PLS DONT READ THIS IT ONLY FOR ME THANK YOU

THE KING AND GUARD GIRL

"People of Kinkow!" Lanny shouted over the roar of the crowd, instantly shushing them. His gaze swept through the stadium, eyeing everyone in disgust. "We are all gathered here today to see if former Co-King, Brady"-he gestured to a corner of the arena, where the raven-haired boy awkwardly stood-"is worthy of the throne! And let us hope that he is not." He added the last part under his breath.

"He will go through a series of grueling tests which will challenge his strength, bravery, and wisdom. Each challenge differs from the rest, increasing in difficulty. And let's just say there are a few...Surprises." The young (and frankly, very short) man smirked, an evil gleam in his eyes.

"There are only two tests; and if he survives it, he will retake his rightful name as Co-King of Kinkow! Brady, acquired by the rules, will be allowed to take a weapon of his choice. So if he doesn't know how to yield one, he is certainly doomed!" The whole stadium laughed. "But," he continued, rather disappointingly. "Since rules are rules, he has half an hour to talk to any loved ones before being sent to his death-I mean challenge!" Lanny waved dismissively towards Brady, who was pulled into another room.

Brady gazed blankly at the dark floor of the dimly-light room.

Boomer stood in the doorway and Mikayla leaned against the wall opposite of him.

Tension hung in the air. And it was slowly killing Brady.

The dark-skinned King was the first to speak-the first to break the silence in between the three teenagers. "Well?"

Brady's head shot up. "Well, what?" What his brother was trying to say, he had no idea.

"What do you have to say for yourself?" Boomer asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

"What is it that you want me to say?" He spat.

"Hmm..How about 'I'm sorry'? Or that you didn't mean to abandon us?! When you left, you made Mikayla miserable!" Boomer gestured to the guard girl. "Do you have any idea how much hell you put her through? SHE blamed herself for something YOU clearly did! And what made you think that you could just come back and everything would be alright? Look at where you are right now-you're preparing for your death!"

"So, what, I'll die in this. I'd just like for you to know that even if this wasn't a challenge, I'd still take the bullet for not only Mikayla, but for YOU as well. Don't you understand that I actually care for you?" Brady yelled back.

"Then WHY did you leave in the first place?!"

The two kept bouncing insults back and forth to the other-some not as polite as others. They were too deep in their argument to acknowledge the fact that the guard girl was still in the room.

"Hey!" She finally got their full attention. She turned to Boomer. "You should probably leave."

"Oh, and I bet you two would like that." He muttered in annoyance as he turned his back to them and walked away.

"Maybe you should go too, Mikayla-I don't think you enjoy being in my presence." Brady let out a dark, cold laugh. "Boomer was right; I'm only a jerk. Tell me, Mikayla, do you like me?" The response that he wasn't expecting was a pair of soft lips press against his.

"Why don't you tell me?" She whispered as she pulled away.

"W-What was that for?" He was truly shocked. Mikayla was not the one to do such a thing.

"It was for good luck. You know...Just in case..." She ruffled his hair, slightly scaring the boy. Mikayla got up and left, never once looking back.

"Challenge time!" Lanny announced in a sing-song voice. He stood in the center of the arena, Brady standing not very far from him. On the sidelines, in the Royal Skybox (if that's what they call it) sat Boomer and Mikayla, yet only one of them was worried for Brady's sake-and that person wasn't Boomer.