𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐊𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 | eah

15

LADY MARIAN quickly quieted the squealing princesses, a blush spreading across her cheeks which is probably because of the behavior of the other girls. My dad just smiled, probably used to this.

"I can't believe it! A project with the boys!"

"Sparrow will be there!"

"And Daring! And Hunter!"

"Don't forget Chase, he's cute as well."

I was astonished by that comment. I turned to look and see that one of the girls, I think her name was Daisy and that she was the daughter of the White Queen, it would appear that she had said it. I saw that she was squealing and that her eyes were all dreamy and wistful looking.

I rolled my eyes, jeez, princesses can be truly and utterly boy crazy these days.

"Jealous?" Bella nudged me with her shoulder, smirking.

I could see that the other girls were smiling and smirking too.

"Of course not! Why would I?" I retort, turning red.

"Because you like him, duh!" Apple replies sweetly.

As I was about to reply, the squealing just got louder when a voice sounded "Who likes who?"

There, in the doorway, stood Chase Redford along with the other boys, looking "handsome" as always (bleh). He wore a nice black shirt and some light blue jeans. To top it all, he wore the same matching hoodie.

Oh my fairy godmother.

"DARLING LIKES — " I placed a hand over Briar's mouth, quickly shushing her.

Chase just smirked as he and the boys went inside the room, standing because there were no other vacant chairs.

"Who does Dar-Dar like?" He says, smiling mischeviously as he says my nickname.

I rolled my eyes yet again as more squeals reverberated across the room.

"My baby sister liking someone? I AM SHOCKED!" Daring says dramatically.

"That seems highly unusual for Darling to like a guy though." This time, it was Dexter who spoke.

Remembering that I'm mad at him, I glared at him to which he glanced around nervously.

Everyone could practically feel the tension between us both, people gave us confused expressions while Daring and some of the people who I've become close too, like Chase and Bella, had both confused and worried expressions.

As the air was awkward, dad coughed loudly and said "Everyone, we have a new student coming in, please let me introduce, Ryder Hearts."

A guy walked into the room, he had red hair with chocolate eyes. He had a smile on his face as he walked inside the room. "Hey everyone."

"RYDER!" we could see Lizzie hugging him tight. "I missed you big brother."

I could see for a split second he hesitated but he hugged her back just as tightly. "I missed you too Liz."

Suspicion was growing inside me. Why did Ryder hesitate to hug Lizzie? Isn't she supposed to be his brother? I quickly cleared the thoughts out of my mind.

"Oh hey Ryder." I saw Apple wave her hand.

"Oh! Hey cutie." Ryder replied as his eyes — sparkled?

Apple blushed and whistles and squeals erupted through the air. Lizzie, on the other hand, smiled at him as her eyes flickered to him and Apple.

"Alright! Now we have had the introductions, boys, please pick out a seat to share with the girls. Girls, please move a little for one of the boys shall share a seat with you." Lady Marian instructed.

I could see Daring sitting with Bella. Since he and she didn't announce their relationship yet to the public, Daring tried to look awkward and Bella averted her eyes from him. But I could see their hands intertwined from under the table.

"Hey Dar-Dar." Chase says as he slipped into my seat, smiling in the process.

"Hey Chase." I replied, smiling back at him. "So you wore the hoodie, huh?" I continued on.

"Well yeah, it is a pretty awesome hoodie." Chase says as he tugs on his own hoodie.

I turned away from him to see Ryder slipping into Apple's seat, and to which Apple responded by blushing. I smiled softly. Those two would look great together.

"Those two would look great together." Chase muses, his eyes also fixed on Apple and Ryder.

I glanced at him, shocked. He knew exactly what I was thinking.

"Are you some sort of mind reader or something? You practically read my mind!" I exclaimed, not noticing that everyone was already settled and dad and Lady Marian had started talking.

"Well maybe I am. I am a mind reader ~ I can read your thoughts and know what you are thinking ~ Wooooooohh ~" Chase says, acting like a voodoo witch mind reader.

I punched his shoulder as I laughed out loud, whilst Chase was pouting as he held his shoulder.

It seems my laugh stopped Lady Marian and dad's discussion as they both regarded me and Chase with stern looks.

"Ms. Charming and Mr. Redford, care to explain what's happening back there?" Lady Marian asked us.

The whole room turned to look at us and Bella and the other girls look constipated because they were trying to hold their squeals.

"Nothing Lady Marian. It was just something you said, right Chase?" I looked at him and smiled.

"Yeah." He smiled at me softly back, for some reason that turned my insides to mush.

"Oh? And what was it that Lady Marian said was funny, my dear daughter?" Dad asks me, with a smug face.

Busted.

"I believe Lady Marian was explaining our project was that the class was supposed to act a little skit, and that it was about a princess who was captured because she was gifted with powers then a prince comes along to save her but little did people know he had powers of his own too. We both found it cliché and a bit funny so that was why we laughed." Chase explained smoothly.

Lady Marian, dad, the others and me were shocked.

"Oh, glad you were listening." Lady Marian smiles and dad just nodded his head.

As they averted their gazes from us, I turned to Chase, with a bewildered expression. "How'd you do that? I mean, we were both practically not listening at all!" I whispered.

"I'm a mind reader, remember?" Chase whispered back.

I rolled my eyes and giggled slightly. I decided to listen on whatever Lady Marian and my dad were talking about.

"And now, King Charming and I have decided on who'll be the main characters of this little skit." Lady Marian smiled brightly at this.

"The lead characters are Chase Redford and Darling Charming!" My dad looked at me with pride.

Wait what?

I looked at Chase with wide eyes while he, he just smiled brightly and hugged me, I could smell his manly cologne.

I hugged him back as I could hear Bella cheering loudly and chanting "DARLASE! DARLASE! DARLASE!"

Chase buried in my hair and whispered "This is going to be a whole lot of fun."