Brother: Chapters 4-6

Chapter Four
Ash sat down in her seat, bored to death. She wished she could have someone interesting to talk to. Like Harry. She was sure he had a lot of stories to tell being part of the world's most scrutinized family. But she remembered their last encounter. She could barely get within talking distance with him before he'd move away. She glanced around to make sure no one was looking. She breathed into her curved palms and smelled. No, she didn't have halitosis (bad breath). So what made Harry run for cover everytime she came near? It was very disturbing to her.
"Hello," someone greeted as he sat beside her.
"Hello," Ash responded, instinctively. She tried to ignore the person next to her. She really wasn't in the mood to talk.
"You were daydreaming."
"Was I?" Ash replied, still not looking at him.
"Were you daydreaming of me?"
A smile played on her lips. If you're Henry Windsor...she thought deliciously. She was about to say it aloud. "Well if you're-" she turned. Ah, Prince William! But she hid her surprise behind a cool facade.
William pulled his chair closer to her. "I noticed you looking at me."
I was looking at Harry. She was tempted to glare at him but stopped herself. "How would you know I was looking at you if you weren't looking at me?" she countered.
"Beautiful and observant," William drawled.
Feeling uncomfortable, she gave him a slow smile which many producers had described as dazzling.
He stuck out his hand. "I'm Prince William."
"Prince William? Prince William? Never heard of him," she shrugged, showing off her perfect pale skin.
He laughed. "So where are you from?"
"Mt. Olympus," she smiled. "We don't hear much about princes there."
He laughed again.
Oh my! He fell for that line?
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty." she said, tossing her head, letting her hair glimmer as it fell back into place. "Ashley Nicole Starrlington."
"And what's a beautiful girl like you doing in a place like this?"
Ash wanted to laugh. That line must've been directly from "The World's Corniest Pick-up Lines" book. She bit her lower lip. From the doorway of the room Daphne was giving her the thumbs-up sign. Ash also noticed the jealous looks of several other girls around the room. Yeah, she could see her name linked with William's in tomorrow's headlines. Ash Starrlington gets murdered after talking to Royal Heir. Crazed fanatics to blame... She turned to William. "I'm sorry. Did you say something?"
William took a deep breath. How was he going to bring Harry into the conversation? "Do you like younger guys?"
She smiled. "Why? Are you offering?"
William drew back a little. "I'm younger than you?"
"I'm a day older than you," Ash informed.
Hmmm, scratch that introduction idea, William thought. He tapped his fingers on the table. "Do you like video games?"
Ash looked at William. Where was he getting these questions? "I can hold my own," she replied.
Harry would like that, William observed. "What about football?"
"Football. That's the sport with big guys in shoulder pads, a brown thing is place under one of their armpits, and the main goal is to hurt people?"
She must be American, William assumed. "I meant soccer."
"Oh, yeah, guys in shorts running after a black and white ball. Marvelous sport."
Can you say ditz? William thought.
At the look William was giving her she wanted to shake him by the shoulders and laugh out, "I'm only joking!" But she didn't. If it had been Harry she wouldn't have any problems. But William just didn't seem like the guy you shook by the shoulders. For one thing he was tall.
William smiled at her.
Silence.
Ash thought, this sucks. "Excuse me- I have to go to the little ladies' room."

Ash vomited.into the toilet bowl. She held her hair away from her face as she forced everything out. She wasn't bulimic...but when the oppurtunity arose, she made the most of it. She went to the sink and gargled her mouth clean. Daphne entered the room and glared at her through the mirror.
Ash knew a speech was coming.
Daphne waited for the last girl to leave before speaking. She locked the door. "What are you doing in here?"
"Puking my guts out," Ash stated the obvious. She was going to have a relationship with William? How could that be if everytime she was near him she turned hot and cold?
"I mean, why aren't you out there?" Daphne pointed to the ballroom. "I saw you. You did more in a few minutes what the rest of the females in the room had tried to accomplish in three hours. William talked to you. William smiled at you. You're not going to let him get away."
Ash thought of the boring talk she had with William earlier. She had more interesting conversations witth the wall in her room.
Daphne took a lipstick tube from her purse and refreshened Ash's make-up. "I want you to bat your eyes. I want you to purse your lips. Shake your bum a little if that's what it'll take!"
"Daphne..." Ash objected.
Daphne brushed Ash's hair. "Flip your hair a little. Giggle."
"Daphne..."
"Bye, now," Daphne said, pushing her outside.
Ash loooked around the room. William was still waiting for her at the table.

William stood by the buffet table.
Taking a deep breath, Ash put her on her dazzling smile again and approached him. "Hi." She stood next to him. "Miss me?" she asked.
"A second away from your beauty is like a thousand years in darkness," William said.
From the "Corniest Line Book" again. Ash thought. What did Daphne say? Giggle? Ash giggled. She looked at his strong upper arms. "Do you work out?" She asked. What else did Daphne say? Bat her eyes? Ash did so.
William wondered where this was all coming from. She had barely been speaking to him earlier. And now she was sending all these signals. "A little," he said modestly. How to bring Harry into the picture?
"I can tell," Ash said. "I bet you look really good.... all sweaty."
Not knowing what to say to that William smiled politely.
Boy, whoever said the way to man's haert is through his ego got it right. William seemed to be eating this all up.
"Swimming's my work out."
"Mmmm," Ash purred. "A swimsuit. Even better."
William racked his brains. he had to bring Harry into the picture. And this conversation was geting uncomfortable. "You know Harry really li-"
Ash reached over and squeezed William's biceps.

Harry went back into the room. He knew why he was so uptight with Ash. It was so simple. He was in a suit! The tie was cutting off oxygen to his brain. He was going to go up to her and invite her for an afternoon at his house. Where he'll be wearing jeans and be able to talk with her in comfort. He stopped in his tracks at what he saw. William was talking to Ash! And Ash was touching Wills upper arm. And they were both smiling. He got the first bottle at the bar and bolted out of the room.

"What were you saying about Harry?" Ash asked.
William stared at the hand on his arm. "What?"
"You were saying something about your vrother," Ash reminded.
"Oh yeah," William said. "It was- It was-" She touched his arm! was all he could think about. "I forgot what i was going to say." William confessed.
"Oh," Ash said, a little disappointed. She leaned towards him and in her swooniest voice sighed, "Do you know you have the most captivating eyes?"
William nodded, backing slightly away, "I've been told."
Ash smiled. Hating herself for it, she allowed one of her spaghetti straps to fall of her shoulder.
William eyes followed the thin piece of cloth. He smiled and lifted it back on her shoulder. He looked at the stuffed eggs on a tray behind her. I have to eat. Maybe I can think of a better way to talk to her about Harry when I have glucose running in my veins. He leaned over.
Ash's stomach felt queasy. Oh my gosh he was leaning in for a kiss. This was it. This is what Murray wanted. The headlines were as good as printed. But what about what she wanted? She didn't want to be known as one of William's flavors of the week. She threw a glass of punch in his face.
The feel of liquid coming up his nostrils caused the prince to open his eyes.
"I'm sorry," Ash said, cool facade gone. She ran out of the room.
William looked out the door and watched her leave. He shrugged. That was weird. But he could savor confusion, within no time several girls ran up to him and offered him kerchiefs to wipe his face with.

Chapter Five
Ash went out into the garden. She saw the unmistakable red hair. Oh good. Harry. Surely he could help her. "Excuse me-'' she said as politely as she could. "But do you know where-"
Harry exploded. "No, I do not know where William is!" several girls ahd already passed him by asking that same question over and over. "He probably went there," he pointed to the right. "Or there," he pointed to the left. "Or maybe he went both ways," he gestured, crossing his arms.
Ash tried to speak, "Um-"
But Harry was too riled up to let her. "What am I? Some kind of information agent for my brother? What's your brother's favorite color? What's your brother's favorite music? What's your brother's favorite snack? Your brother. Your brother. Your brother. Your brother. I'm so sick of it!"
"Um," Ash held up her hand in uncertainty.
But he was far from over. "The spare! Do you know what it's like going through your life sounding like a Goodyear tire? Do you?"
"Uh...."
"Of course you don't!" he turned away from her. "Prince William's brother," he laughed slightly. "Sounds almost like a title, doesn't it? Like His Royal Highness? It'll be my title when I visit the Sahara and Antarctica. Penguins and camels are going to point at me and go 'there goes Prince William's brother.'"
"You see I was just trying to-" Ash said in a rush.
Harry cut in. "I know what you were trying to do. You were going to use me to get to my brother, weren't you?"
Ash fidgeted.
"I knew it!" Harry crowed triumphantly. "Well, forget it. I am so sick of being the informative officer! I'm sick of being the spare! I'm so sick of falling in love with girls who tolerate me just so they can get to Wills. That stops now! It stops here! Darn it, when a girl says she likes me I want her to like me for who I am. Me. Not the spare. Not Wills' younger brother. I want her to like me for me! ME!"
Ash let out a breath. "Thank you for informing me. But-"
But? Harry snapped at the word. He had just spilled his guts out and there was a but? "Do you know what it's like? To live with perfection next to you every single day of your life? You go nuts! Soon, you're in a hotel garden holding--" he stared at the bottle in his hand "--an unopened bottle of Perrier, screaming at--" his eyes grew wide as he recognized who he was yelling at. "Oh my gosh! Ash Starrlington."
Ash nodded. "That would be me."
Harry's mouth dropped open.
Ash enunciated every word so he couldn't miss what she was saying. "I was just asking if you could direct me to the restroom?"
Harry's mouth remained open.
"There's this really long line outside the one in the lobby. I was thinking since you've been here often enough you might know another alternative?"
Harry laughed at himself. "Sure. There's one the one next to the changing rooms for the pool. It's around that corner."
"I don't need it now," Ash said. Her words came out slowly in case one of them might trigger another outburst.
He noticed her shiver. "Are you cold?" he asked.
Ash shook her head, she wasn't cold. She was scared of him. But his suit jacket went around her despite her protests. Ash looked into his eyes. Those eyes that had been fired with jealousy and envy a while ago was now filled with concern. Concern for her she realized. She stopped being afraid.
"Um, I'm not used to spouting out pick-up lines like my brother so forgive me if theis doesn't come out right: what's a beautiful girl like you doing in a place like this?"
Ash laughed. Coming from William it was the snobby pick-up line for what it was. But coming from Harry its sounded so innocent. As if he didn't know if he was saying it correctly. And that made it sweet. "I came to seduce your brother," she answered truthfully, laughing.
"Hmmm. Well, at least you're honest about it."
"You got it wrong. I not nutzoid about him. It's--" She told him Murray's scheme. "Do you know I hate this dress?" She did a full turn in front of him. "Do you think it makes me look fat?"
Harry's eyebrows went up. "No."
"You sure? What about the skirt?" She hiked it up a millimeter. "Is it too short?"
Legs. "No," Harry's voice came as a squeak.
She covered herself up with Harry's coat. Now, she was cold. "I can't believe they expected me to go after your brother in a dress that has as much coverage as a bikini and in cheap high heel shoes that cost no more than five bucks." Ash undid the straps and took the shoes off. "Well, I guess Will liked it." She remembered the spaghetti strap.
I noticed, Harry thought.
Ash kicked off her high-heels which were making her feet ache.
"I couldn't do it, Henry," Ash said. "I was this close to having my name linked with him in the paper and I couldn't do it. I could diet. Stay up till four memorizing an act. I have to. I'm an actress. It's part of the job. But getting a guy for publicity - I couldn't do it. It would be as if the last of my morals disappeared." She tilted her head to the side. "You and I have very similar professions, Henry. We both perform for the world."
"Yeah, but have you ever tried to follow an act as big as William?"
"You seem to get along well with your brother."
"I get along with William fine. As fine as any siblings can tolerate one another. It's his fame I can't stand. Or my lack of it," he added.
Ash cocked her head to one side. "You don't show it."
"Actors are not only found on movie screen and TV sets," Harry told her. "Like you said. We both perform for the world." Why did he feel comfortable sharing this with her? "I really shouldn't be telling you this. You probably have more important things to do than listen to me whine."
Ash looked at him.
"No," he gave her a smile. "Really, I'm fine."
You're acting, Harry. Ash thought as she saw his fists tighten at his sides and the tears he was bravely holding back. "C'mon William's not all that." she found herself saying.

Chapter Six
Yikes! Did she say that? She checked around the corner to see if sure anyone heard her. She could get in major trouble for William bashing. But when she looked back at Harry she didn't care. Wasn't Harry's self-esteem worth it? And she wanted to see him smile again. The way he did at the beginning of the night. Carefree and genuine. That was the goal: to make Harry smile.
Harry stared at her as if she had just spoken Japanese. "What?"
"I said: William's not all that." Ash repeated, the words made her throat tighten. Eyes dart around fearfully. No girl heard that, right? Right?! Sure looked like it. No one was rushing out to strangle her.
"Sure!" Harry, agreed sarcastically. Did he need to enumerate all of William's good qualities to her? He hoped not. It would be pure torture. William's attractive. Intelligent. Championship swimmer. Going to be king of England. Has the title of world's most eligible bachelor. Has girls swooning for him right and left...And he wasn't all that? Harry rolled his eyes. He might not be as smart as William but he wasn't stupid either.
Ash, felt like kicking herself. Of couse he saw through her. Lacking in words, Ash put her arm around him.
Harry raised his eyes to meet hers. Why was her arm was around him?
When Harry gave her a strange look she immediately placed her hand in her lap. He must've not liked the gesture.
"William is- William is-" she stuttered looking for a flaw.
Harry waited.
"Well, there's some disadvantage to being him," she faltered.
Harry waited.
"William. William." Ash looked at the sky for answers.
Harry nodded in a knowing manner. She can't find any disadvantage, he thought. I've been trying my since birth and I haven't found anything. And I'm his brother! He's Mr. Perfect. And I'm inferior. Plain and simple.
"William Arthur Phillip Louis Mountbatten-Windsor," Ash dragged the name out slowly. "Boy, your brother has a lot of L's in his name," she said more softly. "It sounds like you're gurgling when you say it. Harry is so much better. Henry Charles Albert David." She winked. " All those R's sound like a caress." She hadn't thought about it before but once she said it she felt it was true.
Harry said nothing.
Okay, that didn't work. Ash thought, rubbing her neck worriedly. "William's nose is too big!" she sputtered. "And- and," Ash struggled again. "His feet are big too!" She had no idea why she felt like giggling. When Harry touched his nose and smiled she knew she was doing something right. "And his teeth are big. And-"
Harry laughed.
Victory! Ash thought. "And he can't compete with your laughter."
He immediately became quiet.
Shoot! Ash frowned. The thing I really mean and he doesn't think it's true. Desperate, she blurted out. "He'll be maggot food first." Damn! Where did that come from?
"Excuse me?"
"Well, he's older so he'll biologically decompose earlier than you," Ash reworded, nervously.
After a moment's pause Harry asked in a tiny voice. "And that's supposed to make me feel better?"
Okay, not the greatest example, Ash thought to herself. Gee, ya think? another part of her asked. "I got it," Ash tried again. "Your height! You and William are trapped in a burning building. An entrance way is low. You glide through the flaming opening.William's too tall so it takes him that vital second to bend over and -"
"He dies...?" Harry's voice trailed off.
I should put a stop to this! Ash thought. But her mouth seemed to have a mind of its own as she rambled, "And don't forget that he's going to be the next king. Target for assassins and-"
"Is there an advantage that I have where he doesn't die?" Harry pointed out meekly. "I don't want him to die. He's still my brother."
"That's good!" Ash said a little louder than she meant to. It's just that she was so happy (hyper?). "It's good you don't want your brothder to die." This meant that sibling rivalry hadn't gotten up to Cain and Abel status yet. "Good. Very good thing!" She bit her lower lip. Shutting up sounded like a good plan right about now.
He knew she didn't mean anything bad by what she said. But involuntarily they brought back bad reminders. Harry tried to shake it off. And he could understand her worry. The drama he played earlier didn't exactly show the height of mental stability. He tried to not think of - He looked off to a far place. She didn't mean anything bad by it.
There was an uncomfortable pause. One that Ash wished heavily away.
After a while Harry broke it with, "I just want- I just want-"
Ash leaned close to him. "What do you want, Harry?" she whispered.
Now that he had to put it into words it was harder for him. "I want- I want- I want girls to fall at my feet. Kiss my knees," he almost laughed at the thought. "Sing out my name? Like they do with William... I don't know!"