-Next To You

(Caroline's POV- The Next Morning)

I turned in my bed. When the bright sunlight hit my face I turned away and went to cuddle into my sheets. Although, when I went to turn away, my face hit something hard. My eyes shot open only to be met with a very defined and strong chest. I looked up and there was Prince Stephan sleeping peacefully next to me, his arms around my waist.

I nearly scram when I realized we were both bare.
Completely. I turned and let my head hit the pillow. I let out a big, agitated breath of regret because as soon as my head hit it, a pounding headache rushed forth. Stephan shifted in his sleep. I held my breath, staying completely still hoping I didn't wake him up. I stared at him hoping his eyes won't open.

"I know I'm handsome but there's no need to stare." He said his eyes still closed. I let out a slight scream in surprise and pulled the covers over my head to hind myself. "There's no need hiding." He said pulling the covers off my head looking straight into my eyes.

"Oh shut up." I said rolling my eyes.

"Well good morning to you too sunshine." He said sarcastically.

"When did you get here?" I asked.

"I've been here all night." He said.

"But I was with some guy at the bar." I said and that's when realization hit me. That's why he looked so familiar! It was Stephan the whole time! "Forget what I just said." I said face palming.

"So realization has now just dawned upon you." He said laying back on the pillows, his hands behind his head.

"In my defense I have a killer headache right now and was completely out of it last night." I say.

"I could tell." He said.

"You weren't drunk?" I ask.

"Oh, I was. I just didn't have as much as you. I was out of it, but you were on a completely different planet." He said waving his hands around to emphasizing his point.

"Ya, I needed to do that." I said scratching the back of my neck.

"Listen, I know you lost your parents, but going out and getting completely drunk is not the answer to your problems. I'm pretty sure you don't even remember the guy who tried to take you against your will." He said in a serious voice. "Your lucky I'm the person next to you right now." He said.

"I don't even remember anything." I say trying to think really hard.

"That's what alcohol does to you." He said laying back down.

"Well, thank you anyways. Let's get dressed and head down to breakfast." I said.

"Ok." He said sitting up and we sat there awkwardly for a moment. "So who's going first?" He asked.

"Didn't think this through." I said. "Ok how about this. You can go take a shower first, I'll close my eyes so you can head to the bathroom and I'll go next door to Celeste's room." I propose.

"Ok deal." He said.

"Ok you can go now." I said putting my hands over my eyes and I didn't remove them until I heard the bathroom door close.

I got up, put on some clothes, and grabbed everything I needed. I headed next door to Celeste's room only to find her not there. So I had full rain over her bathroom. After I was done I headed to Gabriel's room and knocked on his door.

"Come in." He said and I pushed the door open to see him working on some important documents.

"Do you have any clothes you don't need? I need them." I said.

"Why?" He asked sounding a little unsure.

"I just need them, you'll understand at breakfast." I said.

"It's almost lunch Caroline." He said and I looked at the clock in his room to see it was 11:45.

"Oh, then you'll see at lunch." I said.

"Ok, fine. What do you need?" He asked.

"Anything princey." I said.

"Here." He said handing me a pile of folded clothes.

"Thank you, your the best." I said walking out. I heard him mumble a little 'ya, whatever' before I left. I headed back to my room and knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" Stephan said trying to put on a girly voice.

"Its Caroline, no need for the voice. Make sure you have a towel on, I'm coming in." I said and opened the door.

Stephan stood there in the middle of the room clearly not seeing me struggle trying to close the door with no hands.

"Here, put these on. I'll make sure your clothes are clean by the time your ready to leave. When your ready tell me. I'll be getting ready in the bathroom." I said.

"Aren't you already ready?" He asked.

"Jeans and a t-shirt won't pass. I have to wear a dress." I said.

"Princesses are weird." He mumbled.

"That's not as bad considering what we think of princes." I said smirking.

"Wait, what? What do they think?" He asked.

"I'm not telling you. What's said during tea parties, stays there." I said.

"Tell me." He said chasing me until I ran into my closet and locked the door.

"Never." I said giggling slightly.

"Can't stay in there forever." He said.

"Who said getting dressed didn't take a long time?" I sass.

"Ugh. Of course." He said and I heard him walk away.

-----

"Stephan!" I yell from inside the closet.

"Yes gorgeous." He said.

"Don't ever say that again." I say.

"Fine." He sighed.

"I'm going to ask a favor of you." I started.

"Ok continue." He said.

"I need your help with the laces of my dress. If I open this door and you chase me again I will throw you off the balcony." I say.

"Fine ok. But only because I don't want to die." He said. I open the door and turn around so he could lace it up. "How do you do this?" He said and I looked up into the mirror in front of us to see him holding both of the laces in each hand, looking at them completely clueless.

I giggled at him shaking my head and he looked up into the mirror at me. "Have you ever put your laces through your shoes before?" I asked.

"Yes." He answered.

"Its just like that. On each side there are hoops, make sure the laces are straight, cris cross them one over the other, and make sure there tight so my dress doesn't fall." I instruct.

He just nods and starts to lace it up. He worked pretty fast which surprised me. I stood there the whole time looking at how concentrated he was. When he reached the last few hoops he stop. He stared back and forth between me through the mirror and my back.

"Caroline what is this?" He asked looked deep into my eyes.

"Nothing, are you done yet?" I ask trying to change the subject. I think he realized because he didn't say anything else and finished lacing up my dress.

"Done." He said and walked away...