This Love

Chapter 5

Later that evening I was walked past a room with a dim flickering light. I could hear Xander talking to someone, but I couldn’t hear the other person answer him. I decided to stand there and listen to him talk.

“Dad, I don’t know what to do...i just like her so much...this was supposed to be special...I should’ve told her...what should I do...I don’t want to lose her...”

I didn’t know he felt that way. I wasn’t sure if I should tell him I heard him or if I should wait until the time was right.

Later I saw him in the gardens and decided to go apologize.

“Hey...” I said walking up to him.

“Are you still mad at me?”

“A little, but I understand why you didn’t.”

He hugged me. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you Audrey.”

“It’s okay. I’m not mad anymore.”

“Hey! We are having a dance in a couple days, will you be my date?” He said with a big smile on his face.

“A dance? Like with lots of people, and dancing?”

“Yeah. Is everything okay?”

“Oh...its nothing. I’d love to be your date.” I smiled.

“Oh! I have to go do a couple things. I’ll see you in the morning okay?”

“Oh, okay. Goodnight.”

I watched him walk off and I started to get scared. I didn’t know how to dance and started freaking out.

‘what if I embarrass myself infront of everyone?!’ I was so scared.

The next morning at breakfast, I decided I would tell him.

I walked into this great hall where Xander was sitting next to his mother. I went to sit next to him.

“Morning.” I smiled sitting next to him.

“Hey! Sleep okay?” he smiled kissing my cheek.

“Yeah. My bed is huge.”

“Good.”

“um, so...i need to tell you something. And it’s kind of a big thing.”

“What is it?”

“Um...” I looked at his mother.

“Oh! I’ll just drink my tea in the garden.” She got up with her tea and went into the garden.

Xander looked at me, “What’s wrong?”

“Well, remember when you asked me to be your date for that dance?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, I can’t dance. At all...”

He looked confused.

“Xander, please don’t hate me. Don’t be mad...”

“I don’t hate you sweetie. It’s okay. I’ll help you.” He said with a gentle smile.

“Thanks. I would really appreciate it. I was just really nervous about telling you.”

He hugged me, “Hey, listen, I don’t ever want you to think that just because you aren’t just like me and that you don’t know how to do certain things that I hate you or that I’m mad at you. Okay?”

“Okay. I promise, I won’t.”

After breakfast I was walking around the gardens reading a book when I heard Xander run up behind me. He grabbed my hand and swung it back and forth.

“Hey beautiful.”

I looked around, “Now, who in the world could you be talking about?” I giggled.

He laughed, “You know I’m talking about you.” He kissed my cheek.

“You missed by the way.” I smiled.

“I did?”

“Yep!”

“ Well, then.” He turned my face towards him and gave me a kiss.

“Yep. Yep, that was it.” I nodded.

“Good. So, Are you ready to start practicing for the dance?”

“Uh, yeah. I have to tell you though, I’m really nervous.”

“It’s okay. I’ll help you. Don’t worry.”

He was so sweet and helpful. He taught me how to slow dance, and how to ballroom dance. He just so caring, and he didn’t even mind when I stepped on his feet.  

Later, I was sitting on the stairs and I could hear talking. It wasn’t like gentle conversation, there was yelling. So I decided to find out where it was coming from. As I walked down the hall, I started to recognize one of the voices as Xander, and the other was a woman’s voice. Xander sounded really mad, and aggravated. I stood at the door to listen to him.

“Mother! No, I don’t care if you like her! I do!”

“Matthew Alexander! I am your mother and you will mt speak to me that way!”

I accidently dropped my book, and it made an earth shattering bang against the floor.

“What was that?” His mother asked sounding a little more upset.

“I don’t care! Mother, I am 22 years old! I should be allowed to make my own decisions! An if I want to date a girl from Indiana that I am in love with then, so help me I will!”

“You love her?”

“You're in love with me?” I said walking in the room.

“Yes.” He said with a huge smile on his face, “Audrey, I am in love with you.”
I smiled, “I love you too Xander.” I hugged him.

“Alexander, we need to talk about this, what about that girl from Scotland that was so nice, you remember the one who came to your birthday party last month?” His mother said trying to make him forget about me.

“Mother, I didn’t like her, if you can’t accept the fact that I love Audrey, then that’s too bad.” He grabbed my hand and we walked out of the room.

“Xander, you really love me?”

“Well, yeah.” He smiled. “I really do.” He kissed me.

I hugged him. “Xander, why was your mother so upset?”

“Um, well...She doesn’t really want me to be with you. She thinks I should be with someone like us.”

“Like you? And like you would be...?”

“Royalty.  Like a Princess.”

“Oh. Like a- Like a what?!”

“A...a uh princess.”

“Why would you have to have a princess? Because if you were supposed to be with a princess then you would have to be...uh...uh...”

“A prince.” He looked down.

“ No! How could you not tell me! That’s bigger than telling me that you live in a castle! I can’t believe you!”

“Audrey...I’m sorry...I am so sorry...” He tried to grab my hand. But I moved it before he could.

“No, Xander, this is going to take a while for me to forgive you for this. I’m sorry.” I ran off as fast as I could. I didn’t know where I was going but I know I didn’t want to go back to that castle.