Adored (on hold)

Chapter 4 ~ First Unofficial Date

Annabelle gazed down at their interlocked hands. A multitude of emotions swirled insider her but two stood out among them. Confusion and ... what felt like, longing? She had never felt this side of the particular emotion so she couldn't confirm it but still she couldn't shake the feeling.

Annabelle looked at their joined hands, to his eager face, back to their joined hands.

Once again, shaking off his hand she said "look, I'm happy to get to know you along the walk, but don't expect anything nor get any ideas."

Puzzled, he too felt a surge of longing strIke his very core when staring at his now empty, open palm. Her blantant rejection of his physical affection shocked him and brought him to a stunned state.

Then a flurry of emotions came to him. At first they were of raw agony and anger but quickly changed to that of regret and sorrow.

He had made her uncomfortable.

Quickly realising his actions, his eyes widened and he raised his hands up in a surrender motion.

Waving his hands about in an exaggerated rush, spilling apologies from his mouth he spoke. "Oh! I am so very sorry. I didn't in any way mean to make you feel uncomfortable, that was never my intention. I-Well, I guess I just got lost in my fanta-no, umm, sorry. I of course am only wanting this to be a friendly walk, I am not expecting anything, nothing at all."

As he rambled on, Annabelle took pity on him. He had been nothing but kind since she bumped into him and didn't seem that weird if you ignore how jittery he was. Plus the walk would only be for a short while and in public. So, she decided to take a chance on him, ignoring the red flags in favour of a possibly enjoyable evening that ended in making a new friend.

"Hey, hey don't worry. Though I don't really understand, I am flattered. Just don't go holding my hand or anything like okay?"

Giving her another sheepish look accompanied with a small smile, he replied with a small "sure".

He had been so blinded by the fantasies of meeting her and falling instantly in love that he forgot that she didn't know. All this time he had dreamt of a fairytale like meeting in which it was love at first sight and while there was no denying that something was definitely there, he had yet to tell her of their true fate.

He had also forgotten to factor in that maybe she wouldn't fall in love once he told her either, but he could stress about that later.

Right now he had and unofficial date with Annabelle.

"So what are you doing down here in Brisbane?"

At the sound her striking up conversation, his eyes darted up to meet hers. They were casually walking along a path that overlooked the city's river.

Formulating a fake response, he replied somewhat smoothly, "Work. I work for a company that sends me all over the world to do their bidding."

It wasn't entirely a lie. The role of heir to the throne meant he was destined to have a mate and his job therefore required his mate, her.

Chuckling at his attempt at a joke she replied, "Don't I hear you, I'm supposed to be here for a holiday but my mother is making me run around here, searching for God knows what."

"Oh really, if you are supposed to be here for a holiday then where do you actually come from?"

"Well I originally came from here but after seeing the world, I found home in London."

Well that makes things easier.

Once Nicholas broke the news to her, she would eventually come and live in the palace and therefore live away from her current home. As he too lived in London, separating her from her current home wouldn't be nearly as hard on her.

"What about you? I can tell by your accent that you don't come from anywhere near here, not from London perhaps?"

"You caught me, I am in fact from London."

Conversation flowed between the two for the next hour or two.

The sun was setting and it felt like a perfect time to end their little walk.

"I really enjoyed walking and getting to know you today Nicholas."

"Me too Annabelle, thank you for showing me around your beautiful city."

Not wanting for their evening to end just yet, Nicholas fumbled for an excuse to stay with her longer.

"It's such a beautiful evening, how about we take that famous Ferris wheel. It should be right up ahead if I remember correctly."

Although not the most solid plan, the ride would be somewhat long and provide him with the opportunity to tell her about his- their situation. Not to mention the fact that they would be in close compartments, alone.

"Ferris wheel? Ooh, you mean the 7 eye. Umm, well, sure I guess?"

Annabelle wasn't sure if she was making the right decision in accepting a strangers offer to be alone in a small enclosed carriage of a Ferris wheel. Nonetheless, she had made her decision and his face once again lit up at her answer.

Due to the carriages having tinted glass, Nicholas could safely take off his makeup and reveal himself to her. The carriages would also provide much needed privacy for their heavy talk.

Nicholas then grasped Annabelle's hand and quickened his past to set off in the direction of the wheel, eager to finally come clean to her and start their future together.

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Word Count: 938