Run Away From The Pain

Duty Calls

"Guys, I've got some shitty news." I sighed, sitting at the table of the tour bus, surrounded by the band and Claudia. 

"What's wrong?" She seemed the most worried. 

"I've gotta hop on a plane and get back to the palace." I deadpanned, trying to desperately not to look anyone in the eye. 

"What?!" Steven gasped.
"Why?!" Joe followed with another question. 

"Well, I think what my mother said is that I need to meet the Royal Italian family." I began to pick at one of my nails. "Something about uniting our countries as Allies or something."

"Do you want me to come with you?" The sadness in Claudia's voice broke my heart, forcing me to look up at her. 
The astonishment on everyone's faces was enough to make me jump out of my skin and hide away in a corner. Steven did seem the most hurt, which for some masochistic reason, made me happy. 

"No," I smiled. "You can stay with the guys… I can just meet you in whatever city, I guess." 

"How many days will you need to be in Samarinia?" Steven asked, intertwining my fingers with his. 
The warmth of his skin against mine made me forget why I was even mad at him in the first place. 

"I think about a week." I sighed, knowing I was going to be away, which means Cyrinda (if she's at the shows) Will have full access to Steven. "They're coming in about 3 days, and I'll have to spend a few days with them, getting to know them and what not."

"We'll be in Berlin this time next week, if you want to meet up with us there?" Brad, for the first time, had a tinge of sadness in his eyes. 

"Sure." I smiled, and slid out of the booth, standing up in front of the table. "We're passing by an airport in about a half an hour where a jet is scheduled to take me back to the palace. I'm all packed and ready to go, so I figured I should tell you now."

"Gee, thanks for the heads up." Brad scoffed, returning to the same sarcastic asshole he's always been with me. 
I chuckled sadly, and just shrugged my shoulders plopping myself down the the couch away from everyone else. 
I tiled my head back against the seat, and shut my eyes, closing me off from the sunlight streaming in through the windows. 

I felt another body plop down next to me, forcing me to open my eyes to find out who it is. 
Though Steven was smiling, his eyes seemed utterly depressed. 

"When did you find out you had to go back home?" He asked, pulling me onto his lap. 

"A few days ago… at the concert in Paris." I couldn't bare to look him in the eyes. 

"Why didn't you tell me?" The heartbreak in his voice crushed me. 

"I didn't wanna burden you with information that you don't need to worry about." I snapped.

"But it wouldn't burden me at all…" He sighed, pulling me close to him, so I could nuzzle my head into the crook of his neck. "I love you."

"Do you?" I scoffed. The moment I said that, though, I knew it was a big mistake… one of those things that's better left unsaid. 

"Of course I do, why wouldn't you think so?" Though I wasn't looking at him, his eyes were digging holes into me. 

"Cyrinda." I muttered, inhaling his intoxicating scent. 

"Ace," He let out an exasperated sigh, resting his head on the back of the couch. "We're just friends. She's good friends with Elyssa, who's been coming to all of the shows."

"Yeah, I know." I muttered. 
We sat in silence for what seemed like seconds, before the bus rolled to a stop on what looked like a parking lot. 

"We're here, Ace." Roger called from behind the wheel. 

"Thanks." I sighed, releasing myself from Steven's grip. 
I grabbed my bag, which had all of my magazines and entertainment bullshit it in, and went around thr bus saying my goodbye's. 
I gave Joey, Tom and Brad a hug and a kiss on the cheek and promised them I'd see them next week. 
Joe pulled me into a big bear hug and smiled sadly, as did Claudia, who began to cry a little.

"I'll see you in a week, don't cry!" I chuckled, squeezing her tightly. 

"I know, but I'll miss you!" She sighed, dabbing teard from her lashes.

I smiled and pulled back turning around to face Steven who was blocking the only exit for me to step off the bus, leaving me with no choice but to hug and kiss him goodbye. 

I coiled my arms around his neck and planted a soft kiss on his lips, only to pull back, leaving him to want more.
I squeezed him tightly, and burried my face in his neck, wishing I never had to let go. 
"I'll see you soon." I smiled, as I unwrapped myself from him. 

"I know." He kissed me one last time, as I stepped off the bus, and grabbed my suitcases from the cargo-beds stored underneathe the bus. 
I made my way towards the Royal jet my mother sent for me, and only looked back towards the bus as I was sitting down in my seat, staring out the glass oval next to me. 

Within minutes, the jet was turned in the direction we needed it to be in, and we took off, watching the ground minimize underneathe us. 
The once monstrous black Aerosmith bus turned into nothing more than a dot, and eventually, faded away underneathe a blanket of clouds.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hi Mom." I grinned, leaping into her arms as I made my way into the familiar foyer, hearing the familiar click of my heels on the marble floors. 

"Honey, I've missed you so much!" She teared up, pulling me tightly into her. After a moment, she stepped back to size me up. I wish I could've changed, knowing my mother would greatly disapprove of  my attire; a pair of jeans, an Aerosmith shirt, and the same combats boots I wore to the Paris concert a few days ago. "Darling, I so desperately wish you had time to go change, but unfortunately, the Italians are here a bit early.."

She lead me through the foyer into the back hallway which lead to the study. 
With in moments, the doors to the study swung open and I was greated by my father and brother engulfing me into large hugs. 
"Hey dad," I laughed kissing him, and my brother on the cheek. "Hey Nick."

My mother cleared her throat, clearly trying to grasp our attention. 
We instantly halted and turned towards her. 

"Anastasia, I'd like for you to meet the Italian Royal family."
She smiled, as a very good looking group of people stood up from the couch behind her. 

"This is her highness, Queen Adalgisa Alessondri."
The woman seemed almost as regal as my mother. 
She was tall and thin, and well… stunning. 
Her chocolate brown hair was pulled high into a ballerina bun, and her dark eyes were framed by heavy lashes. 
She wore a golden business suit, like my mother often did, with a pleaded skirt to match her blazer, as well as golden heels. 
Her teeth were pearly white, as she flashed me a beautiful smile, which was framed by lips as red as a rose. 
"Boungiorno, Principessa." Her tongue licked the endings of her beautifully pernunciated words, as she bowed low, showing me her respect. 

"Hello, your majesty." I smiled and bowed just as low as she did, signifying our equality, as my mother taught me to do when meeting other royals. 

"This is his majesty, King Vinchenzo Alessondri." My mother moved down the list, as to now waste time, which made me quite suspicious. 

"Boungiorno, Principessa." The man was just as handsom as his wife was beautiful. 
His dark hair, much like my fathers, was streaked with grey, showing his wisdom. 
His pristine navy blue suit was pressed, and he looked every bit as regal as a king should. 
He was equally as tall as his wife, and looked quite fit for his age. 

"Your majesty." I bowed, smiling, though he didn't return my smile. 
He simply looked me up and down, making mental notes of all my flaws, clearly judging me for everything he perceived me to be. 

"This is the Princess Claretta Alessandri." My mother was rushing once again. 

"Boungiorno, Principessa." She smiled, bowing her head lightly.
She was the spitting image of her beautiful mother, though she looked to be about 12 years old, if that. 
Her little white sundress flowed out from under her sun-kissed skin, as she bowed. 

"Boungiorno, Principessa." I grinned, returning her greeting as were are equals… you know, being  princesses and all. 

The only thing running through my mind was how it was remotely possible that a family could be this beautiful... like holy shit, they're all supermodels or something. 

"And this is his royal highness, Prince Antonio Alessandri." My mother grinned widely. 
If I thought this family was beautiful, then I'd never seen beauty before quite like this. 
The spitting image of god himself came to me in the form of Antonio Alessandri. 

I could tell, even underneathe the black suit he was adorned in, that his body was chizzled out of the finest marble. 
His chocolate eyes had the tiniest flakes of gold in it, making his eyes gleam and glitter regardless of the light he was in. 
His jawline was so definted, that it alone could make the panties of any woman any where, drop instantly. 
He, in every way, shape, or form, was perfection. 
I'll admit it… My heart skipped like…atleast 10 beats when I looked him directly in the eyes. 

"Boungiorno, Principessa." His haunting eyes never left mine, as he delicately grasped my hand, and brought it to his perfectly shaped lips, planting a delicate kiss on my skin, making my face flush entirely. 
His velvet voice sent a shiver up my spine.

"H-hi." I managed to choke out. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Okay, I know this is bad, but… Steven's been flirting with Cyrinda alot lately… so, I should be able to flirt with someone just once," I sat on my bed, listening to 'Rocks' on my record player, trying to convince myself that I wasn't doing anything wrong for falling head of heels for the god sitting in my study right now. "I mean, It should definitely be okay. Steven's been fuckin' with me for too long to be able to care about this. Anyway. I'll be back with him in a week, when I meet them in Berlin."

I sighed, and continued to let Steven's sweet voice swirl around me. 
The landline that was resting on the bedside table, instantly began to chirp, pulling me out of my thoughts. 

"Hello?" I asked, putting the black receiver to my ear, and lips, as I twirled the spiraled chord around my finger. 

"Hey Ace! It's Claudia!" Her squeaky voice rang out, and I'll be honest, I did miss her. "How was the flight?"

"It was fine." I smiled as 'Home Tonight' began to play on the record. "I uhh.... I met the Italians already." 

"They're there already?!" She gasped. "I thought they weren't coming for a few days?"

"Nope, they're here." I paused, not knowing whether I should tell her or not. "I uhh..... I can honestly say they're the most attractive family I've ever seen.. They're all like, chizzled from the heavens or something."

"I know, I heard about them." She sighed playfully. "Even the prince, I heard he's extremely attractive."

"I couldn't speak to him without stuttering." I confessed. 

"Oh no, seriously?" She laughed a little at my misfortunes. 

"Yeah, it was so embarassing!" I laughed with her. "I wanna know what this treaty's gonna be all about though… Mom said that Prince Antonio and I should spent a day or two together and get to know each other before we decide the regulations of the treaty."

"Well, that's good." She chuckled a bit, but then gained a serious tone in her voice. "Just remember that Steven's here, and he loves you alot, okay?"

"Please, tell him the same." I rolled my eyes. "Cyrinda isn't me, and Antonio isn't Steven, and we should both know that."

"I'll remind him." She laughed, "I'll talk to you tomorrow, I guess."

"Okay," I smiled knowing I had a friend out there to care about me. "Bye." I hung up, and sighed, plopping my head down against a pillow, and drowning myself in Tom's sweet baselines.