"Please don't be dead! Please don't be dead!"
The whispers from beside me made my eyes flutter open. The bright lights of the room hit my eyes causing them to squint and put my hand over them. I looked to my right side and saw Mary sitting with her hands intertwined as if she was praying.
"W-where am I?" I asked hoarsely. Mary gasped and hugged me as tightly as possible. Her grip made it harder to breath. "Y-you're k-killing me!" She backed away and took my hand in hers. I looked to my left and saw Aiden sitting with his left leg over his right and staring at me with his head tilted. I jumped back a bit and bit my lip nervously.
"S-sorry for the trouble, your highness..." I said quietly. He scoffed, as usual, and stood up. He made his way out the door and slammed it behind him, scaring Mary and I. I sighed with guilt and looked at Mary who gave me a reassuring smile.
"Do you remember anything from last night?"
I opened my mouth to say something but closed it immediately as the memories flushed in. Oh God! I had puked on him, called him words, and yelled at him. I face palmed myself and closed my eyes in exasperation. I am an idiot. A big idiot. Why did I ever drink that beer?
I looked around and sighed again. I was back in the dorm, just back to square one. I felt so bad for doing that Aiden, even though he's done worse to me. It was just my personality, I guess. To just pay it forward like I always do. It was something my mother said to me as well, "If you can't pay it back, just pay it forward." I always lived by her words because they were so inspiring.
"Tomorrow is going to busy," Mary-Jane said as she looked up at the ceiling and groaned. I sat up and stretched.
"Why?" I asked curiously.
"The auction Iris. How can you forget?" she said with wide eyes. I nodded slowly and smiled. She stood up and spun around dramatically. "The most handsome princes' from around the world come together in this magical palace-"
"It's not magical. It's hell!"
"Let me finish Iris!" She said as she glared at me. I put my hands up in surrender and gestured for her to continue.
"Anyways. The most amazing men, and the kindest as well, will be bid by beautiful ladies, or men, and get to spend a day with them, doing whatever they pleased! Isn't it just amazing?" she asked dropping on my bed and looking up in dreamy thoughts. I scoffed and crossed my arms. If I spend one more day with Aiden I will throw up again.
"Whatever! I'm going back to sleep," I said. I laid down and pulled the sheet over myself. As random thoughts swarmed my head, I couldn't help but think about Aiden up on stage being bid over my other girls. My heart started to beat fast out of nowhere. What was wrong with me? I slapped myself lightly on the cheeks several times to calm myself down.
Let's just wait for tomorrow and see what happens!
__
I stood on the very tip of your feet, my legs quivering with the stress I was placing on my toes.
Lifting my arms, I found that I still couldn't quite reach the uppermost shelf with my cleaning equipment. The library was so dusty and disgusting. I don't know why we have to clean this place if nobody isn't going to be in here.
Maybe if I climbed onto the shelves...
"What are you doing maid?!"
Startled by the sudden question, I yelp and nearly leapt out of my skin. The oak chair underneath me wobbles as I jolt in surprise, and I instinctively leap back into the arms of whoever. My eyes were shut tight as I clutched onto the person's clothes. I peeked open my eye and looked up to see Jonathan staring down at me with admiration. I turned my head slightly and saw Aiden standing right behind us with a book in his hand. Why did he look so calm? Why does my heart want him to say something or defend me? Why is he just standing there?
I jumped out off Jonathan's grip and brushed the invisible dust off of my clothes. I saw Aiden's body tense up for a tiny second, but then he scoffed. I mentally rolled my eyes at his scoffing. He turned around and left the library with one swift move. Jonathan was deep in thought as he chuckled and waved goodbye to me.
Once they both left the room, I huffed and sat down on the chair. What just happened? I wanted that to be Aiden, but at the same time, I don't. He was intoxicating, but also, well, intoxicating. I have no other words to describe. Why didn't he say something to Jonathan? I put my head in my hands and closed my eyes for a brief second.
Was I...
... in love?
---
"Yes, you are!"
"No, I'm not!"
"Yes you are, and I will make sure that you go!" Mary exclaimed as she followed me everywhere I went. Honestly, I love Mary, but sometimes I want to strangle her to death.
"No! I don't want to go. I just want to sit and cry in this dorm." I told Mary about how I felt about Aiden and using her "knowledge of men", she confirmed that I was definitely in love with him. After hearing that, I felt like staying in the dorm and contemplating my life. Dramatic? I know.
"Well, what if a really pretty girl bids on him?" Mary came close to my face and smirked. "She gets to spend a day with him. One, whole day." She put up her index finger all in my face and I swat it away.
"What am I going to wear, huh? Skinny jeans?" I said hugging a pillow and looking down.
"How about that dress with blue leaves and stuff?" she said after a while. I furrowed my eyebrows and put my pillow to the side. I got up and walked towards the closet that Mary and I shared. I slid it open and coughed because of the dust. Ever since we got a new closet, we stopped using this one and put all of our clothes and dresses in this one. I dusted off the cobwebs with my hand and pulled out a black box from the far.
"This one?" I asked cleaning the top of the box and lifting it open. The dress still looked brand new and clean. I never wore it before because I was it reminded me of my mother every time I looked at it. I clenched my jaw as tears developed in my eyes. Mary-Jane noticed and shut the box back. I shook my head slowly and opened it back and took the dress out gently. It was nude and blue colored with floral embroidered patterns. A beautiful tulle sleeve ball gown that my mother had personally made for herself and then passed it down to me.
"Uh, you should get ready." Mary-Jane left the room as I stared down at the dress. Should I wear this? Maybe I have more dresses. But, if I wore this, it would feel like my mom is with me whenever I take a step.
"Let's do this!"
---
"WELCOME! Ladies and Gentlemen, to the 57th Annual Royal Auction! I hope everyone brought their green paper because we are about to make history," Mr. Grown, the MC of the auction spoke. I heard his loud voice till my dorm room. The auction was being held in the grand living room, where you can fit about five hundred people. The servant dorms were really close to the gigantic room. I looked at myself in the mirror and nodded my head with courage.
My hair was made back in a braided chignon, a hairstyle I learned from my mother. A few loose strands swaying whenever I turned my head. For the face, I went with the basic natural look. My lips painted dark peach and shimmering in the light. I think I looked, amazing. I picked up the earrings I wore to the masquerade ball and put them on carefully. It was time to go as I heard the claps coming from the living room.
I stood up and opened the door. I took a deep breath and prayed that everything would go smoothly. Last time I made quite an appearance, so this time I made sure to hide in a crowd of people entering. Once I was in, I sighed in relief and looked around. The place was decorated very nicely. They were about fifty circle tables with five chairs for each royal person to sit on. They were categorized with each royal family's name on them. A gigantic chandelier hung from the top of the room, glowing over everybody. I made my way to where the food was because I hadn't eaten anything since morning, and pretty boys didn't matter to me more than food did.
Everyone was taking their seats, but that didn't matter to me more than the deviled eggs that were placed on the silver platter. They looked so good and delicious. I was about to pick one up and eat it when I heard someone tapping on their and clearing their throat. I looked behind me and saw all eyes on me. I placed the deviled egg and turned red from embarrassment.
"Miss, uh, whatever your name is. Please take a seat so we can begin!" The MC said with a demanding tone. I looked around, trying to look for a seat like they do on the first day of school. I saw a waving hand, it was Jonathan's. He gestured me to come and sit with him, Olivia who was burning holes in my face, some other girl, and of course Aiden.
"You look amazing," Jonathan whispered in my ear as I took a seat. I smiled and said a quick 'thank you'. I looked at Aiden as my heartbeat started to race again. He was looking ahead at the stage where the bidding was going to be held. He looked calm, but deep in thought, since his eyebrows were slightly furrowed. He looked handsome. He had a clean and neat tuxedo on with a black bow tie. On his right sat a girl, who was wearing a skintight red dress that exposed half of her body. On his right sat Olivia and Jonathan's mother Grace, and to her right sat Aunt Rosie, me, Jonathan, and lastly Olivia.
I couldn't stop staring at Aiden, what was wrong with me? I feel so confused about everything. He noticed me and moved his eyes only to look at me. My eyebrows went up in shock as I looked towards the stage. I moved eyes back and saw a small smile on his face as he stared ahead. Did I make him smile? Or did the MC says something funny? He doesn't have a sense of humor, does he?
"Can the Royal Princes' please make their way to the stage?"
Aiden and Jonathan both sighed in exasperation as they stood up and walked towards the stage. I notice the way Aiden walked. It was so perfect, like a model or something. Like he was walking on a straight white line.
"Let the bidding begin!"
I hated auctions. One, because they were boring, and two, because women would just waste money on men. I mean who bids on humans? What happened to bidding on vases and antiques? I know that the money goes to charity, or at least that's what they say.
"So, how does it feel like stealing my boyfriend, friend?"
I looked to my side and saw Olivia sitting next to me and glaring at me like she did the whole time. I mentally rolled my eyes and circled the straw that was in the glass. Olivia crossed her arms and scoffed. I turned my head towards her lazily and chuckled.
"It's fake."
"What?"
I sighed.
"Our marriage, it isn't real."
She looked shocked. In a good way. Olivia smiled and straightened herself as she chugged down a glass of water.
"I know. I was just testing you. You better not have feelings for him!" she said with a threatening tone as she pointed her index fingers at me.
"Sure."
Why was I in a bad mood? Was I sad that Aiden was going to be bid away to some other girl or boy? Was I bad because Olivia still loves him, even though he's sick of her? Some many questions, but no answers. I watched as Jonathan was walking hand in hand with some girl who he was sold too.
I stopped.
I looked towards the stage and saw that it was Aiden's turn. I looked around and saw every woman in the room getting their money ready. I looked at Olivia who was also in position. My eyes trailed towards the red dress girl, who's name is Kite, by the way. Weird name, I know. She's a princess from God knows which country. She looked so calm and conniving. Why did she get to sit beside Aiden, and not me? His 'wife'.
"Let's start with hundred!" The MC stated cheerfully. Aiden looked like he wanted to kill himself if he stood on that stage a little longer. I gazed at him and noticed how pissed off he looked. He looked around the crowd as women bid on him. His eyes stopped searching as they landed on me. I gulped nervously as he kept staring and staring. What did he want? Did he want me to bet on him? I don't even have a dollar on me.
"Five thousand!"
"Six thousand!"
"Nine thousand!"
The numbers kept on coming, like bullets from a gun. Except they went in my heart because I knew if he was sold off to somebody else, they would get to spend a whole planned out day with him.
"Eleven thousand!"
Everyone gasped and moved their heads at Kite. She spoke out of nowhere, with a British accent. I gulped over and over as I looked between her and Aiden. They were both smirking at each other. I scoffed silently because I could sense the chemistry between them. Why am I so jealous?
"Fifteen thousand!" Olivia exclaimed. By now it was a competition between Olivia and Kite. Aunt Rosie pulled out a bag of potato chips as she watched the drama go down. Aiden rolled his eyes and checked his watch to see how long this was going to happen. The numbers increased and increased, just like the concern within me. I don't want them to have Aiden! I need to do something quick. I looked back at Aiden and saw him whispering something to the MC. He walked down the stage and straight towards our table with piercing eyes.
Is he coming towards me? I was not prepared for this moment. I closed my eyes and smiled.
"Come with me!"
Reality knocked on my door as I opened my eyes and saw Aiden walking away hand in hand with, Kite. Anger fumed inside of me as I watched both of them exit the room. Olivia started to whine and complain as everybody else just went back to finishing the auction. I needed something to eat so I could push down the ball of tears that developed in my throat. I stood up and walked towards where the deviled eggs were. I picked up three and shoved them in my mouth. People nearby watched me as tears streamed down my cheeks as I ate deviled egg after deviled egg.
It was too hot in the room, it felt suffocating. I grabbed the silver platter and pushed open the doors to the living room and walked down the hallway as I ate. I was right. Food is so much better than pretty boys. I mean, not only is it there for you when you're hungry but also when you are sad and lonely. I noticed an open balcony and dragged my feet towards it to get some fresh air.
I looked around the backyard of the palace and took a deep breath in. The air was so nice and calming. I closed my eyes to hear the sounds of crickets and other insects. Then I heard someone arguing quite loud. I leaned over and saw Aiden and Kite standing and well, yelling. I immediately felt jealousy taking over me. What was wrong with me? Obviously, Aiden didn't care about me or anything in general. Yet I wish that it was me instead of her. I sighed and sat down on the ground, shoving the last deviled egg in my mouth.
"Just because he's not looking for me, doesn't mean I would stop," I whispered to myself. I stared at the two as they continued their heated fight. What could they be possibly fighting about? I attached myself closer to the metal and listened to their conversation. The balcony wasn't far from their position, so I could make a few words here and there.
"You know honestly! I'm just a rebound for your stupid emotions-"
"Kite that isn't true!" Aiden said, quite loud. I heard Kite let out a loud groan and stomp her foot on the ground.
"You love her, don't you? That is why you were too afraid to ask her to come with you. Aiden, I know since we were young. I saw the way you kept looking at her today-"
"Kite-"
"- No Aiden! I saw you going to her dorm room from time to time. You were nervous whenever you looked back. Why can't you just admit it? Just admit that you like her!" Kite exclaimed out loud. Aiden looked angry and tired of Kite as she continued on and on. I rested my head and sighed.
"So does he like me?" I muttered to myself. I stood up and picked up the silver platter that now only held pieces of the eggs. I frowned to myself and looked back one last time. Kite was sitting all alone now, but where is Aiden? I searched for him but I couldn't see him anywhere. He must've left from her false accusations. Kite eventually left the area, so that means he did too. I turned around sadly and bumped into something - actually someone - hard. I opened my eyes and saw Aiden staring at me with an intense. I gulped hard as my hands started to shake causing the plate to fall.
"A-Aiden? Uh, what's...up?" I said awkwardly as I looked somewhere else. He scoffed as usual and pushed me to the side. He leaned against the railing, with his elbows on the metal and his hands intertwined. Should I console him, or should I leave? I took in a deep breath and stood beside him.
"Did you hear?" he asked suddenly. Shit, play dumb Iris. Play dumb.
"What do you mean?" I said with a nervous laugh. "I was too busy eating food and enjoying the air-"
"So you heard."
"Yeah I did," I said shamefully. "- but I couldn't really hear every word. Just a few."
Aiden sighed and turned his head towards me and smiled. A real smile. Not those stupid smirks, or scoffs, but a real one with affection. The crinkles beside his eyes made me smile a little. It's like his entire face changes when he smiles. My entire world changes. I blinked a few times and looked straight instead of in his eyes. My heart was racing like a race horse. It was louder than the silence between us.
"I, uh, I need t-to clean the w-walls?" I said unsurely. As I turned around, Aiden quickly stood in front of me. Oh my god, what is happening? I held my breath as I stared into his eyes. He looked so beautiful in the darkness. He took tiny steps as I took tiny ones back until my back hit the metal railing. He was stare trailed from my eyes to my lips and then back at my eyes.
"I need to tell you something Iris," he whispered. I nodded slowly for him to continue, but instead he leaned in slowly. I closed my eyes as my heart beat grew faster and faster. Is this how I wanted it? Was this it?
It was finally time.
----
OMG!
thoughts?
sorry i havent updated because school and essays and everthing else....
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& i'll see you in the next chapter :)