Chapter 15.

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Chapter 15.

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I shifted my eyes from the screen of my phone but kept my head down seeing Maximilian move from the corner of my eye. He kept looking over at me every few seconds. It was really weird, he was way too concerned about what had happened. He even brought a wheelchair to the room like I could not walk when I left the hospital and when I refused it he kept walking right by my side like he was afraid I would faint or something. I felt completely fine and I told him that repeatedly but he insisted on acting like I was about to pass out. I was currently texting Thandi to get a reason to leave the palace so I could avoid concerned Maximilian for a few hours. It was almost unsettling having him avoid starting arguments or making fun of me and just be completely worried for no reason. I looked at Maximilian finally turning my head his way as we drove into the palace yard.

"You'll be fine on your own for a few hours, right?" I asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Thandi and I are doing something – girls' day, you can't come. Besides, you need to be careful with your arm." I said.

"But you –"

"Seriously, I'm better than you are, Max." I pat his shoulder as the car stopped in front of the entrance and I got out before Maximilian could protest. He followed me though, as we made our way up the stairs.

"Aria, stop being –" He stopped as he looked up as we walked inside and spotted a few people on the couches, "Guys?"

"Ari!"

"Edward!" I laughed as we ran up to hug each other.

"What are you doing here?"

"Rude." Edgar replied frowning at his brother. Maximilian just frowned at him as if waiting for his question to be answered and I shook my head as I hugged Edgar while he narrowed his eyes at his younger brother.

"We're helping plan the party so we cleared our schedules for a few days. It's going to be pretty relaxed. You're coming, right? I take it Maximilian already invited you because he took it upon himself to invite about thirty other people." Edward said.

"Are you okay?" Thandi asked me. I nodded.

"What do you mean? Did something happen to you?" Edgar asked bending his knees slightly as if trying to study me, I shook my head.

"Just had an allergic reaction." I brushed it off and smiled seeing Maximilian roll his eyes at my reply before he began to make his way out of the room but not before calling out:

"Anyone that is not a girl can join me for a barbeque on the patio and then we can watch the game." Everyone's eyes turned to me at that.

"What did you do to him?" Shayne asked.

"Probably nothing, it's Max." Jamie replied. I shrugged turning to Thandi to tell her I had to change and would meet her in a few minutes before I ran upstairs.

I got cleaned up before I changed and then made my way back downstairs. The guys had all gone outside so I found Thandi on her own.

"Look!" She held up her phone to show me a picture, "I'm getting this for the party. I think you should get a red dress, you wear too much black." It was a pretty yellow sleeveless dress.

"I..." I drifted deciding not to argue about that considering that the jean, sweater and sneakers I wore were all black. "Alright." We laughed.

We left to go to the mall and I figured we would just get the dresses and go see a movie but we could not seem to settle on dresses and would occasionally get distracted by other items of clothing or random stores that did not relate at all. I did not really mind all the distractions and random stores because it was fun shopping with Thandi. We spent a few more hours around the mall before we walked into the store she actually wanted her dress from and she went to try it on. I walked around waiting for her to text me as I studied some other dresses around the store. Thandi said to wear red and Adrian would be at the party, he did not like the dress I wore to the palace the other day and I figured that style of dress was way too casual so maybe I should choose something really formal as he always looked formal, though Edward did say it would be pretty relaxed. I frowned as I looked at a red dress that looked to be just above knee length. It was off the shoulder and had long sleeves. It was mostly fitted but flared out from the waist a little. I figured it could work for both feels. I took it from the shelf as my phone buzzed and made my way towards the changing room.

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