With All My Heart

Chapter Three

      "Why me..." I ask quietly.
      Nick is squatting in front of me, holding my hands, "He saw something special in you."
"How did he not understand that I wanted nothing to do with him?" I ask, finally looking Nick in the eye, "I have to give up everything now... you and William..."
"You don't have to give up anything," Nick assures, "William and I will continue to annoy the hell out of you. We won't let you off that easy."
This gets me to smile. I lean down and hug Nick. He hugs me tightly.
          "Allie," Xavier says from the door, "Are you ready to go home? Your mom has called the school a few times asking to talk to you."
        I nod and ask, "Are you coming with me?"
        "If that is alright with you," he says.
I nod, "Am I allowed to drive my car?"
"Why wouldn't you be allowed to?" Xavier asks.
"She is still a little wound up," Nick tells him, "She's nervous she will have to give up everything."
"You don't have to give up everything," Xavier informs me, "We can talk on the way to your house... but we really need to get going."

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

Mom squeals excitedly as soon as my bedroom door closes and we are alone. I groan, covering my ears.
"Seriously Mom."
"He chose you!!!" she screams.
"Shut up," I snap, "He can hear you."
       "I'm sure he's excited to know that your family is happy," Mom says, "You should be happy too."
         "I'm not happy. I didn't want this Mom," I snap.
"Do you realize what this could mean for us?" Mom asks.
"For you!" I yell, reaching my breaking point, "You mean for you! It's always about you and what you want! It's never about what I want or need! You are so fucking selfish!"
"I'm selfish? You're the one who doesn't want to do this because it your future and not mine! It's not just about you Allie! It's just you and me now! And Prince Xavier chose you, do you realize that there are so many reasons to be thankful for that?" Mom yells back.
There's a knock on my bedroom door and Nick pops his head in. He looks like he's worried he's going to get yelled at.
"Um... we can hear you from the kitchen," Nick says quietly, "Is everything okay?"
"Can you tell Prince Xavier that I will have my things packed in a moment?" I ask, staring down at the floor.
"I will," mom says, "Nick, you should stay with Allie."
"Make sure to keep your mouth shut," I snap at mom as she walks out, "He doesn't care about any lies you want to tell him. Oh, and don't fucking fan girl over him!"
Nick roughly grabs my hand, "Stop Allison. I know you're pissed, but acting out isn't going to help."
"She's ridiculous!" I snap, yanking my hand out of his grasp, "It's all about her, all the fucking time!"
"I know," Nick grabs my face, making me look at him, "I know Allie..."
"I wish Mike were here," I whisper, tears starting to roll down my face.
"He's your big brother, there is no doubt that he is always watching over you," Nick says, "You know what he would tell you... he would tell you to go with Prince Xavier because you might grow to like him. At least for the time being, you will be away from your mom, and if it's not what you want or you can't handle it, I'm sure Prince Xavier will help you find somewhere you can go."
        "What would you say?" I ask quietly.
        "The same thing Mike would," He says, "You bad better get your things packed. I'm sure they have things they need you to do once you get to the palace."
         Nick helps me pack. There's not a lot, I only need a few pairs of clothes, and whatever I want to take. Any of my wants and needs will be taken care of.
         "I don't want to go," I tell Nick.
Nick pulls me into a tight hug, "I know Allie. I don't want you to go either... but I'm only a phone call away. And I'm sure you will be allowed to have visitors."
I nod, "I'm still going to miss you."
Nick kisses the top of my head, "And I'll miss you."
He pulls away before continuing, "Now come on. I doubt the prince wants to wait any longer."
I sigh and lead him out to the living room. Prince Xavier is sitting by himself on the couch. I can see my mom standing on the front porch smoking a cigarette.
"Are you alright?" Prince Xavier asks, standing from the couch.
I nod, "I'm ready to go when you are..."
"Do you want to say goodbye to your mom?" Xavier asks.
"No..." I tell him.
Prince Xavier nods, "Okay. You're sure you have everything you want?"
I nod and let him guide me out to the car. Out of respect, I stop when my mom tells me goodbye, though when she tries to hug me, I tell her goodbye and finish my walk to the car.
"Is there anywhere you would like to stop?" The driver asks Prince Xavier, who looks over at me.
I shake my head and he tells the driver no before turning in the seat to face me. His watches me with worried eyes.
"What?" I ask, at this point I have an attitude in my voice that I can't get rid of.
"You are worrying me..." Xavier says.
"Why? Because you heard my argument with my mother?" I ask, crossing my arms.
"That and you just don't... you don't seem happy, at all. You act like there is something you need to get off your chest that's been building up for a while," Prince Xavier says.
"I was hoping you wouldn't pick me," I tell him, "My mom on the other hand, she has an obsession with your family. Since I was little, she has been trying to convince me to do whatever I can to try to win you over. She never wanted me to be happy, all she cares about is herself. And since..."
I sigh, not adding the rest of the sentence. I lied earlier and told him I didn't have siblings. I can't bring up my brother being killed now, even though I about added that since he was killed, my mother has gotten worse.
"Since what?" Xavier asks.
"Nothing..." I mumble.
"So, why were you hoping I didn't pick you?"
"Do I look like a future queen to you?" I ask, "I mean, I told you at the school that I didn't want anything to do with a royal asshole... I'm not saying you are one, you seem nice... maybe I just don't want this because my mom has tried forcing me into it for so long."
         "I promise, I'm not an ass," Prince Xavier says, "My mother would murder me if she caught me treating someone with disrespect.... I can understand that feeling forced into something would make you not want it... can you do me a favor though?"
         "What?" I ask.
         "Give me a chance..." he says softly.
        "I don't have a choice," I say, rolling my eyes.
         "I'm not forcing you into anything," he assures.
         "I can give you a chance..." I tell him, "I may be a bitch... but I do my best not to be."
          "You're not a bitch..." Xavier says, "You just have something you need to talk about, you just haven't found someone you can talk to about it. I hope that some day you will come to trust me enough to talk to me about it."