The Forbidden Princess [Paused]

Chapter 11: I Have A Late Night Visitor

I could not concentrate the next day at school; my mind was about to explode into a million tiny pieces. I sat with Jesse and Arthur still, but we didn't speak to each other before class started. It was so awkward to sit beside them and neither of them spoke to me; they simply came into the building and sat down without a word, or a nod, or even a smile.

I was finally fed up with it and turned to Arthur. His hair was a blonde mess, but his clothes were his regular clothes-no guard clothes-and they were very clean surprisingly.

The kingdom must have washed them when he changed and gave them back to him, I thought.

"Hey," I said to him with a smile.

Arthur slowly turned his head to look at me, a small smile creeped its way on his face. "Hello, Charlotte."

"What's up with you two?" I asked not sparing a second.

Arthur twiddled his thumbs and took a deep breath. "We kind of had a fight after we left your door..."

"What?!"

"It's fine though. I'm sure we will make up sooner or later. Don't worry," Arthur said. I would have believed him, but he seemed like he couldn't even convince himself to not worry.

"Okay." I decided to not say anymore about that subject.

I turned to Jesse to see if I could get anything out of him. "Hello, Jesse."

It didn't take Jesse long to look at me. It seemed as if he was waiting for me to acknowledge him and I felt like an idiot for not doing it sooner. "I'm sorry, about last night," I said. "I should have-"

"No, Charlotte," he said returning his gaze to the table top. "I realized once I got home it was wrong of me to rush you. After all, you are the princess. I should be the one that's sorry. And I am. Please accept my apology."

"Jesse, you don't have to be sorry. I stand by my word...I like you." I put my hand on top of his which was laying on the bench beside me.

He quickly glanced at our hands and I could see a smile forming on his face, his cheeks quickly becoming a pinkish red. "So. Did you by chance make up your mind? Not trying to rush you but I'm just wondering." He seemed nervous and not himself. I wondered if it was because of his and Arthur's feud or because of something else...

"I might have, but I'm not sure yet. I'm sorry."

He moved his hand out from under mine and placed it on his lap as soon as I said that. "It's alright, Charlotte. Take your time." Jesse finally turned to look at me and smiled.

Happiness filled me up and I smiled back. I didn't know if he was truthfully saying that it was alright, but I wanted to believe it. So I did.

Class started shortly after that but I couldn't concentrate the entire day-my mind was only on one thing. I was only thinking about my decision with Jesse. I didn't know whether or not to say yes. I didn't want to have to leave him further on down the road.

The whole school day was a constant battle with myself that went something like this:

But you like him, one part would say.

Yeah, but I can't like him. It wouldn't be fair to him, the other part would point out.

But isn't it not fair to him if you say no also?

No. Be quiet. It's not that.

Then what is it? Is it because you are a princess?

No.

That you are suppose to be with Arthur?

No!