I smiled as Duncan opened the door for me to the Crab Shack. Bridgette and Geoff were already there. Sitting on one side of the booth in the back. Duncan and I walked to the back

"About time you guys showed up!" Geoff said, as Duncan and I sat down. I smiled at Bridgette as Duncan casually laid an arm over my shoulders

"Sorry, Courtney and I were making out in my car-"

"DUNCAN!" I yelped. Smacking his chest roughly, as my face began to blush a deep shade of red. He wasn't lying. I just wish he would shut his trap sometimes! He chuckled and rubbed his sore chest

"Relax Princess, I'm sure these two are the least likely to care where we make out," he said. I huffed and rolled my eyes.

"We'd be hypocrites if we did," Bridgette said with a giggle. Geoff looked at Duncan

"Dude, that interview you guys did worked. Every channel I turned to it was on!" He said. He and Duncan fist-bumped. Bridgette gave me a small smile

"I'm glad you're giving Gwen a chance Court. I think it'll be nice," she said. I shrugged

"I mean, if I could forgive this ogre," I jabbed my thumb towards Duncan, who gave me a bland look. I smirked at him "Then I guess I could forgive her too," I said. Bridgette nodded 

"Yay! I won't have to sit alone at your guy's wedding!" she cheered. Duncan spit up his drink and my eyes widened

"Oh no," I said, shaking my head "We still have a lot to work on before we can even think about marriage," I said with a laugh. 

"Besides," I continued "Duncan thinks weddings are for saps. He told me that when we first started dating,"

"I don't know," Duncan mumbled. "I may make an exception," he gave me a wink. And I smiled sheepishly. Bridgette clapped her hands together and made kissy faces at us, I giggled

"Knock it off," I said. She giggled back. But I saw her smile slowly fade away, and be replaced by a sad look

"I can't believe you leave tomorrow night. It feels like this summer just started!" she cried. I bit my lip. I had been pushing that thought to the back of my mind for the last few days. But I guess I couldn't do that anymore huh?

"Yeah, Miss Oxford girl," Geoff teased, I sighed a little and laid my head onto Duncan's shoulder

"I don't even want to think about that." I said. But I knew I had to. 

Was Duncan and I's relationship strong enough to last another few years apart? I sure hoped so. 

"Let's not think about Princess here leaving. Let's just enjoy the time we have with her now," Duncan said, but his eyes were unfocused. Like he was thinking really hard about something. His mind was somewhere else. I gently laid my hand on his thigh under the table, bringing him back to where ever his mind had traveled to. He gave me a sad smile. 

"So," Bridgette began talking. But I wasn't listening to her anymore, I was too focused on thoughts of Duncan to care. 

How did I ever survive without him before? Waking up in the morning, not having a sweet text to read from him. Not having his strong arms to sleep in at night when he would sneak into my room. Without having him there to hold me together when my Mother's presence became too much. To have him there to pick up the pieces of my heart when my Father died. to have him to love, and to have him love me. 

I loved Duncan. More than I ever thought was possible. I never believe in fairy tales, I thought they were only told to satisfy kid's imaginations. To make them blind from the world they actually lived in. But yet, here I was. 

A Princess sitting next to her Prince Charming. 

I snuggled further into Duncan's arms. It was about 2:30 in the morning. He had sneaked into my room again. I just left the balcony doors unlocked now. Knowing he'd show up every night. At the same exact time every night, it was like he had set an alarm. I giggled quietly and slowly looked up at Duncan. Who had his eyes closed, one of his arms draped over my hip lazily. I smiled to myself. He was all mine.

"Princess, I can feel you staring at me," Duncan said, opening his eyes to  look down at me. I blushed in embarrassment and looked away quickly

"Uh, sorry," I stuttered. I felt his chest shake as he chuckled 

"It's fine. I mean, I know I'm highly attractive," he teased. I rolled my eyes

"Please," I said. And slowly looked back up at him. His teal eyes were the only thing I could focus on in my dark room. They were oddly bright tonight. I slowly traced a small finger up and down his chest

"So what's going to happen to us? You know... After I leave for college?" I asked suddenly. I felt his chest heave a sigh

"I'm not really sure. But I'll be damned if I let this slip through my fingers again." Duncan said quietly. I stifled a whimper as he pulled me closer to him. 

"You promise not to find some smart douche bag while at Oxford? One whose probably going to go a lot further in life than me?" he asked, as he looked me in the eyes. 

"Duncan, even though you may be a complete pain in the ass sometimes, and I often find myself debating whether or not to strangle the life out of you, I'll never be able to love another man the way I love you. I don't care if you're some ex criminal, you're my ex criminal. And that's what I love about you," I whispered. I leaned down and pressed my lips to his gently. Duncan gently kissed me back. I felt him bite my lip gently and I smirked against his lips before pulling away. He actually pouted

"Oh come on Princess, I was enjoying that." he whined. I giggled and laid my head back down on his chest. He held me close again. A few minutes of silence passed before I heard an unmistakable sound. I sat right up and glared at Duncan

"You did not just fart in my bed!" I yelled. Duncan began laughing, so hard he grabbed his gut

"I'm sorry! It was the crab I had earlier! It makes me gassy!" he said between laughs. I grabbed a pillow and began beating him with it. 

Some things just never change.