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"Hey, I heard you were here," Wills said, finding her in the garden.
"Go away Wills," Lin grumbled, turning away from
him.
Wills sat down nest to her on the stone bench. "You've been crying?" he took note of her puffy red eyes. "What's the
matter? Needed your nose scratched again? You have two free hands now," he grinned.
Lin dabbed her eyes with the knuckle
of her index finger.
"What happened," Wills asked.
Lin tried to compose her voice. "These girls-these girls were talking
and-" Almost word for word she relayed the entire exchange to Wills. "They said I didn't deserve to be with you." she concluded.
"They
had no right to say that," Wills said.
Lin lifted her face up to him. "But aren't they right? You need someone refined
and sophisticated." Like Kat but she couldn't bring herself to say those words.
"Look, I decide who I want to be with.
No one else. And if I think your worthy enough to be seen with me then to heck with the world. They don't matter." he stood
up and held out his hand. "C'mon, freshen up and let's go back in there and show them just how much we belong together."
"Belong
together?" she echoed.
"Yeah, friends belong together, don't they?"
A friend. "Does this mean I have to stop hating
you?" she pouted.
"Let's not go overboard. You can still hate me on Friday's," he smiled.
Lin got out her compact and
began powdering the red streaks on her cheeks. She took out her tube of lipstick and tried to apply it with shaking fingers.
"Dang! I can't get this." she complained.
"Here let me," Wills offered.
"But-" the protest died when he cupped her chin
with his forefinger.
He looked at her intent. Like an artist to his canvas. With jabbing masculine strokes he dabbed the
stick on her lips. "There," he declared.
"I wanted it on my lips not my teeth," Lin said, thinking that's what had happened
since his motions were so careless. But when she checked her compact mirror her doubts were proven wrong. She took the tube
back from him.
He looked at her lower lips scrutinously. "It's a little thick," (this he heard countless of times from
female relatives) "Do you think you can blot it?"
Lin checked her purse, but all the tissues she had brought had been consumed
in her tear fest a while ago. In unison there averted to the white silk handkerchief which was peeking out of Wills's coat
pocket.
They both shook their heads. Nah!
"I got an idea," Wills suggested. "Blot your lips on mine."
"What?"
"Kiss
me," he put in simpler terms.
"Kiss you? On the lips?" she said.
He shrugged. "Why not? You've kissed me before."
I
didn't like you before Lin thought. With a toss of her head. She bent over and kissed him. Their lips held onto the moment.
And the moment was infinity. For that brief second the world was gone. The past and future didn't matter. All that existed
was this moment and her lips on his. And his lips on hers.
Lin pulled away.
"That's good," Wills said.
"Yeah, terrific,"
she breathed.
"I'm talking about your lips," Wills said, he brushed his thumb to erase the excess just at the edge of her
lower lip. What had she been talking about?
Lin did so in kind. She took a step back. The lipstick was obvious. It looked
as they had just engaged in a heavy-duty make out session. Then again weren't they suppose to be an item? She shrugged, no
longer caring.
Wills took the necklace out of the case and placed it back on her. "Perfect," he praised.
"So, do
you always give your girlfriends beauty advice?" Lin grinned as they danced. She past by the group of girls who had been talking
about her. She noted triumphantly the envious looks on their faces. Take that! she thought. Wills had been the attentive boyfriend
the entire night.
"I don't know. I never had a girlfriend before you," he said.
So she wasn't only Wills's girlfriend.
But she was also Wills's first girlfriend. It put a twist on things.
"I'll call you when Kathy and I hook up. And I'll
let you know." Wills offered.
Speaking of which....
"Ryan, get out of my life. I never want to see you again," Kathy
screamed, storming in the front door.
"Sweetheart, honey, darling-' Ryan pleaded.
"Don't sweetheart, honey, darling,
me, Ryan! You procrastinating creep!"
"So I was late-"
"For the fifty seventh time! You know how important this night
was to me." Kathy cried.
Ryan could only look at her.
"That does it! That does it! This relationship is over," Kathy
announced.
"But-" Ryan protested.
Kathy left him talking to air as she sought solace in the shoulders of his friends.
The
party resumed.
Wills and Lin exchanged a look. They knew what had to be done.
Chapter Thirteen
"Are you ready?"
Wills asked. It was a week after Kathy's and Ryan's break-up. They decided that to break up on the same night would've been
to obvious so the decided on this date. They were at a party at Eton.
Lin rubbed her hands together nervously. "I'm ready."
They
conveniently placed themselves next to the PA system.
"William Windsor, You are scum of the lowest magnitude!"
"Lindsey
not here," Wills objected.
She placed her hands on her hips. "It's always what you want!"
By then a crowd had gathered
to witness the scene.
Wills nodded his head in a bored manner. "What did I do now?"
Gee, what did he do? "What you always
do," she got out in time.
"And that would be?"
They hadn't rehearsed this. Now she needed a feasible excuse for their
break-up. Great Wills, trust me to think of the brilliant ideas. There had to be something she hated. "You're only using me!"
Wills's
eyes grew wide in panic. was she going to reveal all?
"You only use me," she stated again. "You take me out to your public
events, when you need me to decorate your arm or need a dance partner but you never- you never-." Tears came. Whether they
were real or false Lin couldn't determine. They were only pretending. We're only pretending, Lin reminded herself. Then why
did it hurt so much?
"I never what? I never what?" Wills taunted.
"You never walked with me on a moonlit beach. Just
the two of us. You never watched a sunset with me. You never gave me a present without making it to be a big presentation
where the world is sure to notice. I have never experienced a private moment with you."
"I have my responsibilities," he
stated. He knew the argument Lin wanted. "If anyone is using anyone in this relationship its you. Do you have any idea what
I risked for you? My respectability in dating a commoner. Not to mention financial issues."
"So I stink," Lin said. A familiar
hurt coming back. "If I'm so awful, Wills why did you go out with me?"
Wills spat out the word. "Charity."
Lin's hand
went up ready to strike him but the look in is eyes stopped her. It was fear. Not fear that he was going to hit him but fear
that he had taken things too far. Everyone was looking at her. Did she dare slap a prince? She clenched her hand into a fist
and brought it down. But she was still angry. Compensating, she got the nearest glass vase and threw it his feet. The glass
shattered breaking the intolerable silence.
Wills looked at her surprised.
Lin turned to leave.
Harry stopped her,
taking her wrist. "Wait!" he pleaded.
"I can't," Lin said, anger spouting from within her. "I don't want to be near that-that-that
man again!" She left the building. It started to rain. Lin walked on. Figures, she thought.
Wills hadn't moved from
his spot. He looked to the door Lin had exited. That man, the word revibrated in his soul. She could've called him a lot of
things. That prince. That royal. But she instead she had chosen to describe him in that word. Man.
Kathy came up to his
side. "Wills, you poor darling," she gushed.
Wills looked at her.
"I have to go," he told her, brushing off her hug.
He ran out the door.
The rain was streaking her make-up and ruining her clothes, again they had been compliments of
the Windsor family. She hugged herself. The rain was a comfort as if the heavens were sharing in her grief. The cold, wet,
drops splattered on her in a beat of a sorrowful symphony. And in that symphony was her name. "Lin!" the way Wills would call
her. "Lin!" No wait! Wills was calling her. She turned around.
"Lin," he called, running after her in the rain.
"What,"
she called.
Wills stood in front of her. His suit clung to him like a second skin. Rain had plastered his hair in clumps.
His eyes were trying to tell her something since words seem to be failing him at the moment.
"What is it, Wills?" she said.
Lightning flashed in the sky.
"I-I" I love you. Yes, those were the words. "I'm sorry."
"What's to be sorry about Wills?"
Lin asked. "We both know this day would come."
"I know but-"
"No, buts Wills," she stopped him. "I want to make a clean
break. Good-bye."
He watched her leave. "Lin," he called out her name.
"You got the girl you wanted, Wills," Lin called
behind her.
Wills watched her figure disappear in the London night. The girl he wanted. He wasn't so sure who it was anymore.
Chapter
Fourteen
The phone rang at six o' clock in the morning.
"Wills?" she answered, hopeful.
"It's Harry," another familiar
voice came on.
She tried to hide her disappointment. "Hi. What's up?"
"Remember when I said if Wills was ever dumb enough
to dump you I'd be here," Harry said. "I was serious."
"Harry," Lin looked around her suite. Queen Elizabeth had been kind
to give her a weeks stay to redeem 'her grandson's disgracing conduct'. "I just got out of a relationship with Wills. I don't
think it would be wise for me to see anyone right now."
"I understand," Harry said. "It's just that... forget it."
"What?"
Lin asked.
"There's this public function tonight and I just wanted to know what it would be like to have a beautiful girl
like you decorate my arm for the night."
"Harry..."
"Please. I'll get you a candy bar." he said.
Lin had to smile.
"Pick me up at seven. I need the rest of the day to find an inexpensive dress and shoes."
Wills looked at the crowd
of people gathered outside of the hotel. His brother and he took separate limos and Harry was late, picking up his date. His
brother and a date. Wills smiled to himself. He felt a deep sense of pride. Harry was growing up. He wondered who the girl
was.
"Isn't that your brother?" Kathy asked.
The crowd parted to let the couple stepping down from the limo pass.
William's
jaw fell when he saw the girl on Harry's arm. Lin ?!
"She looks fat in that dress," Kathy observed.
William's eyes took
in Lin 's image. She didn't look fat to him at all.
The reporters rushed over and bombarded her with inquiries.
"Are
you mad at Wills?"
"Mad is not the term," she answered. "Maybe a little sad that it didn't work out between us."
"Not
even after he insulted you?"
"We both said things we shouldn't have. He apologized for that. I accepted."
"People find
it interesting that right after you broke up with Wills you are now appearing in public with his brother."
Lin cast a side
glance at the young prince who was answering another reporter's question. "Harry and I are just friends. I have no romantic
designs on him whatsoever. And I doubt he has any on me."
Harry overheard this. You're wrong, he thought.
Wills came
up next to Lin. "You're going out with him?" he muttered.
Lin took Harry's arm. "You're going out with her," she reasoned.
"Lin, I love your dress. Isn't that the same one you wore to Greece?" Kathy remarked as they entered the hotel.
"Actually,
it is. It's a miracle what dry cleaning can do." Lin smiled.
Oh boy, Wills thought.
"Remember, Lin , That's spicy,"
she pointed to the shrimp of her plate.
"I think she remembers," Wills defended.
Kathy pouted. "I'm only trying to help.
We don't want her crashing into any waiters like last time, do we?"
"Dance with me," Wills ordered. He took Kathy to the
dance floor. He had to get her away from Lin or there was going to be bloodshed.
"I'm going to get more shrimp," Lin told
Harry. It was an excuse. She just needed to get as far away from Wills as possible. She made her way to the buffet table.
"They
look great together, don't they?"
"Ryan!" Lin said. "You scared me."
"The prince and his lady," Ryan gestured to the
dance floor. "I blew it with her, you know."
"Well, maybe she'll come back-"
Ryan shook his head. "No, you only get
one chance with a wonderful girl like Kathy." He sighed, downing a glass of punch. "I can still remember the way she would
scrunch her nose when she's trying to be cute-"
"I have to leave," Lin interrupted. She had heard a thousand reasons why
Kathy was wonderful from Wills. She did not need to hear it from Ryan. "I'm sorry to do this to you Harry but can you bring
me home," Lin asked, sitting down in her seat.
"Why? The night's barely begun."
"I thought I could go through this.
But I can't! I see Wills and I can't think straight. It's giving me a headache."
"I guess any relationship is hard to break-off-"
Lin
couldn't take it anymore. "We weren't in a relationship. He and Kathy-" Before she knew it she was telling Harry about it
all. How Wills asked her to be his 'girlfriend' and how she started to have feelings for him.
Harry listened patiently
till she was through. "You really like him." he said.
Lin looked out where the couples were dancing to this slow tuned
music. She spotted Wills and Kathy. She closed her eyes and remembered Greece and the feel of his arms around her when they
danced. "I think I love him," Lin said.
"Then tell him. Tell him what you just told me," Harry said. "Maybe he doesn't
know."
Summoning up strength, Lin made her way slowly to the couple.
"I wondered why I was wasting my time with
Ryan when I could be with you, His Royal Highness."
Wills laughed politely. When did Kathy start calling him His Royal
Highness? He wished she would call him just plain Wills. Like Lin did.
Without warning Kathy kissed him.
Someone gasped.
Wills moved Kathy out of the way. "Lin !"
Lin stood still for a moment. Long enough for Wills to see the pain in her
eyes. Then she fled.
"Kathy I-"
Kathy looked at him with perfect understanding. "Who am I to stand in the way of true
love?"
Wills rushed out the door.
Ryan came up to Kathy. He placed a hand on her shoulder. "How'd it go?"
Katharine
shrugged. "I don't know."
He kissed her. "I missed you."
"I missed you," she returned. "I hated playing the part of
the witch tonight."
"We did what we could," Ryan said. He looked at the door. "It's up to Wills and Lin now."
"Lin!"
"Leave
me alone, Wills. My heart can't take anymore."
"Let me explain."
"Please, I saw that kiss. Does the term sun-fire-hot
mean anything to you?"
"What you saw was Kathy kissing me not me kissing Kathy. Like you said there's a difference."
Lin
looked at him.
"Fine, you want me to say it? I'll say it. Somewhere along the way I fell in love with you!" Wills admitted.
Had
he? "Wills, don't you see? It was all pretend. We fell in love with the pretending. I fell in love with the person you were
pretending to be. You fell in love with the person I was trying to be."
Wills fought for something to say.
Lin spotted
Harry passing by the doorway. "Harry," she called. "Can you take me home?" she asked avoiding William's eyes.
Wills watched
them leave. He now knew what he wanted to say. "Maybe we weren't pretending to be anyone else. Maybe we were just being ourselves."
Chapter
Fifteen.
"Lin 's going home to America today," Harry informed. "She told me so last night."
Wills looked at the wall
of his room.
"You're just going to let her get away, aren't you?" Harry concluded.
"What do you mean?"
"She is one
of the best things that's happened to you and you are just going to let her leave without a fight."
"You're letting her
leave too," Wills pointed out.
"I'm not the one she's in love with."
Wills cursed London traffic. He leaned over
the limo's divider and honked the horn. "Can't you guys move it!" he yelled to the people in front of them.
"Your Highness,
I suggest you sit back down," the chauffeur scolded.
Wills sat down. He cradled the bouquet of roses in his lap. He checked
his watch. "What time did you say her plane was leaving again?"
"Nine fifteen," Harry answered.
Wills hit the arm rest
with his fist. They had thirty minutes till take off.
"Your Highness, wait up," the guards called as they tried to
keep up with the determined prince.
Wills only ran faster dodging through the crowded airport. He paused in front of the
schedule of flights. "What flight number?" he yelled.
"Flight 555. American Airlines. Gate 85," a guard noticed.
Wills
was off again. He ran through security checkpoint. And the machine beeped.
"Take out all metal objects, sir." They ordered.
"But
I-" he stammered.
"Take out all metal objects," they repeated.
Wills was ready to scream. He got out his keys and his
watch. He went through the metal detector and took them back. He ran to the picture view window. Harry and the guards were
right behind, panting. Wills watched as the plane pulled away. "No!" he screamed. He looked around. "Can you call the plane
back?" he asked an employee.
"I'm sorry. That's not in my power." the desk person said.
"Are you sure?" he looked at
her, imploringly.
"I'm sorry," she said again.
Wills came back to the window. He watched in silence as the plane went
down the runway and took off. He kept on watching till it was just a speck in the sky. Lin ... he thought. He threw the bouquet
against the window. Rose petals splattered everywhere.
Nearby, a photographer took a picture.
Wills' head snapped to
attention. He marched over. "Give me the film," he ordered.
Dumbfounded, the man obeyed.
Wills took it out of the camera.
Destroyed it and dumped in the nearest trashbin. He went back to watching the window.
"Wills, I'm so sorry," Harry expressed.
People had gathered to stare, he sighed. "You've been staying here for over half an hour. Shouldn't we leave."
Wills looked
at the sky. "The jet," he suddenly said. "I can take the jet and-" he bolted from his place.
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm
going after her, Harry," Wills announced. In his haste he bumped into someone.
"Watch where you're going," a voice said.
Wills
apologized. "I'm sorry. I just in a hurry to go after the woman I love-"
"Snow White again, huh?"
William's mind did
a double take. Snow White? He glanced back, not daring to hope. "Lindsey ?"
"What're you doing here?" Lin asked.
"To
get you. But I thought you were- I just saw your plane- wasn't your flight-" he pointed to the window. "Wasn't your flight
at nine-fifteen?"
"Nine-fifteen?" she echoed. "My flight is at ten thirty. Where did you get the idea that my flight was
at nine-fifteen?"
In unison they both turned to the red-headed brother. "Harryyy..."
Harry shrugged. "I know you work
best under pressure," he told William. "Are you sure you don't have any younger sisters?" he asked Lin .
Lin laughed.
"Wait
here," Wills told Lin. "I'll be right back." He returned, holding a wilted red rose. The only one out of dozens that survived
his outburst.
Lin took the limp flower from him. It was the most beautiful one she ever received. She looked into his eyes.
"Will
you be my girlfriend?" he asked.
"Oh, William," she gushed, hugging him tightly.
"And you said you wanted a secret from
me?" he recalled. He handed her something.
"What is it?" she whispered.
"My private address. My screenname. And telephone
number," he smiled. "And there's a certain matter of a kiss."
"William, you don't have to do that." knowing that she had
him back was enough for her.
"I may not have to. But I want to." He kissed her. There. In public. In front of everyone.
Everyone cheered.
A camera was filming everything.
"I told you I was a good kisser," he teased.
Lin wiped the
tears from her eyes. Darn him for making her cry! "I hate you." she said.
"I hate you too," he said equally. He kissed
her again.
"Look, mum," they heard a little girl's voice call. "It's Prince William's girlfriend."
Lin and Wills both
laughed.
They kissed again.
They stayed in that position for a very, very, VERY long time.
THE END
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