All Around You (Troyler AU)

Chapter 19: Don't Go

Troye's P.O.V

"Again?" I nearly shouted.

"I know, I'm sorry, Troye, I'm really sorry!"

The sun was shining unreasonably brightly in through the windows of my room this morning. I hadn't expected to wake up to this. Tyler had just told me that, once again, he was called in for an all-day training session with the remaining knights in the kingdom. The first few days, he wasn't training for the entire day. My meetings had gotten in the way of seeing him on those rare times when he was free, but we'd promise that we'd see each other soon. Then, the training sessions became something that took up his entire day. They usually were all-morning sessions, then all-night sessions with a small break in between. These last few days, they had become all day sessions with no breaks. I cancelled some meetings to make time for him, but now he had no time for me. So far there'd only been two all-day sessions, this was the third. He had been telling me over and over again that we'd be able to spend the day together again, and suddenly he dropped this on me.

"Tyler, you've been at all-day training sessions for five days now," I said, trying not to let my irritation seep into my voice.

"I don't get to choose when we train," he said. "Besides, a lot of our knights are gone and we need to be prepared for whatever happens. With only half of us here, we need all the training we can get."

"Five days," I muttered again to myself. I slumped back down onto my bed and turned my head towards the wall, not looking at Tyler. I didn't want to be mad at him. I just couldn't help but be mad. I knew the whole situation was out of his control, but that didn't make it hurt me any less.

"I know," he sighed as he sat beside me. "Troye?" said Tyler. I didn't look at him or even respond. He groaned quietly and I felt the bed shift slightly when he stood back up. There was a long pause before he spoke again. "Any word from your father yet?"

"No, only the two letters so far," I said curtly. "The first one the day after he left, telling us he'd reached the kingdom and found Steele safely. The next from two days ago saying that it wasn't going so well and that Steele-..." I stopped myself quickly and shut my mouth, wide-eyed.

"And that Steele what?" Tyler asked quickly.

"Nothing," I said.

"Troye," Tyler pressed on. I sighed.

"My dad said that Steele went to try to resolve this tension of the kingdoms behind his back and ended up getting hurt by one of the other King's guards. My father said Steele's alright for now but they have to keep treating the wounds..." I let out a shaky breath. "The royal advisors had my family swear not to let anyone else know about it. We don't want anyone knowing they're getting even more vicious- that they attacked one of us."

"You know I won't tell," said Tyler weakly. I turned my head to him and nodded.

"I know," I said. My voice cracked slightly and I grunted trying to clear it.

"I'm sorry," he said sincerely. I nearly jumped out of my skin when I felt his hand on my shoulder, but soon relaxed and leaned back towards his touch. "We'll see each other soon. You know I want to spend time with you, Troye, I want to so badly..."

"Then come to my room after training," I said. "We'll hang out together then."

"It runs until late at night, I don't know what time I'll be done," Tyler answered nervously.

"I don't care what time it is, I'll stay up. I'll be awake, I promise. Just promise me you'll come here when you're done?"

Just to add to the effect, I pouted my lower lip and stared up at him, tilting my head down ever so slightly. Tyler always fell for that little innocent look. I watched him scrunch his face up a bit before sighing.