A Royal Mess

28. Other half

I direct the driver to take us to Montmarte.

Once there, Archer and I navigate through steep streets and hidden staircases to come upon an empty broken warehouse, through one caved in wall, the city of Paris is beautifully visible.

I take him to the edge and while he stares at the fascinating view, I passionately say, "Remember how you told me to spread my arms, open my mouth and shout all my worries away? Well, today, I'm actually going to open the doors and let all my emotions flood out. I'll no longer keep them restrained. I want to shout it out to the whole world, let it know how I feel."

So I spread my arms out, look at the beautiful expanse in front of me and shout, "I Love You, Knight! I Am In Love With You!" I huff. I finally feel free. I no longer hear my mind running, I listen to my heart instead. It won and with it I have won.

I breathe out a sigh of peace. It feels so good to let it out. All that is left is a big smile and a satisfied heart.

I am still scared to look at him though, to see his reaction. I already know he loves me. I am still afraid whether he'll accept me or not. So when he starts retreating towards the car without saying anything I know I am doomed. I don't follow him though neither do I say anything, I just sit where I had been standing with tears threatening to fall over.

I have grown more stronger as a person and more patient with life than I had ever been in the last few months. I have learned the art of acceptance and letting go.

After a few minutes I feel him sit next to me, but this time I don't turn towards him. I couldn't possibly face him when he is going to reject me.

"You are amazing, Ally. You never seize to amaze. When I decided to come to Paris today, I'd imagined that I would have to go down on my knees to beg you to accept me, but you did something not every girl can do." I turn my head towards his, surprised by what he's saying.
He's already looking at me passionately, "Ever since the day you asked me to eat all those chocolates, I couldn't bring myself to eat any of those whole. I'd always start and then stop after I ate half, I'd keep that other half in a jar." I look at the jar clutched in his hands perplexedly. It's filled with the other half's of all the candies I'd told him to eat.
He explains this oddity further, "At first, I didn't know why I was doing it, it was subconsciously. Then I started to spend more and more time with you and I realised, it has become a tradition. My heart accepted you to see the other sides of me long before I did."
I melt into small puddles at his words. I can feel my eyes grow watery while he places a palm on my cheek lovingly, "I want you to be the one to see every other side of me, to share all my other half's, not just my chocolate bars but my heart, my love, my friendship and someday maybe even the other half of my name. I know you wouldn't want any of those cliché things boys do while asking this question and I'd rather create our own clichés too, that is, if you'll let me. If you, Princess Alexis Rosalyn Helena Parker, be my, Prince Archer Drew Knight's, other half?" His dazzling mint green eyes look beseechingly into my hazel doe ones, staring deep into my soul.
I am speechless and out of breath.

Am I hearing him right? Did he just ask me to be his girlfriend? In such an adorable and romantic way? Will someone please pinch me hard?

Oh god, why do I have to be in this incredibly dumb girl's head? Why do this to me? Why?

You know that technically this makes you dumb don't you, brain?

The one time she actually makes sense is to insult me, of course. Just pay attention, you doofus. Say yes!

Looking at that jar, I know this isn't just going to be a tradition, 'our thing', rather it is a promise. A promise to share and treasure all our moments and half's.