|
After dinner the boys retreated to the living room to watch a action movie. Charles and Jen's aunt were in the background
talking about old times.
Jen excused herself saying she had a headache which wasn't all a lie.
"Can I escort you-" Wills
asked.
Jen shook her head. "No, you and Josh stay, you have your movie to watch. I'll be fine." She made her way too the
front door. She was going to St. Mary's?
"Jen!" Harry caught up with her and stopped her in the hall.
Jen sighed. She
wasn't in the mood to talk. "What is it?" she asked.
"He likes you," Harry stated. "I just want you to know that." he stepped
closer. And his tone turned threatening. "You hurt him and I'll use everything within Windsor power to make sure you're hurt
back. Got it."
"Got it," Jen told him. "Don't worry Harry, I'm already hurting. and if possible- I'll never see Wills again."
she pushed past him. Great, now she had just ticked off a Windsor family member. Life in St. Mary's was going to be just peachy
when the word gets around.
"Jen," Josh called, stopping her.
Jen wished St. James wasn't such a maze. She would've been
out the door by now. "Josh , please. You're the last person in the world I want to talk to right now."
"Why?" Josh asked
her.
"Please, just let me go."
"It had something to do with dinner, doesn't it?"
Had she been so transparent? Or
was it just that Josh knew her so well? "Yes. Dinner, St, Mary's and William. And," she laughed shortly. "The fact that I'm
such a sorry person." she pushed past him. "Josh, please, get out of my way. I just want to go home."
He looked after
her. "I love you." he called.
Chapter Thirteen
Jen stopped in her tracks. Turned around. She looked at him shocked.
Then she laughed.
Josh was confused.
"William," Jen said the name. "He found out that I've been playing with him and
now this is his way of paying me back."
"Wills has nothing to do with this."
Jen looked at him ."Then you really..."
Josh
nodded.
Jen placed a hand over her mouth. "My, what have I done?"
Josh took her hands in his. "What? Don't you feel
the same way?"
"I wish I could say I did but-"
"You're in love with William," Josh spoke for her.
Jen nodded sadly.
"Despite evidence to the contrary, I am." She paused curious. "Why Josh? What do you like about me."
"You know how to get
even. You can kick a soccer ball. You can know pre-calculus. Your tie-knotting needs some work but that's okay. What-What
do you want me to say?"
"I can twelve other girls with the same characteristics."
"You yell at William?" Josh smiled.
"I
yell at William," Jen echoed. "I play with William's heart." She bit her lower lip. "How will I be able to stay in England
much more St. Mary's when everytime I hear his name I'll be reminded of how I was cruel to him. It was a game. And I did it
because I knew I was going back to the States and then the game will be over. Now, I'm going to have to keep playing it whether
I want to or not." She bit her lower lip. "I'm so ashamed."
Josh hugged her.
"Josh, are you sure you love me?" she asked
against his chest. "Or do you love it that you have something Wills wants."
Josh considered this. "It's very possible."
Jen
smiled. That was one heartbreak off her list.
"Do you still want me to be your boyfriend?" he asked.
"I don't need a
boyfriend right now," Jen fought back tears. And held him close. "I need a friend."
Josh held her tighter. "I can be that."
Jen
pulled away and gave him a grateful smile. "Thanks."
He looked a little uncomfortable. "So is this a real break-up?"
"We
weren't really going out, were we?"
Wills came running down the hall. "Oh, good. You're still here."
Jen had that urge
to laugh again. Yes, she was still there.
Josh patted Wills on the back. "She's all yours mate."
"What is it?" Jen aked
Wills when they were alone.
Wills looked at her. He was going to do what he should've done in the first place. He was going
to tell her. "I love you."
To his surprise she had no reaction. Her face was blank as she told him. "I know."
It took
him a moment to analyze the words. "You knew? Since when?"
"That first date."
Wills took a moment. "You lied to me."
His voice was dangerously soft.
Jen shrugged. "You lied to me. What's the difference?"
"The difference is I had good
intentions," Wills defended, his voice rising.
"And you don't call getting revenge on manipulators a good intention?"
"Manipulative?"
he echoed. "I'm probably the most manipulated person on Earth! The world tells me to smile; I smile! The world tells me to
wave; I wave! The world tells me to wake-up at 6:00 in the morning. Darn it. I wake up at 6:00 in the morning!" He took deep
breaths. "And the first time I use what is in my power to get the girl I want I'm considered manipulative."
"You didn't
have to be so sneaky about it! You could've just told me!"
"You would've laughed in my face!" Yes, that was what held him
from telling her in the first place." You would've been like: A prince? In love with me? And you would've laughed in my face!"
Jen
was about to say something but stopped. There was a possibility that he was right. She applauded him. "Good show, William.
Good show." she turned to leave.
This wasn't the way he planned it. "But-but I love you!" he declared again.
Love. It
was an overrated word. "In the famous words of your father WHATEVER THAT IS!'" She walked back to him. "Love me? You don't
even know me." At this Jen laughed bitter tears. "You are such the hypocrite, William! You say that those girls screaming
your name don't love you because they don't know you? Look at yourself? Why did you fall in love me? Because you watched me
from your window? Because I know Pre-calculus?"
"You- you were the first girl who didn't swoon in my presence." he stuttered.
"So
I was a challenge was that it?"
"Yes." he answered. "No!" He corrected himself. "You-You treated me differently."
"You
mean because I yell at you?"
"Yes. No!"
"You know, I have three cousins who are nuts about you. I'll bring one of them
over let her yell at you and you can fall in love with her!"
It was Wills turn to be silent.
"Who am I, Wills ? Can
you answer that? No you can't. You don't know me at all! Answer that Wills . Who am I? Who am I? Who-"
Oh, Jen! He grabbed
her and kissed her then. Anything to shut her up!
Jen felt herself turn limp at the force of the kiss. When they pulled
apart she was breathing heavy. She looked at him. She laughed bitterly again. With her index finger she wiped the kiss off.
"Good answer, William. Good answer." She left him. When she finally reached the front door . She took a moment to cry. Oh,
inspiration strike! she thought maddeningly. Play with a Prince's heart and tear yourself apart... She counted to ten. What
now? Was Charles going to come running after her too? She looked back. But no one came.
Chapter Fourteen
"What are
we doing here?" one of the boys asked as they met in the soccer field.
"I don't know. Josh was the one who set up this
meeting."
"Does Wills know about this?"
"Here comes Josh now."
Josh came running to the field. "Sorry, I'm late.
I had to convince Wills to cover for me at McDonald's."
"That's bad. You're making the Prince work so you can slack off?"
"This
has to do with William," Josh informed. A pause. "and Jen."
He had their undivided attention.
"How many of you are tired
of Wills sulking?"
"Here." "Here." "I am." Hands were up all around.
Since Wills met Jen he had been in mope mode. But
it had gotten worse. He would barely smile. He wasn't eating.
"So we have to get them back together." Josh concluded.
"Wait,
Josh. How do we know this isn't some plot so you can get Jen for yourself?" George asked.
"I'm moving on without Jen,"
Josh reminded. "William's the basketcase." He looked at them pleadingly. 'C'mon trust me on this. Or do you want Eton to lose
the next swim meet?"
"I'm in," Seth announced. The girl knew calculus.
"Same" George said. Jen liked him in his blue
suit.
One by one they all agreed.
Josh looked at the last boy.
Harry Windsor sighed and consented. "He's my brother.
I'll do it."
"Okay," Josh announced. "Now the big question: HOW?"
Wills was flipping burgers trying not to think
of Jen so they wouldn't burn but it was hard. How to get her back? How to get her back?
"William," the manager called him.
"Yes?" Wills asked.
"It's kinda slow today so I'm letting you off now."
"You're not just saying that because I almost
burned the place down last time, are you?' Wills asked.
"Nah!" The manager laughed good naturedly. "For a prince you cook
pretty well."
Wills left the restaurant and put on his jacket. Down the right was Eton. If He went there he could hook
up with some of his mates. But then again he barely participated in conversations. His mind always wandered to Jen. He looked
to the left. Down that End of the road was The Estates where Jen was living. that is till next week when she would start boarding
in St. Mary's. He sighed.
Who am I William? Who am I? her question chanted in his head.
He felt something he always
kept with him.
Waving one hand he hailed down a taxi.
He knew the answer.
"...I feel pretty. I feel pretty.
I feel pretty and witty and gay. And I pity any girl who isn't me today." Jen sang the song from West Side Story in the shower.
But the irony was that she felt lousy and she'd rather be anyone else but her that day. She had two FOINE guys: Josh and Wills
and she shoved both of them away. How could I? she wondered, angry with herself. She wrapped a towel around herself as she
stepped out of the bathroom to change. "Awck!" Jen screamed when she saw the prince there.
"You're aunt allowed me up,"
Wills said from the bed.
"I'm not wearing anything," she said, wrapping the towel tighter, in case he didn't notice.
Wills
said nothing only looked at her which made Jen feel the towel wasn't there.
Jen inched towards the corner of the bed where
she left her clothes and ran back into the bathroom. When she re-emerged she tried to act nonchalant. "What brings you here?"
Wills
was held up a piece of paper in front of her eyes. "This is you." he answered.
Jen looked at the written words.
In
a world of strangers
I am alone
Drowning in loneliness on my own
I cry screams piercing to the human ear.
But
I still wonder
Does anyone hear?
"Where did you get this?" Jen asked him.
"You forgot it the first time we met.
I keep it with me always." Wills said. "We can talk about what a scumbag I am for not returning it to you but for now: Am
I right? Is it the correct answer?"
Jen couldn't answer.
He took out from his pocket several notes she had written
to her mystery guy. "This is you. You fell in love with a stranger too Jen."
Jen just watched him.
He went over to her
notebook and opened it to a page where the heart which held their names were on. "This is you." Wills said.
Jen raised
her eyes to meet his.
Wills came over to her. "This is you." He kissed her gently. "Am I right?"
"Damnit William," Jen
cried. "What did I do to deserve you!" she through her arms around him.
"I'm lonely too," Wills whispered. "I figured we
could be lonely together."
"You're in a McDonald's uniform." she mumbled.
"Let's just say there are some things you
don't know about me either." Wills smiled. "Besides I think getting to know each other is the fun part in a relationship.
Don't you agree?"
"MmmHmm" Jen said not trusting herself to speak.
"And since we're both sneaks and liars. I say we
deserve each other."
Jen laughed.
"So I was right?"
Jen nodded.
"What do I win?" Wills teased, drawing then apart
but still holding her.
"Jen!" a voice called from below the window.
The voice was Josh's
Jen opened the window. "What
are you doing?" she called down.
"We're going to serenade you," Josh announced.
Wills from his place beside Jen peeked
out, hiding himself from view. Josh was out here. And so were the rest of the boys. And Harry was there! Would Jen still be
his? Or after this great display of Josh was giving her would Wills lose her once again?
"This is for William," Josh continued.
"What?"
Wills asked beside Jen.
"If you don't get with William. We are going to sing. And let me tell you are NOT good singers!"
Wills moved to the window. "There's no need for that! We got togeth-"
Jen pulled him back. "No, I want to listen to
this."
"They are NOT good singers." Wills said.
"We warned you!" Josh said.
And the boys went of in this N marathon
kinda thing. true to his word Josh and the boys stunk! they sang Elvis Presley's "I Can't Help falling In Love With you.",
Weird Al Yalkovich's "You don't love Me Anymore." and that wonderful song Tom Cruise sang in Top Gun "You've Lost That Loving
Feeling".
Jen was so enthralled by thier performance she didn't look back till after the third song. She was clutching
her sides, laughing. "William?" she turned around and realized he was no longer in the room with her.
"Cant buy me love...
Can't buy me love..." another voice took the mike.
Jen ran to the window. "William?!"
"... I don't care too much for
money cause money can't buy me love..." he winked at her.
Jen ran down the stairs and out the door.
Wills barely finished
the song when she showered him with kisses.
The boys looked at each other. Their work was done.
Wills kissed her back.
then he laughed. "You know when you marry me your name's going to change."
In unison they both crowed. "Mrs. I-Own-The-Throne-Windsor!"
Jen
hugged Wills again.
The boys around them were taking storing the speakers back into the trucks.
Jen caught Josh's eye.
"I
love you," he mouthed.
"You're a good friend," she mouthed back.
Wills and Jen went back in the house... To plan their
first date.
THE END
|
