around, finding Clay right infront of him. "What? Oh, yes, George. How lovely to meet you, prince Clay." He felt weird knowing the thoughts that had occupied his mind just a few seconds ago. As if Clay somehow knew what he was thinking. A strange feeling of embarrassment mixed with distress and nervousness filled his senses.