Falling for Royalty

Chapter Thirteen

Everything was going fine up until the horse saw a snake. The horse begins bucking and jerking. I hold onto the reins for dear life and feel my heart beat reverberating throughout my body. "William!" Right when I thought I had everything under control havoc erupts.

William pulls his horse up to mine and holds his hands out to me. "Evelyn, jump!"

I stare at him wide eyed in horror. "What!"

"Jump!" he sees my distressed expression and he clears his throat. "Evelyn, you have to trust me. Jump!"

I swing my leg over the side of the horse and position myself in the saddle. I release the reins and hurl myself off of the screaming horse. I close my eyes in fear that he wouldn't catch me. He grabs my arms and pulls me into the saddle in front of him. I wrap my arms around him for comfort and a somewhat safe feeling. I could feel my whole body shaking violently. "Wh-what about the horse?"

He clutches me tighter to him. "Don't worry about the horse, she'll find her way back home." After that, obviously we went back to the castle. That was over with and let me tell you, I was never riding a horse again. At the castle, I run to my room and throw myself onto the bed, burrowing my head in the pile of pillows. I hear a soft knock at my door. I lift my head up and stand. Opening the door, I sigh as William smiles at me from the doorway.

"What?!" I can hear my voice rising in aggravation.

"I was wondering if tonight-"

"No! I can't. Look, I am pleased to know I am your choice of company but I can't do it anymore. Find someone else and leave me alone!"

"Evelyn, I don't understand. I thought you were enjoying these dates."

"Those words never escaped my mouth! But I almost died today! Died! That's not something you can just forget! Just leave me alone and everyone will be happy and I wont be jumped."

"If being jumped is what you're worried about, I can protect you."

"No, I don't want your protection, I want you to leave me alone and find someone new!"

"E-"

"Just go." After a second of awkward silence, I realize how rude I sounded and hurry to fix my mistake. "Please." I don't really give him an option because I slam the door in his face, leaving him there to think over what I had said.

At dinner, I poke at the food on my plate, moving it around with my fork. I wasn't the least bit hungry but I couldn't just not show up. Every once in a while, I glance up to see William eyeing me and I hurriedly look away and hang my head to look at my full plate of food. I lay my fork down on the plate and take a sip of my drink, forcing myself to swallow. This was officially turning awkward. I place my hands in my lap under the table and fiddle with the tablecloth. Everyone is staring at me expectantly.

Finally Scarlett clears her throat. "So Evelyn, how was the second date?"

"Well, we went horseback riding and I almost died but it was perfect." I say sarcastically.

She gasps and I see out of the corner of my eye the royal family turn their heads to observe the conversation. "What happened?"

"You see, what had happened was we were riding and the horse starts freaking out. Turns out, it saw a snake so I had to jump off of my horse and onto William's."

Scarlett raises her eyebrows as the other girls glare accusingly. "You guys are getting really close, aren't you?"

"Um, I suppose you could say that." I shrug nonchalantly. "But that should change soon. I hear that he only wanted to see if I was worthy enough to keep in or not."

Scarlett laughs. "Yeah that's why you're calling him by his actual name instead of how he's supposed to be addressed? Mmhmm, I'd say you're pretty darn close to 'William.'" The other girls snicker and I mentally smack myself.

Of course I had to call him William. Jeez, help me today. Dinner finally ends after an eternity of me soaking in embarrassment. William grabs my forearm and spins me around. "Evelyn, can we talk?"

"William, I can't do this right now."

"You can't or you won't?"

"William...just leave me be, please."

"No, not until you tell me why you all of a sudden don't want to be around me."

"I don't have to explain myself!"

"Why can't you stand to be around me, I just want one reason."

"I said no!" I jerk my arm away in frustration.

I begin walking away and I hear sadness creep into his voice. "What did I do? Please tell me what I did to make you act like this towards me." Silence passes between us. "I'm sorry...for whatever it is I did."

I stomp off towards my room. This was not as easy as I intended for it to be.

That night, I lie in the bed and toss and turn like the sea. I couldn't sleep no matter what I tried and I found my mind wandering to his face, so full of hurt like an abandoned baby animal. Why did I feel so guilty, I mean, its not like I cared about him or how he felt. But deep down, I knew that I hated doing that to him and that what I hated more than that was seeing him look so hurt. And for once, I actually felt empathy for him; I wished I could comfort him and cheer him up but that was the impossible: I was never going to do that.