ROYAL-TEA [ON HOLD]

11.

I was looking up at the wall made of Anthony's muscular chest. I couldn't help wondering about what he did to get that muscular... wait! RTA Football Team.

He was captain.

RTA actually took part in the Youth Worldcup finals and almost won. They lost the ball to a guy from the opposing team at the last minute.

RTA was my school too. I went there when my cousin Khadija cleared. She left with glowing remarks from parents, teachers and students alike. Plus Margaret had just joined, so had Anthony. This is a story for another day anyway.

The human wall smiled down at me, making my stomach flutter just a bit. I suddenly chastised myself on the change. He wasn't supposed to become helpful. Or important while in the fields.

"Hello Ali. Missed me yet?"

"No. I don't.What are you trying to find a clue for?"

"Treasure."

"Good luck with that. Now, what are you doing on my front lawn?"

"You mean your friend's front lawn? I came a-visiting. Don't you want me here anymore?"

"I never wanted you anywhere period."

"Is it?"

"What?" I asked, my mind already set back by him.

"Your period?"

My cheeks flushed. Before. I knew it, I was attacking him with my hands and he wasn't even feeling pain. So I used my martial arts to kick him down.

"Ali, baby, don't start," he laughed. "I've always been better than you at Martial Arts."

"That was two years ago. And I am not your baby."

"Oh," he quirked and eyebrow, "but you are! My beautiful princess, the one who my heart beats for..."

"Shut up!" I tried to hit him but he caught me and brought me down. Before I knew it, I was on my back and he was above me. Our eyes held.

"You've always been so easy to defeat."

"No I haven't!" I said as I flipped us over by hitting his elbows as pressure points. He let out howl and I smirked down at him. "It's been two years, and I picked up a few things along the way."

I got off him and he looked upset. I actually felt a little bad about it. Before I could say a thing though, Jeremy showed up and almost fainted seeing Anthony at his doorstep. He helped him up and dragged him in, much to my amusement. Anthony never liked help. He always took it grudgingly.

*&*&*&*&

"How did you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Fall off the radar," Anthony asked as I helped Jeremy and the maids set up the table for dinner. His elbows felt better, and thankfully, I didn't have to feed him.

"Use cash, no credit cards. Stay away from cameras and keep your gaze low and on the ground."

He made an "eh" noise. I shook my head at him and walked to the kitchen to steal some cashews. I saw Anya holding up a glass of water.

"Your friend is THE CROWN PRINCE OF ENGLAND?"

I shrugged my shoulders, finally smiling at her. "He is not a friend."

"You were straddling him."

"It was a fight."

"He let you win it."

"No. I used chi-blocking."

Anya almost spurted out the water. "You did what?!"

"I used chi-blocking..."

"You knew it... how...?"

I sighed. "Anya, you know how I did it..."

She smiled at me cheekily. "So you learned it... finally!? I had given up on you already."

"Well, May taught me what I needed to know. She is an incredible fighter. Japanese royalty are good at it."

Anya giggled as I launched into a tirade of how bossy Anthony was. She laughed at all the right places, and I once again remembered why Anya was closer to me than my own mother.

"And I flipped us over! I WON! Woohoo!"

"I still think you cheated."

I turned around and faced him. He was smirking at me again. I tore my eyes away from his blues. My gaze was however on his chest which, I realized was open for display. "Like what you see?"

I snarled angrily. "Wear a shirt Anthony you... prat!"

His eyes widened as I pushed past him in anger. He was already dominating my brain on his first day back.

Why did he come here again?!