Jeremys Pov

After the official proposal hectic took over the castle. Everything has to be well planned. The food, the decoration, clothes, bouquet, and so much more.

Every few minutes there was a new decision to make. Roses or tulips.
Crabs or lobster. Cyan or turquoise...
...like... isn't that the same???
Whatever!

To be honest, it was hell, until...
Brooke moved in. I was so relieved, she brought fun into the castle. Although we had even more to do than before, the tension disappeared and life seemed at least a bit more relaxed.

I also had to move out of my old room and to a new one. A bigger one I shared with Brooke. Luckily it isn't awkward at all. The first nights we really slept in on bed, and played games as if we were normal friends, normal teenager who had normal sleepovers. But we weren't and as soon as Chloe moved to the castle as well, I moved to her maids room which was linked to our room and Chloe and Brooke shared the big one.
In the mornings we had to change before any one discovers the truth.

Chloe was a really loud person, she liked to talk loud even when she was a bit dumb and seemed a bit superficial. But the way she looked at Brooke showed how caring and full of kindness she really was. I wondered how nobody ever noticed it, you must be blind to not notice how deeply they're in love.

Right now I have a small break from all the annoying people and my responsibilities. Just a short moment for me and my thoughts. Mindlessly I play with my engagement ring, it is way to big for my finger. My father is taller than me, of course his ring is to big, moms one was my size, but Brookes finger were even smaller than mine, so she got moms one.

Before I can continue to fret about it, someone brings me back to reality.
"Prince, you have to be at the fitting in five minutes!" I look up and turn around looking at Michael in disbelief.

Since the ball night we didn't talk at all. He wakes me up, he helps me, he gets me everything I need before I know that I need it, but we hold our distance. It is heart breaking, on the other hand I just want to be close to him. I want to take his hand or even cuddle him. I want to let him know that he is the most amazing person in this whole fucked up world and that he means the world to me.
But I can't.

I am not Brooke, the love of my life doesn't love me, but maybe it's for the better. It would make everything even more complicated.
But I thought about telling him about our plan. Despite of my feelings, he is still my best friend.
At least I thought he was.

Why did he called me 'prince'?
We known each other for years!

"Is everything alright, Michael?"
I look at him as kind as possible, i want him to be happy.

But he just nods shortly and a bit too harsh. "I'm fine!", he almost spats at me. I roll my eyes, i mean, what are we? Five!?

"You're lying!" I counter giving him a look of reproach. But he just laughs dry: "Of course! You really think I am okay with this whole bullshit?"
I knew that Michael isn't dumb and he knew me better than anyone else, it was foreseeable that he would see through my lies sooner or later.
But I can't tell the truth, so I just play along.

"What are you talking about?" I give him my best trained confused look.

"O please, don't play games!
You changed from 'I don't want to marry someone I don't fucking know' to 'This girl is the love of my life, let's marry' in three freaking hours!"

His eyes are full of anger and the worst part is that I totally understand him. God, my life is so fucked up!

"You don't understand!", I try to play down the situation seeing that it wasn't really effective.

"Than! Explain! IT! To! ME!" His voice is calm, but never been harsher.
I jump a bit, he was really angry and I feel really guilty. I don't want to lie to him!

"I don't know... Brooke... she is...

Amazing! She is so kind, lovable and funny. It feels like we known each other since ever. I can talk for her hours straight without it get's awkward. There is no other girl for me..." ...but maybe a guy.

No, cut it, Jeremy! He doesn't like you! You marry in a few days! Damn it! Whatsoever I didn't lie to him, all I said was true, nonetheless I feel ashamed. I can't even look him in the eyes. "Okay. If it is what you want..." I don't answer and I don't look up to him, I just wait, till I hear his footsteps or rather like, I don't hear them anymore. Then small tears rush down my face that waited patiently for it.

~~~~~~~~

The days went by, filled with decisions to make, food to try, guests to invite and so on, but most important without Michael. We didn't talk anymore at all. And I'm happy about that. I couldn't control my tears.

Last night I received a letter from Prince Rich, he congratulated me and told me that he would be glad to come by his own. This would have been enough to ruin my mood, but the next paragraph destroyed it completely: He asked me for a favor...

...he wants Michael as his personal maid for his entire stay of two days.

Two days, two nights.

My heart ached and my stomach hurt, but who am I to stand between Michael and his happiness?
Even if it breaks me...

Whatever, today the guest arrive, the big day is already tomorrow. I have to greet every single one of them.
And there are about a thousand people!! I will be busy for the next hours. Luckily Brooke will be one my side the whole time, so it hopefully won't be too boring.

~~~~~

Hours of fake smiling and a lot of lies later, almost every arrived and we finally get a break. For once I have nothing to do, but before I even turned to Brooke she starts leaving: "See you later, hun!" Winking at my implying that she is on her way to Chloe. I suddenly feel lonely and jealous. Lonely because my only two friends, either won't talk to me pr have better to do, and jealous, because Brooke has Chloe and Rich has Michael, my Michael! And I have no one!

I walk through the hallways all by my self, when I find myself in the guest area. Why did I walk here? God, I am so pathetic!

I want to turn around, but suddenly a loud and pretty high-pitched scream disrupts the silence followed by a "What the hell?" Then I hear a door slam and get almost run over by a big persons making me stumble, to my luck the person catches me. Michael?

As fast as possible he brings me back to my feet before he continues his way almost running. Abruptly Rich stands next to me, his cheek is burning red, getting a small clue what's going on, I run after Michael.

Knowing his way around he took every turn he could, but I almost caught up. "Michael! Michael! HEY!"

I am finally able to grab his shoulder forcing him to stop. "What?" His tone is aggressive, but I am not capable of shooting back, cause I am out of breath. After a few seconds passed by, he wants to leave again, I tighten my hold. "You are not going anyway till you told me what the fuck you just done!"

He rolls his eyes. Such a salty boy!

"Something I should have done last time as well!" He pouts crossing his arms and leaving me in confusion.

"What do you mean? What happened between the two of you?"

He got free of my hold and put some space between us before he groans.

"Why do you care?"

Is he kidding me? He is all I care about!

"Because you matter to me! Can we quit the fighting for five minutes, so you can tell me what happened? Please!"

I scoot closer looking directly into his eyes, he groans again, but I know that I've won. He can't say no to my puppy eyes.

"FINE! He kissed me!"

Why is he telling this to me?

"So...? He kissed you before!" I try to get rid of the annoyed/jealous tone in my voice, but somehow it didn't really worked out. 

"Exactly! He kissed me once before without my consent! I am not the stupid naive maid who just let it happen! I am one independent boy who have rights of his own!"

My puzzled look clears up leaving back anger. "He what!? I am going to-"

But Michael just pats my shoulder.
"Bro... I just did that by myself, no need to!"

I calm down a bit, but not entirely.
Michael does so as well. Looking at him you can tell how proud of himself he is. He is like in trance, out of the sudden he gives a small giggle.

"Can you believe that freaking idiot? He even asked me to be his maid, to be with him... Can you believe that?"

Just now realization hits me. Michael does not like Rich! They are no thing! He never loved him! He never wanted to kiss him in first place! My hearts warms up.

"So- you never were into him?"

He laughs, but it's dry laugh.

"I have to admit, that he seemed pretty attractive at first, but then he mentioned his husband. That idiot wanted me to be his lover, his affair! He is nothing more than a cheater! I hate people like that and I would never play along, in contrast to other people." While he said the last sentence he stared in space.

"I am sorry, Michael! I should have been there for you!" I apologize feeling really guilty.

"No, no, it's okay. You were busy with that stupid bitch!"

Something in me switched.
I grab him hardly by his collar, almost shouting, but as calm as possible:

"Don't! You! DARE! Talking about her like that! You don't know her"

His eyes that first went wide in shock now filled with anger as well.

"Are you kidding me? She is cheating on you!! Are you blind! She is practically eye fucking her maid all the time! I even caught them making out!"

My face softens while his still full of frustration. He worries about me!

"Hey, calm down, I know that!"

He stops everything and looks me directly in the eyes. "WHAT?"

Maybe it's time to tell the entire truth, to lie would just make it worst.

"You were right, I did not wanted to marry some stupid princess a few weeks ago and I still don't want to.
Brooke on her side does not want to marry some random prince, cause she already loves Chloe, her maid. So Brooke came up with the idea that the both of us marry in pretence. She could still be with Chloe and I won't have to pretend to love someone."

When I look at Michael I see tears forming in his eyes. Guilt takes over me. I want to touch him, to hug him, comfort him and only be there for him.

"DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO ME?"