Without warning she fell at Harry's feet. She held onto his leg and yelled, "Oh, Harry!"
Harry looked at her, panicked. Had she gone berserk? He looked at the doorway into the house and wondered if anyone could see them. "Let go!" he hissed, trying to detach her from his leg.
Ash looked up at him, confused. "But I thought this is what you said you wanted?"
Harry stammered, "I did say that. But I didn't mean- What I meant was-"
"Oh. Harry I just can't help myself!" Ash held on tighter. "Will you marry me? My love. My darling!" She peppered his leg with kisses. The trousers felt scratchy on her lips.
Harry walked over to the bench, Ash and all, and tried to shake her off. "My father's going to come out any minute," Harry warned.
Ash giggled at the prospect. What else did she hear those William fanatics say? "You are the prince of my heart, the king of my world and the god of my idolatry," she declared passionately.
"Stop it!" Harry ordered. "Get off the floor."
Ash smiled. "Your wish is my command, my darling." She rose up to him. She grabbed his tie and pulled him close. "Did I ever tell you red hair and freckles turn me on in the biggest way?" She ran her hands up and down his chest.
Harry gulped. He leaned to far back in the bench and fell off.
Ash still pursued him.
He got to his feet. He used his forefingers and formed a cross. "Stay away from me!"
Ash walked torwards him. She tossed her hair back. "Don't try to fight it. You know it's bigger than the both of us."
"Urk!" a sound came from his throat. He backed up into a wall. He was cornered.
Ash noticed the sweat on his brow. It was too cute for words. She pressed against him. She breathed, "Who needs William, anyway?"
"HELP!" the word came out involuntarily.
Ash ran her hands through his hair. "Harry, don't you like me?"
Harry's chest was rising up and down. "I do. I mean-"
A man appeared at the door. "Your Highness, you called?"
Both Harry and Ash turned their heads toward the door.
Harry combed his hair and straightened his tie. "I'm fine." He squeaked. He coughed. "Frog in my throat."
"You called for help?" the guard said.
"Did I?" Harry asked.
Ash looked at the floor guiltily. What did the guard think they were doing?!
"Must've been a misunderstanding," Harry said.
The guard bowed and left.
Harry looked at Ashley with wide eyes. "Don't ever do that again!"
Ash looked at the guard who had rejoined the party inside. He was out of earshot. A smile played on her lips. "Be careful what you wish for."
Harry felt his heart beat rapidly. What just happened? He kept casting side-glances at Ash.
Ash sat next to him.
Harry moved away.
"I was playing with you, Harry," She laughed at the frightened look on his face. "Gosh, don't take everything I do so seriously!"
Harry managed a smile.

Chapter Seven
"Ash," Daphne called, as she walked out from the party. "I thought you left."
"No, I've been out here with Henry," Ash said.
Henry -- who's he? "Who?" Daphne questioned. Did Ash know of an influential millionaire's son that she wasn't aware of?
Ash looked pointedly at the boy next to her.
"Oh! Harry..." Daphne smirked at the name to show she was unimpressed.
Harry suddenly wanted to do a backflip into the bushes, never to be seen from again. Harry turned to Ash. Did she need him to leave? He would leave if she wanted him to. He'd do anything for her.
Familiar with Daphne's insensitive tongue, Ash approached her. "What is it, Daph?"
"Have you gone nuts?" Daphne looked over Ash's shoulder at the younger prince. He appeared to be watching fireflies and swatting them at random. What a geek! "Have you forgotten what you're supposed to do?" Daphne hissed.
"William." Ash blanched at the name. She looked back at Harry.
He flashed his grin at her. He caught a firefly in his hand and then opened it. It flew in her direction as if it were giving her a gift of light from him.
Ash laughed.
"Exactly, William. Why in the world are you wasting your acting talent on the younger brother?" Daphne sighed. She shook her head in disbelief. Why was it that the fans liked Ash more? It was her who followed all of Murray's little rules. It was her who put business before pleasure. It was her who knew what it took to become a star. Ash didn't.
Ash wanted to kick Daphne. She cast a glance at Harry hoping that he didn't hear. It didn't seem as if he did. "I like talking with him," Ash defended. She dared not say anything more. She didn't know how Harry felt about it, but from her perspective the conversations they shared were private. She didn't want any intruders coming in.
Prince Harry could read lips. (He can do sign language too. Ha! Bet ya didn't know that!) With his Mum as an advocate for Deaf awareness he learned it from her. He didn't hear what Daphne said but her lips formed the words quite clearly -- must come from the acting classes and having to enunciate properly -- Younger Brother... Too bad that Ash's back was turned to him. He didn't know what she was saying. Did she agree with her friend?
"Fine. Humor the little pipsqueak," Daphne tossed her head. "I'm going for bigger game." She went back into the room.
Ash turned around.
Harry fiddled with his thumbs and looked at the fireflies. They flew away as if they had grown annoyed and bored with him like Ash's friend clearly was.
"Daphne" Ash said as she were apologizing for a personal mistake. "What a gal." Ash sat down across the bench and waited for him to say something.
Harry moved away from Ash.
Why did he do that? Maybe he did overhear Daphne. Maybe he thought she was just like that. Ash frowned. Didn't they have a conversation just seconds ago confirming that she wasn't like that? Suuure. But that was then. What did Harry think of her now?
Harry stood up. He put his hands in his pockets and walked back and forth in front of the fountain a couple of times. He felt his palms sweat and wondered if William's palms ever got sweaty. Mr. Cool and Composed??? Never! the young prince decided. Unaware that he was striking a pose that could advertise men's cologne, Harry announced, "I want to kiss you."
Ash was shocked but didn't show it. After her throwing herself at him he wanted to kiss her?
Harry winced, hoping the darkness hid it. You're such a dork, Windsor, he cursed himself mentally. And you wonder why people like William and not you.
Was he going to say anything after that? Like "just kidding" or "fooled you". The words never came. Oh my, no. How was she supposed to respond to this?
Why wasn't she saying anything? Harry panicked. She's not saying anything because she doesn't like talking to you, doofus! his brain answered. "Um," he fumbled. "Tell me about yourself." Yowza! What do you think this is, Harry, my boy? A first date? Yes, yes, a thousand times yes! That does not make sense. Who cares? Stop talking to yourself. All right, I will. Shut up! No, you shut up! Harry felt his head spinning. He sat back down.
Ash answered the way she would've an interview. "Open any soap opera magazine. You'll see my press release."
"Yes, but it's not you!" Harry surprised himself with the passion in his voice. "It's the face you show to the public but it's not you," Harry saw something flicker in her eyes. She's wondering how I could know, he interpreted the look feeling secure again in her presence. I was born a Windsor, how could I not know? (No she's not thinking that! She's thinking you had this same conversation ten minutes ago! You're talking in circles you nutter!) Harry sat next to her. "Uh, have you ever been kissed?" It came out in a breathless rush.
It was on Ash's lips to say, "Of course." but something in her chose to say honestly, "If you call smushing your lips on someone else's with ten cameramen watching and a director going 'more heat! more heat!' a kiss," she paused. "Then yes I have."
Who was this guy? Whoever he is I am officially and insanely jealous of him! The same way my lips are jealous of my trousered knees. "If I kissed you, would I be your first?" Harry was inching closer to her though he wasn't aware of it. (The body does what the minds says :::wink:::).
"I guess you would be correct in saying that," Ash laughed lightly. Touching the blank area of her chest above the neckline. I want him to kiss me, she realized.
Harry felt himself get red. Mum says you never forget your first... He moved in. His neck straining. He lifted his hand to cup her chin. Her skin was soft and smooth.  His index finger rose to caress her cheek. It turned pink where he touched it. He closed his eyes. So close. So close...
Ash closed her eyes as well and waited, breathless. In her mind was the image of his tomato-colored ears.
Harry immediately swerved his head away and clasped his hands in front of him. "Sorry," he apologized.
Ash opened her eyes feeling ridiculous that her lips were pursed. Was he sorry for not going through with it? He damn better well be! "It's all right," Ash told him tapping his back as if he had a cough.
"Oh God," Harry dropped his head. The ground was swaying. The feel of Ash's fingers making small circles on his spine felt amazing. Don't stop! Please, don't stop... "It's just that I started wondering if I should kiss you open mouthed or closed mouthed. Tongue or no tongue. And once my tongue was in there what the heck is it supposed to do? A flip? A twist? I can tie a knot in a cherry stem, you know? Anyway, for how long? Where should my hands be..." His voice was rising.
Where your hand was was just fine, Ash thought. She silently encouraged the boy to breathe.
Harry leaned his head back and blinked. He fanned his hand against his neck. "Whew..." He undid his top button.
Ash waited for the color of his face to return to normal. If she could see his freckles again it was normal.
William wouldn't have done this, Harry thought. He would've kissed the girl. The girl would've liked it because no matter what William does: he's the king! -- going to be king, Harry amended. William's perfect. William's perfect. I'm not William. Harry pressed his fingers against his temples. He felt like crying again.
"Would you like to take a walk?" Ash suggested.