The Rebel (#Wattys2016)

24. Headaches? Headaches.

Adeen fixed her sister's dress. She looked up at her. It was probably the last time in a month and a half that they'd see each other. Adeen took her in her arms.

"One month and a half. Then you'll be a one, just like me."

Liz smiled slightly and someone knocked on her door. She stood up and opened it to a guard.

"Lady Adeen," he bowed and handed her a letter, "the prince sent this."

Liz was immediately over her shoulder, peeking. Adeen smiled and thanked the guard. Then she turned to Liz.

"What are you doing?"

"I want to know what it's about."

"It's between Skander and me." Liz narrowed her eyes. "Let's just go to eat."

Liz nodded and followed Adeen out the room, their mother behind them.

"What are those bruises on your neck?" She asked and Adeen stopped dead on her tracks.

She practically ran into her room and into her bathroom, where she applied make up as fast as she could. When she came back to the hallway, Liz was frowning at her.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah. I just had to cover them."

"How did you get them?"

Adeen was about to say some terrible lie when June came out her room. She was grinning at Adeen, no hickies on her neck. Her parents came behind her, her mother with the same blonde hair and gray eyes, and her father with light brown hair and blue eyes. They all smiled at her.

"Hey, Ade. These are my parents."

Adeen smiled back at them and shook their hands.

"It's good to finally meet you."

June's mother smiled. "The feeling is mutual, Adeen. How has June behaved?"

"Well..." Adeen shrugged and laughed at June's face. "She's been one of my best friends."

Her mother smiled. "I'm glad to hear that."

They continued walking to the Dining Hall, where the families sat on a table on the back of the room and the girls in their usual seats.

Jasper and Skander didn't stop staring at June and Adeen.

"I can't deal with him." June said as she took a sip from her glass. "He's being so obvious." Adeen smiled and June turned to her. "Oh, I almost forget to ask you something."

"Shoot."

"So, you missed breakfast."

"And? I slept in? I was up until pretty late last night."

June smiled as she looked at her friend.

"Skander missed breakfast as well. And a picture of you kissing him is all over the papers. And you were naked when I went into your room." June grinned. "You should have seen Regina's anger. She could have destroyed the entire palace with her own hands."

Adeen waved her off.

"I'm serious, Ade. She was really mad." June shrugged. "I knew there was sexual tension between you two. From the beginning."