The Red Queen's Daughter: Book One

Chapter 11

The thought that Nate might actually like me was enlightening. But, yeah, if he knows I like him, he can always use that against me if I ever learn a secret of his and leak it. Which I probably never will.

"Yeah, like he does. Probably not. The odds are high that he doesn't," I tell Charlotte.

"Oh, no, the odds are really low that he doesn't. Why else would he tell you that he knew?" she says.

Good point, but yeah.

"Good point, but, the possibilities are still low that he likes me," I say, repeating my thoughts.

"Okay, Nicole, but when he comes to you again in the middle of the night, you can keep your door closed instead of talking."

"It's honestly kinda awkward how he just came in the middle of the night. It's like, stalker awkward. Why couldn't he just wait till morning?"

"Because, as I said, he cares and he probably likes you."

"Yeah, ha ha, no."

"Yeah."

"No."

"Yeah."

"No."

"Yeah."

"Yeah."

"No. Wait, WAIT. You got me to say no!"

"Yes, yes I did. And it was very entertaining."

"No, it wasn't. It was more, very not entertaining."

"Yeah, suuuuuure..."

"Really!"

"Yeah, I know."

"Well, I'm gonna leave now so you can decide if your gonna leave him knocking on your door all night," she teases,"Bye!"

Tonight might be interesting.

***

I get in a sea green night gown. They have pretty much every single dress color in the world here.

I sleep for a while until I hear a knock on my door. Yeah, it's seven. It is soooo Nate.

Should I leave him knocking on my door? Nah, it'd be rude, especially because I know he's out there.

I hear another knock. "Coming!" I groan.

As I expected, it's Nate. "Seven'o clock again?" I ask.

"Yeah, why?" he asks.

"You came last night at seven. Come on, you know I like you. I know Nick told you." I say.

"Yes, yes I do know you like me, that's why I came here," he says.

"Why did you come here? To rub it in my face that you don't like me?"

"Or did I come here to tell you that I do like you?"

"Yeah, sure, did Charlotte tell you to say that?"

"No!"

"Sure..."

"Really!"

"Fine! Then I guess you like me!"

"Fine!"

I shut the door. Well, I should probably tell Charlotte in the morning that she was right.

Dang, that was awkward. That was proof that he likes me. Still awkward, though.

Charlotte was completely right, really right, in fact.

I don't know what to do, so I lay down and drift into a dreamless sleep.

***

I awake, put on my matching sea green slippers, put on my white robe, and go down to the Huge Willow.

Yes, I know I'm going down to meet my friends in my pajamas, but- I just remembered, Nick never took me to get coffee. Too late to remember. Eh, I don't like coffee anyways, I had it once and it was so bitter. I'm going to the kitchen to get my usual peppermint honey tea.

After I get my tea, I head to the Willow, no one's there except Charlotte.

"Sooo, did Nate come last night?" she asks.

"Yes, he did, he said he liked me, then I shut the door," I say.

Charlotte's mouth drops,"You shut the door on him after he admitted he liked you?! Really?"

"Yes Charlotte, I did. Things got really awkward..."

"So?! What if he doesn't like you now?"

"I don't know! I guess I'll just keep on liking him from an afar! I don't know! I've never really ever liked someone in my life! I spent my life stuck in my aunt's castle! I've never experienced the word like!"

"Oh, sorry."

I sigh, I feel bad for yelling at her. She's my best friend,"I'm sorry, Charlotte, I just-" "It's fine, Nicole. It's OK, OK?" she says.

We hear the patter of shoes down the walkway, it's Danny,"Oh, thank goodness you're okay! I'm so happy you escaped the Red Castle. Where's Charlie? I ask, shocked Danny escaped the Red Castle.

"Well," he starts,"that's the problem. He didn't escape. We were kept in different cells. We weren't immediately killed. I hope that doesn't happen to Charlie..." he says.

This is a horrible, risky idea, but I speak it out loud,"We need to rescue him."