King | j.b

XIX

Ariana eyed the king's music box as Rachel held it firmly in her hands. Her heart dropped with fear, confusion, and helplessness. Her hands quivered at her sides as she thought of the words to say. She opened her mouth to speak but whatever came out of her mouth was mute.

How did Rachel find it? Was she looking through her trunk? After a moment of silence Ariana eventually spoke up.

"Rachel I- I can explain," she said shakily as she slowly set down her cleaning supplies.

Rachel stared at her with a blank expression. She didn't look happy nor angry. She pressed her lips into a straight line as she darted her eyes back to the beautiful music box.

Ariana awaited for a harsh response from her. But she was silent and in a state of shock.

The air was thick with anxiety, yet you could hear Ariana's nervous breaths around the room. This is it, she thought. Soon, everyone in the castle will know about her and the king. The biggest secret she had ever kept in her whole life would now be terminated.

They're little affair would now be a story told throughout the castle, throughout the village even! Justin would be sent to the Council and Ariana would be put in prison. Never again would she see his gorgeous face, listen to his beautiful voice. She thought about the way he touched her, the way she touched him and how she would never be able to have that feeling again. She remembered the feeling of his large hands on her bare skin and the way he kissed her as he held her waist. She would never feel his soft lips on her's again, nor would she ever have a warm feeling whenever he smiled at her.

Sure he was a bad guy. Was. But he's changed.

"I'm sorry?" Rachel spoke as she read the writing on the small piece of paper. "He's sorry for what Ariana?"

Ariana stayed still as her face started to feel tingly. She fiddled with her fingers anxiously.

"It's- it's a long story," she spoke, lacking any information.

With that response, Rachel exploded with fury.

"A long story?" she yelled. "Why are you talking with the king? He's no good! He's psycho and mental!" Rachel set the music box aside and stood up.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed? What is going on between you and him? Why did he send this to you? And why didn't you tell me?" Rachel continued as she approached Ariana.

At this point Ariana didn't know what to say. Her best friend was now her enemy. How could she tell her? How?

"Answer me!" Rachel demanded impatiently. Ariana looked at her in the eyes and noticed they almost looked like Justin's when he was angry: red and full of fury.

Ariana took a deep breath before saying another word.

"Why were you looking through my trunk anyway?" she asked curiously. Rachel froze for a moment and narrowed her eyes at Ariana.

"Because I ran out of clean aprons, so I was going to borrow your's," she said innocently. "Isn't that what friends do?"

Ariana suddenly felt guilty for accusing her for looking through her stuff. Was she really only getting an apron? Was that it? By the look on Rachel's face, Ariana could tell she was not lying.

And suddenly she felt something heavy within her. Heavy with guilt. She thought about everything she had not told Rachel. Everything from just speaking with the king to even sleeping with him. And as if something hard had hit her, she broke down in tears.

Her knees soon gave in and she slumped to the floor with a thump. She couldn't hide anything from Rachel any longer. She could not bear it. She had to tell her.