Royal Affection

CHAPTER EIGHT - Masked Man

                                                   C H A P T E R - E I G H T

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t shocked. I knew he lived in the same building, we sometimes pass each other on the way up to our rooms yet he acted like I was a complete stranger which I do feel around him. I stuttered when our eyes met. I couldn’t say a single word let alone string a sentence together.

“Err, earth to Ava.” Joe waves his hand in front of my face and I take a step back. I catch a glimpse of Maria smirking.

“I’m fine,” I shake my head clear of the jumbled thoughts. “What are you doing here?” I ask, sounding very rude but I didn’t care. I wanted to know why he was in my apartment; the only place where I used to be safe from his sarcasm, his meanness and just him in general.

“Ava!” Maria slapped my arm and frowned at me. “Don’t be so rude. Don’t you go to school together?”

I shrug that passes off as a nod. Lucas stands up, his hand in his pocket but wore a sweet smile when he looked at Maria. “Yeah, we do and I’m here to practice for our play. I’m meant to rehearse with her.”

Rehearse with me? The kiss? Like Mr. Goodman said? And did it have to be today?

“Oh I see, so you’re both the leads?” Maria chimes, clasping her hands together in amusement. I nod and take Lucas’s arm, completely catching him off guard. I saw his eyes look down at the hold on his arm then up at me. I turned my gaze to Joe and Ava, putting on a smile.

“Yeah, so we’ll go practice in my room, we won’t bother you here.” I trudge past Maria, pulling Lucas along with me when I catch a glimpse of shock on Joe’s face, jumping up to follow us.

“In you’re room? Alone? I don’t th-“ Joe calls and I look over my shoulder to see Maria stopping him and patting his chest. Delightedly grinning at him and saying, “Leave them be.”

She looked at me and I winked. Oh god! She’s getting the wrong idea about this. Does she think I like Lucas? For god sake, I couldn’t stand him and here he is in my room. I shut the door behind us and realise I’m still grasping onto his arm. He clears his throat and I let go.

“So,” he said, jumping onto my bed like he owned the place. I scoffed, folding my arms and shooting him glares. “Let’s practice,” he grinned and I shook my head.

“No, we won’t. Why’d you have to come now?” I ask and he rolls her eyes. “Because Mr. Goodman said to practice in our own time.”

“Well we’re staying behind after school tomorrow, we can rehearse then.” I shrug.

“Stop acting dumb.” He stands up then sniggers under his breath. “Of course you’re not acting, you really are really dumb.”

I give an inaudible gasp and my arms fall to my side as he wanders around my room, touching my things.

“You know we have to practice the kiss.” He picks up my camera and fumbles with the on switch. I dash towards him, snatching it away and shooting dangerous glares at him. This camera had pictures of him in it and I don’t want to find out what he’d say if he found out. It was being stalker-ish but he didn’t realise he made my photography much better. He’s the self centred type so I’m sure he knows he looks good on camera and sadly it was true. “Don’t. Touch.” I say through gritted teeth and hide my camera under my pillow. “And besides, I don’t want to practice the kiss.”