Lex Pov

I was on the side of the building when I noticed the Thornwoods come out of the church. I would have gone into the funeral and shown my support, but I just couldn't bring myself to step over that threshold and enter.

If I had entered, then it would be a reality that my best friend was gone. . . We had known each other since we were toddlers and he had become like a brother to me, his family becoming like my second family.

"Princess, how does it feel knowing you're the reason your brother is dead?"

My ears picked up the disgusting question from one of the reporters speaking to Estelle and I wanted nothing more than to punch the person for asking such a thing.

Who would do that? It wasn't even Estelle's fault for what happened.

I sighed as the Thornwoods pushed through the throng of reporters and climbed into their vehicle, seeing how Estelle was holding it together.

I could tell by the look in her eyes that she was upset and on the verge of tears, but in the public's eye, a royal had to show no weakness.

That was something I knew all too well having grown up as the eldest of my father's children. I was the next in line for the throne, so I had more expectations on me than my siblings.

To show any sign of weakness in the public's eye had been a taboo and when it happened, father reprimanded us severely, to the point where we were afraid to do it again.

He hadn't always been so harsh, but ever since mother passed away several years back, he had become bitter and almost cruel.

I shook my head, not wanting to think about the things we had been through over the years.

Pulling my phone out, I sent a message to Estelle, planning to meet with her back at the palace.

Since she had been in the hospital, I had made it my goal to check on her at least once a day, keeping to my promise of watching out for her.

But, deep down, as much as I didn't want to admit it, I was growing fond of our time together and my feelings for her were developing stronger.

Hey Stell, come meet me in the Hedge Maze later. Like we used to when we were kids.

I sent the text and got an one word response.

Okay. . .

By her response, I could tell she was upset and I knew I wanted to cheer her up.

"Well, I better stop at the store before heading to the palace." I thought aloud as I made my way past the reporters, ignoring them when they tried to question me, and reached my own vehicle.

* * *

I felt almost giddy, setting out the chocolates and hard seltzer, knowing they were two of Estelle's favorite things.

In the past, when she had been upset, James and I would sneak out of the palace, run over to the local liquor store, pick up a pack of seltzers, and then run into the Dollar Store to get a box of chocolate. When the female saw the items, her eyes would light up and she'd have a smile on her face, her mood better.

I was hoping this time would be just like that, though deep down, I knew it would take more than liquor and chocolates to cure Estelle's mood.

"Hey, Lex." Her face snapped me out of my thoughts and made me turn to face her.

She had changed and now wore a pair of black leggings that accentuated her legs, a black tank top showing off cleavage, and a pair of black flip flops.

She had an expression of sadness on her face, her gray blue eyes puffy from what I assumed was crying.

"What's all this?" Her eyes lit up when she spotted the items I'd set up on a blanket spread out across the grass.

"This is for you." I placed a smile on my face, sitting down on the blanket and patting the spot beside me.

Is that a smile I see forming on the corner of her lips? I thought as she sat down with no hesitation.

"Just like when we were younger." She grabbed one of the seltzers and began opening it. After downing a long swig of it, she let out a sigh. "Gosh I needed this."

"I figured you would after today." I grabbed one for myself and opened it. "I heard what those reporters were saying to you about James. . ."

"Yeah. . . I can't help, but feel they were right about some of it, though. If I had been paying more attention to the Corrupted, I wouldn't have gotten wounded and James. . ." She frowned and looked in the distance, a far off look in her eyes.

"No, Stell. Those damn reporters are far from being right. . . I was there in that battle. There was nothing that could have been done to prevent what happened. . ." I downed a large gulp of my drink before continuing. "Even if you had known The Corrupted was going to attack you, James still had one behind him that came up too quick. . ."

"I just can't. . . I can't accept that he's gone, Alexandre. . . I wish things had happened differently. . . If I had been killed and he was alive. . . He could take the throne and become the next ruler like everyone wanted. . . Me. . . I'm not ready for that. . . I will do it because it's what is expected of me now. . . But. . . I. . ." Estelle finished her first drink and proceeded to open another. "I don't think I'll be a good ruler. . . I mean, I can barely lead a troop of girlscouts. Remember when I had to do that for a school assignment and I almost lost my entire group?"

I couldn't help, but chuckle at her words, remembering the exact time she was talking about. "Yeah, but in your defense those little heathens kept running off. They wouldn't listen to a word you were saying."

"I'm just glad you were there to help me find them when they did run off. If it weren't for your stern voice and look they never would have come out of that damn cave."

"That's true. Their faces were priceless." We started laughing together, the mood a little lighter.

After that we just started talking, both of us downing more seltzers and getting a little bit drunk.

"Wouldn't it be nice to be a star?" Estelle asked, pointing to the summer night sky.

We were laid out on the blanket and had been gazing at the sky for quite some time.

I let out a chuckle. "What?"

"Just think about it. All a star has to do is sit there and glow brightly for the world to see. They have no responsibility they have to worry about except that one thing." She leaned over and rested her arms on my chest, looking down at me with those beautiful gray blue eyes. "Wouldn't you love to be a star too, Lex? You're in the same spot I am, being the next in line for the throne. Wouldn't it be a relief to just go be a star and not have to ever be we expected to rule over a kingdom?"

"It would be nice, but Stell. How do you go and become a star?" I looked at her in disbelief. She couldn't be serious. It had to be the alcohol talking.

She burst out giggling. "Hell if I know. But it sure would be a relief to not have this much responsibility on our shoulders. . . If I'm being honest though. . . If I didn't have you all these years helping me through and just being around when James was off one of his escapades, I don't think I would've made it. . . I would've been too lonely. . ."

Her eyes had taken on a gaze I hadn't seen before and she was looking right into my own eyes, our faces mere inches apart.

I don't know what possessed me to do it, but I reached my hand up and cupped her cheek, my thumb stroking her soft skin.

"I would've been lonely without you, too, Stell." I whispered as the gap between us began closing.

Estelle POV

Maybe it was the alcohol giving me the confidence to do so, but hearing Lex say he would be lonely without me too, made me lean forward, close the gap between us and press my lips against his.

Instantly, I felt fireworks and warmth as he returned my kiss, my insides fluttering with butterflies.

It wasn't long before our hands started roaming each other's bodies, our kissing growing more heated and passionate.

"Estelle!!!" I heard a familiar voice shout at the entrance to the Hedge Maze. "Are you out here? Your mother is looking for you."

Lex and I gently pulled away from each other, breathless.

"I better head back in before they actually come looking for me." I whispered, not moving.

"Yeah. If I know your mother, the second Josette tells her she can't find you, she'll come looking herself." Lex chuckled and then sighed, mumbling under his breath. "Sure knows how to fuck up a wet dream."

I giggled at his statement, finally climbing to my feet and brushing the dirt off my clothes. "I'll. . . I'll catch you later."

What else was one to say after an amazing makeout session? I thought to myself beginning to walk away.

"Yeah. See you later, Stell." I heard his voice say as I made my way out of the Maze and towards my best friend waiting for me.

* * *

"Okay, spill." Josette closed my bedroom door firmly. "You said you were going to meet Alexandre in the Maze and then your gone for hours. Then when I come looking for you, a goofy grin is on your face and your blushing when I see you. What happened in there?"

My best friend of many years crossed her arms and gave me the look I had grown accustomed to receiving from her when she wanted the whole story.

I flopped down onto my bed and let out a very audible sigh. "Nothing really happened. Lex bought us some hard seltzers and we drunk a few. We talked. A lot. Mostly about James or being the next ones in line for the throne in our kingdoms. . ."

My mind drifted off, biting my bottom lip as I recalled the sensation of his lips against mine.

"Uh-huh. What else happened, Miss. Thornwood?" She spoke in her interviewer tone. "By the way your biting your lip and blushing, I'd say you're not telling your best friend the entire story."

"Well. . . We were gazing at the stars and talking. . ." I couldn't look Josette in the eyes as she plopped down beside me on my bed. "I was laying on his chest and looking down at him. . ."

"Laying on his chest? Hmm. Is that all?" Josette smirked, waiting to hear the rest.

"No. I mean. He reached up and cupped my face and. . ." I had to be bright red by this time as I blurted out, "And we kind of uh. . . Kissed and then made out!"

Josette let out a girly shriek and tossed one of my pillows at me. "Estelle Thornwood, you made out with the future King of Umbris?!"

I grabbed the pillow she'd thrown at me and buried my face into the purple pillowcase. "Yes! I made out with Alexandre Duquet."

"Well, was it at all like you imagined it would be?" Josette had known about my crush on my brother's best friend for years so it was nothing new to her to hear me gushing the details.

"Yes and no. It was like I imagined it would be, but it was so much better." I pulled the pillow away from my face and sat up. "When I left I just said I'd see him later. Was that stupid? Should I have said thanks? Would you thank someone for an amazing makeout session? Should I have said anything?"

"Woah! Girl, chill. You're looking too much into this." Josette touched my shoulder. "I'm sure you're fine and it's not like you won't see him again. He is staying here as a guest and hasn't been called back home yet."

"You're right. You're right. I think I just need a shower to clear my mind." I slid off the side of the bed and padded across my plush creme colored carpet to my walk-in closet.

"Uh-huh. To clear your mind." I could hear the air quotes in her voice without even seeing her do them.

"Oh shut up! It's been a long day and I really do need to clear my mind." I grabbed a pair of silk pajamas off one of the shelves and walked back out. "You can stay in here if you want, but no more watching my Cinemafix and losing my place in my shows."

"I only did that two times! And they weren't even that good of shows!" My best friend whined, already grabbing the remote to my big screen smart TV off my white nightstand.

"Uh huh. Don't lose my place." I gave her a quick warning glance before heading into the bathroom attached to my royal suite. "And if my Mom comes in looking for me. I'm in the shower."