Kiss: Chapters 5-8

Lin looked through them and saw the horses and the jockeys at the starting line. "Number twelve?" she squeaked.
Wills laughed. '"Is that your lucky number?"
"No, I think that horse is going to win," she told him. "He has like this determination aura in his stance." As if she knew what she was talking about.
"You can't tell if a horse is going to win by merely looking at him. You have to look at his breeding, his racing history, and the jockey also matters." he explained as if he were the inventor of horse racing. "A horse with all these qualities is number four. Diablo."
"I think twelve will win." Lin informed stubbornly. She checked the program for the horse's name. "Dancing Jack." What kind of name was that for a horse?
Everyone was looking at them. Wills was having a fight with his girlfriend. Didn't they look cute? was what they all silently seemed to be saying.
"Put your money where your mouth is," Wills challenged.
Lin took a large bill out of her purse. Her funds were limited. And this was a huge chunk of it. Reason told her to put the money away but there was something more powerful than reason. Pride. "Here," she handed it James.
Wills handed his money too, giving last minute instructions on how to invest it.
"I hate you," Lin said after he left. When Wills didn't respond she nudged him. "What are you looking at? The tracks are that way." She yanked on the binoculars. "Oh."
Wills nodded. "Yup."
Lin looked as Kathy was talking to Ryan. She giggled. "She's probably leaning close to him like this." Lin leaned close to Wills. Their bodies touching. "And her mouth is placed like so. Enough so her breath can tickle his ear," she demonstrated. "She's probably whispering sweet nothings in his ear like...I love you... I think you're hot!"
"Stop it!" Wills cursed waving her away.
Lin couldn't help it. It was so amusing seeing him turn red. "Why don't we go somewhere where we can be alone and..." she teased, making her voice get all breathy.
Wills groaned. But why was he groaning? Because Kathy might be saying those things to Ryan or because he knew Lin was only joking?
"Wills," Ryan waved when he noticed his pal.
Wills waved back.
Drat! Lin thought. She wanted to torment him just a little more.
"What are you doing here?" Kathy asked. "I thought you slept in on a Saturday."
"I decided not to be a sloth today and show my girlfriend around," he watched her waiting for a reaction. Jealousy he was hoping.
If she was surprised, Kathy didn't show it. "Lin, congratulations. You've done the impossible. I've been trying forever to match Wills with someone."
"Well lucky me he hadn't found someone," Lin replied.
"So what horse did you guys bet on?" Ryan asked.
"Um, number twelve," Lin said. "I did. I mean."
"We bet on Diablo," Kathy said. "Mother advised us on it. She's good at this sort of thing."
"Oh, it's starting," Ryan informed the group. They each took their seats.
"See." Wills told her. "Someone knows how to bet."
Lin flipped her hair back. "We all can't be Miss Perfects like Snow White," she informed.
The horses were off.
My one month's rent! My one month's rent! Lin thought as her horse lagged behind the group.
Wills tsked behind her. He gave her a sympathetic look. "Admit defeat," he whispered.
"Never!" she whispered back fiercely.
An amazing thing happened when the pack reached the bend. Dancing Jack began advancing.
Lin gripped Wills's hand. While the other held the binoculars tightly. "C'mon. C'mon," she urged. She watched as Dancing Jack passed horse after horse.
"Ow!" Wills exclaimed, shaking his hand of the pain.
Lin didn't hear him.
"The horses are near the finish line." the announcer's voice boomed over the PA system. "Diablo and Dancing Jack are running neck to neck. It's a close call. They're crossing the finish line. Diablo wins!"
Lin's heart fell. Strangle Wills. Strangle Wills, was her thought. If he hadn't gotten her riled up she wouldn't have betted. Her hand reached for his throat.
"No, no, wait." the announcer retracted. "We now have photographic proof. Dancing Jack is the winner. I repeat. Dancing Jack is the official winner!"
Lin was in shock. She froze in mid-strangling position. A smile appeared on her face and she hugged Wills with all her might. "I won! I won!" she exclaimed, jumping up and down.
Wills jumped with her for the heck of it.
Queen Elizabeth, looked disapprovingly.
James came back with her winnings. Lin fanned the bills and counted and recounted. She had never held so much money in her hand all at once. And it was hers. All hers! "In your face Wills!" she laughed showing him the bills.
James handed Wills his winnings.
"In yours," Wills replied pocketing the money. "I bet on Dancing Jack too."
"You did?" Lin laughed. "What about history and background and all that junk?"
He kissed her on the cheek. "What are those compared to the word of my girlfriend?"
Everyone was milling around, catching up on the latest gossip before the next race. Who lost. Who won What they were going to do next.
Queen Elizabeth leaned closer to Lin and handed her binoculars. "Tell me my dear. Which horse should I bet on?"

Chapter six
"Oh shut up!" Lin screamed at the telephone, picking it up.
"Hello?"
"Ugh, Wills," Lin groaned.
"Lin," Wills greeted. Was that happiness in his voice? "Good you're awake-"
"Wills," she cut him off. "I had a life before you. And in that life I would be unconscious at this hour."
"Not anymore," Wills informed. "You're my girlfriend. Your life is public property. Take it from one who knows."
Lin groaned. "Meaning?"
"You have to keep up public appearances." How many times has he heard that same phrase from his father? "Wear something nice."
"Well, where are we going?" Lin wanted to know.
"The movies."
"That's not really public," Lindsey observed. She walked to the mirror. Were those bags appearing under her eyes? Wills was wrecking havoc on her beauty sleep. "We're going to be in a dark theater. Why a movie?"
"It's a date. The paparazzi will get wind of it. It's public enough. And.." he let his voice trail off. "Kathy and Ryan will be there."
Lin pounded her head on the mirror. She should've seen that coming. She should've seen that coming!
Wills placed the phone a little further away from his ear. What was that thwacking sound? "Are you all right?"
"Fine," Lin replied coolly. "Just trying to swat a fly. So when are you going to pick me up?"
"My guards are going to escort you here," Wills told her.
"You're never going to come over here?" she asked.
"I don't want anyone to know where you live. You've seen the reporters hounding outside my place. I don't want them to do the same to you." he said.
"Wills, are you concerned for my welfare?" she asked with mock surprise.
"Lin. you know I like another girl," he said, escaping from an answer.
"I know. I know." she said. "Don't get egotistical and think I'm falling for you." She was offended when she heard the sigh of relief on the other side. "It'll just be the four of us, right?"
"Actually six," Wills corrected.
"Six?" Lin asked confused. "Is Harry coming with his girlfriend too?"
"My brother and a girl?" Wills laughed. " He hasn't reached that stage yet. But he's showing potential."
"So who's the other two? Members of the press you hired to take notes?"
"No," Wills said. "My body guards."

Lin looked back from her chair. "I can't believe your guards are paid to watch movies with you," Lin told Wills.
They were in the movie theater. The seating arrangement was: Wills, Lin, Ryan , and Kathy. A typical boy-girl-boy-girl placement.
"When you give me a good-night kiss are they going to be watching too?"
"They're the best in England. And they're pretty quick. If we were kissing and a bullet flew through the air they'd save us in time."
"Is that a fact?" Lin asked. "So they're pretty quick? You mean they can save you from this?" she jabbed him in the ribs.
"Hey," Wills laughed.
Lin flashed him a smile. "Guess not."
He retaliated and tickled her back.
"Wills!" Lin shrieked out his name, almost falling off her chair. "Stop it! Stop it!" Lin gasped, slapping his hands. "The movie is about to start." She caught him smiling as the lights dimmed. She smiled back.
"This is such a boring movie, why did Kathy pick it?" Wills grumbled, after the movie was halfway through.
"I don't think they came here to watch the movie." She cast a glance at the other couple. "They're holding hands in their popcorn bucket," She whispered in Wills' ear.
Wills took a peek. "How can you tell? You can't do that."
"Sure you can," Lin said. "See I take your hand," She demonstrated. " And we bury it under the popcorn. And every one just thinks we're just sharing a snack."
"It's all buttery in here," Wills complained.
Lin shrugged.
"Now how do we get our hands out," Wills pondered.
He had a point there. "Well most couples just wait till the end of the movie," Lin said, "I guess we could just untangle our hands," but as she said those words it was obvious their hands were stuck in the bucket. "We're just going to have to take it out together," she said.
They tried that. Popcorn spilled at the sides.
"Were going to make a mess," Lin said.
"Well, what do we do?" Wills hissed. He couldn't very well scream.
"Eat until the popcorn has reached an unspillable level,' Lin suggested.
"Fine," Wills said. he got a handful and started eating.
It was nice holding his hand. Lin thought as she munched on the fluffy kernels. Sure it was all greasy because of the butter but... it was a nice fit for her hand. Perfect for holding on moonlight walks at the beach. Or movie theaters, she observed.
"Okay, I think that's enough," Wills said. Lifting their hands out. He wiped his hand with paper napkins. He took notice of Lin's drink. It was placed on the arm rest between her and Ryan. "Spill your drink on him." he whispered to Lin.
Lin looked at the drink. "I thought you said you weren't out to break them up," she reminded.
"I'm not, I just want to be alone with her," Wills said.
"Those pants probably cost him three thousand bucks."
"They didn't," Wills assured. "They only cost one thousand."
She looked at Kathy who was gazing into Ryan's eyes adoringly. "Buy me a chocolate bar for this,' Lin bargained.
"Deal," Wills told her.
Lin sighed as she accidentally on purpose spilled her drink in Ryan's lap.
Ryan gasped as the cold liquid seeped through his pants' fabric.
"I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed trying to look surprised. Thank goodness for the dark. She tried to fan it dry with the cardboard box that held the popcorn.
"It's all right," Ryan consoled her. "I'll just call home from the lobby to send me an new pair of pants."
"Do you want me to go with you?" Kathy offered.
Wills shot a pleading look at Lin.
"No, Kat, just finish the movie. I'll make sure Ryan's all right," Lin took Ryan's arm and yanked him to the lobby.
Wills watched them leave. He looked at Kathy. Kathy looked at him. They were alone. Now what?

Chapter Seven
"What do you mean you two did nothing?" Lin asked when they were in the car.
"We did nothing," Wills said again.
"I ruined Ryan's good pair of pants, wasted a whole soda, left you in there for ten minutes and you didn't even say anything?"
"I said something. I told Kathy she looked pretty."
"And..." Lin prompted.
Wills's voice dropped low. "She told me to be quiet because she was watching the movie."
Lin didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. It would've been so funny if it weren't so sad.
The car pulled up to St. James Palace. Wills opened the door for her and escorted her up the walk There were the familiar photographers and the flashes of camera lights but Lin barely took notice. She was getting quite used to them.
"How was the date!" one reporter asked.
"Look this way," someone called, taking a picture.
"Give the girl a kiss Willie!" another requested.
"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" the crowd chanted.
Lin looked at them. She felt a sense of pity. They had stayed out in London's windy weather for a big story, or at the very least a captioned photo, of Prince William's date. It would be a shame if they had nothing to show for their effort. She kissed him on the front steps. From the hoots and whistles from the crowd she could tell they approved.
"Up so late, Papa?" Wills asked as he ushered Lin in closing the door behind them.
Charles looked up from his desk. "I was just catching up on my paperwork."
"And I was just watching the telly," Harry said from his spot on the couch.
"Right," Wills drawled. "Don't let the innocent act fool you Lin. They wait up for me on all my dates. I don't know what they expect. For me to come home married I guess."
"You guys got married?" Harry asked with mock enthusiasm.
Lin laughed, "Harry, for you," she called tossing him a chocolate bar.
Harry caught it. His face lit up. "Thanks. Wills marry her. I'm telling you." he grinned at his brother.
Charles walked over to Lin. "If you are going to be part of the family there's something I have to show you," he told her.
Wills and Harry exchanged a look. "No! No! Not the loo collection!" they begged.
Charles looked at Wills. "Fine. I'll just show her your baby pictures instead. You know, the ones the press don't have."
"The loo collection. The loo collection," Wills insisted.
Lin was led by the three down a hall and into a room. She didn't know what to expect. They walked into a room and Charles turned on the switch. "Well? What do you think?" Charles asked as the light flooded the room.
Gee, what can you say when you have rows and rows of gaping toilet seats staring back at you? "It's-It's," Lin struggled for a word. "Charming. Breathtaking. Original. Like a raisin." Like a raisin? Where did that come from?
Charles beamed proudly.
Wills breathed a sigh of relief. "You are the first girl who hasn't run away screaming form the sight of that." he told her.
"Your Highness," a servant came in with the phone. "The Queen wishes a word with you."
"Hello mother," Charles greeted. "...I'm not doing much. Just showing Lin around the house."
"Charles, not the loo collection again!" Elizabeth exclaimed loud enough so everyone can hear. "You're scaring all of Wills' potential brides away when you do that."
"What was the purpose of your call?" Charles asked, changing the subject. "MmmHmmm... I see... Tonight?... Just us?... I'll get them ready." He hung up the phone. "Boys get your bags we're going to Greece."
"Harry and I have school on Monday," Wills reminded as he got his suitcase.
"It's just a wedding. We'll fly there. Attend the wedding and go back. You'll be in Eton before first bell," Charles said. He grabbed his coat and made calls to the airport on the phone.
"What about Lin?" Wills asked.
"What about me?" Lin asked at the mention of her name.
"Usually I'd let my bodyguards escort you to your apartment but they'll be flying with us. I can't let you go out on your own. You'll get mobbed." Wills pointed out.
"We'll take her with us," Charles decided. "Kellerman, make sure there's room at the reception for one more. Wills' bringing his girlfriend."
Wills' girlfriend. Lin was still getting used to the position. "I-I don't have a dress for the occasion." she protested as the princes took her out the backdoor.
"We'll get you one in Greece," Charles said, as they got into the car.
Before Lin knew it they were already on the plane.

Chapter Eight
"I can't believe I'm going to Greece. For free," Lin said outloud. There were some advantages of being Prince William's girlfriend. Wills had the window seat but it had been hers during the takeoff. The sight of London at night was still in her mind. "So this kind of thing happens often?"
"Rush rush rush. That's my life." Wills said.
Lin looked around. "Where's your dad?"
"Oh, he's in the other jet," Wills answered.
"I forgot. No two heirs in the same plane," She looked at Harry who was already asleep in his chair. He looked so cute with his red hair falling into his eyes and that light dust of freckles on his nose.
Wills nudged her lightly. "Hey, I have to warn you. I'm the jealous boyfriend type." he grinned.
"I'm just scouting for possibilities when you and I break up."
Wills laughed softly. It was quiet in the cabin. "You should get some sleep to. We'll be busy with things once we land so this might be the only chance you'll get."
"But I'm not sleepy," Lin protested, yawning as she said it.
Wills gently urged her head to lean on his shoulder.
Lin closed her eyes. His shoulder was so comfy. She felt something brush the top of her head. His lips? she guessed. But the thought was lost in the void of sleep.

"Is it just me? Or is everyone in this room sleep deprived?" Lin glanced around the church. She played with the folds of her dress that Charles had generously given her that day. She looked just as elegant as any of the titled people in the room if she must say so herself.
"This wedding was last minute. The bride and groom thought of eloping but then decided they wanted the whole media bit. Every person here probably received the news the same time we did. barely twenty four hours ago." Wills whispered.
"That's sad," Lin observed.
"They'll stay awake for the important part. The reception. That's when the pictures will be taken."
Suddenly, the familiar notes of "Here Comes the Bride" resounded throughout the cathedral.
Lin turned around slightly so she could see the back of the church. Entering and making her way down the red carpet was the bride. She was dressed in satin white, with long sleeves and a full skirt. Her veil trailed down her back. Lin watched as she took her place next to the groom. Her and Wills in a few years? The image made her smile. She shook her head. Kathy and Wills in a few years, she corrected herself.

"Okay, in a few moments you're going to meet the King of Greece," Wills held Lin's hand, as they were about to enter the reception room in the palace. "Nervous?" he asked.
Lin shook her head. She walked through the large double doors and looked around the room. There was a great staircase sloping down to the floor where tables had been set up for dinner and space had been cleared in the middle for dancing later.
"Just breathe," Wills advised as he escorted her forward.
Good advice. Just breathe. Just breathe. Lin reminded herself as the page announced Wills and her arrival. It was strange. She thought of nothing about meeting Wills and the rest of England's monarchy but she was in awe of this king.
"So you're Wills's girlfriend. Liz has told me so much about you. I'm sorry I didn't catch your name."
Just breathe. Just breathe.
Wills cleared his throat.
"Lindsey Price, Your Highness," the phrase came out in a wheeze. She barely managed to curtsy. Uh-oh. Forgot to breathe. Brain runs out of oxygen. She felt faint. She grabbed onto the nearest thing closest to her which happened to be Wills. Down the stairs they went. Roll. Roll. Roll. Their heads alternatingly hitting the stairs they went down. His head hitting the stairs. Her head hitting the stairs. His head. her head. And so on. Until they landed in an ungraceful heap at the bottom.
"Oh, Doctor!" Wills yelled, clutching his ribs.
Lin wished she could disappear.
No one had time to be shocked at what happened since the page announced. "May I present Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Colin Phillips of Greece."
The bride and groom waved amiably to the crowd. They moved to walk down the stairs.
"Watch that first step," Lin warned.
But it came too late. Down they went repeating Wills and Lin's performance. Lin winced as she heard the thump-thump-thump as they rolled down.
The bride recomposed herself. "So this is what you meant by making me fall into your arms," she told her husband.
Wills looked at Frederick from his sitting position on the floor. "Mine was heavier than yours," he joked.
The reception room exploded with polite laughter.
Wills gave Lin an assuring smile.
Darn him! Lin thought. He was acting like a real boyfriend!