Chop, chop, chop.

Aubrey rubbed her head as she found her way to the kitchen, following the loud chop sounds. She had a headache that just didn't seem to go away, that was her body's way of reacting to how she worked herself off, selling those tickets, crying, yelling at the top of her lungs, locked up in quarantine and then crying again for the rest of the night.

She had just woke up from sleep and noticed how dry her throat was, more like sore. She never needed a drop of water so badly.

"Morning princess,"

She walked past the counters, not bothering to turn to the woman behind it who happened to be chopping some vegetables, aiming for the walk-in refrigerator. She came right out with a bottle of water and closed the door right after while the lady behind the counter watched her gulp it hurriedly like she was trying to force it down her throat.

"Woah," the lady gasped, feigning surprise as she let her jaw drop while she stared at Aubrey, "keep forcing water down your throat like that and everyone's going to think you ran a marathon in your sleep."

Aubrey felt so relieved as she slowly lowered the bottle from her face, letting out a relief breath. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, sniffing and pulling the strands of hair that covered her eyes behind her ears. Now she was fully awake.

"Good morning Nancy."

She turned to the lady immediately, trying to brighten her face too.

"Wow," her look of surprise didn't waver. She just had her eyes glued to Aubrey's face. "It's really obvious you spent the entire night crying yesterday." Now she was referring to the fact that Aubrey's eyes were swollen. The bags on them were really huge, an after effect of crying her eyes up until that morning. She pointed at Aubrey's eyes.
"They look ridiculous."

Aubrey raised her hands to her eyes to feel it. She knew something was different about them when she woke up that morning and felt how heavy they were, she just didn't know they were as bad as her brother's caregiver made it seem especially since she was still in her pajamas and never really looked at the mirror before she came rushing down the stairs.

Aubrey smiled nervously.

"Is it that bad?"

The lady nodded.

She turned back to the chopping board.
"You should probably do something about it, at this rate, it might be hard getting Mr Coleman to notice you at the royal engagement tomorrow." She raised her head to look at Aubrey who had immediately gone numb at the sound of 'the royal engagement' and 'Coleman', Coleman as in Asher Coleman.

Asher was the last person she needed to see at that point, not just him, Paris too, guess who were going to be present at the royal engagement the next day? The both of them, together, yuck.

She wasn't ready, she wasn't sure she was ready to be around any of them yet. Anne-Marie had left her hundreds of calls and text messages all night but she never replied to any of them, she couldn't.

"I managed to have a peek at your dress for the royal engagement tomorrow, it arrived some minutes ago, your mum wasn't playing when she said she was going to make sure you stood out at the ball tomorrow and shined brighter than even Paris. With a dress like that, it'd be hard for no one to not notice you."

The royal engagement, why did she have to go to something like that anyway? She had almost forgotten everything about it up until that moment.

The bell rang.

"Oh, it looks like someone is at the front door," she watched Nancy try to pull off her Apron, "I better see who that is-"

"Don't worry about it," Aubrey had to stop her, "I'd get it." She volunteered. She needed a reason to leave the kitchen anyway. Nancy nodded just as Aubrey turned slowly to the door and walked out of it, heading straight to the front door and stretching a hand to stop the maid that came running to it. She got it. For some reason, she wanted to get it.

Aubrey got to the front door and opened it.

"Oh you have got to be kidding me," she hurried to close it again.

"Aubrey wait." Anne-Marie could have sworn she felt her soul leave her body when Aubrey tried to shut the door back and she placed her foot to stop her, holding on to the door so she didn't get to close it immediately.

"Go away," Aubrey kept trying to push the door close but Anne-Marie did a good job by holding it back, exhausting all the energy she had.

"Aubrey, come on, I just want to talk, please."

"And I don't want to talk to you," Aubrey didn't stop fighting for the chance to close the door. "What part of that do you not understand?"

Anne-Marie added an extra effort. All those years of her running pizza deliveries and stunt doubling had to pay off eventually, that had to be the moment. She almost forgot how physically strong she was. Anne-Marie was winning. No matter how hard she tried to shut the door, no matter how much energy she exerted into shutting it, it looked like Anne-Marie tripled all her efforts. How was she doing it? The look on Aubrey's face as she stared at her every five seconds while fighting for the rights to shut the door made Anne-Marie know the exact questions she was trying to ask.

"How on earth was she so strong?"

Aubrey and Paris never really had a reason to fight over or play push and pull before.

"Okay Bryce," Aubrey gasped and let go of the door the moment she heard her mother's voice echo in the hallway. She was walking down the stairs. "Uh huh, uh huh, yeah, I'd be you shortly."

Anne-Marie got the chance she was looking for, the opportunity to run in and she took it before Aubrey got another chance to shut the door in her face.

"Thank you so much Bryce," Gwendoline said over the phone as she approached the front door, the sound of her really high heels knocking the ground filling the entire hallway. She dropped her phone when she got to the door and gasped the moment she took a notice of Anne-Marie standing right in front of it.

"Good morning Mrs Bolton." Anne-Marie let a smile form on her lips.

"Oh my, Paris," Gwendoline took Anne-Marie in her arms and kissed both her cheeks immediately. The huge smile on her face showed anyone just how happy she was to see her. "How are you?"

"Never better Mrs Bolton,"

"I can see that. You look so beautiful as always." Gwendoline said, looking at her from head to toe. "You also look like you gained a lot of weight in the right places too."

Yeah, Anne-Marie knew that some of the reasons why she had to jump a little bit when she had to put on a pair of Paris' jeans had to do with why Gwendoline had mentioned that. The difference wasn't so much but if you looked really carefully, it was a bit hard to miss and what Gwendoline was, was observant to everything else but her surrounding.

"Shouldn't you be busy getting ready for the royal engagement tomorrow?"

Anne-Marie was about to say something when-

"You know what?" Gwendoline cut her off. "It doesn't matter. I wish I could stay around and chat with you girls, but right now, I have a really important engagement," she turned to Aubrey and smiled a little bit. She leaned towards her and gave her a kiss on her cheek. "Be nice." She said. Aubrey forced a smile on her face.

Gwendoline turned back to Anne-Marie, she placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it.

"Congratulations on your recovery and engagement once again,"

Anne-Marie forced a smile on her face, like her engagement was anything to be congratulated for. She didn't even want it.

"Thank you."

"You girls have fun okay?"

Anne-Marie turned as she watched Gwendoline hurry out of the house as fast as she could while Aubrey hurried to close the door behind her. Aubrey held on to the door knob, making sure she still had her back against Anne-Marie. She wasn't ready. She wasn't ready to face her or speak to her yet and Anne-Marie could see that.

"Bre," she was going to start a conversation if Aubrey wasn't going to. "Aubrey we should talk about what happened at-"

Aubrey turned quickly.

"We have nothing to talk about."

She started to walk away from the door.  Anne-Marie turned to her quickly and went after her.

"You shouldn't be here, I don't want you here."

"Come on Bre, you've been ignoring me all night, I understand why you're mad but you should at least listen to what I have to say before you can make the decision to be mad at me or not," Anne-Marie made sure her voice was loud enough for Aubrey to hear even as they walked up the stairs.

"Why won't you talk to me Aubrey, why won't you listen to anything I say?"

Aubrey walked into her room and Anne-Marie walked in right behind her.

"There is nothing going on with Asher and I, you've got it all wrong!"

"Have I?" Aubrey turned to her immediately, coming to a stop right in the center of her room. "Have I?" She glared at her. "It didn't look like that yesterday, it didn't feel that way either-"

"Aubrey-"

"This isn't even about Asher, or me, this is about you!"

Anne-Marie raised her brow.

"Me?"

"Yes you." She exhaled. "You think I'm mad because Ash likes you? Because he chose you?" She shook her head. "I'm mad because you knew, you knew how he felt. You've always known and I bet you found me ridiculous drooling after him. You wanted me to hear it myself, to watch me get taunted by it. To remind me that you always win, and maybe you're right, maybe I am such a loser after all-"

"I didn't know."

"Liar,"

"What should I have done Aubrey?" Anne-Marie asked in a frustrated tone. "Asked you to stop having feelings for him because he likes me?"

"No," she said folding her hands beneath her breasts and curving her lips,

"Then what?" Anne-Marie asked her. "What would I have done?"

Aubrey looked away, she was having a hard time bringing herself to look at Anne-Marie, somehow what Anne-Marie was saying wasn't wrong either, Aubrey wasn't sure she would have wanted her to tell her about Asher's feelings for her or discourage her from it the way she did.

"I know I've not exactly been a good friend to you Bre, I know I've been a real bitch to you in the past but I'm not that same person anymore. I know it's hard to believe that right now but it's the truth. I only hid the truth about Asher's feelings because I didn't want you to get like this, I was scared of hurting you, of breaking your heart like this because I knew just how much you fantasized about being together with Ash and I didn't want to be that friend that would ruin your happy memories. I was wrong and selfish. Hiding the truth from you was not my decision to make but I need you to know that I don't feel the same way about Ash. For crying out loud in a couple of hours I'm going to be engaged to the prince and I don't even know how to process that yet."

Anne-Marie made sure to demonstrate with her hands where she could.

"Aubrey you're beautiful, you're brave and smart, anyone can see this and every guy would be lucky to go out with you, you're one of the most amazing people I've ever met and if Asher can't see it, if he can't see just how perfect you are, if he can't see how you're the better option, the best option, then he doesn't deserve you and I could care less about how he feels about me because you're one of the few people that matter to me, to this version of me."

Anne-Marie let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, more like a relief sigh. It was taking a lot from her pouring out her heart like that but she was relieved that she took all that off her chest finally, and she really meant it.

"You're my best friend Bre, and believe me when I say that I've never gotten the chance to ever use that term on anyone all my life. I didn't even know I could ever use that term but I am and you and Noa matter to me. I'd never give up our friendship for any reason especially not because of Asher Coleman, Ash is a big picture in Paris' life but you are in my life too. I love you Bre and I'm sorry that what I did hurt you a lot, I know I'm not the best best friend in the world but I'm going to try to be a better person and a better friend to you from now on. I just-" she drew a deep breath. "I don't want to ever fight with you anymore. I just want my best friend back."

That was a mouthful.
Anne-Marie couldn't remember the last time she was that honest to a friend in a long time, she couldn't even remember the last time she had a friend. She exhaled, staring at Aubrey, hoping she just said something even though she could see how glossy Aubrey's eyes were now.

"You really suck at giving speeches you know that?" Aubrey tried to hold back the tears in her eyes, "and it seems you've gotten even worse since after the accident," she chuckled

"I know," Anne-Marie chuckled too.

Aubrey sniffed and cleaned her eyes.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you before and said I wished you had died, you know I didn't mean that don't you?"

She nodded.

"It's okay,"

"No it's not okay, I should never have said that to you no matter what,"

"Bre, trust me, it's fine."

Aubrey pouted.

"Come here." She walked closer to Anne and gave her a big hug, "I'm so happy you're my best friend Paris, you mean the world to me too and I'd never trade you for anyone else."

Anne-Marie smiled. Finally, for some reason Aubrey's words spoke to her differently and brought a smile to her face and made her heart warm. She liked it, having friends, having friends like Aubrey. It was a temporary feeling but she liked it, she liked it a lot.

"I love you Pee,"

"I love you too"

╞═════𖠁𐂃𖠁═════╡

Perfection,

Every stroke on the Violin's strings, every note, every rhythm spoke perfection. Edelweiss, it was Asher's best song to play on the Violin and he played it with so much perfection, playing every musical instrument you could think of to perfection was his forte, his charm and he was excellent at it.

It was all he did, what he did when he had a lot to think about and that was all the time. The maids love to peep into the music room close to the hallway just so they could hear him all the time, they loved listening to him play and watching him even though his music could be heard from around the huge mansion but it was hard, it was hard being perfect at anything that moment thanks to the crashing sound from the room above him that kept distracting him. He tried to push it away, to play past the noise but it wasn't just about the noise, it wasn't just the noise that distracted him, it was everything. It was the thought of the cause of that noise, it was the disgust that came in after every crash and moan and laugh.

They were sure having a swell time as always.

Asher had had just about enough. He couldn't play anything anymore at that rate. Not with the way his head was racing and his blood was starting to boil. He stopped playing right in the middle of the song and lowered the violin from his shoulder, taking a deep breath right after and flickering his tongue on his lower lip. The crashing sounds got louder even as he stopped, the loud groans and laughter too and then the bed, the creaking sound of the bed as it moved back and forth echoed around the room, were they trying to bring down the roof? Why did they have to be so loud? Why did he always have to bring the loud ones? He could hear the feminine voice moan louder and louder, at that rate, everyone in the mansion could hear them, it wasn't like they were even trying to hide anything, no one dared interrupt or question what they did.

Asher got up slowly from the tiny chair, he had played enough anyway. He turned around and headed to the stairs just so he could drop his violin close to all his other musical instruments that were arranged properly around the room. The creaking sound had stopped for a while and so did the moaning and crashing and laughing.

Thank God.

"Ash!"

Asher turned slowly when he heard the tiny footsteps running towards him after the really small voice called his name. He knew exactly who it was. He let himself smile when he saw Jonathan run to him, still in his uniform. The ten year old had just got home from school, it was obvious.

Asher bent over as the little boy with the most sincere smile and cutest freckles around his nose ran to him, with a huge smile on his face while his nanny hurried right behind him as fast as she could with his backpack.

Jonathan Coleman, the forth son of the minister of war, also, Asher's younger brother. It was always like that everyday, Jonathan always looked forward to being reunited with Asher after school. He was always happy to see him. Everyone in the mansion knew how proud of him Jonathan was and how important Asher was to him, his favorite person in the world as he always said. Their relationship was adorable.

"You're home early!"

Asher gave him a pat on his head gently, nodding and smiling again.

"I got you something."

Jonathan gasped.

"Really?"

His excitement multiplied as he anxiously watched Asher reach for his backpack too. Asher pulled out a comic book from inside and handed it to Jonathan who reached for it with his jaw dropped and his eyes wide open.

"Newest edition, limited too."

"Woah,"

"I did a lot to get that, make sure you read all of it." Asher pouted.

"Are you kidding?!" Jonathan still had a glaring look of surprise in his eyes, "I'd master every line," he flipped over to the first page while Asher watched him with a proud smile on his face. He loved the expression on Jonathan's face whenever he got him gifts, it made him smile a lot.

He slowly raised his head to the older woman behind them who happened to be smiling a lot too. She bowed slightly when her eyes met his.

"Welcome home sir."

Asher widened his smile.

"Is mum home?"

The lady shook her head.

"Not yet sir, but she should be back soon."

Crash!

There they went again. The crashing sounds had started again and just like before, it happened to look like the moans had gotten really louder, the laughter too. Louder than it was a while ago. Asher let out a weak breath just as the woman did too after the second crash. Jonathan raised his head to the ceiling as the moans and groans got louder and the creaking sound of the bed got even louder. The smile on his face was starting to fade. Asher hurriedly placed his hands over Jonathan's ears to stop him from hearing anything else. Jonathan slowly lowered his gaze back to him. Asher was doing all he could to protect his innocence, he knew that. Not that it could stop Jonathan from listening to all that mess but it helped. Then the smile came, the smile that always came even when he was hurting.

"Nate," Asher let his smile widen, "should we go get some ice cream?"

Jonathan pursed his lips, he knew what Asher was trying to do, he knew and so he just played along, he smiled too.

"Yes." He nodded.

"Good," Asher got up quickly, "let's go get ice cream then." He grabbed on to Jonathan's hand and raised his gaze to the older woman.

"Take his things to his room please," he told her. "We'd be back soon."

The lady bowed as Asher walked out of the room holding on to Jonathan tightly as they ignored all that noise coming from upstairs. They headed straight to the front door just as it opened.

"Welcome home Ma'am."

Asher froze, raising his head to the car that had just drove into the large compound and stopped right in front of the house so the lady in it could get out from it.

"Welcome home Ma'am."

The butler greeted just as one of the maids hurried to help her grab her bag. She was so beautiful even with her little baby bump that didn't look so little if you saw her up close. At six months, she still looked so fragile too, all the changes in pregnancy seemed to be working in her favor with the way she glittered under the sun. She had the brightest and purest eyes and the freckles around her nose looked just like Jonathan's, her short brown hair was cut into a really nice bulb and her smile, her smile was everything.

Just like her sons, Laura Coleman barely ever frowned. Even when she was hurting, even when she was sad, all you could ever get from her was a sincere and wide smile, that was why everyone loved her, everyone including the workers.

An angel, that was how they ever described her when they were asked to.

"Mum!" Jonathan yelled from the door just as Laura turned to walk to it. She paused quickly and raised her head to where they were standing. Her cheeks became rosy immediately and her smile widened when she saw both her sons standing there, Jonathan waved at her and she raised her hand to wave at them right back but Asher just stood there, holding on tightly to Jonathan as his smile disappeared. Laura pursed her lips, feigning disappointment, why did he have to act so cool and grown up all the time? She held her breath as she noticed how Asher started to walk towards her, pulling Jonathan gently right behind him.

"Mum, you're home."
Jonathan said in excitement as they got closer to her.

"Oh my babies," she bent over to give his right cheek a soft squeeze. "You have no idea how happy I am when I see you both together like this."

Asher exhaled.

"You must be starving," she rubbed Jonathan's head. "I'm sorry mummy took so long, she had an appointment with the doctor at the hospital but Mummy's home, I'd get lunch ready in a minute okay?" She turned to leave when Asher grabbed her arm immediately, stopping her from taking another step in. Jonathan raised his head to look at him and so did Laura. Asher held his breath, he could feel his hand trembling on hers but he managed to hold it in, to breathe. He needed to if he was going to protect her.

"Asher,"

He raised his head to her immediately.

"How about we eat out today instead?" He said looking right into her eyes. He inhaled sharply and forced a smile on his lips, "all of a sudden, I'm in the mood for Italian,"

Laura chuckled softly,

"Italian?" She asked him. "Do you really want to eat that? Alright then, I'd just get out of these clothes and make something on the menu you'd like," Asher held his breath, she wasn't listening. He was trying to talk to her but she wasn't listening.  "What about your Dad? Is he home? He must be starving too," she took a step towards the door again but Asher grabbed her arm even tighter.

"Mum please!" He yelled at her immediately causing both her and everyone else around to shake a little bit. Asher wasn't exactly a yeller, he barely ever raised his voice at anyone so they were surprised. All the smile on his face was gone, he was red all over. How was he supposed to make her understand him? how was he supposed to make her understand he was doing it for her? He didn't want it, he didn't want her to be in that house at that moment.

"Ash," Jonathan whispered his name beneath his breath. He was shaking too. Asher needed a minute, he needed a minute to breathe again.

"Mum," his voice broke as he finally found the strength to raise his head back to her. "Listen to me please," he told her. "I don't want to eat home today, I want us to have lunch at the Italian restaurant close by," this time he made sure his words were slow, slow enough for her to listen, for her to understand.

Laura could feel his hands tremble on hers. She slowly turned her gaze back to the mansion as her eyes became glossy immediately and took a long look at it. She understood. She couldn't believe it took her that much time to understand what it was Asher was trying to say but she did. She scoffed softly and lowered her gaze to her protruding belly. She looked at it for a second and sniffed, she pursed her lips a little bit and turned back to Asher.

"Okay," she whispered to him. Asher let out a relief exhale. She understood clearly. She slowly stretched her hand towards Jonathan and smiled. "Come on baby," she said as Jonathan slid his tiny hand into hers. "Let's go get what your brother wants okay?"

Asher inhaled sharply and pulled his hand down her arm so he could hold her hand. He pulled them both back to the car just as the butler opened the back door. Jonathan got in first and Asher made sure Laura got in next, carefully before he hurried to the other door as the butler shut it, opened it and got in.

The engine started and the car drove off.