"YOU ACTUALLY PAINTED HIM!"

A loud groan escaped my lips as a huge load leaped on me.

"Can't... breathe...!" I croaked and smacked the person on top of me repeatedly.

"Ouch! You hit like a man! Stop it!!" Marley shrieked again, this time out of pain as a pair of hand gripped onto my frantic ones.

What was she doing!

"God!" I groaned as I finally opened my eyes and gave Marley a semi glare.

She, however, seemed oblivious of my apparent irritation as she squealed when she saw me awake and rushed towards the canvas currently resting on the easel. The funny thing was though that the rest of the paintings had turned out to be too precious to lose, and so now rested against the wall.

Marley stopped short in front of the portrait. I could practically see her mouth hanging open as she stared at the man on the canvas.

I sighed as I got out of bed and padded my way over, coming to a halt beside her.

"He's beautiful," she whispered, her eyes wide open, her mouth, just as I predicted, hanging open.

A sad smile graced my lips as I touched the side of his jaw lightly.

"Yes he is," I agreed softly. Yes he is.

Soon Marley's gaze moved along the other paintings and she swayed slightly as she moved towards them.

I stood frozen in my place as I watched her stare at each one piece after piece, it wasn't only for Bryce though, I wasn't that confident about my painting skills. Marley was only fourth after Casey and mom and dad to see me paint. Others however, saw me sketch.

Marley suddenly startled me when she turned towards me, her next words took me by surprise, "It will be fun burning this up once you're finally over him."

I smiled. Sadly. Oh Marley... IF I get over him.

Painting him all night had done nothing but remind me of him. I sighed. It was hardly fair.

A startled squeal escaped my lips as I was suddenly pulled towards the bathroom. "Go get ready, woman! We have school in an hour and you look like you've been through the haunted woods! When did you sleep anyway?"

The door shut on my face and I rolled my eyes before I turned around and picked up my brush.

"5:15." I called back a reply before shoving my brush into my mouth.

Okay now let's get those bacterias removed.

*

Wrapping my fluffy navy blue towel against my body I walked out of the bathroom only to get shoved out of the way as a frantic Marley rushed in.

"God you bathe like you have all the time in the world!" she complainer, flustered as she slammed the door shut.

I glanced towards the digital watched perched upon my bedside table.

Oh! 8:15... I guess I took more than what I usually take...

Oh well!

I walked towards my closet and immediately closed the door. Didn't need flashing my just found bestie,now did we? For a second I wondered what Casey was doing back home.

The second passed and I let it go, today was an exciting day, the thought of exploring Dovelore castle had me completely shaking with excitement.

Applying deodorant and body lotion I slipped into my black undergarments before I pulled on a brand new maroon long sleeved top, curtesy of mum, and a high-waisted navy blue floral skirt.

I quickly willed up enough courage to open the door, just as Marley walked out of the bathroom, she, unlike me, fully dressed in black jeans and a white sleeveless All Time Low band T-shirt.

She did a once over as she looked at me, causing a little laugh to ripple out of me. "It's me,"

Smiling she walked towards me and placed her straighter in my palm. "Straighten it," she smiled as she quickly started picking at her gel eyeliner and on the first attempt, made a perfect wing.

Damn!

Plugging the straightener in, I ran the brush along my hair before spraying it with a bit of heat protectant.

Finally after a minute, I clamped the flat iron against a small potion of my hair and pulled the straightener down, quickly. Leaving behind strands of perfectly straight brown hair, which I knew would turn wavy soon, it was only a matter of minutes.

*

"Don't you look beautiful!" Matthew exclaimed as Marley and I walked downstairs and into the kitchen.

Marley looked at me as if asking what Matt was doing eating scrambled eggs and toast in my kitchen.

"Apparently he lives here during mornings," I muttered before we took the hair-chairs beside him, helping ourselves with some toast and scrambled eggs ourselves.

"Oh and Mr and Mrs. A said that they had to run early, and that they left you some cash on the fridge. They will be home by 8," Matthew informed me before he stole a big gulp of my iced coffee.
Honestly, this boy was never going to learn.

"Paws off my coffee Jefferson," I warned him, as I swatted his arm away. Instantly he reached for Marley's, who, no shock there, let him gulp down her coffee happily.

I rolled my eyes at her and made a little heart from my fingers, to which she grimaced.

"Okay let's go!" Matthew exclaimed happily as he plopped in the last of his toasts into his mouth and moved towards the sink where I was currently doing the dishes.

I grabbed onto his mug and plate and quickly scrubbed and rinsed them placing them aside.

Moving towards the refrigerator, I got onto my tiptoe and picked up the three, hundred dollar bills and shoved them into my backpack. My month's allowance.

"Let's go guys, a castle awaits!"

*

Naturally, since this was a school trip we all had to travel in the bus.

So here we were, boarding the buss I quickly made it to the middle seats and plopped down beside the one beside the window, Marley plopped down beside me. But before Matthew could take a seat next to Ley Rome slumped down instead and looked at me with a small smirk on his face.

He had been doing that a lot lately. It seemed like he was surrounding me. He was literally everywhere. Well, everywhere he could make look normal.

In my head, I had begun calling him Rommy, the bodyguard.

I narrowed my eyes at him, but he simply shrugged and went on saying, "I want the window seat"

A giggle left Marley's lips while I cocked at eyebrow up, and his brows furrowed.

"What?" He asked.

Marley beside me giggled again before she spoke, "You could have just said that you wanted to sit beside Thi,"

Matt who had now settled on the empty seat in front of ours, turned around and looked at Rome shocked.

They stared at each other silently, their expressions changing slightly from time to time before Matthew looked towards me and smiled softly, his warm brown eyes friendly and caring.

What's just happened between the two?

I smiled back at him and turned towards Marley, who simply shrugged before I glanced at Rome, who was now looking expectedly at me.

"You're not getting the window seat," I mumbled back, teasing him.

Rome's eyes narrowed at me before turned around and looked somewhere else, still looking dead angry.

I sighed.

Typical Roman. It was becoming common now whenever his temper took a 180 degrees turn within seconds, he was just extremely short tempered and unnaturally strong.

I had after all only had my latest experience with it earlier this week.

Rome had been over for our 'once two days' bonding session, and after waiting for Bryce for a week and three days. I had begun to see it as how it was. Naturally, I had been devastated.

Roman had caught on to that, and as soon as he could not endure my bland replies anymore, he had grasped my arm and after informing mom about where it was he wanted to take me, he pushed me into his car and drove on.

I had stated as we arrived at Nandos. Roman hated Nandos. I keep guessing that's just because he had never tried it.

As he parked into an empty lot, he turned towards me and smiled. Got out and walked over to my side, opening the door and got me out by the hand.

We both had a good serve each. Grilled chicken and Peri Peri chips. It's safe to say that by the end of the night, Roman fell in love with Nandos and I,well I was smiling again.

We had only just walked out when these boys had bumped into me.

The next thing I knew was that Roman had exploded and Hulk had emerged from his body. And as for the boys? Well all the boys lay on the driveway, groaning in pain as blood dropped out of their open wounds.

I shivered as the sight of those bloodied boys flashed before my eyes again. I had called for the ambulance. Roman wouldn't let me help them any more.

It had turned out that in those two weeks of waiting, and painting, Romanov had become... Nicer. Granted he smiled and even occasionally joked with me. He had become the sort of friend who just didn't act like a friend all the time. He was too blunt and rude for that anyways.

Shaking my head as I smiled, I glanced back at Rome, his face still looking pissed off as he looked at the scenes passing us as we drove by.

"I think you should just let him take the seat," Marley leaned in and whispered against my ear, her voice concerned.

Sighing, I nodded. I really didn't want to ruin anyone's day at the castle. Marley smiled softly at me as I leaned in and placed an arm on Rome's. He instantly turned to face me, his eyes dark and stormy.

I smiled and tightening my hold on his arm, pulled lightly towards me.

He got the memo. Glancing towards my grip on his arm as I tugged on it once again, he sighed and stood up, before Marley and I shifted and he moved in to sit beside me.

I smiled as his mood lightened considerably. Maybe today was going to be a good day after all!

*

"Oh my god it's beautiful!" Marley exclaimed as I stared in wonderment at the marvel we were now driving towards, each second bringing us so much closer than it had been just a second ago.

There it was. The beauty I had stared at for weeks, had weaved fairy tales and romances about. The object of my fascination. Dovelore Castle.

It's prim and pristine entryway seemed beautifully carved, looking just as beautiful if not better than the castle itself. The castle seemed inviting, it's beauty was now ten times more being so close to it than when I looked at it from as far as my home.

As the bus slowed and came to a halt. A very elegantly dressed man, who rather looked like he was nearing his early 50's with his slightly greying hair, walked out and towards us.

"I'm so excited!" I whisper squealed, as we proceeded to move out of the bus in a line with Marley.

"Good morning all, I am Finley Buckwood and I will be your tour guide for today. Master Wilhem is very pleased to have you all here on a tour, you may see him by the ending of our tour when he will announce the name of the Scholar and the lucky student who will get to stay here for his or her holidays. Now, let us begin!" He informed as he turned and made his way towards the entrance of the castle, us students and teachers on tow.

His deep Yorkshire accent still visible when he sprouted a few words, " Dovelore Castle was built by the 16th Duke of Devonshire, Alexander Wilhem, in the mid eighteen hundreds. The construction completed around the month of April in 1884. It was built here in America rather than in England where the Duke originally resided because he rather needed a place away from the hustle and bustle for his children Maryen and Alexander after his wife Lilian died in a tragic accident."

I listened intently as Mr. Buckwood continued to lay out the colorful yet slightly dark history of this castle, all the while staring at each and every furniture placed perfectly around places which complimented them. The olden taste in things still lingered around the walls of the castle and furnitures, and yet it seemed very modern. All in all though, the new Duke must have great choice.

Suddenly a hand slipped into mine and I turned to face Marley, looking around with wild wonder, her mouth literally ajar. "It's so beautiful," she murmured excitedly as she turned around to face me, her eyes twinkling. "I am so daydreaming about marrying a prince and living here with him!"

I giggled but immediately quietened down when Mr. Bishop sent a very stern look my way.

"Let's listen to the handsome old man talk" I whispered to Marley and moved closer to him. He was now talking about the current owner.

"The current owner, Master Alexander has taken care for the castle incredibly well after graduating from college a few years ago, him being extremely rich, together with the inheritance he attained through his father allowed him to make renovations around the whole castle and castle grounds, together with having the castle re-designed and equipped to make it comfortable for this age. However, some places around the castle has been left untouched when it concerns designing, like the 5th and 6th floor, the west wing and the library. We will proceed to the 5th floor and library but the sixth wing is out of bounds, so that shall be excluded in our tour," Mr. Buckwood informed us, his deep tone ringing through out the hall as he lead us into a grand hallway.

I stilled as I felt a pressure on my lower belly, causing Marley to turn around and look at me quizzically.

Shit.

I motioned towards my skirt and her eyes widened with realization, a grin found its way to her mouth.

I frowned.

Her grin grew wider.

I needed to pee.

Still frowning I let go of her hand and moved towards Mr. Harway, who was seemingly talking to Diandra.

As I neared him I coughed slightly, causing him to glance at me and smile.

"Ah yes Miss. Anderson, what may I help you with?" His dark green eyes twinkling as he grinned down at me.

Diandra seemed to have stiffened beside him and was now glaring at me.

What's up with her?

I shifted on my feet as I fiddled around with my hair. God this was so embarrassing.

"Er... Sir, do you know where the washroom is?" I mumbled, feeling my face heat up as a chuckle left his lips. I could practically feel Diandra sneering at me.

"Here," he handed me a pamphlet, "there's a map there, it helps you move around. Go on Miss Anderson."

Nodding a thanks I turned around glanced at the map. The pressure on my lower belly reminding me of how urgent this was.

*

"Fuck my life!" I groaned as I stared at the map for the hundredth time. I officially hated maps.

Glancing around the empty hallway I groaned in frustration. This was no good! I was lost.

I was just about to turn around and retrace my steps when I saw an elderly woman, wearing a plain black dress moving out of a room on the further end of the hallway, holding clothes in her hand, but before I could call our for her she was gone.

"A bedroom!" I thought as I walked towards it. Maybe someone inside could help me?

My bladder was killing me now! I was literally on the verge of twisting my feet to hold the pee in.

Reaching the door in a desperate run I knocked on it urgently.

When no one answered, I knocked again. Surely there was someone there!

"Whose there?!" A gruff sleepy voice called out, purely male. Purely irritated.

"Er sir if you could please open the door!?" I requested pleadingly. This was a matter of life or wet floor!

I stiffened as a deep growl ringed out around the hallway. The source, the man in the room.

Suddenly the door swung open and instantly I started shivering out of fright. This was not good. What if his man threw me out!

Minutes passed and the man was silent. I couldn't take it anymore. I needed to pee!

"Er... could you show me the way to the loo?" I mumbled hurriedly, my eyes still glued on the floor.

The man remained silent. I couldn't dare glance at him. But I could feel his stare on my face.

Finally the man spoke, "come in, it's the door on the left."

Oh thank god!

Immediately I rushed into the room, "Thank you!!" I called out before walking into the bathroom and shutting the door.

Deed done, I pulled on my panties and slowly stumbled over to the handbasin and turned open the water faucet.

I glanced myself in the mirror as I washed and dried my hand. My hair seemed to be in place, my face seemed to be in place.

Smiling contently I nodded at myself in the mirror, and opening the door I walked out.

Glancing around in curiosity as I entered the room I realized it was not a bedroom but an office.

My wandering gaze drifted along the shelves to the man who stood staring at me, I suppose I needed to say my thanks.

I stilled. My breath hitched in my throat.

Standing there on the edge of a table... was Bryce.