chapter's song: the scientist by Coldplay

҉       A Prinɕҽsslɣ ConnҽCTioN        ҉

ChaPtEr TWENTY          _________________________

Shattered...

Strong arms held me tight. I was engulfed in warmness and an overall happy feeling.

Jason’s phone rang and lazily, he grabbed the bloody thing. I stirred as his whole body tensed. Pulling away cursing and grabbing his clothes, he got up. His eyes turned at me once as I pulled up the sheet and sat up alarmed. They were intense before he stepped outside answering the call. Worriedness washed over me. Biting my lip, I reached out for my phone to check the time.

It was almost 4 am. Bloody hell. This must be really important, then.

Could it be something related to his family? To the Navy? To my family?

A warning bell played in my mind. Something happened to my great grandmother. Shit. Shit. Shit.

 I had to call Mom.

Putting on a t-shirt, I grabbed my phone when it started to ring.

Fuck.

My stomach plummeted to the ground as I slid my finger over the device’s green button. I could recognize Mom’s number.

“M-Mom?”

“Hi sweetie! I’m really sorry to call like this…but…” I cringed waiting for the bad news to come, “your father is on his way to the hospital, right now. The Queen had some sort of stroke. I don’t know much. But we think that you should come back. Hopefully, this isn’t serious. Scott told me he would text me as soon as he knows something.”

I took a deep breath trying to calm my erratic heart, “Mom, I’m really sorry. I didn’t think that things were so serious.”

More like I hadn’t think about it.

I’d only been thinking about me. And Jason.

I was so selfish. I spent every second thinking how much time we had. Ashley had told me to stay put and I hadn’t even questioned it. It suited me. I didn’t think about the whole drama my parents were going through.

What if my parents actually wanted me home? What if my absence had make things worse with Grandma?

I felt like such a bad person…

“No. Don’t worry.” She sighed, “Her own stubbornness has made her sick. Still, I think you should be here. Your dad has already called Lieutenant Schmidt, I’m sure he already contacted Jason.” My eyes drifted to the door he’d just closed. “They’re trying to get everything ready so you can leave in a few hours.”

“Ok.”

“I’m calling Patty to let her know.” Her voice softened, “We’ll see you in a few hours, sweetie. I love you.”

“Yeah…ok…” I mumbled pathetically as my eyes trained on the floor. I could already feel tears burning my eyes. I closed them for a moment as we hung up.

My mind was in turmoil.

Scratch that. My whole body felt on edge.

“I’m sorry, Marianne…” My eyes snapped open at the sound of Jason’s dark voice. His grey eyes bored into mine for a moment. He looked troubled, torn and tense. My heart clenched and I bit my lip trying to contain the tears at bay. “We’re leaving in a few hours,” hesitantly, he took a step forward and started to gather all his clothes, “I have to get everything ready…”

I nodded. He stared at me for a moment before bobbing his head and leaving the room.

My breathing hitched as I stared at the door for a moment. My chest constricted as the tears rolled down my cheeks.

And so it begins…

I knew we had a span of time. That whatever we had would just last for a few days. Then, why did it hurt so much?

I clasped a hand on my mouth before a sob escaped. I was going back to my real life…but my heart would stay here. I’d never in my whole life felt so free and loved like on the last few weeks.

Selfish wouldn’t start to describe me. I knew that. Still, I didn’t care. A meteorite could be falling upon the planet and I just couldn’t think about any other thing but Jason. My heart literally hurt remembering how he’d made love to me a few hours ago. It had been so intense. So romantic.

But it was over.

It was fucking over.

I felt like the world closed on me as I placed all my belongings on my suitcase. Wiping the tears with the back of my palm, I swallowed the knot down my throat when someone knocked on my door. With a heavy heart, I opened it. Aunt Patricia looked sad. She didn’t say anything, she pulled me to hug me and I just couldn’t hold it anymore. I cried on her shoulders.

Tracing soothing circles on my back, she soothed me, “Honey…I’m so sorry to hear that you’re leaving so soon and under this circumstances, but I’m sure your parents are asking you for a reason.”

I pulled away wiping the tears with the back of my palm, “I know…”

Her brown eyes were sad. “I’m glad you came,” my heart clenched, “I got you this,” she showed me a plastic bag with a white embroidered shirt. Like the ones she loved to wear every day. “You always compliment my blouses that I wanted to give you one. I got it yesterday. Just in time, too.”

My eyes brimmed with tears as I pulled it out of the bag. The flower design was intricate and delicate at the same time. “It’s beautiful, thank you.” A sad smile played on her face. “And thank you for everything.” I wanted to thank her for the room and food and everything in between. But the words got caught in my throat.

As if she knew what I’d wanted to say, she waved her hand dismissively. “It was great to have you around.” She squeezed my hand reassuringly. “And you will always be welcome, here.”

I swallowed hard. A shaky breath left my lips, “thank you.” She kissed me on the cheek before leaving.

I finished up packing leaving out the dress Sol used a few days ago. As well as the shoes. She looked great in it and I wanted her to have it. After taking a quick shower and braiding my hair, I grabbed the dress and walked out of the room. My eyes turned to Jason’s room. The knot I felt on my chest pressed harder. Sighing sadly, I pulled myself away from there and walked towards the house’s main lobby. It was deserted. It was still too early.

Taking a deep breath, I slumped in one of the lobby’s plush sofas. My thoughts drifted towards England. How was Grandma? Was it really not serious like Mom had said? Or was she actually masking the whole situation? And what about Jason?

I rubbed my forehead somewhat frustrated with myself. What about him?

He was probably going back to his seriously messed up relationship.

There was really no future with him back in England.

Why would someone like him would want to go out with someone like me?

Then stop thinking about him, a sour voice sounded in my head.

Damn it. I’m trying. But his kisses and caresses were still lingering on my skin…

Bloody hell.

“Marianne?” Looking up, my eyes found Sol’s. Her usually tamed straight hair seemed a bit wild. Her cheeks were flushed as if she’d ran. Frowning, I looked at the watch. It was too early for her to be here. “Patricia called me. She told me you are leaving and I couldn’t let you go without saying good bye!”

My heart warmed. We hugged. Both with teary eyes. “I’m going to miss you so much!” she mumbled.

Pulling away, I grimaced. Sol had been such a good friend to me; I wanted to come clean before leaving Mexico. “I also need to tell you something…I haven’t been completely honest about who I am…”

Sol’s eyes narrowed, “what do you mean?”

Shrugging, I leaned on the couch’s armrest. “My father is not a Chef…” I bit my lip gauging her reaction, “his sort of in the Royal family…”

She blinked at me. Incredulously, she asked, “Are you telling me that you’re an actual Princess?”

I shrugged again.

Shaking her head, she laughed. “I can’t believe that Ed was right!”

Shocked, I croaked, “what?”

Sol moved her hands explaining it to me. “He came to me with this nonsense about you being identical to Princess Marianne, telling me that no one can look so much alike. Pablo and I dismissed him, so he never mentioned it again.”

A smile crossed my face, “well, I guess it was nice of him to never mention it again.”

Her brown eyes sparkled curiously, “I didn’t believe him because you didn’t act like it.” She added nonchalantly, “I always figured the princess would be uptight and such.” Embarrassed, I looked at my shoes, “so you’ve never met Jason before?”

“No.”

“Why is he here, then?”

I bit my lip, “he’s like my bodyguard.”

Astonished, she clasped a hand on her mouth. “That’s so romantic!” she gushed. “What happens now? Are you going to live happily ever after?”

My hands clenched in fists and I stared at her flatly. “He’s got someone, remember? Besides, things are messed up back home and I don’t think he’d want to be a part of it.”

Sol’s eyes softened, “but you love him.”

And you love Pablo. So? I closed my mouth not wanting to say anything I’d regret later. Taking a deep breath, I held the dress for her. “You looked great in it. I’d like you to have it.”

“I don’t think I should accept it,” she mumbled while grabbing it and twirling around the room with it. I burst out laughing when she gushed about the shoes. “Thank you!”

“No problem. So, would you help me around the kitchen? I wanted to make something for Maria but all I know to cook is pancakes. Mean pancakes, as it is,” I boasted proudly.

She did and together we made a mess of the kitchen. But ended up with an insane pile of pancakes on the center of the table. Enough to feed the whole bed & breakfast. For like two days. As we finished setting all the plates, Maria walked in through the door.

“Ay Dios mío! ¿Qué le han hecho a mi cocina?(oh my God! What have you done to my kitchen?)”

Sol signaled at me, “She wanted to surprise you with pancakes!”

Glaring at Sol for a moment, I smiled to Maria. “I’m leaving in an hour or so, but I wanted to do something for you. Like you’ve been making great dishes for me for the last three weeks.” I blushed as I confessed embarrassed, “pancakes is pretty much all I can do…”

Maria’s eyes changed from shocked to sad as she heard me. “Ay mi niña, ven aquí! (My girl, come here!)” She pulled me into a tight embrace, making me feel like I couldn’t breathe anymore. “This looks great!” She took a seat while we served her coffee.

I could tell that pancakes was not her favorite dish, but she ate with a wide smile on her face. Which made me tearful and grateful at the same time.

Aunt Patricia joined us after a while, followed by Jason. He looked somber and thoughtful. After seeing him, I couldn’t help but feel a pang in my heart. He was close and so far away at the same time. It hurt.

Playing with the food on my plate, I looked around the table. My aunt and Sol were trying to have a normal conversation while Jason ate mechanically and Maria gushed over the food. My heart clenched. No matter what, this had been my home for the last three weeks and I felt like I’d discovered another part of me. A part that was going to be left behind as soon as I walked out of the hotel.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I swallowed hard. Looking at my plate, I blinked the tears away as I tried to breathe out evenly.

“We should go,” Jason announced after finishing his plate.

Aunt Patricia looked at me. “I’ll drive you to the airport.” We all got up. Earlier, Jason had offered to take my luggage to the car, so I just left it outside my room. I brushed my teeth on the lobby’s guest bathroom. I looked like a mess. My skin was paler than usual and my eyes looked sad. Really sad.

Pulling myself together, I reached the car. Before I stepped inside, Maria crushed me with one of her signature hugs again. Sol’s eyes teared up as we said our good-byes, too. “You better come visit me,” I said as we pulled apart.

She smiled at me, “sure, when I save a few thousand dollars, I will.”

I grabbed her hand. “Don’t worry about it. I’d be honored if you’d come to see me. For real.”

“Ok,” she answered shakily as she tried to contain the tears away.

“Say good-bye to Pablo for me, would you?” She nodded.

A tear rolled down my cheek as I climbed on my aunt’s car. Maria and Sol waved away as the car roared to life.

My heart shattered to pieces as we pulled away from the parking lot.

Flashes of everything I’d been through passed through my mind. From the moment I had to pull my luggage to the time Jason taught me to paddle to the first night we’d spent together.

Never in my life had I been so carefree…and utterly happy…

I was leaving Mexico to go back home.

But my heart and soul were staying behind. Along with all those memories that I would never forget.

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Hey guys! so sorry for the late update. I know, I know. I'm not going to ramble on and on on how messed up my life had been for the past two weeks. The saying "when it rains it pours," comes to mind. I haven't feel like writing lately, sorry about that. But hopefully things will get back on track, soon...I hope...

Also, totally off-topic, but I started a new business: handmade jewerly. My shop is on Etsy if you wanna check it out ;) www.etsy.com/shop/SweetsJewerly/

Thank you for your patience. As always.

Gaby