҉ A PrinceSSly CoNNectioN ҉

Chapter's song: someone like you (cover by Alexa Goddard)

ChaPtEr TWENTY-SIX _________________________

A phone call away...

My eyes drifted away as my spoon played with the food on my plate. Almost a week had passed since I'd been to Jason's house. My stomach clenched as I remembered the brunette girl behind him.

What I'd give to be in her place and the girl was just screwing things up with him.

He deserved better...and there was nothing I could do about it.

It just hurt.

Thinking about Jason and any other girl.

It hurt too much...

Yet I knew it was for the better. I really couldn't picture him with someone like me.

I was doomed to be spinster. A spinster taking care of a gazillion dogs.

"Honey, did you like the quinoa?" Mom asked hopefully.

Looking up, I realized that all eyes were on me. I peeked at my plate once again before grabbing a spoonful. "It's ok," I shrugged before grabbing another bite.

Mom sighed. "You look thinner. You should eat more."

"Maybe it's the whole vegan stuff," Dad muttered as he shoved on a bite. He had complained endlessly about the food for the last two weeks.

Uncle Hugh rolled his eyes, "Oh for God's sake! Please order meat for all of you tomorrow night." He raised an eyebrow as he kept on eating, "if your husband dies of a heart attack, it won't be on my conscience, Em."

My lips twitched. This had been going on all week long. Dad complaining about the food, Uncle Hugh making a snarky remark and Mom usually ends up giving them both a lecture. Ashley was missing lunch because she'd been staying with a friend for the last couple of days.

I was just glad that the conversation drifted away from me.

"Are you ready for tonight?" Mom asked ignoring the men on the table.

I cringed, "I'm not sure I should go..." Although I really didn't have a choice, to be honest.

Ashley had invited Valerie and me to her boyfriend's concert. It had been the perfect opportunity to ask Peter out. The day we went to the univeristy, I ended up asking him out on behalf of my best friend. She was a lost cause, to be honest.

"Nonsense," Uncle Hugh intervened. "It is your duty as a bigger sister to scare the shit out of that boyfriend of hers." Mom glared at him. He smiled sheepishly at me, "excuse my poor language, dear."

"Or your lack of taste in food..." Dad trailed innocently making me smile. Especially since both my mother and uncle were sending daggers to him.

Shaking her head, Mom glanced at me, "have you planned out your outfit?"

Grimacing, I shook my head.

Her eyes lit up. "Awesome! Let's leave this two and figure out your clothes for tonight!"

I barely finished my food but over the last few days I hadn't been hungry at all. Mom was right, though. Most of my clothes felt looser.

Which wasn't a bad thing when you were supposed to attend a public affair in a cocktail dress.

I headed to my room with Mom in tow. She surpassed me as we walked inside the room. She did seem to be on a mission here. I hadn't really told her about Jason but I had the light suspicion that Uncle Hugh had kept her informed.

"What color do you feel like wearing?"

I slumped on my bed. Feeling tired even though I hadn't done much for the last few days. "Black?"

Since we had a lot of clothes for the sole purpose of public events, I had a large room filled with clothes playing it out as a wardrobe. Mom's head peeked from the door. Her brows were furrowed, "don't you feel like taking something more...cheerful?" The thought, you could use cheerful, was plastered on her face. She didn't say it, though.

Honestly,  I couldn’t care less.

What were you supposed to wear when you're riding as a third wheel?

And you feel like crap because the one guy that you've fallen for is not interested in you?

Black sounded as fun as any other color. "Whatever you like, Mom," I murmured condescendingly.

She disappeared on the wardrobe for a few minutes. Still on it, she asked me "Have you talked to Lady Isobel lately?"

Grimacing I rubbed my neck, "No..."

With a light pink dress in hand, Mom walked out of the closet. Her green eyes looked apprehensive, "Honey, you should."

"But-"

She raised her hand while dropping the dress on the bed. "She's part of your family. And you know, she's old." She sat next to me as I eyed the dress she had chosen, "and sick." I looked up at her as she smiled reassuringly, "I know she's a pain but she is part of our lives. If it wasn't for her we wouldn't be here. Scott is part of her family whether we like it or not." She added condescendingly, "and so are you."

Standing up, I grabbed the dress and placed it in front of me as I eyed myself on the mirror, I cringed. Pink was too cheery. Not an option right now. Mom reached out her hand to collect the dress after rolling her eyes. "If you only knew how she talks about you...it's infuriating."

Mom disappeared once again inside the wardrobe. "I do know how she talks about me. I don't care. She's old and probably mental," I chuckled at that, "but at the end of the day, she is part of the family. And she's all alone on her house."

"I'm sure she's got an entourage that deals with every specific need she has, Mom."

She walked out with a couple of dresses. One was golden and the other was bright blue. "She cares about you," she pushed as she left the dresses on the bed. "Think about it, Marianne." She glanced at the dresses placing both hands on her hips, "now, what do you think about those?"

"I'd prefer black?" I asked apologetically as Mom glared at me.

"Ok. I'm going to pick out the dress for you then. And it won't be black!" she exclaimed quite annoyed before disappearing inside my clothing room again.

Not knowing what to do, I played around with my phone. Suddenly, the bloody thing rang making me jump. I frowned. I did not recognize the number. I rarely gave out my phone number. And then I thought about Danielle and how she'd asked to get my number.

I wasn't sure I wanted to talk to her. It would be like salt on an open wound...

The phone's ringing paused and I breathed out relieved. I did like her but it would be too painful to see him again with another girl.

I'd just tossed the phone away when it started to ring again.

"Aren't you taking that?" Mom's voice came out muffled as she was still deep inside my wardrobe.

Sighing, I grabbed the phone and walked out of the room towards the garden. I needed my privacy.

"Hello?"

"Marianne?" A dark voice said. The dark voice of the one boy that had invaded my dreams and thoughts all day long for the last few weeks. My heart stopped beating for a millisecond. My left feet was left frozen on mid-air as I was stepping down the stairs. My hand gripped the phone tighter.

"J-Jason?" my tone was high-pitched. My eyes roamed all over the large hall to see if there was anyone there. Thankfully, it was empty. Still, I ran towards the back door to the patio.

"Hey."

My heart was racing unsteadily as I plumped on the patio's steps that led to the rest of the garden. "Hi."

Why was he calling? Did it mean anything? What did he want?

"How are you doing?"

My eyes wandered around the well-kept garden. If you mean that if I've been practically beating myself over you..."I'm fine, you?"

I rolled my eyes. Awkward much?

"I've been better I guess."

What the bloody hell was that supposed to mean?!

"Oh." I slapped myself on the forehead. Get your shit together, Marianne!

"Listen, I'd like to have a word with you. Have you got plans tonight?"

My eyes widened and I stood up jumping around the garden screaming silently, oh my God! Oh my God!

But then I remembered about the stupid concert. My shoulders slumped as I sulked.

All in less than thirty seconds.

"Actually, I do..." I frowned while playing with the petals of a red flower hanging off one of my mother's plants, "I have to go see my sister's boyfriend and supposedly scare the shit out of him," I rolled my eyes quoting Uncle Hugh.

He chuckled. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach. "That sounds like an important job." His voice sounded amused and oh so sexy at the same time.

"It is..." I trailed now ripping the petal from the flower and crumbling it on my hand.

"Do you think you can manage alone? Or do you need help with that? I am known for pulling off a mean scowl..."

My heart skipped a beat. He really wanted to see me. He was giving me an open and I wasn't about to let it close.

"I could use some help, if you're up to it..."

"Sounds good."

I bit my lip. My heart was in overdrive as I said, "Ok. What about if I leave you your ticket with Tom, my bodyguard, on the small café next to the Royal Albert Hall at quarter before eight tonight? And you can help me bully Ben."

"Brilliant. I'll see you then."

"Ok" I said breathlessly as he said goodbye and the line went silent.

I stared at my phone in awe. A wide smile played in my face.

I was seeing him tonight.

And suddenly, finding the right dress became a matter of life and death.

___________________________________________________________________

My phone has been beeping ALL DAY LONG (I only have notifications for new followers or comments on my message board). I had to thank you all in some sort of way, so I decided to post a new chapter for you all (Even if it's small!).

Thank you so much for reading my stories, voting and following me :)

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Have an awesome Sunday :)

Gabs

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