Chapter 31 | A Year

"I turned in my last application this morning." Abby groans, resting her head on her hand. "Thank god it's finally over with."

"No one told you to apply to that many colleges, you did that to yourself. Did you even want to go to there?" Bella replied plopping a baby carrot into her mouth.

Abby shrugged. "I had to apply just in case UCLA or Stanford didn't work out. You always need backups. Where'd you guys apply?"

I groaned, "Too many to count. I'm exhausted just thinking about it."

Elijah wraps his hand tighter around my waist as I lay my head on his shoulder.

"NYU won't know what hit 'em!" Abby exclaimed smiling.

"That's if my parents don't make me go to Columbia... if I even get in." I turn to Bella, "Did you turn in all your applications?"

"All the ones important, I'll be the best thing to happen to FIT." She grinned.

"Damn right!" Vinnie said fist-bumping her earning another smile from Bella.

Abby smiled at the scene, "Did you hear back from Princeton yet?"

He shook his head, "Regular decision replies are little whiles away. I don't even know if I can go."

"How come?" I questioned. I know for a fact that Vinnie has excellent grades and even better recommendation letters. With all that plus the things I've heard from Elijah he should be a shoo-in.

He shrugged, "Princeton sounds like a dream but I don't know if going the college route is even for me. My mother might need me back home she's getting old and I've been away from home for too long."

Abby placed a hand on his shoulder, sending a smile his way. "You'll figure it out in time. Things always have a way of working themselves out for the best in the end."

He met her eyes and smiled back, her words calming him.

"Did you apply anywhere Elijah?" Bella questioned.

"I don't know if it's an option, I'd like to. My dad is pretty intent on me taking over the family business as soon as I graduate." He shrugs. I lay my forehead on the side temple and give him a kiss on the cheek.

"That's way harsh." Abby replied, "You should be able to do what you want with your own future."

Elijah chuckled in response, "Tell that to my father."

The conversation continues as we all discuss our plans for the future. Senior year has gone by so quickly that the thought of starting life after graduation still seems so far away. I couldn't imagine my life any different than it is right now, the future seems so distant. It doesn't seem real just yet.

Soon after lunch is over and we all part our separate ways.

I place my lunch try in its designated place, feeling arms wrap around my waist and a head lay on mine. "Let's skip." Elijah whispers into my ear.

I smile, "I have study, grades are almost due."

"Fuck grades. Come study me instead."

His words cause a giggle out of me, "You're so cheesy you know that?"

"Well you're not lactose intolerant so you should be just fine, I'll help you study later." He leans into me and whispers, "I can show you a lot more fun than a book can."

His hands lower on my hips down to my thigh. I look around the now empty cafeteria, feeling my cheeks get hot. "My house."

-:-

"I love you." I say breathlessly into Elijah's ear, my hands releasing their tight grip on his hair.

He smiles, "Anything to make you happy." He tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear and I sit straddled on his lap. "I love you." He says before kissing me gently.

I look at him innocently, "You sure I can't do anything to make you happy?" I kiss behind his ear softly, before planting soft kisses down his neck to his collarbone.

He places a finger under my chin bringing me back up to his lips. "You already make me happy." He gives me a kiss. "Making you feel good is good enough for me."

I lay my head into the crevice of his neck, "I wish I had met you years ago." I said softly.

His hands ran over my hair. "You have me now." I can feel his smile as he continues to speak, "You're my Queen."

I giggle into his neck placing another kiss on his neck, not moving from where I am.

"I need to talk to you." He says, a serious tone in his voice.

Facing him directly I nod my head signaling for him to go on. "My father wants me to go back home once I graduate. He thinks that it's time for me to officially learn the business so that I can take over the throne. College isn't an option in his mind. His plan is to officially hand me the crown before the next New Years'."

"That's a year from now, aren't you too young? You're not even 18 yet."

He sighs, "I will be in a number of months. He's desperate to secure my place so that he knows I won't escape from it. The sooner the better in his head."

"But-" I stutter thinking of a way out of this situation. "Isn't there anything you can do?"

He shakes his head quietly.

"A year." I say again, letting it sink in.

"A year." He repeats. "Then my freedom will cease to exist; if I had any in the first place. I don't want to reign, at least not this early on."

I grab ahold of his face gently with my hands, "Then we'll make sure it's your best year yet. And I'll be right along your side."

A sad smile appears on his face. There's no changing what's to come if his father refuses to budge. All we can do is make the most of it. I know that and he knows that too.

He grabs me tightly, "As long as I spend it with you it'll be the best year of my life."