Surprisingly Royal

👸Chapter13:Fynn and Rebecca

Matilda spots us heading her way, and right away, she walks toward us with a serious frown on her face.

"Where have you been?! I've been searching everywhere for you. Do you have any idea how worried I was?" she scolds, sounding exactly like my mum when she's mad.

Well, that makes two of us.

"I know, I know, it's actually my fault," I admit, holding up my hands. "I got distracted by the stuff in the shop and didn't even notice you weren't next to me anymore. I searched all over the place, and then I ran into Carlos. We've been looking for you since."

Matilda sighs, brushing her hair behind her ear. "I really thought you came with me to the right side of the store when we walked in. I was chatting away, thinking you were behind me the whole time only to realize I was literally talking to myself. It was so embarrassing but kinda funny too. And when I went back to the entrance, you weren't even there."

I chuckle softly at the image of her holding a full-on conversation with thin air. "I'm really sorry. I honestly thought we were heading the same way."

Before I can say anything else, Carlos cuts in. "Okay, okay. Can we stop talking about who lost who? The important thing is that we found each other and everything's fine now."

We both nod in agreement.

Carlos glances past us. "I see you've already met them," he says to Matilda, nodding toward the two strangers standing a few feet away.

They walk over to join us.

"Yeah, I actually found them while I was still looking for Ciara," Matilda explains, eyes lighting up. "I'm so glad they made it before the ball. It's been forever since I saw them. Why didn't you tell me you were coming today?!"She asks the gentleman standing next to the lady

"We wanted to surprise the family," the blond guy says, smiling. "But our mum ended up telling yours, and, well... surprise ruined."

Mat folds her arms. "So how come you knew about it, Carlos, and I didn't?"

Carlos just shrugs, smug expression firmly in place. "What can I say? I just happen to know things."

Matilda snorts and rolls her eyes. "Of course you do."

The brunette girl jumps in. "We didn't mean for him to find out either. Your mum told him everything, and we figured we might as well all hang out today."

I just stand there, awkwardly looking around like I don't want to intrude.

Matilda suddenly pulls me into the conversation. "Anyway, this is Ciara. She's a really good friend of mine."

I smile politely. "Hi."

"Ciara, meet Fynn and Rebecca," she says with a grin. "They're our cousins from Aldovia."

"Nice to meet you, Ciara," Fynn says, taking my hand and kissing it like some kind of prince straight out of a fairytale.

Rebecca flashes a warm smile. She's gorgeous,blue eyes, tanned skin, like someone who belongs on the cover of a magazine.

Fynn, on the other hand, is tall, charming, and has the deepest green eyes I've ever seen.

"Nice to meet you guys too," I say, smiling back, trying not to look flustered.

"So... are you guys gonna hang out with us while we shop?" Matilda asks.

"I wouldn't mind," Fynn says, eyes flicking toward me.

My cheeks instantly go warm, and I quickly look down to hide it.

Carlos rolls his eyes and switches right back into grumpy mode. "Nope. We are not sticking around while you all squeal over dresses. That's not happening."

"Oh, come on," Rebecca says sweetly, "we might actually need your opinion on a few things."

"Exactly," Mat adds. "And if you get bored, you can always leave."

"Why are you all trying to force him?" I say, looking directly at Carlos. "Just let him go. He'll probably just ruin the vibe with one of his sarcastic remarks anyway."

Carlos throws his hands up dramatically. "Why do you always think the worst of me? What did I ever do to deserve this?"

Is he seriously asking me that?

"I'm just stating facts," I reply with a shrug.

Fynn laughs and cuts in, trying to keep things light. "Let's just stay, man. We've got nothing better to do in town, and it probably won't be that bad."

Carlos sighs, clearly defeated. "Fine. I'll stay. But let's get this done quickly we've got less than two hours to wrap everything up."

"Yay! Let's go!" Matilda says excitedly, grabbing Rebecca and me by the hands and dragging us straight to the clothing section.