Kiss: Chapters 8-12

Lin watched as couple after couple danced in the floor. Dinner had been divine and Wills had introduced her to so many people she didn't remember any of their names! She turned to him. "Wills, dance with me," she commanded.
"Aww!" he groaned.
"Fine." She turned to her right. "Harry, you'll dance with me won't you?"
"Aww!" he echoed Wills perfectly.
"Charles?" Lin asked.
"Aww!" Like father; like sons.
"You guys are sooo boring!" Lin declared, laughing.
Charles stood up. "Fine I'll dance with you, my lady. Don't be disappointed if these old bones don't keep up."
Lin giggled as she was brought onto the dance floor by the next King of England.
A tango was played by the band.
Within moment's time the floor was cleared just for the two of them. More than once Lin had caught Wills' eye as his father spinned her around. And in between the twirls would be the tango walk. No one else could hear the conversation the two were having when they managed to catch their breath.
"I was kind of surprised when Wills mentioned you were his girlfriend," Charles said turning her around.
Stop turning. "I think he surprised everybody," Lin said. Step. Cross. Step.
"Do you think about marrying him?" Charles ask, changing direction.
Walk back. Step. Cross. Step. "Your Highness, we're only sixteen." she laughed.
"But do you think about it?" he asked slightly dipping her.
Rise back up. "I thought about it this morning," she said, getting out of breath.
"Do you love him?" Charles asked. Big finale. Twirl in. Twirl out. Twirl in. Twirl out. Twirl in. DIP!
"I-I" the room erupted into applause which saved her from answering. There were flashes of camera bulbs so she had a feeling her dance with the Prince of Wales was going to end up in magazines.
"Wills, you have a good girl here," Charles said when he got to their table. "Break up with her and you don't get the crown." he kidded.
A fast paced music came on and the younger generation in the room took over the floor. The lights were dimmed and the disco lights flashed.
"Hey, Lin, I'll dance with you," Harry told her.
Lin, looked up at him. "You will?"
"May I have this dance?" He made a slight bow and offered his hand. He gave her his trademark impish grin.
"Can I?" she asked Wills.
"Why should I mind?" Wills asked.
"You mentioned something about being the jealous boyfriend type..." Lin reminded.
"Go. Go." Wills encouraged.
Lin laughed at him as Harry pulled her away.
He may be younger but he still matched her in height.
"What do you think of my brother?" Harry asked above the music.
What was this? A family interrogation? If that was the case then no wonder Wills had stayed single up till now. First the loo collection and now this.
"He's great! A little wacko but great!" she shouted.
They moved to the beat of the music. A little shake here and a little shake there.
"What do you think of Kathy?" Lin yelled, wondering why she asked.
"She's all right."
"Why just all right?"
"Wills acts strange when he's with her. I like him better with you. He's more relaxed. When are you going to get married?"
BROTHER! "He hasn't popped the question yet!"
"Want me to give him a hint?"
Lin laughed.
Someone tapped Harry's shoulder.
It was Wills. "I think it's my turn now."
"Wills ask her to marry you." Harry said. "Or I will. You don't have any younger sisters, do you?" he asked Lin.
"Enough," Wills told his brother cutting in.
"Your family's something else," Lin informed.
The music turned into a slow romance song.
Wills adjusted his tie and assumed proper dancing position. He held Lin close. Who was it that said that slow dancing isn't really dancing? It's purpose is so that couples can get their arms around each other?
Lin leaned her head on Wills's chest. There was a spotlight gliding slowly around the room.
"So what have they been saying about me?" Wills asked.
"They're trying to get us to walk down the aisle," Lin informed.
"Hmmm," Wills mused. "How many kids will we have? Eleven at least."
"Oh my! Prince Billy Jr.!" the thought of Wills running after eleven kids filled her mind.
"Prince Billy the Sixth," Wills corrected. "I'm the fifth remember..." His voice trailed off.
"What is it?" Lin whispered.
The music stopped.
The lights turned back on.
Lin followed Wills's gaze.
Snow White had just entered the room.

Chapter Nine
The sight of her made Lin's insides curl. She had hoped that this day would've been one without Kathy. Where Wills and her could spend time together without discussing Snow White catching tactics. Unfortunately, it wasn't going to be so.
"Go to her," Lin told Wills. "You know you want to."
"But what about you?" he asked. His arms were still around her.
Lin detached herself from his embrace. She shrugged. "Who am I to stand in the way of true love?" She left him there on the dance floor with no choice but for him to go to the girl of his dreams.

"Hey what happened to the party girl?" Harry asked as he walked up to Lin.
"She got kinda partied out," Lin said. She finished her third drink and asked the bartender for another. Wills and Kathy were dancing. They hadn't left each other's side the whole night. Lin prepared to down the next glass.
Harry placed his hand on top of the tumbler. "I think you've had enough," he said, concerned.
Lin raised an eyebrow. "Of apple juice?"
"Of apple ju-" he let out the breath he was holding. "I thought it was-"
"I'm substance free," Lin assured him. She drank the fourth glass.
Harry looked at the couple on the dance floor and back at Lin. Wills left her for Kathy? The fool! Harry thought. He held out his hand. "C'mon. Night's almost over. What do you say?" He jutted his head towards the dance area.
"Fine," Lin said though she wasn't up to it.
The slow song that was playing seemed to be ironically appropriate.

I'm dancing the most romantic dance in the world
And how I long to cry
You're dancing with another girl
And I'm dancing with the wrong guy

"I didn't know she was going to be here," Lin thought aloud.
"Who?" Harry asked, looking behind him. "Kathy? She's the fourth cousin of the bride."
"So Wills and her are related?" Lin asked. Wills was in love with a distant cousin? She found that a little strange but wasn't that what royals did? Marry within the family?
Harry shook her head. "No the Windsors are on the groom's side. Via my grandfather."
"Oh," Lin nodded, feeling better, but not quite.
"So, Lin, if Wills is ever dumb enough to dump you, remember: This prince is still available," Harry raised and lowered his eyebrows several times.
Lin mussed up his hair. "Stop about the marriage talk already. I'm about to think you're serious."
I am, Harry was tempted to say.
"Ladies and gentlemen this will be the last dance of the evening so take that special someone onto the dance floor and show them how much you care."
Undoubtedly, Wills was going to choose Katharine. "You want this last dance with me?" Lin offered Harry.
Someone cleared his throat. "I beg your pardon, but I believe this dance belongs to me."
Lindsey turned around.
Wills took Lin's hand.
"Just when things were getting good," Harry complained but obliged his older brother. He ran off to one of the fourteen-year-old bridesmaids that had been eyeing him all night. "Would you like to dance?"
"Don't they look cute?" Lin observed as the star-struck girl accepted.
"Uh-huh," Wills agreed, but his eyes weren't on his brother.
Lin met his eyes. Why was he looking at her like- like the way she had first seen him looking at Kathy? Wishful thinking her mind concluded. "Um," she felt a blush rise to her cheeks. "Why aren't you dancing with-"
Wills silenced her before the name was spoken. "She's not my girlfriend. You are."
But for how long? Lin wondered. The unpleasant thought staying in her mind though she tried to shake it off. She held close to Wills tightly hoping that the moment would never end.

Outside the window of the plane was blackness. Just complete blackness.
Wills finished up his homework and gathered the papers he would need for Eton. He yawned and leaned his against Lin.
"Tired?" Lin asked.
"Mmm," he mumbled in his sleep.
Lin lowered her voice. "Wills, when are you going to kiss me?"
What? Wills thought struggling against sleep. She had said something about a kiss. "I've kissed you."
"No you haven't," Lin pouted. "I've kissed you and you've kissed me back. It's not the same thing."
"I'm not a lowed to kiss a girl in public," he recited one of the countless rules he had to live with.
"Are you going to kiss Kathy in public?" Lin asked. "Wills?"
He was asleep.
Lin smiled shaking her head. She loosened the bow tie on his tux. Everyone was still in their formal wear. She was still in her gown. They hadn't had time to change. It had gone straight to the airport from the reception. She undid the top two buttons of his shirt. She kissed him on the forehead. It was probably best that he hadn't responded.. She wasn't sure she would've liked the answer.

Chapter Ten
"Where in the world -"
"Wills, we have a problem."
"I'll say. You were supposed to be at my place over half an hour ago. Let me speak to Nigel and Maxwell." There was big party that night and it had been difficult to squeeze Lin an appointment at prestigious Suave and Debonair beauty salon at the last minute. He was a prince but even it was hard for him to make miracles. She didn't have the decency to show up on time.
"Ha." Lin laughed bitterly. She pulled back the curtain of her window and peeked outside. "Do you have any idea what's in the parking lot of my apartment? Do you? Switch on the news you'll find out."
Wills gasped on the other line.
"Yup. Crowds and crowds of people. Someone must've followed us when you dropped me off before going to school yesterday. Half of the crowd is praising me for insuring a future for the monarchy. The other half threatening to kill me for stealing the guy they want to marry. Your guards must be lost in that mess. "
"Okay, don't go anywhere."
Yeah, Wills, where would I go? Lin thought. She could hear disjointed conversation in the background.
"All right," his voice came back on the line. "Call the front desk. Tell them that you're checking out. Pack your bags. Is there anyway you can get to the roof of the building?"
Lin thought hard. "Fire escape?"
"All right. When I arrive bring your luggage up to the roof. Leave the rest to me and my family."
"How will I know when you arrive?" Lin wondered.
"Believe me you'll know."

"A helicopter," Lin muttered as it flew overhead. She should've known Wills would rescue her with style and finesse. As told, she ascended up the fire-escape with her luggage. Nigel and Maxwell bookending her escape. They had managed to brave the masses and make it to her front door.
She ran towards the helicopter. "I hate you Wills," she yelled above its roar. She handed him her bags. The wind was making her hair whip behind her.
Wills held her hand. The wind blowing through his hair too. "Just get in!" he ordered. "We're late already."
"Like it's my fault?"
The crowd below cheered as the helicopter rose above them.
"I should just break up with you right now. Being your girlfriend is an inconvenience to my lifestyle." Lin hit him on the shoulder.
"Look this is what happens. You're going to leave it behind when we break up. I still have to live with it till my dying days."
"I should warn Kathy about this," she muttered. "You know my mom called me and asked when we were going to get hitched." she shook her head. Were Ryan and Kathy ever going to break up? She was getting impatient.
"My dad's secretary booked you a suite at the Premiere Manor." Wills informed.
"A suite? At Premiere- Wills, I can't afford that."
"It's a complimentary suite. In exchange for publicity. It's being done all the time." he gave her a wink. "Admit it. Being my girlfriend isn't all bad."

"Wills," Lin exclaimed when she saw him. She tried to stand up but stopped when she remembered the staff working on her hair, feet and hands.
He smiled. "I just came by to tell them that the dance will be ready in an hour."
At them mention of the time limit the group of beauticians increased their work to a frantic pace.
"I must look like a fright," Lin whined.
Wills tilted his head to the side. "No. This face mask is blue. when you were wearing that green face mask you looked like a fright."
Lin laughed as she remembered the morning when Wills asked her to his girlfriend. But she hadn't cared what she looked like then. Now she cared.
"Besides I've seen my mom, aunts and girl cousins go through this a thousand times when I was younger. I know what to expect."
Suddenly, Lin started to cry.
Wills leaned close, worry etched in his face. "What's wrong?"
All he could get out of her was a garbled response.
"Is it your hair?" he guessed. "Don't worry. You look beautiful. Honest you do."
More sobs.
"Are you afraid of meeting my friends? They'll love you. No one can resist you."
The group of girls working were glad that they hadn't started on her make-up yet. It would've been ruined by the rivers flowing down Lin's cheeks.
Wills lowered her voice. "Is it the deception?" he looked into her tear-filled eyes. "If you want we could end it now." He didn't like seeing her like this.
Lin cried some more. He was acting so sweet.
He touched her shoulder slightly. "What is it?"
"Hiccup. Hiccup. My-my- my nose itches," Lin managed to get out.
"Your nose-"
Lin nodded.
Wills laughed when he got the message. He leaned over and scratched the tip of her nose with his forefinger. "Better?" he asked.
"Thank you." she sniffled.
"No problem."

"You look beautiful," Wills said when she was finished. He tugged on one of her side ringlets playfully.
"You're staring at my legs," she accused. "I told them I didn't want to wear a short skirt but they said it would make me look taller. Do you know how hard it is trying to look tall next to you?""
Every time he had seen her she had worn jeans, At Ascot it was slacks (which had been a little bit informal) and at Greece the gown had been ankle length. She didn't like wearing short skirts? Pity. "You look fine," He leaned to her as if he had a secret. "But it's not complete."
"What do you mean?"
He opened the leather case he was holding.
"Windsor family jewels," Lin breathed recognizing the sapphire and diamond necklace for what it was.
He fastened it on her.
Lin fingered the fabled gems no believing that she was actually wearing them. Then she laughed. "I like the subtle message," she told him.
"Subtle message?" William asked, confused.
"Yeah, I wear them. Kathy sees them. It says to her. "You'll get to wear these fabulous stones when you're Prince William's girlfriend." she kissed him on the cheek. "You are a sly dog!"
Wills watched as she seated herself in the awaiting limo wondering where she got such an idea. He hadn't been thinking about Katharine.

Chapter Twelve
The night was filled with pomp, glamour and glitz. (Can you expect anything else?) There was a pre-party press conference (think Academy Awards) and Lin was busy answering everyone's questions. Wills had nothing to worry about. Lin answered their questions with good humor, class and the right amount of mystery.
"We heard you had problems this morning. How do you feel being in the limelight." the first reporter asked.
"It's overwhelming. A little bit intolerable but then-" she gazed into Wills's eyes (camera flashes) "I'll go through anything for Wills.'"
"How did you two meet?"
"Fate," Lin responded, pecking Wills on the lips. (camera flashes)
"It's been rumored that the family frowns since you don't address him with his title Prince William but insist on calling him Wills Windsor. Why is that?"
"Does it bother the family?," Lindsey said, troubled. "If it becomes a problem I'll try to stop. My reason for not using his title? Through history there have been several Prince Williams but only one Wills Windsor."
Wills took hold of the mike. "I'd just like to point out that its isn't a problem within my family. They are as much in love with her as I am."
"Wills, is she going to be the new Queen of England?"
"She knows how to bet on a horse race. She can keep up with my father's tango. Harry gets along with her quite well. It's quite a possibility." Wills nodded. "Plus, I can't live without her." He kissed her hand. (camera flashes)
"Lin, what do you like about Wills?"
Lin hid her face with one hand, cast Wills shy smile which he returned, and had to laugh. "Look at him," she told the people, gesturing. "For all the obvious reasons."
The reporters laughed.
And on and on it went.

At the party, Lin sat at the long dinner table in between the two Windsor brothers. She looked at her plate. "What's this?" she asked.
"Shrimp," Wills answered, taking a bite. "It's good. Try it. You might like it."
"Uh," Harry held his fork up about to protest. But Wills silenced him.
This was suppose to be shrimp? Lin looked doubtfully at the meat in orange sauce. Bracing herself she ate a chunk.
"I have to warn you there's this slow burn," Wills said.
Slow burn? Slow burn? It felt as if her tongue were on fire! "Hot!" she exclaimed standing up and fanning her mouth. "Hot!" she knocked into the waiter.
The guest of honor stopped speaking. Wills and the rest of the room stopped to watch.
Lin grabbed several glasses at once (hers, Wills's and Harry's) and chugged down each glass one by one. She felt her eyes water. Unknown to her, her face was turning a peaish green, followed by a sick yellow, and then a palish white. Lin looked at the crowd. "I'm fine," she managed to croak out, taking her seat with as much dignity as she could.
"Warn me a little earlier next time," she told Wills through clenched teeth.
He tried to hide a smile.

Lin relieved her bladder. Holding it in for five intermission numbers, several speeches, and that point of the evening where Wills showed her around and shook hands was not healthy. It couldn't be. She had been in agony the whole night but it would've been "unproper" if she had risen to go to the loo when the formalities hadn't been completed. And after the scene she had made earlier in the night she didn't want to risk making a mistake however small in front of Wills's world. She fixed herself up and was about to exit the stall when she heard her name mentioned.
"Her name is Lindsey."
"Lindsey what kind of a name is that for a princess. Princess Lindsey? Ugh."
Lin bit her lower lip as she heard several girls mummer agreement. Should she announce her presence?
"What does Wills see in her?"
"She can place a bet. Keep up with my father's tango and Harry and her get along quite well." one of them recalled his answers to the press .
"Girls. the only reason why Prince William is even looking at her direction is because Ryan has Kathy. Katharine, now there's a name for a princess. Princess Katharine. It's obvious Lin doesn't deserve to be with someone of Wills's class."
"Did you see what a complete fool she made of herself earlier this evening? What a klutz!"
The girls giggled.
Lin waited for the voices to die down and for the sound of the door closing before emerging from the stall. She looked at her reflection in the mirror. The conversation of the girls echoed unmercifully in her mind. They had spoken out her greatest fears. Doesn't deserve to be with Wills. She looked at the necklace. Who did she think she was fooling? She removed the jewels and placed it in her purse. She had to get out of there.