The Prince and His Pauper

Chapter 13: The Prince Attends

"Wh-where were you?! Do you have any idea h-how worried I was?! I thought s-s-something happened to you! You're such a jerk for making me worry so much!" Cassiel cries into my chest after practically lunging himself onto me.

"You were worried about me?" I tentatively ask, baffled by his outburst. No one has ever been worried about me before, not like this. I felt Cassiel nod his hand as well as liquid seeping through my shirt. I made him cry again. I better calm him down.... I thought silently as I wrap my arms around his small body and hold him close.

"Y-you didn't came to school on Monday....." He mumbles quietly. "Where were you?"

"I had to do something personal." I reply cryptically. I can't tell him where I was at. Father won't like it and in all honesty, I can't say I know Cassiel well enough to trust him with such information about my life.

"Ok....." Cassiel mutters but still doesn't show any signs of releasing me from his embrace. Not that I have a problem with it. In fact, I don't mind him here in my arms. All I'm doing is comforting him after I caused him to worry which is usually the other way around.

"Cassiel, you said you were worried about me..... Why?" I question, bring my head down to look at him or rather the top of his head since it looks like he's trying to avoiding facing me directly.

From the angle I was looking at him, I notice him biting down on his bottom lip. I'm assuming he's nervous about answering me but why? It's not like I'm his only friend. Wait, I am his first and only friend he has in the same year as him. How could I forget that? He's right to call me a jerk, I shouldn't have lied to him.

"Never mind that, Cassiel. I'm sorry for making you worry but look, I'm fine. There's nothing to be concerned about." I assure him and for added measure, I rub his back. I heard that when someone is in need of comfort, a small sign of physical affection is called for.

"But wh-what Leo said to me made me think you got in trouble a-and ended up in the hospital...." Cassiel murmurs while I see his cheeks turning pink. However, I can't question him on that just yet.

"Leo likes to exaggerate where I'm always disappearing to." I state. "Look, the next time I have another personal day-"

"There's going to be more?!" Cassiel exclaims, almost making me jump. He looks up at me with his eyes watery from crying and concern inside his blue orbs. He really has such a lovely shade of blue eyes for a young man.....

"Yes, I do.... But the point I'm trying to make is that when I do leave, please don't interrupt." I order when I saw his mouth open again and I don't want his next outburst to give me a heart attack. "When this sort of things happen again, I'll let you know immediately."

"Really?" Cassiel asks.

"Really." I confirm. "In fact, hand me your phone right now."

"Um, why?" Cassiel questions as I remove my arms from him and take out my own phone from my pocket.

"So that I can give you my number." I state. "Come on then. Hand me your phone."

Cassiel nods his head while he brings his phone out from his front pocket and gives it to me. I took his and hand him mine. "Put your number in mine too, alright?" I add as I quickly put my information in his contacts which I couldn't help but noticed he only had three. Mom, Dad, and therapist? He sees a therapist?

"Ok, I got my number in. C-can I have my phone back?" Cassiel announces. I'll ask him about that another time.

"Yeah. Here you go." I respond and return his phone back. He gives mine and quickly snatches his in an instant. It occurred to me that Cassiel and I are alike in some ways and the next thing that comes out of mouth was something I never expected. "Do you want to go to a party with me and my brother?"