A Royal In the Making

Chapter Twenty-Four: Fights and Friendships

I only have one final during finals week and it's due on Monday. That being said I am going home a little early. Updating will look different that week and beyond as I transition from school to working full time. A year from tomorrow I'll graduate college! That's so crazy to me! It's been a very long journey and I am excited to see what is out there for me! Anyway, enjoy the new chapter! I will either update the next one on Sunday or early next week!-expressionwriter

I didn't want to go back to the castle and deal with Charlie. He wasn't in the right mind earlier. I doubt he is now.

Joe drove us back anyway since Maria had other things to do. The group disbanded for the night. On the way home I turned on my phone.

Twenty text messages and five missed calls all from Charlie. Oh boy...this person is going to be my freaking husband who has no chill.

"Could we stop at the town and hang out for a bit?" I asked Joe.

"The Queen has to approve of the outing and we'd have to go back to the castle to get her approval. Just talk with Charles and sort out whatever you're going through. Everything will be okay, Aurora."

"I know it will be. It's just I don't understand why he flipped out so much."

I sunk into the seat dreading going home. Daisy sent me a text about any free time I have this week to hang out again. I told her I'd have to check my planner for the rest of the week as I couldn't remember what I was doing. I know one big thing is getting engaged. That's somewhere on the to-do list for the week. I just hoped that Charlie and I were at a good point again before he popped the question. That moment should be the best moment of my life.

"Hey, baby." Charlie greeted. He had been sitting on my bed until I walked into my room. "Where did you go?"

"Out." I walked past him and towards my closet to change out of these clothes. He moved back to sitting on my bed.

"Where exactly is 'out'?"

"Why does it matter, Charles? I went out end of the story." Ugh, I was very snippy with him for no reason. "I'm sorry. You don't deserve that." He walked over to me as I left the closet. I sighed as he took my hands in his. "I went to Maria's and hung out with her, Daisy, and Charlotte. Heidi wasn't there."

"That sounds fun." I nodded. "Hey, what do you need from me?"

"I don't know. What happened earlier, Charlie?" I put my hand on his cheek and he leaned into it and covered my hand with his.

"I didn't like how he was calling you. That aggravated me especially with the events that happened afterward the last time. I guess I was afraid of losing you again. That fear overwhelmed me which is why I was relentlessly trying to contact you. Hearing you kept that dreadful message was like a trigger. I felt like you wouldn't let go of him. I mean he was such a huge part of your life for years and then you had to uproot your life to be with me. To be here."

"Charlie baby, listen to me. What I had with Robert was not real and completely fake. It was a fake love. But you, oh god. It's so real with you. I'm actually happy and I'm so in love with you. Please do not compare yourself to that douchebag. You're right, he was abusive and a horrible person. But you are kind and caring. I love how you protect me even as I sleep. The way you hold me when I'm having a good or bad day. You're the one I am choosing. Sure we're being forced to get married by a certain time but you are the one I want to marry whether it's tomorrow or a year from now."

Tears fell from his cheeks. There aren't many times where Charles has cried but this was certainly one that I'll remember. Staring at him and comforting him helped me realize he's human just like me. He has feelings and can easily become overwhelmed.