Blue Blood ~ Young Royals

Simon

"Mom, please, I don't want to go!" 

I know I won't be able to change her mind but I plead with her anyways, like I have done since she told me I had to go to Hillerska.

"Wilhelm, please get in the car." She says with a frustrated sigh. She looks tired, unwell. Just like she has for the past half a year, plastering on a fake smile whenever there's a camera near. Erik's death has affected her more than any of us. 

I give a frustrated sigh as Malin opens the car door for me. My father is standing stiff as a board beside my mother, looking like he wants to disappear. I glare at my parents, angry and frustrated, and step into the car reluctantly. I ball my hands into fists to resist the urge to throw something at them. 

"We'll see you soon." My mother says simply. My father attempts a smile and waves awkwardly. 

"Bye." I mutter, and Malin closes my door.

I glare at the pine trees whizzing past as we drive, hating everything. It's not fair that I should have to go to a crap school in the middle of the forest with people who will undoubtedly gawk at me when I arrive. I'm tempted to plan my escape, but I doubt that would go very well. 

We arrive at the school and I try to stop scowling, knowing there will be cameras. Malin lets me out of the car and I see my cousin August standing beside a middle aged woman who I assume is the principal. I try to ignore the sound of the cameraman snapping pictures as August puts on a smile and shakes my hand. "Welcome to Hillerska."

The principal greets me as well and I try to smile politely, not really listening to anything anyone says. They lead me inside, where a row of teachers is waiting to greet me. A few pictures are taken and everyone seems satisfied. I'm led to the assembly hall, where all the students are already gathered. August smiles far too realistically considering how boring the day is and waves for me to sit beside him. I reluctantly take my place beside him on the bench, ignoring people's stares and whispers. 

Students file into the space at the front of the room, they must be the choir. August nudges me and points at one of the girls. "That's Felice Ehrencrona, she's modern nobility. I'm going to marry her." 

The choir starts vocalizing and my eyes find a curly haired boy in the top row. His mouth is shut tight, his dark brown eyes staring straight ahead. He looks nervous and slightly uncertain, and gulps. He starts singing softly, a sweet melody that seems somehow heartfelt, like the music is a part of him. I listen intently, a small smile playing on my lips as I watch him sing. The more he sings, the more confident he seems to become until he's smiling himself. His singing fills the room, fills my head, and I find myself completely absorbed. I've never heard someone sing quite like this. 

His voice stays in my head even after the choir stops singing and I'm led to my room, the sweet melody filling me as I unpack my suitcase and put away my things. I find my brother's snow globe at the bottom and I hesitate. The music in my head stops abruptly as I think back to that day. The pain hits me like a punch to the gut and I get a sudden longing for my brother, for his bright smile and warm hugs, his happiness and confidence. I feel tears threatening to spill onto my face and I force the thoughts away, putting the snow globe on my desk.

***

The choir boy isn't at dinner or at breakfast in the morning, leaving me slightly confused. Maybe he was only visiting one time, but he doesn't actually go to Hillerska. I can't help but feel slightly disappointed, but only slightly. He's probably boring anyways.

I find him in the hallway grabbing books from his locker, confirming that he is a student here after all. I hesitate before walking up to him. "Hi." I say.

He closes his locker and looks at me. "Hi, uh, Prince Wilhelm."

Up close, I see his face more clearly. The curve of his jaw, one curl that fell into his face and rests on his forehead, the red hue in his deep brown eyes, his unusually long, sharp canines like fangs that show when he speaks. He has a mysterious sort of beauty, something almost unhuman. I try to not seem like I'm staring and quickly say, "Wille is fine." 

"Mmkay.. I'm Simon."

I bite my lip, forcing myself to look away. I can't resist the urge for long and look back at Simon. "Why.. why are your teeth like that?"

Something shifts in his expression and he looks down for a brief moment. He plays with his keychain and mumbles. "Dunno... They were always like that."

"Nice." I regret saying it immediately and we stand in silence for a moment, looking at each other, Simon's expression unreadable. I wonder if he's insecure about his teeth and if maybe I shouldn't have pointed it out, but he breaks the silence before I need to.

"We should get to class."

I feel somewhat relieved and I nod. "Good idea." 

In class, I force myself to pay attention to the teacher and take notes so I don't start thinking about Simon and his fanglike canines. It's almost painful trying to shut him out of my mind, but I know I need to. I can't let myself drown in my thoughts, especially not if they're about him. But I know he's thinking about me, stealing sideways glances while my gaze is fixed on the whiteboard at the front of the class. It's impossible not to wonder. Maybe he's mad at me. Maybe he thinks I'm an idiot. Maybe I should stop thinking about this rando and focus. 

I don't get a chance to talk to him at lunch because August tells me to sit beside him at the opposite end of the table from Simon. August talks loudly to his friends, occasionally nudging me with his elbow when he cuts his food. Everyone's ignoring me and I let my eyes wander to Simon. He's the only person who isn't drinking from a glass, instead he has a black bottle standing beside his plate. He doesn't seem very interested in the majority of his food and seems to focus on the salmon instead. Maybe he has allergies or something.

August nudges me purposefully in the ribs and says, "Hey, you're spacing out. I asked you something."

I tear my gaze away from Simon quickly and look at my cousin. "Uh, what?"

"I was asking what you think of Hillerska so far?"

"Oh, it's fine, I suppose..." I mutter.

He nudges me again. "Anyone interesting in mind yet? I bet the girls are all dying to date you." 

"Oh, uh, no. No one interesting.." I say absent mindedly. 

August stops trying to talk to me and I see the opportunity to steal a glance at Simon. He's drinking from his bottle now, a slightly manic look in his eyes. He gulps down whatever is in it like he hasn't had a drink all day, his throat moving in a way I can't describe as he swallows it. He lowers the bottle and licks a drop of red juice from his lip, his canines exposed. Even from the other side of the table, I can see his pupils are dilated. He looks far more interested in the juice than the food. 

I lied about not meeting someone interesting. Simon is quite the mystery.