Shh.. Secret Princess ;) (Under Major Heavy Re-Construction)

Part 25 - Finding The Truth in Everything

Part 25 - Finding the Truth in Everything

After failing at getting Jamie to tell us what the deal was--a persistant guy that was-- Chancey and I went back to his room. But that didn't mean it was over.

The next day, I was lying down on the Chancey's couch, the TV on, Chancey lying down on his bed. I used to normally lie down beside him, but I thought it best not to be too close with him now. School was cancelled for the whole week, due to fumigations for the mosquito viruses going around.

He switched the channel to the gossip channel, and I scrunched my brows as I read my name next to Chancey's.

"Keep it there," I said, and he did.

"Why?" he said, irritated for some weird reason.

I didn't answer, and I stared at the headline flashing on the screen in bold letters: Prince and Future Princess Rendezvous. Chancey was as quiet as I was as the theme song for the show played.

"We have received photos of His Royal Highness and his betrothed recently, and it seems like there is more to the relationship than we originally thought. Take a look at the slide show of pictures we have gathered together, and you be the judge."

Then, pictures of Chancey and me flashed on the screen accompanied by some love song; pictures of us stargazing, at the beach, at the prom, when we were jogging, on the horse, at the after-party, at school. They were all compromising photos with regards to the 'relationship'.

The first thought that ran into my mind was: What the flipsauce? The second one? Who the cheesecake had those photos and who leaked them?

"So, what do you viewers think? Well, before you jump for joy or cry for the future princess, check this set of photos first."

Pictures flashed. Not just any pictures though. Pictures of Jamie and me from the beach, one when we hugged, the other when we were laughing, also one from us in the garden. But that wasn't all, no. Then, pictures of Thanee and me flashed. There was one from school, another from us hugging, then one from when we went out, then another one from after Chancey said he loved me, in the park, the cafe and one from when we were kids.

'So who is--"

My jaw dropped, and the screen went black. I sat up and stared at Chancey, his hand on the remote, staring at me, too.

"Annie?" he said, barely audible, sitting up.

Just then, a knock sounded on the door. Flip. Flip. Flip. Flip.

"Yes? Come in," he said, loud enough for whoever to hear.

The door opened, and a butler came in and bowed.

"Your Royal Highness, Miss Caprione, the Capriones have arrived. They are with Their Royal Majesties in His Majesty's Study," he said, bowed again and left.

I jumped off the couch just as Chancey stood up, and we went to Uncle's study, not a peep coming out from either of us. When we got there, we knocked and came in. This is all so wrong.

When we came in, we sat on the couch, opposite Auntie, Uncle and my parents, beside Jase.

"We just saw, dears," Auntie said, breaking the awkward silence.

I looked up from playing with my fingers to see Dad's angry composure.

"We don't know who leaked all those photos, but we have sent someone to investigate," Uncle said, glancing at Daddy.

I looked at Jase, catching her eye. She was annoyed though, probably because her trip from Paris was cut short.

"We are trying to control the media frenzy that has began, but we cannot prohibit them from publishing all this. We have received word that over half of the newspapers are going to put the situation in their headlines," Auntie said, a gentle tone in her voice.

I nodded, knowing something like this was bound to happen. But the pictures, I am still surprised by those.

"Uncle, can I speak with you in private?" I heard Chancey ask, and I looked up and saw him looking at Dad.

Dad's posture stiffened, and I looked at Chancey questioningly. He didn't take notice of me though. Dad just nodded.

"Well then, we'll give these two some privacy here. My wife and I will try take care of the damage control. I believe Elisa still needs to finish up her work. And Jase mentioned something about visiting her friends?" Uncle said, glancing at Jase.

She nodded, and we went out of the room, parting in the hallways. Mom stayed behind though.

"Honey, we will always be here for you, okay? I know what you're doing for Chance and your Auntie and Uncle comes from your heart, but you can't keep fixing everything by yourself. Follow your heart. There is a chance of it leading you to something near failure, but that is a risk taken to find something wonderful," she said, looking me in the eye.

I nodded and went into her open arms, hugging her.

"Yes, Mom," I said.

"Even if we're busy, we always have you and Jase on our minds. Family will always come first. And I know that you understand how demanding our jobs are. Your father and I are so proud of you that you didn't turn out wrong amidst our absences," she said, hugging me tighter.

I merely nodded, and we, too, parted. I got a call on my phone, and it was Sky.

"Anna! What the hell? What is all this news about you being betrothed to the prince?" she said, almost shouting.

I walked to my room as I held my phone to my ear.

"I was trying to contact you before that whole thing! What's up with you and Luke's phone?" I said and frowned.

"Family matters. So, are you gonna tell me what that whole thing was about? I have something to tell you, too," she said, sounding worried.

"Sure. Why don't we meet up? What about your house?" I said, grabbing my keys off the side table.

"Great. See you in a few?"

"Yeah," I said and hung up.

After telling Auntie and Uncle where I was going, I headed off to Sky's house which was right next to Luke's in a Lakeside community. Their houses were big but not over-the-top big though, which was nice. They both had a victorian theme going on, and I liked that.

I buzzed in at Sky's gate and told them who I was, and I was let in. My guards were there, too, so they parked next to me in their parking spaces. After telling them to relax, I was greeted by Sky who led me in, leaving my guards in their lounge.

I greeted Mrs. Dawson, but her dad was out. Her mother congratulated me on the betrothal, --making me awkward-- I just thanked her though. But Mrs. Dawson glanced at Sky meaningfully, making me wonder what that was about. After that, we went up to her room--which was almost as big as mine-- and settled ourselves on the floor, cross-legged.

"So I've noticed that you've been looking like a kid on her birthday since I arrived," I said, nudging her and laughed.

She slapped my arm and frowned, shaking her head, feigning annoyance. I rolled my eyes.

"Seriously, what is it?" I said, shaking her.

She laughed and shook her head.

"You first," she said, pushing me away.

I sat in front of her and told her every detail, until this afternoon.

"So this all happened when I was gone?" she said, and despite herself, she smiled.

I nodded.

"Remind me to never go on a family vacation ever again," she said and laughed.

I frowned and hit her arm.

"You're killing me here, Sky," I said.

"Well.. If you really want to know. Luke and I are together," she said and smiled while scratching the back of her neck.

Wait, what? I jumped up from my seated position and started laughing. I was clutching my stomach as I tried composing myself.

"What's so funny?" she said.

When I managed to fix myself, I smiled down at her.

"I have been waiting for you guys to figure that out for so long now! Finally," I said, extending my arms around.

"That's not all," she whispered and smiled.

She then took out her left hand, and there was a ring on the ring finger. My eyes went wide, and my mouth formed an 'o'. And then I laughed again.

"Our parents have been secretly planning it since we were born. Born. And since we got back here, we were whisked off to Paris for a vacation. We came back just earlier. He proposed yesterday, at the Eiffel Tower."

I smiled at her as she looked like a lovestruck girl. She looked up at me and frowned.

"What?" I said, tilting my head to the side.

She raised her brows and said,"No lectures? No 'love does not exist'? No objections?"

I shook my head and laughed.

"I knew you were meant for each other," I said just as the door burst open.

Then, there Chancey stood, his face red and sweat on his face. His eyes locked with mine, and I gave him a 'WTF?' look. He shook his head and went in front of me.

"We know who leaked the photos," he said, his face sad and concerned.

He sat me down beside Sky, looked at each of us, then sighed, sitting down in front of us.

"My brother," he whispered, shaking his head like he couldn't believe it.

"Wait, what?" I said, thinking I heard him wrong.

He shook his head.

"It was James. He did it," he said, making both Sky and me gasp.

We looked at each other then at Chancey.

"Wait, how? More importantly, why!?" I said, scrunching my face.

"I don't know. Mom's investigator? Him? He found the IP address to where the photos were sent from anonymously, and they caught a guy named Chad Edwards. He had a family and his wife was in the hospital, and he needed to be there. He told the investigator it was James. We didn't believe it, but we saw the calls made on his phone from my brother's. Mom went to talk to James right now, but I came here to tell you. I don't know what I would have done if I saw him," he said, his tone turning furious.

I sucked in a sharp breath and patted Chancey's knee.

"Calm down, we'll get our answers. Please, C, I can handle what they threw at me. Don't get too mad at him, he's your brother," I said, eliminating all the bad emotions I felt when I heard it was Jamie.

He shook his head, and Sky said she'd give us privacy, going out of the room.

"But, he shouldn't have done that, especially to you. You were the one who's getting hit by this, not me, not us, you. You don't deserve it on top of everything," he said, not looking at me.

I sighed.

"I am fine," I said firmly, standing up as he did.

"Don't do anything in the heat of the moment. I have and still will handle this. I'm not mad at him, so you have no right to be if I'm not," I said honestly, making him look me in the eye.

He turned his hands into fists and nodded reluctantly. He was still stiff, so I hugged him. He relaxed as I did, and all the weight that's been put on me, which I've been suppressing, felt lighter.

For some reason, it's just better when my best friend's here.

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If you wanna skip this, you can, seriously.... :) So the Cliche contest is still ongoing and is ending soon. This is for all the short story writers... The tumblr is on the ext. link. Check it out! I advise you to. Awesome prizes, too. :D

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Any mistakes here, please notify me.. Was rushing cause I have to get back to school. xD

I was actually going to end at the part when Chancey said he knew who it was... Suspense... But I realized I've been giving short chappies.. So I added some bits...