Carrying the Torch

Chapter 12: Just A Pauper

"Excuse me! Miss?! Hello?! I could use some help over here!" I wave my arms wildly in the air. This is my seventh attempt of a date with Lily since I've met her. The other times have been rough but effective so now, I'm just getting creative.

"Are you okay, sir?" She politely asks as she pulls up to me in her car.

"Actually, no. My car broke down." My teeth chatter, the cool of the heavy rain starting to finally get to me. "May I please use your phone?"

"I don't have one on me. I uhh- I can't leave you out in this weather. Get in and you can call for a tow truck from my house? Only if you're comfortable of course." She rambles.

"Yeah sure that's fine. Well, unless if you're some psychotic murderer." I reassure her and get in as she turns up the heat.

"I'm Lily by the way. So at least if I try anything you somehow get away you can go report me or something." She giggles.

"And, I'm Harry by the way if you ever want to come find me and finish the job." I chuckle and a smile plays on her lips.

"It's a fair game now." She smiles and starts to drive.

"What exactly are we playing?" I inquire a smirk forming and she catches it.

"Hmm. Honestly it depends on what you want and how good the prize is." She smiles a slight blush creeping into her cheeks.

"I have a game idea it's called indelible. We both fight to be lodged into each other's memory. Because, though contrary to belief, everything starts in the mind." I explain to her watching her reaction.

"So the prize is what? Being implemented in someone's mind? To know someone is always thinking of you?" She quietly notes.

"So are you in?"

"Yeah I'm in, sounds interesting. Plus who doesn't love to be on someone's mind?" She chuckles to herself and pulls into a driveway. She parks the car, removes her seatbelt, and finally gets out the car, and I follow her actions.

I take a look around her quaint house, which seems to be so out of place in the modernistic neighborhood. And, I can't help but chuckle to myself.

"Well, don't you guys stand out." I tease her nudging her arm a bit.

"Obviously we are the Royals and we govern the people." She laughs, turning the key and opening the door.

"Oh, that makes total sense. My apologies, your highness." I laugh and bow as she erupts into a giggle fit.

"I don't know why I found that so cute and funny. Anyways, follow me." She enters her house and walks into the kitchen.

A guy with dark features comes into view and glares at me.

"Lil, who's this?" He nods his head over to me.

"Oh, umm, this is Harry. I found him in the rain his car had broken down so I gave him a lift. He's going to use the phone to call a tow truck service. Do you have anything he can use? He must be really uncomfortable with those wet clothes." She walks to the phone and hands it to me.

"You can't just pick up strangers off the streets." He groans but disappears only to return with a shirt and sweat pants for me to use.

"Thanks." I take the clothes from him and the phone from her.

"Bathroom's that way." She points me in direction.

"Alright thanks again, your highness." I quickly bow earning giggles from her, and go to the bathroom and change. I quickly call Louis telling him to pick me up in about an hour or so. Then, I go back to Lily.

"So pauper, would you like anything to eat?" She giggles while preparing food.

"That'd be lovely. I won't be picked up until an hour or so. So yeah, get used to my company. Oh, and who was that guy?" I lean against the counter watching her.

"You're the lucky one getting an hour with royalty. But, um Zayn? He's just my overprotective paranoid brother." She smiles and begins to chop up sweet peppers.

"So ... does this princess gave a prince charming?" I go behind her, wrapping my arms around her, holding her hands in place, and helping her cut.

"I was doing it wrong again, huh?" She says in a small voice. I notice a deep scarlet blush creeping into her cheeks and her breath quickening.

"So, do you?" I continue to question.

"N-no." She stutters as her blush deepens.

Once we're done with the sweet peppers I pull away from her and go back to watching her.

"Why not? You're beautiful, sweet, and so far pretty amazing." I watch her blush deepen and her lips stretch to form a gorgeous smile.

"Prince Charming is probably somewhere on the side of the road in this rain waiting for me." She turns away from me.

"He could be closer than you'd think." I turn her to face me.

"Oh, really? Like where?" She questions

"Like here. Like me." I answer.

"Sweet words and a sweet face, usually screams trouble and heartbreak. So maybe over time you'll be my Prince Charming but, for now? You're just a pauper." She turns to me making sure to get her point through.

She really is different. She's not going to accept me so easily. My lips stretch into a wide smile.

She's the princess. I'm just a pauper. And, I will most definitely get her.