The not-a-princess

Friendly murder is okay

One Tuesday James approached me, hands in his blue trouser pockets, "hey, um, do you want to maybe go over our Perfect Posture Physics together?" He then shuffled forward, "You know, alone, in my dorm." 

I look up from my low-carb fried brown rice and blush, "we'll be breaking the rules." 

"Well no one needs to know except us," James twisted the hem of his shirt. I nod, slightly pink. He offers me a hand we head out, slipping past the fairies who gossiped about the school teachers' 'flings'. It was a surprisingly nice evening. We both enjoyed archery and sword fighting, though he fought with 1 long talwar, which is kind of old-fashioned Islamic Period time, so I laughed at him. 

But he had his go when I brought out my two basket-hilt daggers. So ever since then it was tradition for us, every Tuesday after dinner we sparred. 

A couple weeks later, one moonlit Tuesday, we fought as usual. This time it was his turn to have the first shot, he didn't try frontal charge and twisted to his side, switching hands and coming in from the left, I quickly spun and deflected his blade. 

I grin, he left his lower stomach unblocked and I hit, unluckily, I also left myself open and he swung slicing against the arm I used to attack him with. It felt cold and sharp and the slow pain trickled in and I withdrew the knife from his attack allowing him to collapse. 

I let him have a 5-minute quick refresh break then we started again. This time, I shot first, moving to drive my dagger into his shoulder but he rolled from under me and slashed against my back. I gasp and my knees buckle. He takes another blow at me. I quickly scramble out the way blood trickling from the sides of my huge smile. 

The light from the cheese shone through the glass painted windows and illuminated his abs. when he fought, James fought shirtless. And good, Lord was he so handsome, his muscles pulsed with every move and every vein was defined. I couldn't help but let my eyes trail everywhere making me go all red and flustered but I could also blame it on the fighting. 

But if I could see I was on the losing end, I too would quickly put down some seducing too. I swiftly unbutton my blouse making him hesitate and leave his stance unguarded. "Got you," I laugh, delivering one last hit with the flat of my blade to his perfectly smooth forehead. He crumpled to the floor and almost immediately, the wound started swelling. 

He looks up at me and spat blood to the side, his beam unmissable, and "the flat of the blade is mercy. Has my hotness made you all soft, princess?" he teased. Butterflies ate my intestines in my stomach. 

"It is highly disgusting for one to attempt courting the other while bleeding on their dorm's floor." I say back, moving towards the back of my room. 

Some night we fought at my dorm. And whoever's roommate got caught up was left as healer. I went to shake Ria awake, who snored away on top of Tapioca. It was a hilarious scene really, Ria was clutching a bowl of popcorn in her lap, she was sitting against her dog, and arms and legs sprawled everywhere, the TV playing loudly. Tapioca however realised that Ria was asleep and was reaching out its furry paws, very slowly towards the remote, probably wanting to change  the channel to something dog friendly. 

As I tried to wake her up, the door handle squeaked open and Kieren popped his head in, "Yo, is James here. I need him back at our dorm. I may or may not have accidently caused our hairdryer to explode and now the bathroom is on fire." I jerk my thumb behind me and he nods. 

While he walks passed me, Kieren looks at me and laughs, "if you want to wake her up, pour ice water over her head. Twice." I snort and simply give her a kick. She stirs awake. Rubbing her eyes, she notices my state and rolls her eyes. Then she proceeds to tumble off her dog and dug out the med kit. I got undressed as she returned. 

Ria mumbled sleepily, "How many... 2 on the back from side to side... and 1 bruised left arm." She started by fixing my fractured arm and cleaning the bruise. Even though she was tired, Ria was always gentle. Every Tuesday she would wait for me, ice packs and bandages in her arms and many nights she would fall asleep. Kieren as well, strangely showed lots of care for James as well, cleaning up his wounds too, every night. 

I flinched she dabbed alcohol on my back and heard James scream and Kieren scolding him. I stifle a laugh; Kieren too would stay up all night wrestling James to keep his bandages on. And I smirk thinking about how deep I stabbed him in the gut that could've been fatal if I had hit vital points. 

I look up at her, her soft hands against my back, wrapping away, "Is your opinion of that spar, that I defeated my opponent?" 

She grins, "Totally, though he was correct, that was merciful of you, sparing him like that." 

As she moves back, I slip into my pyjamas and she offers me some popcorn. "Tonight, I think it is I that gets to pick the show." I say, snuggling into bed. Ria shrugged. Kieren and James shuffle past, Kieren now also with a swollen welt, the same size as James. He motions me to the kitchen and I follow. He slams the door shut, "well, did you have fun princess?" 

"Not as much as I am about to now." I trace a finger against his sharp jawline. Our lips connect and it was heaven. I lost all senses for these moments. I felt hot and cold and everything in between, it was rough and we wrapped arms around each other, his hands brushing against my waist and mine fiddling with his soft hair. 

I gasp against his lips for breath, every hair stood on end, he bit his lower lip. God, thats so sexy. However a small bit of doubt clouded my heart. And even the romantic tension in the room couldn't clear the skies. 

"We better go before they find out what we've been doin," I murmur. James sighs but he lets go and we leave. I crawl back into bed and the boys head out the door. 

James grumbled, "Goodnight. And oh, Ria if your wondering what happened to your boyfriend, just now, our bathroom in on fire now."

 Ria just pouts, "I don't care, Kieren aren't you going to kiss me goodnight too?" James and me turn cherry red. Ria always knew everything. 

Kieren turns away from James, "If you give me some of that popcorn of yours." I shot out of bed and slam the door shut in their faces, officially kicking them out of our room. They were now the fairies' problem. 

Ria shoves handfuls of buttered popcorn up her mouth, "Possessive much? I wasn't going to share anyway. I'm not as desperate as you." 

I just silently roll into bed and lift up the remote, "Tonight's show is...Hansel and his sister's murder mystery!" 

"We already watched that!" 

"But not the finale: Witch or Mother!"