Hearts at War (AlanxJeff) VI

20

Jeff

The ceremony continued, but I could barely concentrate on what was happening around me. After the competition, a small reception was held for the participants, so I found myself clinging to Alan's arm as he spoke with various nobles and politicians. There came a point when I thought my cheeks would cramp from maintaining my smile, but there was nothing else I could do. It was much worse if I tried to speak. So I just nodded and smiled, nodded and smiled.

I started to feel hungry, but I couldn't bring myself to eat anything. At some point, Alan led us to the banquet table and tried some things, but the more he tasted, the more his brow furrowed, until he told me that everything had something from my forbidden list and to hold on a bit longer, that we would leave soon.

I nodded, assuring him that I was actually fine and didn't want anything. His brow furrowed even more.

Shortly after, I excused myself to go to the bathroom. On my way there, I saw Way beaming with other nobles. Why was everyone so good at this?

The bathroom was spacious and elegant, with a huge mirror, four sinks, and at least three private stalls. But the best part was that there was no one there.

I washed my face with plenty of water. Then I caressed my cheeks; they already hurt from smiling so much. I'm supposed to be a prince, I should know how to handle myself in this kind of environment, but I've always struggled with people. I don't know how to keep up with them, and my tongue gets tied when I try to say something. Or my mind goes blank, and I don't know what to say. So I end up just saying things like "that's nice," "I'm glad," "really?", "oh, okay." And when I finish, I just repeat them. Obviously, people would get bored. That's one of the reasons for my social failure.

I sighed deeply, still not wanting to go back to the gathering. The truth is, it wasn't just that. It wasn't. To my almost non-existent social skills, there was something else: Alan. How can he keep acting so natural after our kiss? Yes, it was just a brush on the cheek, but it's still a kiss. Every time he gets close, I tense up and distance myself a bit more. When he comes close to whisper something in my ear, I get so nervous that I instantly forget what he said. Being hooked on his arm doesn't help. I can feel the warmth of his body and his scent, and that only makes my heart race more and my mind even more confused. It shouldn't be like this. With Kael and Charlie, they also led me this way at social events, so I don't understand why with Alan I feel so aware of our closeness. Is it because I don't like him? Could it be that my unconscious body is afraid of him? Although it doesn't feel like fear... it's strange.

I sighed again when I heard voices approaching. "Please, just give me five more minutes," I thought, and hurried into one of the stalls, locking the door.

Bangs on the wall, more bangs, startled me.

"Calm down, New, you almost made it," a familiar voice tried to console. I recognized that voice; it was Book's.

"Almost isn't enough. I wanted to teach that idiot Alan a lesson in pride, but as always, he got away with it. No matter, let him enjoy his stupid prize. I'm going to play a better game. How's it going with the prince from the north?"

My heart was pounding as I hid. The small space was dark and damp. I leaned against the cold tiled wall, trying to control my breathing so as not to be discovered.

"Ahh, it's so frustrating! Last time he was more docile, but it seems he's starting to show his claws. And he always has Way with him," Book spat frustratedly.

"Alan must have asked him to," the other person replied.

"Alan?" Book asked, sounding confused.

"Yes, they've been close since their parents died in the same accident. Don't trust Way, that boy has something in his eyes that I recognize very well."