The Selection [s.m & c.c]

we play pretend

"Can I kiss you?"
Camila grinned. He really had just asked.

"You really just asked me for permission?" She replied, staring into his eyes. Damn.

"I'm just following the rules..." he said, whilst moving closer to her. He didn't want to touch her if not allowed. Breaking the rules was not an option for him - yet he was so tempted.
Camila was shivering by how close he was. Too close. It was hard denying what she knew she wanted, especially when he was right there. But at the same time, Camila knew she was obligated to keep him for as long as possible, so why rush? She stayed silent. He hesitated.

"Perhaps, this is not the time for us?" Shawn asked her. She sank a lump in her throat.

"I-I- uhm" Camila began.

"You, what?" Shawn asked her. Camila sighed

"Listen. I do not think that you and I should hurry into anything." She muttered. Shawn looked at her surprised. Damn she thought. Already ruining it.

"The whole point of the Selection is you hurrying into marriage. But you can not make yourself kiss me? W-why? Because you do not want to?" He asked again. Camila did not know what to say. What could she possibly say?

"It makes me nervous." Camila almost whispered.

"What makes you nervous? Do I make you nervous?"

"Because we can talk." Camila relied. Shawn looked at her confused, was talking not natural?

"What do you mean?" The Prince responded. Camila sighed in frustration.

"I mean that I have never done the talking thing." She paused. "Look at where I live! Look at what I do, who I am. I am completely secluded from the outside world and hardly talk to anyone who does not work for my family. A-and here you are asking me all of these questions that I cannot answer, and Prince I do not know my own mind; so how am I meant to explain it to you?" Camila finished. She had ranted again, she cursed at herself and thought it was not very royalty like; that habit had to end before she was crowned.

"Princess Camila, I live under the same conditions that you do, if anyone would be able to understand it would be me." Shawn replied with a soft smile. But Camila only sighed.

"We do not though! I am supposed to be Queen and all of Antopia is depending on me! I have several princes trying to date me merely because they wish to get closer to a crown, none have any interest in who I am." She finished and sank a lump in her throat. She was getting emotional again.

"I have interest in who you are." Shawn said. Camila looked up at him and instantly melted in his brown eyes, damn it. Camila sat and watched him for a few seconds, and began realising he was actually listening to her. He was actually hearing her words.

"Do not lie to me, Prince Shawn." The Princess replied; now it was his turn to sigh.

"How much clearer can I be?" He said again. Camila found it difficult to trust anything he was saying, but yet again, she did not trust anybody but herself. She felt herself shrugging together, and reminded herself that a Queen must never slough. But he was so close. Camila cleared her throat.

"I think you have misunderstood. I am not to be persuaded nor are any princes meant to knock each other out in my honour." Camila finally replied. She paused for a second and then she continued. "Why did you do that anyways?"

"Why I knocked out Tobias?" Shawn answered. Camila just nodded in response.

"God Princess, sometimes you truly act clueless." He muttered, Camila gasped at him.