The King's

Chapter Three

ARIELLA'S POV

Starting and holding conversations wasn't something I was particularly good at so here I was, sitting in the back of my boss's car with my head up against the headrest of my car seat. Watching people and cars pass us by while Everly and Jake talked. Jake had tried to start a conversation with me. Tried to include me in his conversation with Everly, but I wasn't having it. I didn't want to talk to either of them. It wasn't because I didn't want to, it was because my mind was racing a million miles an hour. To say I was nervous is an understatement. My palms were sweating, my legs wouldn't stop bouncing -a nervous habit-, my heart was beating out of my chest, I was gnawing on my bottom lip so hard earlier that it bled. I wanted to curl up into a ball and cry.

This morning I woke up to the smell of hot chocolate and freshly made chocolate chip pancakes. The sweet and mouth watering scent infiltrated my nose as I made my way downstairs and into the kitchen in search of the delicious food.

"Good morning sunshine!" Everly had said with a wide smile that could only mean trouble as she swept a hand over the food she'd made. "Have a seat, I made breakfast!"

With suspicion etched onto my face and narrowed eyes I pulled out a chair and sat down at our table. What day is it today? Isn't it Saturday? I had asked myself. Evie's never this cheerful on a Saturday morning, let alone up this early.

"What are you up to?" I asked, my eyes still narrowed. She was up to something and I needed to find out what.

The thing about Everly was, her heart was always in the right place whenever she did something that she knew I wouldn't like. I know she means well, but sometimes she meant a little too well.

"I'm not up to anything Ariella." She stated with what I'm going to guess is mock offense. She was lying.

"Come on Evie, don't play coy with me. You're never this 'happy' or 'cheerful' in the morning let alone a Saturday morning so what's the occasion? Oh god, it's not your birthday is it?!" I asked with wide eyes as I fished out my phone to check the date.

It was in fact, not Everly's birthday.

Everly shook her head with what could only be a nervous laugh, "no, it's not my birthday."

"Then what is it?" I asked with a frown.

"Can't I make breakfast for my very best friend in the world without there being an 'occasion'?" Everly asked in mock offense with a hand held over her chest.

I looked her square in the eye and raised an eyebrow at her, "no offense Everly, but I know you. I've known you since high school. I'd like to say I know you just as well as you know me so spit whatever you are up to out!"

"Okay fine!" She huffed, but then continued, quickly "there's this convention at a centre called 'The Little Kingdom' that Jake invited me to and I may or may not have asked if you could come with?" She ended in a large breath.

My eyes grew wide in surprise at that. My boss was a caregiver? Or wait, was he a little? He didn't strike me as a 'little' he'd just never given off that vibe.

I shook my head to get rid of that thought, it wasn't the time to get distracted. I had scolded myself.

"You what?!!" I asked louder than necessary "Everly are you insane?"

I had stood up from my seat and paced the kitchen floor.

"Will you at least think about it? I mean, what's the worst that could happen?" Everly asked and then got to her feet "it'll be good for you to be around littles."