Sergio's Flowers

~3~

"Hey... HEY!"

I groan slightly at the voice, but my eyes won't open. I feel a throbbing in my head and gentle tapping on my thigh.

"Sergio wake up!" My eyes dart open just in time to see a foot coming at me. I grab at it, yanking the foot forward. A small scream escapes the girl as she falls down right on top of me.

I pounce to my feet knocking the girl down a step. One look at her and I know she's no threat. I can barely make out the girl under the dress because part of it flew up over her. She rustles under the gold fabric and shoots me an irritated look then laughs. I stare into her blue eyes before realization sinks in.

"Aaronita? Aaron?!" I laugh to and extend both hands out and lift her up. She throws her arms around me and gives me a tender embrace. I run my hands down her sides, becoming familiar again with her body.

"Sergio, I knew you were coming home, I was so upset when you weren't here when I got back from school. Oh I missed you so!" She presses her head to my chest. Her blond hair sun kissed from the summer months. Reluctantly pulling away she looks me head to toe. "What happened to you? When I was coming down for dinner I saw you in front of me then you grabbed your head and fell."

I nod. "Um it was nothing, just a bad migraine I suppose." She doesn't need to know about anything that has happened. Not now. Maybe not ever.

She shakes her head. "Migraines don't do that." She looks into my eyes earnestly. I close them for a few seconds only to open them to her still searching them.

I look away first. "We need to go down to dinner now."

"It's been almost two years Sergio. Two. So much has happened to both of us since, I know we aren't the same people who fell in love all that time ago." She puts her hand on my chest. Her lips part like she means to say something more, but she quickly closes them.

I back away, her arm falling down. "Exactly." I step to the side and gesture for her to go down the stairs first. "We aren't the same people."

She looks a little taken aback but she nods and walks in front of me. She walks so regally, so elegantly, with confidence I've never seen before on her. She's right. She's not the same little girl I fell in love with. But I'm not the same boy.

As we walk to the Dinning Hall I can't help but notice how beautiful she's gotten. Her curves came in and any baby fat she had is gone. I can't help but wonder how she sees me now.

She enters the Hall first and everyone stands up and bows to her. Next I walk in, hands behind my back, and I follow Aaron to her chair to pull it out for her without any exchange between us. I glance right at the King, only to see he is staring directly at me, with a warned look. I don't waver my gaze. Another mistake I can feel it.

Someone coughs from my left, breaking the unwanted tension. My father sits with authority, and I can feel in his eyes that he is growing impatient. Almost to fast, I walk to him.

"Sir." I nod. He stands and we bow to each other. After 6 months you think our first meeting would be more sincere, never in front of the King. As we sit, I make note that he looks older. Has he grown more gray hair?

I look around the room briefly. There is my father next to me who doesn't take his eyes off of my every move, next to him is his girlfriend Harph, her cool gaze fixed across the table. I follow them to Aaron, who is whispering to the King. The seat next to him is empty and creates a lonely presence in the corner. That was where the queen sat, before she became ill.

Then next to me is what must be Harps daughter. Her green eyes pierce into me and I recognize her from the gardens. She throws me a simple wink, but it's plenty to make my mouth drop.

"Thank you, guest and family for joining me tonight for dinner. And I would personally like to welcome Sergio home. Sergio," King Mryell raises his glass to me, "welcome home."

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The rest of dinner is filled with talks discussing the queen's health and Utopia's current policies. The King reassures everyone that Utopia is at its prime and that nothing can penetrate it. Several times I contribute to the conversation, expressing what I learned while at training.

"So Sergio, what do you plan on doing now that training is over. You are almost at the end of your 16th year. Have you thought about a marriage partner yet?" The King speaks causally but I can't help but repeat Wren's warning in my head. Since I'm an Officer I'm supposed to have leeway when it comes to marriage.

I choke a little in my food. "No Your Highness, I haven't put much thought into it. I was under the impression that Officers could wait until the end of their 18th year?" The way I say the words comes out a little threatening, like I'm questioning his authority. I stare directly at the King, not breaking eye contact; that doesn't stop me from feeling everyone in the room watch the exchange.

The King clears his throat. "Well Sergio, yes that was the law. But due to recent events in a population drop, we've become fairly strict on marriage laws. I understand your birthday is in 4 months, I suggest you began to find a bride, or have the Matchers Society give you one." I nod. Why should the rules be different for me? Aaron has to get married in a few months to. I wonder how old Harps daughter is. Will she have to get married soon?

My father and the King began to talk about the latest tests being given in school, will Harp and Aaron speak to each other. I feel weary the way they talk. Harp seems to be aggressively talking, while Aaron looks irritated. I watch them so intently that I don't even notice the hand slide up my leg.

I look down as see the green-eyed girl slip something into my pocket. We lock eyes and I feel like she is trying to speak to me through her eyes. I hear the King say something about how perfect Utopia is, and how Bliss is the best city. The girls eyes flash at this and she looks away.

"I'm Bex." She says while picking at her food. I open my mouth to respond when she cuts me off, "I know, you're Sergio."

A bell chimes and in come several workers followed by Wren. "Dessert is served." Wren eyes me the entire time he speaks. The King begins to clap, and soon the whole table is applauding as the workers distribute terimuse.

The King takes the first bite, allowing everyone else to eat. While eating dessert it's rude to talk, so no one speaks. When everyone is finished and the plates are taken, gentle chatter starts up again.

Wren comes back in the room holding a bottle of expensive wine. He pours it into the glasses of the adults; the king, my father, Harp.

The king waves him away with his hand. "Sergio will you kindly escort Princess Aaronita and Lady Rebecca to their rooms?"

I look to Aaorn who's cheeks turn a tiny of pink, then to "Bex" who makes the smallest but noticeable glance at my pocket. I stand up and offer a hand to Bex, then walk her to the end of the table. I go to Aaron's seat and help her up as well. The girls walk in front of me in silence as we walk out the door.

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We reach the fourth floor of the palace, and the girls turn to me. Bex states blankly at me and the eye-flash happens again causing me to blink a few times. Aaron looks at her with pointed eyes before walking up to me and kissing me on the cheek. She turns around to Bex and pushes past her to her room. Bex raises her eyebrows at me, looks to my pocket and walks right to her room, the one right next to mine.

When I'm all alone in the hall I open the note:
Can't explain why in case this is intercepted or you turn it in, but meet me in the attic book room at 11 tonight.