VII

                                    

                                          
"I really should be heading back," I told Dan as I tore my eyes away from the gardens beyond.  It seemed to go on forever, I could easily lose myself in the thick of the trees ahead. 
"Let's explore!" Dan suggested instead, he saw me hesitate and continued,  "how often do you get to be away from that lot? Let's make the most of it." 
                          
He saw me thinking about it and, before I could object, he grabbed my hand and pulled me further into the gardens.  
We passed overhung trees that took the sky away with their branches. Dan opened a little garden fence and we seemed to be in a whole new world entirely. We walked up to a small pond and I saw tadpoles swimming about in it. Their black tails struggling against the water.
                          
I had never seen this side of the world, the sights and freedom that came with no responsibilities. There was no one around to tell me not to look out into the pond or not to follow the servant boy I hardly knew around a place I'd never explored. 
Dan took my hand again and an indescribable feeling shot through my body. He flipped my hand over and put a rock into my palm. I looked at him in confusion.
"Let me show you how it's done," he said as he picked up his own rock and skimmed it across the surface of the pond. "Now you."
                          
I looked at my own rock and then tried to follow Dans actions. Unsurprisingly,  the rock plopped straight under water. Dan began to laugh. 
"It's not funny," I grumbled. He ignored my sour attitude and passed me another rock. He guided my hand and this time when I let go of the rock it skimmed perfectly across the water. We smiled at each other in triumph.

"I like it here," Dan told me.
"You come here often?" 
"No, not as often as I'd like." He looked into the water and I could sense there was a story behind his sentence but not one he wished to tell me nor one I wished to get out of him. I was taught never to pry on business that is not your own.  "Come on princy, let's explore some more." Dan led me away but abruptly stopped after a short while. 
                          
"Chrisss!" Dan outburst when he saw what looked to be his friend making out with another caterer. 
"Oops sorry Dan. Didn't see you there," I could hardly see the man who spoke but I heard the smile in his voice. 
"Of course you wouldn't. You were too busy devouring..."
"PJ," the second guy spoke and walked forward to shake Dan's hand. Dan took it but even the back of his head appeared unimpressed. Maybe he's used to his friends behaviour and this isn't the first guy he's been introduced to.
"Well it's nice to meet you." 
                          
As Dan spoke I shuffled forward, feeling a little awkward and like I was prying from the foliage I was standing behind. 
"Dan! Alert. Alert. Prince behind you and we're supposed to be working!" Chris outburst,  his face going suddenly very pale. 
"It's fine. He's chill," Dan told him and slapped me on the back. "Aren't you buddy?" 
                          
I wasn't going to reply. I was going to walk away from this whole situation and get back to where I was supposed to be but Dan was looking at me expectantly and I knew I couldn't leave.
"Yeah. Yeah I suppose," I finally said. Chris 's eyes went wide. 
"Wow!" He bowed. Not in the subtle way but he made a massive show about it. He flung his hand around himself and got so far down on the ground I thought he miss kiss my feet. "It's so nice to meet you kind prince."
"Chris knock it off!" Dan laughed and pulled Chris up to his feet. 
"It is nice to meet you," I told him politely. "Are you a friend of his then?"
"Yeah. I'm the only person that can actually put up with him." Chris laughed whilst Dan shot him a look.
"Oi!" He shoved Chris who nearly toppled over. PJ  put a hand on his shoulder to steady him. 
"Sorry not sorry Daniel," he laughed again. I liked his laugh, he was a very cheery character. He turned to me.  "Are you his friend Prince Philip? " 
"Just Philip," I replied. I saw him waiting for an answer but truth was I didn't know what Dan was to me and I didn't want to figure that out just yet. The air outside suddenly felt cold, I fidgeted and looked away. "I should really be getting back"
"Please stay for a bit," Dan begged. 
"Um... I'm sorry Dan. I'm very busy tonight," I told him. It was a risk to even come out here in the first place and if I was out any longer people would surely come to find me. 
"Oh okay," Dan's smile seemed to falter but he managed to keep up his happy act. "It's no worries man. You do what you gotta do."
I smiled at Dan and then turned to his friends.
"It was nice to meet you both." 
                          
I think they said something back, but I was already walking away from them.