Sofia the First: The Rise of Rulers

Chapter Seventeen: Clio

Chapter Seventeen

Clio

After I make my speech, I sit down. This day has been exhausting. I look around for Amber, but she and Desmond are still eye fucking each other. Everyone starts dancing. I expect to see them go, but instead, Desmond walks away. I knew he was a wimp.

Doesn't he know how hard it is to get close to Amber like that? Her standards are insane. I guess mine are too, but no one has tried to make a move on me.

Instead of walking towards me, Amber speeds to the bathroom. Whatever. I guess I'll just sit here alone looking like a loser. Who cares at this point? The only person who maybe understands what I'm going through is wrapped up in her ex.

I would fall asleep right here on this table, but that would be improper of me. Hildy would lose her mind. I'd never hear the end of it. I keep thinking of everything my best friend would do to me if I dare offend her at her wedding when someone taps me on the shoulder.

"Mind if I sit here?" I turn around, startled. "Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. You just look so lonely over here." How incredibly embarrassing.

"Oh yes, sure. Have a seat."

He sits down and I get a better look of his face. "Derek?"

"Yep."

"Oh my god I didn't even recognize you!" His dark curls and jacked figure made my stomach flip. His jawline is insane and he grew into his forehead nicely.

"Yeah I've changed a bit."

"You look great." I don't think I've said anything more true in my life.

"So do you. You've always been gorgeous but..." Me? Gorgeous? Ha! I am not the gorgeous one. That's Hildegard or Amber or even Sofia! I'm more like the background scenery.

Now's not the time to think about that. "Thank you." I finally reply. "So what have you been up to?"

"Well, I've been trying to put my kingdom back together." Oh fuck. I completely forgot Mezbez has gone to shit.

"I hope everything is ok."

"It's not. There's really nothing I can do, especially with this war about to start. Speaking of, who are you getting betrothed to?"

"I'm not."

"You're not? Why?"

"Well, there's only so many princes in the alliance. Amber isn't getting betrothed either. Our parents thought it was best."

"So you'll just have to rule by yourself?"

"Well, the plan is to keep my parents ruling until I have a suitor. I'll have to be courted."

"How many people do you have lined up?"

"None."

"None? How can there be none?" Oh, I don't know maybe it's because everyone is already taken? Maybe it's because no one wants me? Maybe it's because of this huge pimple on my forehead? "I think many people are already engaged, so it might take some time," I say instead. "Well, why aren't you dancing and meeting people?"

"No one's asked me to dance."

"Well, then we can go dance together. Trust me it will make everyone jealous." Of course, I agree, because Derek is super hot and he seems nice. He takes my hand and I'm set on fire. When he puts his hands on my waist I melt. He looks into my eyes and I want to faint. What I did not tell him is that he would have been my husband if Mezbez didn't fall. Oh, what I would give to marry this man. All thoughts of loneliness vanish while we dance. Everything is how it should be. We move together, step by step, and lock eyes for what feels like hours. I want to stay like this forever.

The song ends and Derek leans slowly in my ear. "Can I talk to you somewhere in private?" I'm reluctant to stop dancing, but I'm thrilled to go somewhere alone with him. He takes my hand and rushes me to a private room. What is happening right now?

"I wanted to talk to you about the war." I nod. Damn. We stopped dancing to talk about boring ass shit. "Since I'm no longer really needed as a member of the royal family, I'm going to fight."

He's what! Going to war? This has to be a joke. I guess my face looked really horrified because he laughed slightly. "It's ok Clio. I'll be fine."

"You don't know that. You could die, or get hurt, or-"

"I will be fine." I kiss him. I've never kissed anyone in my life, I don't even know how to kiss! But I'm kissing this boy I just met for the first time in years. He kisses me back.