Chapter Twenty Three

"Who's next?" Mr. Dean asks during my last class of the day.

It's the middle of the week and nothing new or interesting has happened. I woke up at four in the morning to train just like I did the two days before. I went to my classes the same way and afterwards headed to my room until six to go to rehearsals.

It's all the same and everyday someone made it their job to ask me about my engagement when all I wanted was to forget about it. At least for while. I only have one more day until I go back to Abe and I'm sure he has an earful of things he wants to me to know about the path of being queen.

When I'm at school, I just wanted to be here as another student who is just trying to get through her senior year. But, apparently, that isn't an option.

"We'll go." Lucas replies, volunteering us.

Mr. Dean motions for to take the stage and we stand up, making our way to the center of the stage, facing our class.

The music plays and I grip the mic stand, preparing myself to sing after Lucas. I keep my eyes down, not wanting to look up just yet.

"I figured it out, I figured it out from black and white. Seconds and hours Maybe they had to take some time." Lucas sings.

He continues to sing until it gets the chorus and then I take over and that's when I finally look up, staring at the very back, looking him in his grey eyes.

"You and I We don't wanna be like them. We can make it til the end. Nothing can come between us."

I want him to know that even though I had a ring on my finger, it doesn't change how I feel about him. Nothing can. He's the one I want to be with for the rest of my life and I'd be damned if I let Abe come in between us.

I'm still going through what I planned but it's going to be different. I'm going to find a loophole and be with Hayes in every way I imagined and I don't care if Abe is ashamed or disappointed in me. He can't keep me away from being with Hayes. He has to know that.

I thought about it for the past two days and I realize there has to be another way. There's has to be a way out without breaking his heart and mine too. But the things is, I have until day I get into my wedding dress and walk down the aisle to find out that way.

If I say, "I do", is all over and I won't have a choice but to end it with Hayes. If I don't and I try to keep our secret, he'll die and I don't want that. I need Abe on my side. I need him to approve of us and then maybe we have chance but it all rest on Abe.

I just don't know how to tell him without ruining everything. If something goes wrong, it's all my fault. If I haven't fell in love with Hayes last summer then we wouldn't be in the predicament. I'm the blame and I'll forgive myself if something bad were to happen to Hayes.

We finish the song and Mr. Dean finish writing whatever he write when we perform. I head off the stage and take my seat, waiting for the next group to go up and perform.

The last ones to perform finish right when the bell rings. I grab my backpack and place it on my shoulder, getting ready to leave.

"Is Lily gonna be at practice tonight?" Lucas asks me as we walk out.

Ever since the restraining order has be removed, Lily and Lucas had been spending every possible second with each other. It's been a long month for them and I'm glad it's finally over. I hated the way they would look at another with those sad longing eyes.

Lily said she didn't mind waiting for me to feel like I could handle being around everyone again but what kind of sister would I be if I'm the reason she's feeling that way. It'd be selfish of me to ask her to stay away from Lucas and our friends. Eventually, I would have to take a step towards everyone. Why try to make it any longer?

I smile at him. "I think you know the answer to that already." I reply.

"Yeah, I guess I kinda do." He says, sheepishly. "I like her being there but I don't think the rest do."

"And why do you say that?"

He shrugs. "Because she distract me."

Lucas is the main male character who is the future king. It's not a very good idea if he gets distracted while running lines. Especially when we're already short on time. The play is next month and we're not even halfway through it yet.

"Do you want me to tell her not to show up?" I ask.

He immediately starts shaking his head. "No! No, don't do that. I want her there but..never mind. Just forget it." He tells me. "I'll see you later."

He walks away before I have the chance to say bye and I'm walking towards the front doors when my name is called. I glance behind me and see Mallory heading my way.

"Do you have a moment?" She asks when she's standing in front of me.

I lift an eyebrow. "Uh, sure. Why?"

"I know you like to visit me on your own time but we have to meet right now. I won't be here tomorrow because I have some errands to do."

I glance at Hayes and he just shrugs in a way saying it's up to me. I look back at Mallory and answer.

"Okay.."

She smiles. "Good. Follow me."

We walk to her office and even though there's hardly anyone here, since school is over for the day, Mallory still shuts the door after I walk in. I sit in the same spot I always do when I visit her; the lounge chair beside her dark wooden desk. Hayes stands against the wall in front of me and Mallory sits in the chair across from me instead of at her desk with her pen and paper, ready to make notes.

"Has anything interesting happened recently?" She asks.

I shake my head. "No. I mean I know my fears are still there but as far as my nightmares goes, I haven't had them lately. I've been preoccupied with some other things.

Like my new nightmares. I think.

"And what's that?"

"You mean you haven't heard about it, yet?" I arch an eyebrow. "I'm surprised you haven't. It seems to be the biggest topic to talk about this whole week."

Mallory still seems confused. "I'm sorry. I don't know what you're talking about."

I hold up my left hand, showing my newly ring I got over the weekend.

"I'm engaged."

She gasps. "Oh my goodness! That's a beautiful ring. Who's the lucky guy?"

I scoff. I wouldn't say lucky.

I put my hand down, covering it with my other hand. I don't want to wear the ring and I got away with from a few days but word got back to Abe that I wasn't wearing it and he told me, thoroughly, I shouldn't be hiding my ring and I need to wear every day and if I didn't, I wouldn't like my punishments.

I wanted to call his bluffs but I'm trying to get on his good side. I need him to remove the stupid law and I can't do that if he's upset with me for not wearing the dumb ring. I'll wear it if it means I'm getting closer to having it removed.

"His name is Marceau and he's from France." I inform her.

She smiles. "You must be very excited. I'm happy to hear you're moved on from what happened."

And that does it.

"I haven't moved on." I correct her. "Just because I have this ring on my finger, doesn't mean I'm over what he did. I haven't forgave him either. The only reason I'm engaged because I'm going to be future queen, which I don't even know if I want to be." I tell her.

It seems like a lot of hard work to keep everything in order and I don't know if I can handle the stress and keep everyone happy. I can't even keep myself happy.

"I never imagined myself ruling anything. I always planned on going to college, doing what? I don't know but it didn't have anything to do with being queen." I continue my rant. "And on top of that I don't even love the guy I'm engaged to. He's just want to be king and his only chance at being one, is if he marries me because he's second born. And now I'm stuck marrying a guy I just met and I don't know anything about him. He doesn't know anything about me or what I went through. The guy I'm in love with is-"

I stop myself before I reveal everything to her. She looks at me with a concern expression.

"Princess Millian..."

I interrupt with her. "I shouldn't have said any of that. You weren't supposed to know that. Just forget I ever brought it up."

"I can't. This is affecting you greatly."

I shrug. "Well, there's nothing you can do about it. So, drop it and let's move on."

She nods her head and clears her throat before asking me more questions that I answered in our pervious meetings. I answered them the same way as before and then I leave her office, praying she doesn't say anything to Abe. I pray she'll listen to me and keep her words about whatever is said in there is kept confidential. Or otherwise, I'm in more trouble than I hoped to be in.

As soon as we're far away from anyone to overhear us, I turn to Hayes and start talking quickly because I'm afraid he's upset with me.

"I'm so sorry. I wasn't even thinking about what I was saying. I was just talking and one thing lead to another and I'm sorry for almost revealing everything. Next time, I'll make sure to watch what I say and-"

"Millie." He interrupts me. "First of all, breathe. It's okay. You didn't reveal our secret. All she knows is, that you're in love with this mysterious guy, who can be anyone. She doesn't know it's me. It's going to fine so please stop freaking out."

I slowly start nodding my head. "Yeah, you're right." I take a deep breath. "But what if she does find out?"

"She's not."

"But she could."

"Even if she does suspect me, I'm dating Maya, remember?" He reminds me. "We're okay. Everything is fine."

"What do you think would've happened if I did tell her about us?" I ask.

He glances at me. "Anything. But I wouldn't have let you reveal to her about us. I would've stopped you in some way."

"Like what? Throwing a pillow at me? Or diving over the couch and knocking me off?"

I try to imagine how each scene would go down and it's funny to see Hayes acting act each one. Around here, he's seen as the serious protector and that's how Mallory sees him. If he would've pulled either stunt, I don't think she'll see him as scary anymore.

He grins. "Either one works for me."

I laughs, pushing him lightly.

"I don't think it'll go very well with Mrs, Kovok if she heard about you knocking me down to the floor."

He shrugs. "I'll just tell her I thought I heard something very suspicious and it was all for you safety."

"That might work." I say as I open the dorm door.

Ms. Devanney is at her circular desk, still smiling like she has for the past week. She greets me and Hayes as we head up the stairs.

"I don't think I'll ever get used to her smiling." Hayes says.

I shake my head. "Me either."

We make it to me room and thanks to the new, nice Ms. Devanney, I don't have to worry about her coming to my room like she did last semester. I pull Hayes inside my room and the door shuts.

I press my lips against his and he brings me closer to his body by gripping my lower back.

The kiss is still the same as before, soft and tender, but it's slowly progressing to a more power fueled one. I know he's trying to be careful with me still and I appreciate at that but if he's always so careful, I'll never truly be able to move on.

I have to forget about his rough, aggressive kisses someday. I need those memories to be replaced by Hayes. But when he pulls away, I know it won't be today.

Maybe next time.

He leaves and I stand there by the door for a moment before heading to my bed. I take a quick nap before starting my homework.

Every since practice has begun, dinner starts an hour earlier for those in the play. I eat with Lucas and a few other who I'm comfortable being around. After we get eating we head to the auditorium to practice.

For the past three days, we've been working on the introduction. It's the song I wrote a few weeks ago back at the mansion. It's a vision of what the main female character has hoped would happened and everyone who's good becomes evil.

But now that we have it down without any problems, we're moving on to the next scene. I stay out the way by sitting in the audience. I have my script in my hand and I practice remembering them just in case something happens to Ashely.

I glance up, watching Lucas and Ava on the stage. Ava is playing as the leading female. She's dating Lucas in this play and I can guess that's why Lily is here watching.

She comes to sit beside me. "Do you know they kiss?"

I glance at her and nod. "Yeah but it's not until the very end."

"I still don't like it."

"It's only one time." I tell her.

"One time in the play but a hundred times in practice."

"Didn't Lucas tell you, that in practice he's only going to pretend to kiss her?" I ask. "Mr. Dean is okay with it because he knows when the time comes for the play, Lucas will do what he has to do."

"So, it'll literally only be one time."

I nod again. "Yep. So you don't have to worry."

I can see knowing that information makes her feel slightly better and I smile to myself.

"Beside if you cared so much about who he's kissing, you should've auditioned." I say, looking at my script.

"Oh believe me, I thought about it." She replies. "But there was one thing stopping me."

I lift an eyebrow. "And what's that."

"I can't sing and she literally sings majority of the songs."

"She does have a lot singing." I agree.

"What makes me worried why you didn't audition for it."

"I didn't even want to audition for this part I have. I didn't want to be in the play in the first place."

She remembers what was said in the trial about me being the center of attention.

"I get why you think that but you deserve to be in the spotlight. It's meant for you."

"Even if I did, would you be okay with me kissing your boyfriend?"

Lucas is my closest friend here and I'm not even okay with even the thought of kissing him. And it'd be weird kissing my sister's boyfriend for even a few seconds. It wouldn't feel right to me and I know Lucas would think the same way.

She shrugs. "I would pick you over Ava any day. Lucas told me she used to like him before we got here. Ava had wanted to date Lucas for awhile and she kept asking him but for some reason, he kept turning her down."

"That's probably another reason why she hated us. I took her spotlight and you took the guy she liked. No wonder why we were hated." I joke, smiling. "We seemed like totally bitches."

Lily smiles. "The baddest."

We laugh and Lily goes back to watching the stage while I look back at my script for a few more minutes.

The next group number is the song for the villains. They work on the choreography over and over again until everyone has it.

After rehearsals is over, Mr. Dean brings out together before dismissing us.

"I know we're moving at a fast paced and I appreciate everyone's hard work. I promise you, it will all be worth it at the end when the final curtains goes down, you will understand what I'm saying. Keep up the good work and I'll see you tomorrow."

We leave and the girls heads in direction while the boys heads in the other direction. It's so dark outside and I'm walking in the back, I take the risk of holding Hayes's hand.

I can see him looking around, discreetly, before I feel his hand wrap firmly around mine. The warmth of his hand flows to mine and I wish the walk was just a little bit longer but when we get near the door, he let go of my hand, shoving his hands into his front pockets.

He walks me to my door and kisses me once before he walks away. I walk inside and as I get ready for bed, my mind wanders back to my thoughts earlier this day.

What can I possible do to be with Hayes? I know there has to be something out there to help me, right? This can't be how it end for the two of us. It couldn't be. I won't settle for that.

If that's the case, I never should've fell in love with him. I should've never met him if it's all for nothing.

As I sit down on my bed, I think the same thing over and over again. There's has to be something and that's when the answer comes to me.

There is a way. The voice says. And her name is Allison.