(A.N): I can't believe I'm already up to chapter 25!

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I rub my eyes and stretch my arms out. I put my hand next to me to sit up then realise I was sleeping on the floor. I look around and then remember how I came into my parents' room yesterday. I must have fallen asleep.

I stand up slowly and ignore the pain coming from my thigh. I hope I didn't stab Christoph this deep.

I limp to the door and open it. I walk to my room, okay I more likely hobble on one leg painfully, and open my door. I sit on my bed and sigh. How am I going to be able to go around the palace if I can't even walk a short distance without doing a full-body exercise?

I lay my back against the mattress. The soft material soothes my back. After sleeping on the floor, a bed is like heaven. I close my eyes but I am quickly disturbed. I sigh and sit back up. "Come in." I call out and tge person at the door comes in. "Where were you last night? I looked for you all over the place." I shake my head andgesture for Thomas to sit down next to me. I look him in the eye, something I was always afraid to do. "Since when did you care about me?" I try to say it calmly but the bitterness from the past finds its way to my words.

He diverts his gaze to his shoes as if they hold interesting features. "I always have, I just didn't show it until now." I cross my arms over my chest. "And you exoect me to believe that? After everything you did you're telling me that all of that time you actually cared about something other than yourself?" It's harsh, I know. But he did worse.

He sighs as if he's tired of waiting and runs his hand through his hair.

He looks back at me and shakes his head. "You don't get it do you? When are you finally going to open your eyes Alexia?" He says angrily. "What do I need to see? Why can't you tell me instead of shouting at me?" I just realise that both of us are standing up and have barely any space between us. I take a step back and clench my fists. "Why are you getting angry at me for something I don't know?" My voice is lower and more soothing.

"I'm sorry, I just," he sighs again. "I'm tired of you not knowing." He whispers his last sentence that I could barely hear it. I grab his hand  in mine. "Not knowing what?" His gaze deepens and we just stare at each other.

The stares intensify but neither of us look away.

He brings me closer and then the rest happens too quickly. Before I can comprehend what he wants to do his lips find their way to mine. He keeps a hand on the side of my face and the other around my waist bringing me closer to him. I have no idea what I should do so I do the only thing possible, I move my lips in sync with his. All of my previous anger washes away as the kiss deepens.

When he breaks the kiss I look away, I can already feel my cheeks heating up. "That's what you didn't know." He sounds out of breath as he talks. "Bu-but-wha-what?" I look at him in a confused way. "You still don't get it. I'm going to be straightforward, okay." He takes in a huge breath. "Alexia, I like you. I always have and I always will." I open my mouth and close it repeatedly, not knowing what to say.

"So?Alexia?" He snaps his fingers in front of my face. "I don't know what to think about it or what to say." I say in an empty tone. I have no idea what type of emotions should be occurring or which ones I currently feel.

"Then don't say anything for now, but I expect you to tell me how you feel later on." I nod and he holds both of my hands. "Please think this through Alexia, you have no idea how long I've wanted to make a move." He drops my hands and leaves the room. I step backwards until my legs hit the edge of my bed then I sit down.

I put my hand to my lips lightly.

Did Thomas actually kiss me?