"You're staying at a hotel?"

"Mum, where would you put Alex? On the lounge?"

She bites her bottom lip as she thinks about it.

"Do you think that is appropriate for the future king?"

"No you are right." she sighs. "We just miss you that's all."

"I know."

I hug her hard. She looks at my uniform as I put it on. The smell of the detergent still lingers in the white cotton shirt. I try to tuck it into the skirt. My mother fusses over me, pressing out the pleats of the blue and white tartan skirt. Tiny gold and red lines run through it, tying in the school emblem colours.

"Don't you think that a longer skirt might be ideal for your graduation?"

"They are all this length."

She frowns at me.

"Hey, you were the one who taught me how to sew."

"Hurry up then, your father will want to get a good car park."

"Oh, the driver will take us."

Her face lights up like she's just won the lottery.

"Driver?"

I nod as I slip on the blazer.

"Drop us at the door and just one phone call away for when we are ready to leave."

"Ok." She smiles.

We walk out to the lounge, my father engrossed in a football match. Alex regards me coolly as he looks at the skirt.

"Did you want something to eat or drink before we go?"

"No thanks mum."

She wanders into the kitchen as Alex gets up to me.

"Did you forget to put your skirt on?"

"It's not that short. Jeez."

"And the school allowed this... attire?" He says with derision.

"Well, I wouldn't say allowed."

He looks around, my mother still in the kitchen, my father has his back to us. Alex gets a wicked grin on his face. He pulls me in, his hand making its way down the skirt, trying to find the hem.

"Make sure it comes back to the house with us." he says lowly.

My jaw drops at his cheekiness.

"Dirty boy." I whisper.

Mrs Bryson is waiting at the front of the school, in anticipation of our arrival, and by that I mean Alex. In all of the graduation ceremonies I have seen happen at this school, I don't ever think I have seen one like this. The gardens and pathway to the hall are clean and looking perfect. The auditorium looks like it has been scrubbed so that it is pristine and Mrs Bryson looks like she has spent a week at a salon in preparation. The driver stops and scurries to the door, opening it. I step out and my parents follow.

"Mrs Bryson, you remember my parents, Mary and Dale?"

For a moment I wonder if she does remember my parents and all the times they were called to the school for when I skipped gym class, the cigarettes found in my bag during a random bag search, getting paid to do other students assignments. The list was long. In the end they agreed that I was bored and was acting out, so they fixed it. Additional work, assignments and classes, anything to keep me occupied.

"Good to see you again." She warmly greets them.

Two things are certain. Mrs Bryson has a long memory and she can't hide her excitement. Alex steps out of the car and I swear she blushes and then pales at the sight of him.

"Mrs Bryson." I say hoping to drag her out of the gaze she has going on. "This is his royal highness Alexandru Leonte the third..." I look at Alex who politely smiles at her. "Alex this is Mrs Bryson, principal."

"Your highness, welcome to Crostin Preparatory." She curtsies.

"Thank you Mrs Bryson."

She blushes again.

"Uh... Shall we?"

I see a few people scurry into the gym, clearly unsure of the happenings before them. I squint at the harsh afternoon sunlight.

"Everything ok?" Alex whispers to me.

"Yeah. Sun is a bit much."

The auditorium goes quiet as we step in. Jeez, all because of him. She must have told everyone to be on their best behaviour. They all stare at us. My parents hug me and depart for their seats, guided by Mrs Bryson.

"This is all your fault." I whisper.

He leans in and kisses me on the cheek.

"Get used to it. Good luck."

"Thanks." I roll my eyes, watching him wander over to the seats beside my parents.

I sit down on the bench seat beside Evie, my neighbour and best friend for as long as I can remember, Jake sitting on the row behind me. He leans over and pokes me in the back.

"Who's the dude?" He whispers.

"You didn't get the memo?"

He frowns at me. "What memo?"

"It was a joke." I said, as I shake my head.

"Oh."

I turn back to the front as Mrs Bryson starts to speak. He pokes my back again.

"Is he an uncle?"

I turn back to him.

"Who?"

"The guy."

"He's my boss."

And? My mind asks.

"And a prince." Evie whispers.

Jake frowns at her and then turns back to me.

"What are you doing tonight?"

"I'm busy."

Screwing your boss. Butt out you.

"Stephie, come on." He whispers.

Evie raises her eyebrow at me with a smirk.

"There's going to a big kegger at Zeeks parents' house by the lake. I thought you might want to go and spend the weekend down there with me."

"I can't. I have a dinner to attend tomorrow night with my boss."

And screwing your boss.

"A dinner?" He sputters in a low voice. "That's more important?"

I frown at him and turn around.

The ceremony drags on and on. By the time it is done, my arse has gone numb from the bench seat. Everyone mingles in the centre of the auditorium; the drone of meaningless chatter is annoying. It seems like everyone has come over and introduced themselves to him. He wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me into his body.

"You ok?" Alex whispers in my ear.

"Yeah." I frown. "The people talking is deafening."

He grins. As he kisses me on the cheek I can see Jake watching us, scowling. As yet another person interrupts us, Jake seizes the opportunity and walks over, taking me by the wrist, pulling me out of the auditorium.

"What are you doing?" I hiss at him.

"What's going on Steph? You seem to be getting pretty personal with your boss." He says doing air quotes.

"I don't think that is any of your business." I snap back.

"None of my business? I thought you were my girl, that makes it my business."

"I am not your girl Jake, all I was, was an attempt for you to get into my pants."

I feel a cool breeze float past my legs.

"Everything ok?" Alex says as he wraps his arm around my shoulder.

"So you're screwing your boss Steph?"

I begin to object but Alex chimes in before I can speak.

"Is that really the way to speak in front of a lady?"

"She isn't a lady." He spits his words in anger. "She's a gold digging whore."

In a flash Alex has him by the neck, holding him in the air.

"Take that back and apologise!" He growls.

Jake looks at him, it's more than fear that strikes through his face... it's something else.

"I'm sorry." He squeaks out, gasping for air.

Alex lets him drop to the ground, Jake coughs and splutters on his knees, desperate for air. He scrabbles back against the wall.

"What are you?" He whispers

Alex grin as he shrugs. "Just a guy."

Jake looks around, fear crossing his face once again.

"Who said that?"

"Who said what?" I ask as I frown at him.

He panics as he struggles to his feet, running down the path, screaming something about voices.

"What was his problem?" I mutter a little confused.

"Who would know?"

He pulls me in and wraps his arms around my waist. I play with the lapel of the black suit he is wearing.

"I can't wait to get you to the hotel." He whispers. "And take this ridiculously short skirt off you."

Just when I think that his hands might venture where they shouldn't, he kisses me on the cheek and takes my hand.

"Parents." He whispers in my ear.

I look into the auditorium and see my parents inside, watching with complete happiness. Yeah, ok. They think their little girl has snagged herself a prince. Newsflash. No, she hasn't. She has snagged herself a soon to end booty call. Don't be like that. Not everything is what it seems.

Alex delights himself with some morally wrong teacher/school girl shenanigans. I'll bet when the uniform was designed they never thought that it would be used for such lurid purposes. After a long day, I feel rather worn out. I sit in the bath, staring out the window. The lights of the city twinkle in the dark of the night. The tiles are cold; the water has started to cool. Alex sits on the other side of the bath; this thing is so big our feet barely touch each other. I can feel a tear trickle down my cheek as I think about the king searching for this girl. When he finds her, this will all be gone.

If. No, when.

"Steph?"

I wipe the tear away and look at Alex.

"I can't do this anymore."

I get out of the bath and wrap a towel around me, leaving him in the tub. He exits the bathroom, wrapping a towel around his waist. God damn that is nice. He kneels at my feet, pulling my wet hair behind my ear.

"You are the only one I want. This other girl, she means nothing to me."

"But you will have to marry her, don't you get it? It means that you and I cannot be together, regardless of what you want."

I wipe the tears that begin to seep out.

"The clock is ticking Alex."

He sighs. "I know."

He kisses me, pushing me back onto the bed, finding his way between my legs.