Seven Levels Below

IV

Mitch ended up staying the night at Kirstie's. Sleeping on a couch wasn't the most appealing to him, but neither of them wanted to be alone after the crazy mess the afternoon had become. The next morning, he woke to the sound of a cupboard closing in the kitchen.

"Sorry! I was trying to be quiet," she whispered.

Mitch rubbed his eyes. "It's fine. I have to get up at some point, don't I?" He stumbled over to the counter and plopped himself onto one of the stools. "Do you have any cereal left?"

Kirstie laughed. "Nope! You, my dear sir, have eaten all of it. I have some yogurt out though?"

Mitch accepted a bowl and spoon from her. He picked at it slowly as he looked at all the jewelry still organized in little groups in front of him. When his fingers slipped and he dropped the spoon back into the bowl with a little clang, it prompted a harsh jolt from Kirstie and a quick glance towards the door.

"Sorry..." She sighed. She looked exhausted as she turned back towards him. "Should we talk about what happened?" They hadn't discussed the events last night and Mitch was obviously right to still be concerned about Kirstie. If she was willing to talk though, he would listen, so he nodded.

"I watched the news last night. Couldn't sleep. Apparently 'Anthony'," she added finger quotes, "isn't who he said he is. The hosts were talking about some scandal in the palace last month, and it turns out Mr. Handsome is actually Scott Hoying. As in, the crown prince."

Mitch stared at her for a second as the events and comments from the previous afternoon clicked together in his mind, then dropped his head into his hands and groaned, "Oh, shit."

"What?"

"I stole the crown prince's watch yesterday. And showed him my not-so-innocent collection of other items I got from the market. Amongst other things."

He wasn't expecting laughter. A strong response, maybe some comforting words, an assurance that Kirstie didn't think it was a big deal, sure, but not this. Mitch raised his head and gave Kirstie a betrayed pout.

"Sorry! Sorry..." she gasped for breath. "Just, that's what you're focused on?"

"What else am I supposed to be focused on?"

"Oh, I dunno, maybe the fact that the future king totally has the hots for you?" Kirstie smirked as she ate another spoonful of her yogurt, back to her usual cheery self, or at least a good impression of it.

Mitch glared at her.

"I know I teased you for staring at him a lot, and I really can't blame you, but I didn't even bother trying to flirt last night. He had eyes for one lady here, and it wasn't me."

"Kirstie..." Mitch groaned. "Please. He's the prince, and we barely got marriage equality four years ago." He ignored her snort. "Why would he pay attention to someone from the seventh level, anyway? There's probably a million better choices up there. Let alone, choices that could actually continue the royal bloodline."

Kirstie leaned over the counter to give him a pat on the shoulder. "I'm not going to argue with you about this until the argument is about the best way to ask him out, not if he's interested."

Mitch scowled and turned his attention back to his yogurt. While Kirstie gossiped about so-and-so forgetting to restock whatever hair products and the blame getting thrown around the salon, Mitch let himself think for just a minute about Antho—Scott.

Why had he introduced himself as someone else? Sure, it can't be easy trying to keep a low profile as royalty, but it was pretty clear neither Mitch nor Kirstie had recognized him enough for a name to matter. Did he not want to stay and hang out with them? Had Mitch actually unintentionally kidnapped the prince? He seemed like he'd been having fun though... Mitch sure had fun. Scott had been such an easy presence with them. He slotted right into the little group like he'd been there for longer than just a few really, really nice hours. Who knew one little tattoo could be such a great conversation starter?

The tattoo! Mitch had completely forgotten about it.

"Mitch. Have you heard anything I just said?" Kirstie's voice jolted him back to the present.

"Uh, do you want me to say yes?"

Kirstie was getting really good at rolling her eyes at him, Mitch noted.

"Sorry, I just... What's he gonna do about the tattoo?"

"Why don't you go ask him?"

Mitch balked at her suggestion.

"And how do you suggest I do that?"

Kirstie smirked at him. "Well, since you asked so nicely, you may recall his fancy jacket?"

Mitch nodded. "What about it?"

Kirstie's smirk turned into a grin as she pointed to the coat hooks by her door. "It's hanging right there."

Mitch spun in his seat, and sure enough, there it was. He looked back at Kirstie, who was somehow calmly finishing her yogurt. His shocked silence prompted her to add her bowl to the slowly growing tower in the sink and turn back towards him with a sigh.

"What you're going to do is walk yourself home, take a shower, find a nice fancy outfit, and put on some makeup. Eight hours later when you're satisfied with how you look," she paused to raise her eyebrows and make it clear he was not allowed to actually stall for eight hours, "You're gonna grab the jacket and take your cute little butt up to the palace. Figure out who you need to talk to in order to get yourself in the same room as Scott so you can give it back and, more importantly, ask him if he wants to go to dinner with you. When he says yes," she paused to glare at Mitch when he opened his mouth to argue that she couldn't tell him for sure that Scott would agree, "When he says yes because he wouldn't say no after all the flirting you two did last night, you're gonna go wow him with your hilarious personality and charm. Bada bing, bada boom, you get married and live happily ever after with your genius bestie to thank."

"Kirstiiiiie," Mitch groaned. "I'm not going to ask out the crown prince. At the very least, I'd want to know him a bit better before committing to something."

"...I can respect that. But, I don't have to like it. You have two minutes to finish that yogurt and go before I kick you out. No more stalling, Mr. Pouty-Face."

"Yes, Mom," Mitch resigned himself to a long Sunday before he dutifully returned to his breakfast and listened as Kirstie launched back into the salon drama he had missed before.