SO I'm waiting for Tara on Kik but she ISN'T responding so I decided to write a short one shot. Enjoy! (**PS- It is in MCD time**) ~Riley

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My fork scrapes the plate, causing a faint screeching noise overtop the silence. Mr. Ro'meave looks at me, as if to scold me for my sounds.

"S-Sorry." I cough, continuing to eat the well prepared meal. As we crunch without conversations, Garroth looks up at me, his messy hair in a whirl. I avoid his contact as I glance to my father, his brow furrowing. 

"So... Garte... How is your wife? She seems to be unable to join us this meeting..." My dad chirps, breaking the silence. Garte's expression changes for angry to pleasant in an instant, as if it was all an act.

"She is fine. Just checking on the villagers as usual. Nothing for you to be concerned about." The lord chuckles, taking another sip from his beer. It looks just like soda in a wine glass, but the bubbling and color tell me otherwise. 

"Excuse me father, I need to use the restroom." Garroth gulped, lifting out of his seat. Garte seems disappointed yet irritated, letting Garroth exit with ease, leaving just myself, my father, and him.

I eat quickly and quietly while Garroth and I's parents bicker and talk, trying to finish as soon as possible. I check the clock on the wall. Huh... That's weird... He left twenty minutes ago. Shouldn't Garroth be back by now?

"May I be excused?" I ask politely, showing off my licked clean plate. My father shrugs as Garte shoos me away. I race down the hallways as I pass maids and butlers galore. 

I find where my new room might be located as I pass painters changing the color of the door from light green to red. I assume it was green for Lady Ro'meave as it is her favorite color. I pass them rapidly as I attempt not to show my bursting smile as I know it won't be occupied by me soon. Not in a million years.

"Lady Ro'meave?" Someone calls from behind me. My face tenses up as I slowly turn to face one of the painters. "Excuse me but we were all wondering if this was a proper shade of red for the door frame. We have many other but we just assumed--"

"No need. Paint it any color for all I care." I scoff. "Thank you for thinking of me anyway."

"Well, I can tell you will be a hothead for our palace." He snickers. "I'm Dmitri if you ever need anything m'lady."

"Thank you sir. Your name is very unique as well as I quite enjoy it. Now if could please get back to work, I don't want Garte coming after me once again..."

"Not a problem! I may see you again in a month for your room decor and swatching!! Have a happy marriage m'lady." He bows as he scurries back to the door as I hear the whispering amongst the young men. I keep the flowing name in mind as I continue forward.

I find myself in front of Garroth's light blue door, decorated with an array of zentangles and words. I spot Vlyad and Zane's name at the bottom, written very sloppily. I smirk as I realize they wrote it as children. I knock at the door with our code as she cracks it open.

"Remember it is knock knock knockity-knock knock knock. NOT knock knockity-knock knock knock knock." He grinned, opening it wider. I've been in his rooms multiple times now and I adore the view across the village. I plop myself on a comfy sofa as he gazes toward the ceiling.

"Can I close the door... dear? We need to talk about something important." I say in a serious tone, keeping my posture straight and my face expressionless.

"Of course, honey?" he lies through his teeth as I walk to close the large door. As it shuts we relax with each other like the old friends we are. "What's up, Nicci?"

I sigh as I find myself next to him. "Gar, you need to understand this is because we do not love each other. I love you so much and you know that, but only as one of my best friends. We've hung out since we were five and were forced into this mess." 

I pause to examine my humongous diamond ring, which I now know was picked out and forced on by Garte. By law, I had to oblige. It would have been frowned upon if I declined the offer by both villages and my father and I would have to leave Scaleswind, possibly even the region. Especially since we were "dating", aka being normal friends in real life but star crossed lovers in public for about two years, it would all be a mess.

Until I found a plan.

"We have been talking about leaving our villages, right?" I question him as he nods with anticipation. "Well, I found a plan. In exactly two days from now, at this time, you will leave the village for a business trip. Instead of leaving for "Naharaka", take this route through the sacred forest." I pull out the map from my boot, placing it in his hand. "And while you go to either Meteli or Phoenix Drop, it is purely your preference, I will be performing... a fake suicide."

Just as if Garroth was already happy, his face dropped, becoming a sickly pale. "S-S-Suicide??"

"Yes." I responded. "I won't actually be committing suicide, but I will be getting hurt and will end up traveling the region. I hope to have a base of operations in Brightport so we can be close by but... We cannot speak about each other OR say we ever knew each other, got it? I suggest you find a believable disguise and a new occupation other than lord, but other than that, you should be far away enough to not get hurt. Please... Trust me."

He closed his eyes as I copied his actions. I felt his warm lips I have faked with this whole time against my hand, a genuine kiss that I hadn't experienced before. Not a scripted one. I smiled and opened my eyes, the slight blush tingling on my cheeks.

"I hope to see you soon, Nicci." He mumbled under his breath, putting the map in his bedside table.

"Me too." I whispered, shutting his door with a lingering tear dripping on my face.

Me too.

~