𝐀𝐍 𝐔𝐍𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐃 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘, 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐬

xxᴠ || ꜱᴇᴄʀᴇᴛꜱ ᴜɴᴋᴇᴘᴛ

Astrid paced the empty dorm room nervously. She ran her hands over one another, over and over again until they felt rough and harsh. Her eyes darted all over the place, the lack of time keeping putting her even more on edge. Madison was meant to meet her there at ten that Saturday morning. Currently, she was about fifteen minutes late.

Astrid hated when people didn't keep their word.

So she resumed pacing the room, while rubbing her hands anxiously. Finally, the door swung open, and there stood Madison.

"I said ten," Astrid said immediately, crossing her arms as she came to a stop, facing Madison. The girl closed the door behind herself, then lent against it.

"I got held up," Madison replied, "You told me to come alone, and Felice has been on my ass all morning. She is seriously pissed at August still, especially because he's now not going to jail. I had to talk her out of a fight". She eyed Astrid curiously, sensing the Princess's off feelings. "What happened? Why are we meeting secretly in an empty dorm room, Ash?"

"You're rich, yes?" Madison appeared taken back by the question, "We're all trust fund kids here, and I'm assuming because you're from New York and going here, you're one of us elite kids".

"Yes, I'm rich, alright," Madison said, "Why are you asking? Also, it's extremely rude to ask someone about their financial situation..."

"I need your plane".

"What?"

Astrid sighed, "You're a New York kid studying abroad in Sweden. I'm going to assume your family has a private plane".

Madison was getting suspicious now. She focused her attention on Astrid's expressions, her body language. Something was definitely wrong. "You're the Princess, surely the royal family has a private jet," Madison replied, as her eyes wandered down to Astrid's hands. "Where is your ring?" She exclaimed in question.

Instinctively, Astrid hid her hands behind her back, but Madison moved forward, towards Ash. The Princess didn't fight as Madison grabbed at her hands, pulling them back in front of her body. "Where is your engagement ring?" Madison asked again, narrowing her eyes.

"I gave it back".

"You idiot!" Madison exclaimed, dropping Astrid's hands as she took several steps backwards. "You go find her and take it back!"

"I can't," Astrid replied, trying to keep her voice steady, when in reality the whole situation was making her want to throw up. "It's the only way I can protect her. Besides, the Queen is going to announce it soon enough; the media will just humiliate her".

"What are you talking about?" Madison asked, "What is the Queen announcing? Why do you have to protect Jasmine? Astrid, what is going on?"

"I think August killed Erik," Astrid said shortly, "And I think he might be coming after Wilhelm, Simon and I. And Jasmine, possibly".

Her words caused Madison to freeze up. Astrid looked apologetic, solemn. Her face was almost completely expressionless, her posture and stance leveled and straight. "He wouldn't go that far," Madison argued, her voice shaking and softer, "August is a bad person but he wouldn't kill someone".

"I don't think he meant to kill," Astrid agreed, seeing how upset Madison was becoming, "If he is to blame, I think the whole thing was an accident, but it all worked in his favor. The Queen is trying to get us to marry, me and August, to protect him from the media fallout. From the video charges and that arrest". She was just trying to defend her reasoning, not wanting to believe that August was to blame for Erik's death either, but not seeing another person to blame for the whole situation.

Madison was leaning against the wall, as if she needed support to keep herself standing. "Who else knows?" She asked, her lips pursed and her eyes downcast.

"No one," Astrid said, before thinking better about it and correcting herself, "The mechanic named Gerry, down at the junkyard".

"Who?"

"Don't worry".

Madison sighed. "What are you going to do? What are we going to do?"

Astrid shrugged, "I was planning on leaving the country without anyone's knowledge. If I go alone I have a much better chance at staying under the radar. I can travel, jump from country to country and try not to get into too many scandals".

"You think that will work?" Madison questioned, "You believe you can get away from here, undetected?"

"Will you help me either way?"

"Of course," She said, "But I have to know our confidence levels here".

Astrid chuckled humorlessly. "Our confidence levels are on the floor, Madi. But I have to leave; I cannot marry August. I refuse".

Madison had her phone out now, tapping away on the screen. "I can probably get the plane in a couple days. Are you planning on staying here until you leave?"

"I wasn't, no".

Madison nodded understandingly. As she and Astrid continued to plan Astrid's escape, the door to the empty dorm room flung open, Felice standing in the doorway. Astrid glanced quickly to Madison in a panicked worry, but Madison was staying completely calm.

"Jasmine is being kicked out, they found her out," Felice breathed, as she blew out pants. "We need to go".

Neither Madison or Astrid had to be told twice. They raced out of the dorm room, following Felice in a panic.

Things were spiraling downwards quickly. Astrid just hoped she could get out of town before everything exploded. 

*            *           *

(900 words)

sorry that updates have been all over the joint. online school has also been all over the place, so the time for me to write varies dependent on each day. hopefully i'll be able to start updating in a more frequent pattern but for now just expect an update everyone one to like four days. 

votes and comments are appreciated.