Christmas Plans

CHAPTER 11

POV : James

Jamie arrived to the ball early. He was one of the first people there. He mingled around with some of the others there. He didn't particularly like any of them other than a girl named Lady Christine. She was quite pretty and polite. She would make an amazing wife for Adrian. His scolded himself for his thoughts and grabbed another glass of champagne. He knew that he shouldn't drink too much. He was a lightweight and he knew that he shouldn't drink more than this glass. More people had started to arrive and he realized that while his suit jacket was beautiful, it was nothing like anyone else's. Their's were all designer and probably cost hundreds of dollars. He had been asked by many women and he realized that they had been spreading the word, because a few men had also asked him to dance. He accepted a few and had an amazing time, but he had to turn them down when they asked to take him "somewhere more fun". He knew he was always a blushing mess but he couldn't be doing something like that. His heart already belonged to someone else. He had gone on another date with Adrian a few days before the ball. They went down to an apple orchard. It had been delightful and now Jamie had to locate his prince charming before he got himself engaged to a lovely lady. He noticed someone enter the room. Someone who hadn't been there for the last hour. He smiled as he saw the flower mask. It was Clara. He watched as she sat there sipping on a glass until a person, he assumed it was her mysterious librarian, took her to dance. He sighed. If only his mysterious lover would ask him to dance. He looked up and caught someone in pure gold and white staring at him. He noticed when Jamie looked up at him and started making his way over. He had to bat off many ladies in order to get to Jamie's half of the room. Jamie realized who he was at that moment. Making his way over to Jamie, was The Prince. 
"I didn't think you were going to come." Adrian said. Jamie blushed. 
"I..I have been planning on going for a while. Of course then I hadn't known you." He tripped over his words. He glared at his glass and set it down. Adrian smiled and offered his hand. 
"May I have this dance?" Jamie's fog of a brain cleared at those words. 
"Yes." He took Adrian's hand and he led him out onto the dance floor. He heard the whole room gasp at the sight of The Prince escorting a man onto the dance floor. The whispers began directly after they began to sway to the music. Jamie realized that Adrian was a surprisingly bad dancer for a prince. 
"Do you have two left feet? Or did you never take ballroom dancing lessons?" Adrian blushed and Jamie smiled. 
"I did, I am just not that good. That's all." Jamie laughed out loud. A very boisterous laugh. It made Adrian's eyes twinkle. "I wish you could see yourself. You look positively radiant." Jamie smiled sadly. 
"As radiant as all those other ladies? I am sorry, I don't mean to be jealous or anything, but I can't help but compare myself to all of them. They are all so decorated and poised. I am wearing a jacket of ferns. My mask is made of purple flowers and my tie of mint. How are you not embarrassed to be seen with me? I can't believe that a prince would be at all interested in me for any other reason than for a laugh or just to date a man. I mean come on. I am hardly anything to look at. I am just an apothecarian. I don't even dress as pretty as these girls." Adrian looked sadly into his eyes. 
"If I was doing this all for a laugh, would I do this?" He leaned in and planted a small kiss on Jamie's lips. He froze. He looked into Adrian's eyes. His face nothing but shock. "What about this?" He leaned in again and for a longer kiss. "Or this?" Another. Jamie back away. He realized that everyone had stopped. No music. Nobody dancing. Just them all staring at The Prince kissing a boy. Adrian noticed as well and stood taller. He ran over to Jamie and grabbed his wrist. He continued dragging Jamie until they were up in a large room that Jamie realized was his. He pulled Jamie flush against his chest. 
"A-Adrian, what...what are you doing?" He stuttered. Adrian stared into his eyes. 
"May I please kiss you, again? I realize I didn't ask before." Jamie's eyes widened. He didn't care that the whole ballroom had just seen them kiss. Jamie nodded and closed his eyes. Adrian closed the gap and connected their lips. Jamie gasped slightly. It wasn't a makeout session out of a fairytale it was small and sweet. A proclamation. When they parted for a breath, Jamie let out a shaky laugh. 
"All this time I was worried if you could ever truly like me. That was my first kiss by the way." Adrian chuckled.
"Mine too." Jamie rested his head on Adrian's shoulder. 
"I don't know if it's too early to say I love you, but I do." He buried his face into his shoulder to try and hide his blush. He knew he probably shouldn't have said that, but it was too late now. 
"Me too." Jamie smiled. How did he get so lucky as to meet this boy. He knew it wouldn't be easy going forward. For either of them. He also knew that they would get through it together. He knew he was being cheesy, but he didn't care. He would be as cheesy as cheddar to be with Adrian. That was a fact.

Thank you for reading! I hope this didn't sound like an identical version of the last chapter. I really tried to make it different, but in all honesty, most ball scenes I've read in books are similar. I hope you enjoyed and continue reading!