Lost Time

Chapter Five- Royalty?

My lunch with my parents last week was amazing. They had been so loving and interested in how my life had been going, but it still seemed so weird to me. I had adapted to a life without my parents' love and it was a bit much at times. It had even affected my everyday life because apparently the rumor that I was no longer "shunned", for lack of a better word, had spread quickly. This meant that everyone was trying to use me as a way to become better business partners with my father.
Even my college professors had been giving me special attention during class, such as extensions on papers I already had done. It was annoying, to say the least, but it did give me some advantages that I enjoyed. My favourite was how it seemed to make my presence command any room I entered, but I refused to let it alter my judgement or morals. Malcom and I had been getting closer to each other over that past week too. He even had brought me flowers in my art class the other day.

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I sat in my seat listening to the lecture drone on about the impressionist movement and it's unique focus on light. The teacher had been going on about some painting for about twenty minutes, and I swear I will die of boredom if she doesn't stop soon. I looked out the window and watched the breeze ruffle the vibrantly green summer leafs. We should be outside studying that and not planted here wait to hear her fifth explanation about the use of light. Artist didn't intend their work for this evil. My thoughts were interrupted by the lecture room door swinging open.
I couldn't believe who I saw, Malcom, standing at the door with white roses and fastfood. Is this a dream? Fastfood delivering boyfriends only appear in dreams. He locked eyes with me and started down the center isle. At this point, everyone had turned to see what was happening and who this man was here for. My teacher stopped her lecture and stared at Malcom, as he made his way over to me.
"Young man!" Her high-pitched voice squeaked. "You can't jus-." She began.
"Yes, I can." Malcom defiantly stared her down. "I'm here to visit a lovely lady who deserves some flowers and her first meal in days." Malcom's voice broke on that last part. My stomach dropped because I didn't realize he had kept such close tabs on me.
"But-" She began again.
"Oh, just hush it. Ya old hag." Devon yelled from the top row. His abrupt, but rude, comment worked and my teacher finally hushed. Devon nodded at Malcom to continue. Malcom nodded back and turned to face me.
"Malcom? What's al-" My face burned red from embarrassment.
"This." He made a grand gesture to everyone. "Is my formal way of asking you to be my girlfriend." He placed the roses and food on the table. "This wonderful woman here..." He turned to the class like they were a magnificent audience. "...is one of the most amazing people you'll ever meet. She is brave, smart, kind, and most of all the fact she graces you with her presence is a high honour. Though..." He turned to Devon. "...some of you don't realize it. I have never felt so infatuated with anyone, ever, in my life. So I have come her today to ask her a very special question." He turned to me and got down on one knee. "Will you, Lily Maria Mendra, be my girlfriend?" He opened a small box that had an Opal necklace in it.
Everyone in the room was silent, waiting for my final answer. Tears lined the bottom of my eyes, as I looked down at Malcom. "Yes! I'd be delighted to!" Malcom jumped up and pulled me into a passionate kiss. Everyone in the room began to applaud and I felt like this was a fairytale. Malcom picked me up and carried me out of the lecture room. He took me to a small, grassy spot under the same tree that I had waited for Devon under.
He unpacked the fastfood and began setting up an impromptu picnic for us. We ate in silence and just enjoyed being near each other for the time being.
"That was romantic..." My voice drifted off as I replayed the scene in my head.
"Good. I was hopeful that you'd like this." Malcom rested back onto the grass.
"I loved it. I love you." The words left my mouth before I could think.
"I love you so much. So much you can't imagine." He sat up and gave me a kiss. I felt my body relax when he had said it back...