With All My Heart

Chapter Two

     "Are you nervous?" William asks me as we sit at lunch.
      I shake my head, but I know why he is asking. I haven't touched my food at all. The smell of it is making me nauseous.
       "You act nervous," William says.
        "My mom has been messaging me all day asking about the prince," I tell him, "She's masking my me anxious."
        "You should eat something..." Nick says softly, "You have a bad habit of not eating much anyways..."
          "Allison Smith, please report to the guidance counselors office please," the principal says over the intercom.
          "It's your turn,"William says.
          "I'll walk you," Nick says.
           Nick hugs me to his side as we walk. Its a normal thing for us. He started doing it when we were younger to comfort me and hasn't ever stopped.
          When we get to the office, the prince is standing at the door waiting for me. He gives Nick and I a questioning look.
          "Everything okay, Miss," the prince asks.
          "Yes Sir," I say quietly, "Nick, it's okay. You can go."
           Nick kisses the top of my head and tells me he will wait for me to get back. I stand quietly for a minute, before looking up at the prince who guides me into the office.
       "I'm Prince Xavier," He says, "You're Allison correct."
        "Allie," I tell him, "I hate being called Allison."
        "Why do you hate being called Allison?" Prince Xavier asks.
         I sigh, "My dad abused me when I was little and the way he said my name is still... fried into my brain."
      "I'm sorry... I probably shouldn't have asked about that," He says, looking like he feels bad for asking about my name.
"It's fine... Can we just uh, get this over with?" I ask.
"Yes, I just have one question before I start with the main questions... the boy who walked you here, are you dating?"
I laugh, "No. Nick is practically my brother."
        "I assume you get that question a lot," Prince Xavier says.
        "All the time," I tell him.
"How old are you?" Xavier asks.
        "Eighteen," I tell him.
        "Do deal well under pressure?" He asks.
        "What is this? A job interview?" I ask.
         "I have no choice but to ask these initial questions. I know they seem a bit too formal," Xavier agrees, "I promise, I'll ask some more relaxed questions soon."
           I sigh and lean back in my seat. I answer all of the questions he says he has to ask. He writes down my answers on a form before flipping the paper over.
        "Okay, those questions are done... Now, I want to get to know you. I don't care about all the questions I'm required to ask. Those are mainly for my parents, the clothing questions are if I do choose you, the staff will be able to have some clothes ready for you," Xavier says, running a finger through his dark, shaggy hair.
        "What do you want to know?" I ask.
        "Well first, I'm just curious... every other girl is dressed up in extremely short, shorts and a cut off shirt, or some sort of revealing outfit. You on the other hand, you dressed nice, but not like you really care what people think. Did you dress like you did because of a religion, or because you are more comfortable in more conservative clothes..." he starts to ramble, almost like he is nervous.
        "I dressed like I did because I'm not trying to impress you," I cut him off, "My mom would have liked me to try. But I'm not going to be forced into trying to win the heart of some guy I don't know."
Prince Xavier smirks, "Is there more too it than that."
"I feel like you're probably not as nice as you seem on tv. Yeah you're good looking, but why would I want something to do with the royal asshole?" I asks.
"Touché," Xavier chuckles, "So, I see you are a pretty honest person."
          "I try to get be."
          "Do you have siblings?" Xavier asks.
"No," I lie. My brother was killed a year ago in a car accident. A guy was drunk driving and hit my brother. I have another brother, but I have never met him.
"I couldn't imagine what it's like to not have siblings," Xavier tells me, "I have two... but I'm sure you know that."
"Of course I know," I say, holding back an eye roll. Every junior and senior takes a politics class where we are kept up to date on everything going on with the royal family and their political decisions.
        Xavier looks at me, a smirk on his face. He seems to be enjoying himself.
         "Do you have anymore questions?" I snap, ready to leave.
         He bites his lip, holding back a laugh, "What's your favorite color?"
        That's such a cliche question, but I answer him anyways, "Blue... like..."
        I pause looking around the room that is my favorite shade of blue. The only thing I can find that is the right color, is his eyes.
        "Like what?" He asks.
        "Nothing.... May I go?" I ask quietly.
        "You seem to be in a rush now. Is something wrong?" Xavier looks worried.
        "Nothing is wrong..." I tell him honestly, I am just tired of him. He seems cocky.
         "You we're actually the last girl I needed to talk to," He says, "I will let you go. Would you do me a favor?"
          "Sure..." I agree to do what he wants, though I really don't want to.
          "Stop by and tell the principal that I have made my decision, I just need 15 minutes to speak with my father before I make the announcement?" He asks.
          I nod, "I can do that. Do you want him to have everyone head to the gym now?"
          "That would be great... thank you Allie," Xavier smiles at me, "I will see you soon."

                             •••••••••••••••

The 15 minutes I wait in the gym with Nick and William seems to be the longest 15 minutes of my life. He isn't going to choose me, I don't know why the wait is making me anxious. I think I made it pretty clear that I am not interested in Prince Xavier.
"You are nervous..." Nick points out.
"I don't know why." I say as I rub my forehead, "Its not I'm interested in the guy."
"It's because you don't want chosen," William says.
I sigh, looking across the gym where I see Prince Xavier. He is standing with his father, a smile across his face. Our principal is standing next to him, clearly trying to get Prince Xavier to reveal to him first who he has chosen.
"He chose someone from here," Nick says, "Look at how Principal Howard is acting."
At the moment Nick says that, Prince Xavier makes his way back to the microphone. His eyes are scanning the crowd of students, most likely looking for the girl he chose.
"Good afternoon," He smiles.
I notice a camera man in the corner of the room. He must have walked in while I was watching the prince.... Prince Xavier definitely chose a girl from here. But what mindless girl here could catch his attention?
"I have made my decision. Before I tell you all who I chose, I would like to let you all know that every lady I talked to is special in her own way. All of you have had a respect that I have not seen at any other school," Xavier continues, "However, this girl stood out to me because she was not afraid to be herself, she was almost brutally honest with me..."
Nick looks down at me, "Allie... you look like you've seen a ghost."
I know exactly who he chose. No other girl would be 'brutally honest' with him and no one else would have 'been herself'. I know these girls to much.
"The girl I have chosen is Allie Smith," Xavier announces, after his speech, "Allie could you come down here."
I stay seated. This is not happening... it can't be happening.
"Allie," Nick says, "He needs you to go stand by him."
I shake my hand, but Nick stands and pulls me to my feet. He drags me down to stand by Xavier.
"It will be okay," He murmurs to me, "I love you."
Nick says something quietly to Xavier, I can't hear what he says, but Xavier responds and Nick sits down in the front row of the bleachers.
Xavier leans down and whispers to me, "I promise, there is no reason to be scared."
I scan the crowd as he straightens and begins to address the crowd again. I don't hear what he says. I can feel everyones eyes on me. The glares from the girls seem to burn through me.
I feel a hand on my back. I look up at Prince Xavier who is guiding me out of the gym. He doesn't look quite as happy now. He looks worried.
"We are going to the office again," Xavier tells me, "You need away from everyone."