Book 1 || Finding Prince Charming || Harry Styles

Chapter 36

Her view.

"Oh, you're still waiting for him, huh?" Anna smiles at me gently. She knows that all my life I've had a list of qualities I want in a man. In the man--the man who would become my Prince Charming.
"He called a few hours ago. His horse broke down in the West End."
"Tell him to hop on another horse then." I laugh. "Tell him to forget the gentle white steed. He needs a stallion."
"Yup. Let me call him now." Anna grabs my phone and pretends to make a call. "Hello, hello? Is that you, Prince Charming? Cassidy's best friend Anna here. She's waiting on you to arrive. And I'm waiting on your even handsomer cousin, Prince Even More Charming. We wanted to tell you both to get your asses off the slow white steeds and trade them in for some stallions. And don't trot over to us. Please gallop. Crack that whip and gallop." Anna's voice rises dramatically as she gets into the scene, and I start giggling. "We're waiting here, kind of impatiently. My top's about to fall off and Cassidy's already on the bed waiting to welcome you."
"I'm here! I'm here!" I fan myself as I lay back. "Please hurry."
"There." Anna giggles as well. "That should do it. Both Prince Charmings should be on the way now."
"That's what I like to hear."
"Do you think you'll sleep with him again?" Anna blurts out, and I roll my eyes.
"No way."
"Are you excited for tomorrow?"
"No," I lie.
"I can't believe he lives in Knightsbridge. He must be rich."
I shrug. "I suppose."
"I wonder if Louis lives with him?"
"God, I hope not." I shudder at the thought. "I can't believe they're brothers. Louis' so sweet and polite, but Harry's so rude and hateful."
"Date Louis then." Anna grins. "That would show him. Imagine him telling you to stay away."
"I suppose he doesn't think I'm good enough."
"Because you're American?"
"No, because he thinks I'm a slut." I stand up and stretch, letting my journal fall to my bed. "Anyway, I don't want to talk about him anymore. Let's go watch TV?"
"You done writing for the night?"
"No, but I'll finish before bed."
"I can't believe you've kept up journaling all these years." Anna links her arm through mine as we walk to the living room in the house we're living in in Streatham. It's not the most fun living with a family, but we made it.
"It helps me to process my thoughts."

We sit on the couch, and Anna turns the TV on. I look around the room and smile when I look at the radiator in the corner, and it hits me once again that we are in London.
"OMG, Anna, can you believe it? We're finally here."
"It's like a dream, isn't it?" She sits back and pulls a blanket over her legs. "I do have to admit that I miss the Florida weather, but there's nothing like being in London in the fall."
"I know. This is so different from Palm Bay."
"And Orlando."
"Definitely." We both laugh, but then silence falls us both as we think about what we've left behind. It's true that it's both of our dreams to study in London--really, anywhere in Europe. We've always wanted to explore the world, but neither of us ever had the money.
We don't really have it now either, but loans are saving grace. That's why I've applied for the assistant position.

Anna finally speaks up. "I wonder how my mom is."
"We should get a phone card tomorrow and call."
"Yeah."
"How are you?" I squeeze her leg and give her a look of concern.
"As good as I can be." She shrugs and looks at the screen. "Now let's see what's on."
"Okay." I sit back, unsure of what to say next, so I don't say anything. Anna's father recently lost his job and her parents are worried that they are going to lose their house. The stress has been really hard on Anna, and she's been working two jobs as well as going to school to help save the house. It's been a hard decision for her to come here, but her parents have been supportive of her coming over here with me. They know how much she needs a break from all of the stress.