Chapter 60: Chapter XXVIII Feelings-1

This was different than any unemotional kiss I shared with Caleb. This was something that revealed two hearts at the same time, both of us realising the others' feelings in the same moment. Until now we had both been on a one-sided journey, loving but never receiving. Now it was different, because now we knew the intense emotions we carried for one another but could never be spoken. Now we knew that there was hope for us. It wasn't very long before Sarina pulled away in utter surprise, peering at me with the widest eyes she could muster. I looked up at her with eyes full of things I couldn't put into words and she seemed to realize that. I raised onto demi-pointe to try and equal our heights, bringing up my hands to the side of her neck. Realizing what I was doing, disbelief crossed over her before the most sincere face of utter admiration overtook her. She rounded her hands to the back of my neck, meeting my lips once more. I breathed deeply when we kissed, wishing this moment to become eternity. I moved my lips softly and she equalled that motion, both of us feeling as if this was a dream. But it wasn't. I was really standing here on my tiptoes, kissing the girl who I had extensive feelings for, on the balcony of the royal palace. This wasn't just my fantasy anymore. Almost desperate, Sarina clung onto my shoulders and kissed me harder and I was more than happy to oblige, following her lead. I took a step forward closer to her, bringing my hands around until I could tangle my fingers into her foreign, soft locks. She leaned down to me, her hands roaming over my back until they found a comfortable position. If this wasn't heaven then I don't know what is. Eventually I pulled away, a little dizzy from the lack of air. I clung onto her shoulders, my laboured breaths uneven with her own. Our eyes were connected and not one of us strayed our vision away. Eventually I mustered enough air to talk. "Illegal?" I inquired in disbelief. She chuckled a little bit, still out of breath. "Yeah, because you were a minor and I didn't date you when I was still a minor," I furrowed my brows at her. "Bloody hell you have weird things running through your head," I said, shaking my head at her. She scoffed and pulled me closer into a tight hug, my head resting on her blossoming chest as I wrapped my arms around her. "By the way..." "Yeah?" "I like you," "No shit," ♕♥ ♕♥ ♕ Needless to say, I couldn't sleep that night. Even after Sarina skipped out of the palace to return home and it was long past the point that I could see her violet hair in the courtyard, I still envisioned her. I was feeling so many emotions and at the same time, I felt numb. I felt disbelief, fearing that if I fell asleep and woke up then it wouldn't be real anymore. I feared that it was all just a fluke, or that she was going to regret it later. I had an early breakfast the next day, my mind clouded throughout the entire meal. The twins gave me strange glances the entire time. That is, until, my mother reminded them of their piece for the Royal Variety Performance. Then their nerves began to take a hold of them and they sat quietly, whispering commentaries only between each other. I had completely forgotten about their own show they would have to perform. And my performance was cancelled, and I will have to watch the dance I worked so hard for be replaced by Anna of all people. I had completely forgotten all about her. I wondered how she felt all about all this. I wondered if she broke up with Caleb or if she stayed with him for the publicity. Although, if there were any people on my side, then they'd surely not like her all that much. She was, after all, the girl who got the princess's boyfriend to cheat on her. But if I reflected back then I guess they really looked happy together. They had more in common than Caleb and I had, so I didn't really care so much about it anymore. It's been a month since the incident revolving him and everything died down. Although I had no contact with them, and didn't particularly want to, I was still curious about what was going on with them. Still, sometimes I missed the times with Caleb. He was maybe a terrible boyfriend, but he was a good friend. I spend the majority of the day opening gifts sent from the public, and some of them were really touching. There were many pictures from small girls who wished to be princesses, and many motivational messages about me not allowing to be thrown around by Caleb. There were 'get well soon' cards and many soothing creams. There were other gifts like shoes and accessories, but I was glad that there wasn't anything over the top. I wasn't all that known yet but I appreciated the gifts I received. But there was one gift that caught my eye right at the beginning but I opened it very last, and I was glad that I did. Otherwise, I wouldn't have contained myself. The box was wrapped in my favourite shade of violet, and that gave me the impression that I knew the sender. The entire box was filled to the brim with roses, a box of rose-flavoured macaroons laid at the bottom, and that gave me the immediate realization that this was from someone who was familiar with me. The box also had a small book filled with sheet music for the harp, and I was momentarily stunned. When last had I played the harp? Who knew that I could play that instrument? My thoughts immediately turned to Sarina and a smile brightened on my face. As I pulled the last thing from the box, a scrapbook designed to fit the theme of ballet. When I opened it, my jaw immediately fell and I realized immediately, this was not from Sarina. The scrapbook was filled with photos from when I was younger, from about when I was twelve. There were photos of when I still had caramel hair originally, when I fed ducks at the pond and when I had my very first pointe shoes fitted. There were images of when I was at the salon to colour my hair for the very first time, behind the scenes of my first solo in a tutu and when I had milkshake moustaches. Then the most surprising was the pictures of when I did a photo shoot with fake piercings and a black tutu, the very same photos I had a fight with Caleb about. Here they were all raw except for the last one where the light of the sun made a nice effect, one he said looked unprofessional. It was slightly edited than the original, but looked natural. The caption beneath it read: You were right all along. I was nominated because of this photo. I felt my breath hitch in my throat and I to the end of the book, a few empty pages left blank. An envelope fell out when I went to the back, and I curiously opened it up. For such a big letter, there were only two words. Happy birthday. And I couldn't help but smile. "Ian?" I called out, and sure enough he was near the common room. "Your Highness?" he inquired. "I would like to go out today," I announced, standing up from the pile of gifts. "Where to?" "I want to go see Caleb," ♕♥ ♕♥ ♕ Being back at his house was the strangest thing in the world. Last time I was here, we both broke each other's most prized possessions. An entire month. It felt like an eternity. I no longer felt disdain towards him, and instead I was more curious than anything else. When I saw him last, he was an uncomfortable mess in the palace. I wondered if he would be up for a chat. Well, if he did so much for my birthday, then I had to assume he would be. I was in disguise, naturally, and we took a different car. His house didn't seem to be barricaded by paparazzi anymore and I was glad that he was finally left alone by the vultures of society. The newest topic for the public to eat up was my first public appearance, and the fact that my hair was a different colour than they remembered. They made references to my father's commentary all that long ago about how he felt about dyed hair and all that. I waited patiently after I knocked on the door, not at all surprised when Caleb's father opened the door wearing his pyjamas. His eyes widened to the extreme when he saw me, his jaw slightly slacking. "Melanie... uh, I mean-" I shook my head at him. "Mister Adams. Sorry for dropping by so suddenly," he shook his head slowly.