On the Run, Your Highness

Friends Are Okay?

"Louis? Louis, please! Louis!" I beg for his attention. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it!"

"Mean what?"

"I didn't mean it when I said I hate you. That's what this is about, right?"

Louis hasn't spoken a word to me since I ran off to the diner yesterday. He's been sitting in the kitchen, sipping tea ever since I came out of my room. And I've been standing next to him, begging for forgiveness.

"I don't know what you want me to say, Your Highness. You hate me and that's okay." Louis says as he stands up. He walks to the sink to put his cup in it.

I follow him angrily. "No! I don't!" I stand right behind him as he washes the cup. "Please! I didn't mean it!"

He turns around, making us now face to face. I try to keep myself standing tall as he looks down at me.

"Your Highness," he starts, "You do hate me. But I'm still going to do my job."

I groan and shove him against the countertop. I argue, "I don't hate you! I-I order you to forgive me!"

His eyes leave mine and go down to his shoes. "Of course, Your Highness."

"Stop calling me that."

"Calling you what?"

"Your Highness."

Louis sighs and shrugs, "Then what do I call you? Sire?"

I scoff, "What? No! Just call me Harry."

He shakes his head, appalled at the idea. "No, absolutely not! I can't disrespect you like that Your Highness!"

I roll my eyes. My hands find their way to his sweater. It's a very nice sweater, it's soft and blue and fun to play with between my fingers.

I look up at him through my eyelashes. "Please!" I pout up at him, still playing with the hem of his sweater.

He breathes out, taking a look around the room before he decides, "Okay. Okay fine. I'll call you Harry." He shivers at the name.

I smile brightly and pull away from him. He finally has breathing room now.

A knock on the door catches our attention. Louis pushes in front of me, eyeing the door suspiciously.

I move past him and toward the door, grabbing a beanie and glasses on the way. "Yeah, sorry. I meant to tell you but I invited Zayn and Niall over."

"From the restaurant?" He asks, still seeming protective. I nod, "But they could be from Cheshire, Your Highness! They're dangerous!"

I shake my head and swing open the door, "Hey!"

Niall and Zayn smile and say their hellos back. They come inside and Niall waves at Louis, "Hey mate!" Louis gives him a nod, trying to eye them for weapons. Niall leans over to me and mumbles, "Is he alright?"

I nod and lead them to the couch, "We had a fight."

As I glance over at Niall as he talks about how to make bread, Zayn groans while staring at the tv. He mutters, "He's so hot!"

I look over to see the news is on. And a picture of my fluffy haired cousin is on screen. The headline says, 'Did Prince Harry Back Out of His Royal Duties?'

Niall rolls his eyes, "Zayn's had a crush on that guy for years! It's ridiculous!"

I make a disgusted face, "Liam? Really?"

Zayn nods to me and informs me, "I actually spent a semester in Eroda for school." He turns his attention to the tv again. He grabs the remote to turn up the volume.

A reporter says, "Prince Liam of Eroda has made a statement about the absence of Prince Harry at the Ceremony of Flowers. Which to those who don't know, the Ceremony of Flowers is an annual event for every member of the Eroda royal family to make a speech one month before their coronation."

The screen switches to a live clip of Liam standing at a podium. He speaks into multiple microphones, "As you all know, my cousin, Prince Harry did not show up to his ceremony." I've known Liam for a long time, I can tell when something is wrong. He's nervous, his eyes are darting all over the crowd and his breathing is shaky. "There is nothing to worry about, trust me. Prince Harry unfortunately had a prior engagement to attend to. For the time being, my role as the second-in-line for the throne has transferred Prince Harry's duties to me. I wish for our people to accept this temporary change to the next few royal events."

"Damn..." Niall mumbles, "What the hell happened to the prince?"

I shift uncomfortably as Zayn joins in the conversation. "I don't know. Do you think he died and they're just covering it up? Or he like ran away cause he doesn't want to be king?"

Niall shrugs, "Probably. Harry, what do you think? Do you know anything about the royal family?"

I scoff, "What? No! Why would I? This is ridiculous! Why are you asking? Are you hungry? I am!" I stand up in a hurry and rush to the kitchen. I start grabbing around in the cupboards as the two watch me from the couch curiously.

Louis walks in and watches me with the same look as Zayn and Niall. He glances at the tv before realization hits him. He walks to the tv and grabs the remote from Zayn. He changes the channel and goes over to me.

"Hey, are you alright?" He asks, still watching me aggressively pour water into a glass. "Your High- Harry, are you okay?"

I nod, noting how Zayn and Niall are coming over. I tell Louis, "I'm okay."

"You shouldn't be watching that stuff." He tells me. I nod, knowing he would say that. "Anyone want pizza?" Louis asks as Zayn and Niall step up next to us.

Niall smiles, "Ooh yeah!"

I whisper to Louis, "What's pizza?"