Her. His.

Adora

I woke up with my mind jumbled and thoughts all over the place. Hmm usual scenario.

I think to myself that maybe I have more time to sleep while snuggling my blanket when a voice jolts me awake.

"No princess, please you have to wake up!" said my new maiden.

Wake...up? Mary? Mary! I sit up immediately thinking it was all just a bad dream and the last few days hadn't really happened. But unfortunately NO!

It had all been very much real. Mary's death which still hurts me to even consider true so I just don't because I don't know how to deal with the only mother figure in my life now gone, and also The ball....Yesterday...OMG!

All the memories come flooding back to me. My father lashing out at me, the dance, the alcohol, JASON.

Jason, JASON, Jason, JASON. I repeat his name in my head for no reason in particular. Definitely not because I can still feel his breath on my ear when he said some completely inappropriate words to me which absolutely shouldn't have been said. "Still want that kiss princess?"

A blush creeps up to my cheeks as I think about it and then...anger? Why in the hell would he say those words to me? He absolutely knew I was drunk when I asked him for a kiss. How embarrassing but well what can we do about it know.

He surely said those words to get a rise out of me, to see my reaction, to see me get flushed in front of everyone.

Yes! God, how can someone be so smug and charming at the same time.

Just as I was getting more and more lost in my thoughts, I hear someone clear their throat. Oh right, Sophia. My new lady in waiting. She's the main maid appointed for me and its her first day.

I had refused to let anyone else be appointed as my new maiden but of course father hadn't listened to me and did what he wish. Was she just standing and staring at me while I was lost in my thoughts thinking about Jason. I guess she was.

"Hi, I am Sophia. Your new maiden."

"Hi, I am Adora. How are you Sophia? Come sit so that we can to know each other a bit."

"Thanks for offering but I'm fine standing here princess. You can ask me whatever you want."

Oh she thinks this is some sort of interrogation. It will take time for her to open up. Never mind.

"What are the plans for today Sophia?"

"Well today's the first day of activities. Firstly there is breakfast with everyone and then all the children are to go for horse riding ."

I scoff and say, "Yeah so that all the kings and queens can judge us and our performance and decide who is worthy of marrying into their families."

"Isn't it what this whole week is about." said Sophia as a fact rather than a question.

"I like you already." I said with a smile on my face.

"Now come on get up."

Here I am on the breakfast table seated at exactly 8 am staring at my food while everyone is having a conversation of their own.

Not everyone has stayed at the castle for the week. Only those who came from another nations for the week . Before this year it was always only a night of annual ball and then everyone went back but this time its for a week because almost everyone's children have become of age for marriage and their parents are looking to tie them down to get ahead in the race.

So both Jude and Carlo aren't present at the table and I have to bear the boring gathering alone.

Except....I don't feel alone. I feel his eyes on me. Jason's eyes. I didn't once raise my eyes to meet his. Afraid that he'll see that I had been thinking about him just by looking at my eyes.

So when the breakfast comes to an end and I sense Jason trying to say something to me, I immediately excuse myself and get up from the table.

Then I feel someone walking behind me in the hallway. As I quickly turn around in the hallway to see who it is, I bump into a chest.

His chest.

Jason's chest.

"Easy there love." He said while steadying me.

"Honing your stalking skills, are you Sir Jr. Stanley?"

"Are you implying that I was sneaking up on you princess?" he said while clutching his chest in mock pain.

He said again without giving me a chance to answer, "If yes, then you are right."

"While I am flattered that you would stalk me, may I know the reason?"

"You're avoiding me."

"No, I am not!"

"Yes, you are and you know it. You didn't even even once look at me at the table and got up when I was trying to talk to you."

"Oh so now you are keeping tabs at me about who I look at or not? Maybe I did look at you and you didn't notice." I said while involuntarily taking a step closer to him.

"Oh trust me princess I'd know if you were looking at me." he said while stepping closer to me.

"What are you doing?" I said too confused by what he said while standing so close to me.

"What am I doing?"

"This." I said while pointing back and forth at the distance between us.

"This what Adora?" He said while taking one more step towards me.

If any one of us would happen to take one more step, our noses would practically be touching and still I can't seem to step back to put some much needed distance between us.

"Too close." I said in a rush barely able to get the words out.

"Do you want me to step back?" He asked while brushing a lock of hair out of my face and placing it behind my ear.

Before I knew what I was doing, I leaned into his touch and said "Yes Jason, you should." I said while biting my lower lip.

"I asked if you wanted me to, not if I should or shouldn't." he said while looking at my eyes and my lips back and forth.

Before I could answer him, we heard some noises coming from behind us and I immediately pulled back from him and started walking in the other direction without sparing him another glance.

And then I heard him say " See you in the field princess."

Oh hell. 2-3 hours aren't barely enough for me to pull myself together after my encounter with him.