First: Chapters 8-10

Chapter Eight.
Jen clung onto Josh as they made their way to the soccer field. The rest of the team was already there. Jen hesitated. After what they did, did she want to see them again?
"We don't want to do this if you don't want to," Josh told her.
"No, I want to," Jen said forcefully, picking up her pace again. She didn't want to see the boys again. But she did want to bring Prince Wills down on his knees!
"Hi everyone," Josh greeted. "I trust everyone knows Jen."
"Hi, Jen." "Hello, Jen." "Good afternoon, Jen."
Jen nodded, looking them in the eye acknowledging every greeting. And as she did so it there was an unspoken apology in each boy's eyes for the embarrassment they caused her. And she, in kind, conveyed that what had happened no longer had consequence. Jen's eyes lingered on the last boy. "Hello, William." she greeted coolly.
He met her gaze. "Hello." He turned and went back to transferring the ball from knee to knee. He wondered if he was impressing her.
Jen kissed Josh on the cheek. "I'll be up there watching." she motioned to the section of the bleachers where the rest of the girls were seated.
She sat above the group.
"Did you see the way His Royal Highness looked at you?" a girl asked.
"Yeah," Jen said. "It looked as if he was saying: Drop dead."
"You know I heard he's been after this mystery girl. George, my boyfriend told me. But none of the guys know who she is. Did Josh tell you? He is Wills ' roommate afterall."
"Wills telling Josh about a mystery girl?" Jen murmured. "No, he hasn't mentioned anything."
"Well, whoever she is so lucky. Any of us here would dump our boyfriend in a second plus give our right arms if it would get Wills to fall for us."
"Will you guys shut up about this mystery girl. I'm the one Wills invited to watch him play this afternoon. And I'm the one he's taking to the big dance here next Friday."
Can you say snob to the maximum level, Jen asked as she looked at the girl bragging.
The girls watched as the boys kicked the ball around the field. It had been interesting at first but you can only gush about how good they looked in shorts for so long. Jen thought about taking her notebook out of her backpack and writing some poetry but what can she write? She wasn't exactly in a poetic setting. Wills has a crush on me. Give him a dose of jealousy, she thought as she walked onto the field.
"Josh, teach me how to play," Jen looked in William's direction.
"Oh," Josh said in full understanding. "Well. Um. Here kick the ball." Josh placed in front of her.
Jen looked at the black and white round thing on the green grass. Make a fool of yourself. That will make Wills jealous. She kicked it and it made a pathetic semicircle back to her.
The boys cast a side glance at Jen and resumed their practice. Every once in a while one of them would look back at her direction. The girls on the bleachers were shaking their heads as if she were making a big mistake.
"You're kicking too soon," Josh said spotting the problem. He placed the ball on the ground again. "Try kicking it a semi-second sooner so you'll be picking it up with your toes instead of going over it with your heel."
A semi-second sooner, Jen nodded. She did likewise and the ball shot forward in a straight line. It wasn't forceful or anything but it was a straight line!
A few of the boys applauded her.
Jen was tempted to look and see if one of them was Wills but retrained herself. That would be too obvious.
"Now we're going to work on the strength of your kick. It's all in the hips," he placed his hands there.
"If this wasn't for a good cause I'd belt you for making that move," Jen hissed.
"If it wasn't for that good cause I wouldn't have done that move," Josh whispered.
Jen giggled. "Is he looking? Is he looking?"
"I can't really see."
Both of them twisted their bodies but couldn't twist that far.
A ball whizzed past them and into the goal net.
The goalie doubled over as he caught the ball. "Not so hard next time Prince!" he groaned.
Josh and Jen exchanged a look. They both nodded in satisfaction. Wills had noticed.

The coach had shown up and he was reviewing the plays with the boys.
Jen stood at the sidelines and practiced with the ball. "Pick it up with your toes..." she muttered Josh's tip. She took a running start and kicked the ball. She was shocked as it made a strong arc to its destination.
Her eyes grew wide when she saw where it was heading. She hadn't paid much attention to the ball's direction before since it barely got a feet away from her. Now she was filled with horror as it headed toward the boys. Most specifically Wills ! Thank goodness his back was turned.
Wills was only half paying attention to what the coach was saying. His thought was filled with Jen and the way she was flirting with Josh earlier. What was she doing in the back of them? He turned around.
The ball crashed in his face.
"William!" Jen screamed.
He fell backwards from the strength of the blow.
Everyone clamored to him.
"William, are you all right?" the girls asked.
"Give him air," the coach ordered.
"What did I do?" Jen cried making her way through the crowd.
"You just broke the royal nose!" Josh told her.
"Ugh!" she expressed as she saw the bruise. She went to the cooler and got some ice. She wrapped them in a towel she found on the bench and shoved it on William's nose.
"Okay, girls disperse. Boys get back to work. Jen stay with Wills till his father comes." the coach ordered.
"M-me?"
"Coach, I can still play," Wills protested.
"No buts Your Highness. Eton doesn't want a royal lawsuit on its hands." he placed them on the bench.
Jen sat next to William. "It's all your fault you know," she said to fill in the unnerving silence.
Wills took off the makeshift ice-pack. He raised an eyebrow. "My fault?"
"Yeah," Jen said, playing with her nails, not looking at him. "Your face was in the ball's way."
"Who kicked the ball!" Wills demanded. He felt the bruise swelling on his face. He was tempted to pull away when Jen reached over to touch the bump curiously but held his ground. It was going to hurt but it was probably the only time Jen would ever touch him. "Ah," he winced.
"Sorry," Jen said, retracting her arm.
"The photographer's are going to love this." he moaned placing the ice-pack back.
"You said you didn't like being a teen heartthrob. Now's your chance to get rid of your reputation."
"Oh yeah. The bump's really tough-looking. I can dye my hair blue to finish off the effect. No, better yet, shave it off. Get a couple of tattoos and get one of those nose rings. My family's going to have a fit. But I'll be happy because all those screaming girls will stop flocking around me. Are you laughing at me?"
Jen tried to control herself. "It's just that you with a shaved head and nose ring-"
"Does not fit the prince image," Wills finished for her.
"Well, Josh doesn't look like the poetic type so I guess you can't really go by on looks," Jen said. She gave him an opening. Here's your chance William. Tell me it's you who sent all those notes. Now, before you increase your jerk-factor.
Wills stood up. "My ride's here." he gestured to the car pulling up. "Can we drop you off some place?"
Jen shook her head. "No, I'll just stay and watch Josh."
William handed the ice-pack, which was now just a wet towel since the ice melted, back to her. His hand was cold and wet. "Thanks for-um. Thanks."
"Anytime you need someone to bust your face call me. I'll be available." Jen told him.
Harry's voice echoed in his mind. Just tell the girl you like her! he licked his dry lips. "Jen?"
Jen looked at him expectantly. "Yes?"
William took a deep breath. "Stick to writing. Soccer's not for you."

Chapter Nine
They were in the McDonald's trying to study for tomorrow's exams. George sat upright from his lounging position. "Guys look who's coming."
The boys' heads snapped to attention at the picture window.
"Here comes Jen."
"And there goes Wills ' hope of concentration."
"As if he can concentrate when she's not around? Look at him at the corner moping."
Jen stepped into the door.
"Hi, Jen." "Good-evening, Jen." "How're you doing, Jen?"
"Hi, boys," Jen flashed them a smile. She passed by Wills , who didn't look up, and shrugged. She approached the counter.
Josh looked at her. A pained expression on his face. "Our date!" he moaned. "I completely forgot."
"What's wrong?"
"The guy who's supposed to close up didn't come in today so I have to do it."
"I'll wait. I can stay up till that time. Then we can review your notes at my house."
"Thanks. Really appreciate it."
"No prob," Jen stole a glance at William. "Kiss." she told Josh, who understood.
"See ya babe," Josh kissed her on the lips.
"Call me babe again and I'll deck you," Jen threatened before walking away. She took the seat in front of William.
Wills looked up at her.
"What?" she asked. "Don't tell me this is your chair. You made in clear on our first meeting that the chair you sitting in now is."
Wills returned to reading his book.
"Oh, poor baby," Jen said when she took note of his bandaged nose. "So what are you guys doing here? It's not a Thursday."
"Exams tomorrow. Dorm's pretty noisy so we're seeking refuge here." Wills said without looking up. If he looked at her he wouldn't be able to help himself and feared he might kiss her.
Jen looked at the cover. "Poetry in the English Volume V," she read. "What are you studying? Maybe I can help. I'm going to help Josh after he's through with his shift."
On the otherside of the room the guys were mumbling. "If x=y and y=z; then y=z by what property?"
"I don't know!"
Jen understood. Trying to cram information in your brain less than twenty four hours before a test left a person virtually brain dead.
"C'mon guys," said Seth who seemed to be the tutor of the group. "Trans-" he hinted.
"Trans-action?"
"Trans-fusion?"
"Trans-portation?"
"Transitive property," Jen took pity and supplied them with the answer.
Seth shot her a grateful look. Glad someone knew pre-calculus.
Jen turned her attention back to Wills . "So need my help?"
Wills minds took a step back. She knew calculus! "Oh, about English? We just have to have this oral presentation in class. Memorize a poem and deliver it in front of the teacher tomorrow." He shook his head. "I don't really need any help."
Male pride! Jen cursed. "Prove it."
"What?"
"Woo me with words. Make me swoon."
Wills sighed. He kept his eyes focused on the book. "Look to me only with thine eyes. And I shall pledge with mine-"
"How can you do that when you're staring at a book?" She thumbed William's face up so it he could look at her. "And stop mumbling. It's poetry. Let the words flow from your soul. And is this a love poem? Ben Jonson's Song To Celia? It's a love poem. So, darn it, look at me like you're in love!"
Look to her like he's in love. Wills nodded. He could do that. He began to recite.

"Look to me only with thine eyes,
and I will pledge with mine;
Or leave a kiss but in the cup,
And I'll not look for wine.
The thirst that from the soul doth rise
Doth ask a drink devine;
But might I of Jove's nectar sup,
I would not change for thine"

(At this moment Jen closed her eyes to savor the tones of his British voice)

"I sent thee late a rosy wreath
not so much honoring thee
As giving it a hope that there
It could not withered be
But thou thereon didst only breathe,
And sentest it back to me;
Since when it grows and smells, I swear,
Not of itself but of thee..."

Jen didn't realize when William's hand touched her. But it was now holding her hand tightly.
Wills looked at her. Tell her now! a voice urged. "I-I-"
Josh's hand came on her shoulder which shocked Jen and caused her to look up.
"Great. You've bored my girlfriend to death she's fallen asleep." he joked.
Jen cast a side look at William. "I was just helping Wills with his English."
"Mm-hmm," Wills nodded.
Josh arched an eyebrow. "How much helping?"
"Are you off now?"
"Yeah, the guy arrived," Josh gestured to the counter.
"Well, we better go to my house and start studying," Jen suggested.
"You're starting to fancy him," Josh informed once they were outside.
"Fancy? Me? For Mr. I-Own-The-Throne?"
"Why were you closing your eyes for."
"I like doing that. So what poem are you going to recite?"
"Shakespeare," Josh groaned.
Jen laughed. "Why all these love poems?"
"Well, our English teacher is a girl. she goes for this kind of stuff," he began to recite:

When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes
I all alone beweep my out cast state,
and trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
and look upon my self and curse my fate,
Wishing me like one more rich in hope,
Wishing me like him, like him, with friends possessed,
Desiring this man's art or that man's scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least...
Yet in theses thoughts myself almost despising,
Happily I think on thee, and then my state,
(Like the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth) sings hymns at Heaven's gate;
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings,
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

"You purposely picked that poem to goad Wills with that line, didn't you?" Jen giggled. "Scorn to change my state with kings."
Josh nodded.
Jen threw her arms around his neck. "You are my perfect partner in crime," she declared, kissing him on the lips.
Josh pulled away puzzled. "What was that for?"
Wasn't it obvious? She gestured back inside the McDonald's. "William's watching."

Chapter Ten
Wills looked at the phone. He was going to call her. But what was he going to say? "Jen, you probably don't remember me but I'm Wills -" he shook his head. No. How about- "Hey, Jen, what's up?" Too dorky. "Remember that poem you helped me deliver? I got an A in the oral presentation-" too long winded.
Harry knocked on the doorframe. "And there goes Wills talking to himself again," he announced. "Are you still staring at the phone? Just call her up, will you?"
"I don't know what to say," Wills mumbled.
"What's there to say? Hi. It's Wills . I'm nuts about you. See? Simple," Harry said.
"It's not that simple."
Harry grabbed the phone out of William's hand and started dialing.
"What are you doing?!"
"I'm calling her bro. What does it look like I'm doing?"
"Give me that!" Wills shouted lunging for the phone.
Harry ran away, Wills chasing him. "Hi, is Jen Connors there?" he ducked William's punch and crashed into a chair. "Hi, Jen. This is Henry Windsor. I'm just calling to say my brother is totally in love with you and-"
Wills wrestled the phone away. "Hello, Jen?" His brother laughed at him, going to the other room.
"Hi. Wills ? Who was that?"
"That was just Harry. The pest. He was just messing around."
"Messing around? He just said you were in love with me."
Wills gulped. "Well, he says stupid things like that."
"Stupid?"
Wills did not like the way the conversation was going. "So, I'm going to a fitting this afternoon."
"Fitting?" Jen parroted.
Wills felt like an idiot. It had been the first thing that popped into his head. "Yeah, I need to fit a suit for a this dance at Eton. Will you come? I need a woman's touch."
A woman's touch? Wills was that the best you can do? Jen thought. "I'll come."
"Yes! I mean, thank you. I'll pick you up at after lunch."
"No problem," She smiled to herself. "I need to pick out a tie for Josh anyway."

"Tell me again why I'm here," Jen said looking at a display of ties in the high-class men's store.
"I think the question is why am I here?" Josh said, rummaging through the ties with her. "It's obvious he wanted to be alone with you."
"Alone?" Jen looked at the several tailors measuring and adjusting the suit on William.
"You know what I mean. He probably wanted to impress you with his credit card power. What excuse did he give you so you would come?"
"He needs a woman's touch," she laughed. She took out a blue tie from the rack and checked the price. Her eyes bulged. "Here try this one," she told Josh.
"Why?'
"For fun." She placed it on his neck. "Let me see if I can do this," she muttered attempting to tie the knot.
"Do you know how to tie a knot."
"I've seen Julia Roberts do this in Pretty Woman." Jen said. "And I just insert this piece here..."
Josh smiled. "He's looking..." he singsonged.
Who? Oh, William. Was he? She looked at the prince.
Wills smiled.
Jen smiled back. He had such nice eyes. She raised the knot.
Josh began tugging insistently on her hand. "Too tight! Too tight!" he gasped. His face was all puckered.
Uh-oh. Jen waved her hands frantically. "Don't panic. Don't panic," she told herself. She jumped up and down, panicking. "Calm down. Okay, I think I should just tug here."
"Ulp!" Josh said as the loop around his neck became smaller.
Jen watched as his face turned blue. "Eeeee," she wailed. She ran up to the one of the tailors and stole a pair of scissors and presented it to Josh triumphantly. "We'll cut it!"
Josh looked at her. "We're not all rich like Princey over there! What do you mean we just cut it?"
Jen dumped the scissors on the counter. She ran her hands through her hair. "Fine. Get strangled by a piece of clothing!"
Josh's face was now purple.
Wills came over and undid the knot.
"Thanks mate," Josh wheezed. He took it off and looked at it if it were a snake.
"Yeah, Wills thank you." and she knew she was going to regret these words." Thank you for saving my boyfriend."
Wills knew he was going to regret these words. "No problem."

Wills bought the tie. The tailors all approved that it went well with the suit he had just fitted but that wasn't the reason why he bought it. The reason was that Jen touched it. That made it special.
The first thing that Jen noticed when she went into the limo full of girls and guys headed for the Eton dance was William's tie. What was he trying to say? she wondered. I can afford this tie and Josh can't? How mean!
She settled between Josh and Wills giving Josh a kiss on the cheek. It was already second nature to do so. "Hi everyone." She recognized Guinevere and the other girls at the soccer practice. Guinevere was hanging on possessively to William.
"Hi," they all chorused back.
"Is something wrong?" Josh asked when he noticed Jen wasn't participating in the pre-dance discussion.
"It's nothing," Jen sighed looking around the back of the limo. She lowered her voice. "This just reminds me of our first date together."
Josh laughed. He took her hands in his and held it.
"I'm so nervous," she whispered, clutching his hand tighter. "What if I break the punch bowl and the administration gets mad?"
"You'll be fine," Josh said soothingly. "If you're in trouble I'll pull you out. I promise."
As the car pulled up to Eaton's gate a crowd of girls which had gathered outside screamed.
"Hey, Prince," George called. "Your dates?"
One of the boys lowered a window and yelled. "Girls! Prince William's in here!"
"He's there?" some girls shrieked.
"Oh my -"
The window was rolled back up and the teens exploded with laughter.
"They can scream all they want. He's mine for tonight," Guinevere said, kissing him on the cheek.
Wills sunk low in his seat. Even though the glass was tinted he still felt the girls could see him. He cast a side-look at Jen. What did she think of his heartthrob status now? But she was looking at Josh.