edited

|Adara De Clare|

Limousine parks outside my house and nerves rush through my body. I've never been to a royal event before, hell I've never even been to a party much less. My palms get sweaty and I rub them together then dry them on a towel. It doesn't help.

Ahhh, this is stressing me out. Why couldn't I just say no to Flora when she asked me if I was going to the event? I'm regretting it now. I'm heavily regretting it.

What if this dress is too informal? Flora said that it was an informal event so this dress is fine but what if it isn't?

Calm down, Adara. Remember she picked it out. She wouldn't have picked it out if she thought that it was perfect for the event. Just calm down. Everything's going to be alright.

I run downstairs, making sure not to hurt the dress in any way at all. I know Flora said that I could have it but nothing can happen to it. Nothing at all.

Someone knocks on my door and I open it, revealing Nikolai. He smiles once he sees me and his eyes fall down to the dress.

He has on his informal royal suit which is basically just the same pants but a different jacket. This jacket has the royal insignia on the top left of it, giving it very much 'boarding school' energy. Not that it's bad, it's not. It's great.

"You look as beautiful as ever." He breathes out, and blood rushes to my cheeks.

"Thank you," I say, my eyes making friends with the floor.

He extends one hand to me, the other in his pocket. "Ready?" He asks.

I nod but I don't take his hand. "What's wrong?" He notices my hesitance.

I swallow then I shake my head, "My palms are sweaty." I admit, embarrassed.

He exhales in a calm fashion, and he takes my hand anyway. "That's fine." He tells me, and I look up at him.

His wonderful, light brown eyes are looking down at me. His eyes drop down, looking at my lips just for a second then they go back up to my eyes.

I only have a little bit of eyeliner, eyeshadow, blush, and lipgloss on. I hope I look nice. Flora had the maids come over to my house while I was getting ready to do that for me, along with my hair.

We get into the limo and I bite my lower lip.

"Is everything alright?" Nikolai asks me and I exhale.

Is everything alright? No, not really, I don't want to go to this event. It gives me anxiety. I don't know anyone there. Literally, the only person I'll be comfortable around at that event is Nikolai, but I'm sure he'll have to go off and do other things, leaving me alone with strangers.

"No, I'm not. I don't know anyone there, I totally don't fit in, I just want to go back home and go under my covers." I admit to him, feeling my social anxiety come up.

It fills me like a cup, overflowing. I'm drowning in it and I don't know how to make it stop. My heart fills with anxious anticipation. My heart lurches with every thought of reaching our destination. I wish we could be in this limo forever.

Nikolai puts his arm around me. "I remember the feeling of attending my first event. I was mad because I didn't want to go but I was really using that anger as a way to hide how I truly felt. I was scared to the bone, I didn't want to go because I had anxiety about it. I also know that you can't just bury nor get rid of it, it's always there. Don't worry, I won't leave you. I'll be there the entire time right beside you, okay? At any time it gets so bad you can't stay anymore, just tell me and we'll leave."

The entire time he's telling me that, his eyes never leave mine and he looks at me with utter sincerity. I nod, swallowing the ball that had formed in my throat.

"Okay, but don't you have to go around and talk to people, you're the Prince aren't you?"

"I am, but that doesn't mean I have to leave you. I'm not going to." He says and I nod, understanding.

The limo pulls up at the palace, and the squeezing feeling in my chest gets rather worse. I swallow repeatedly, drinking some water trying to quell the feeling but it doesn't work.

Maybe I could just go now, there wouldn't really be any problem with it, would there?

Just breathe Adara, just breathe. You can do this, you can get through this. Just remember you have school tomorrow, focus on your troubles at school tomorrow, and everything will be alright today.

Besides, you're at an event for royals, think about how lucky you are to be here, do you have any idea of how many women and men crave to be here? A lot.

I don't feel lucky though, I feel like I'm about to vomit. I hate this feeling. I thought that it went away or at least it wasn't that bad but my anxiety is back, and this time, it's full force.

The limo parks and the driver gets out, opening the door for Nikolai and I. Nikolai gets out and he extends an arm out to me. Reassuring myself once more, I take his hand, getting out of the limo.

Once we're out, we don't walk in right away. He goes in front of me, and wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me into a hug. I wrap mine around him and we stay like that for a minute. Our hug lessens my anxiety by a little bit.

I don't want to puke anymore, and my mind is taken off of the event altogether. All I'm thinking about is Nikolai and his body pressed against mine, the scent of his cologne, the feeling of his hands around my body, and the feeling of mine on his back.

We part then he kisses my forehead, making warmth run through my body. "Let's go?" He asks me and I nod, taking a deep breath in.

"Let's go," I say then we walk into the palace with his arm around my waist.

Once we enter, all eyes turn to see us and many people chat amongst their peers. I try not to focus on them at all. Nikolai gives them no attention, and we walk over to our table with the King and Queen. We take our seats that have our names on them and I place my hands on my lap.

Okay, that wasn't so bad, maybe the entirety of this event is going to be like that.

Oh, who am I kidding? That was awful, absolutely terrible, there were so many people looking at us and talking to their peers. It can't be because of my dress, most of the women have on similar dresses.

I'm still very self-conscious about what I have on, however. I don't really want to look around at anyone though, I'm scared that they'll be able to tell that I obviously don't belong here. I'm only Nikolai's girlfriend, it's obvious to them that I don't belong here. I don't want to be looking around and spot them talking about me or giving me bad looks.

Oh God, this is heartwrenching.

I come out of my thoughts, and I realize that there's a conversation happening right now. The King and Queen are conversing about some meeting with another kingdom in a few months or so. Occasionally, they ask Nikolai a question and he'd reply with a 'yes', 'no', or just a hum.

"It is very important and I'm wondering how it'll all go. That's why you're parents have been out for so long, Adara." The King looks at me and I blink a few times.

"Oh, yeah, Nick told me about that. He said that they'd be gone for a week." I say, and the King nods.

"Unfortunately there's been an issue up there, and I'm afraid you're parents are staying a little longer than that. Nikolai's also told us that they haven't contacted you, that's because they need no distraction from their work. They're supposed to call you in a few days or so." He tells me and I nod.

Talking to their daughter is counted as a distraction? Wow.

Just then, a couple comes up to our table and they begin chatting the King and Queen out. Flora looks at me then at Nikolai. "Your highness, why don't you go chat up some royals and bring Adara with you. I'm sure many of them are curious about your girlfriend." She smiles, her eyes twinkling with care.

My brows crease. Could she have noticed that I was feeling nervous by being here?

Nikolai nods then he stands, pushing his chair back. He places one arm behind his back then he extends the other to me. I take it and I stand, we walk away from our table and we approach a guy talking to his peers.

He has on a similar jacket as Nikolai but the insignia is different. So he's another Prince? I look at his peers' jackets and it's the same with different insignias. They're all princes.

We approach them and the conversation they were having, dies down. They look at Nikolai then their eyes look down at me.

I suddenly become slightly self-conscious and nervous about their stare. The guy right in front of us, the one with another kingdom's insignia, makes the first move to talk to us.

He smiles at Nikolai and pats him on the back hard. I wince a little, ouch, that's got to hurt. He didn't even wince or anything, he barely moved.

"Hey man, oh so this is her. Finally, I get to meet her." The dark-haired, tall man says, looking at me with his hands behind his back. I twiddle my fingers together, feeling nervous. Everyone's looking at me, and I don't really know what to say.

"My name is Ezekiel. What's your's darling?" He asks, stepping right in front of me, and I slowly pick my head up, looking at him.

He has green eyes and a great face. He looks nice. Not as nice as Nikolai of course, but nice.

"Adara," I tell him, my voice small.

His eyes widen a little when he hears what my voice sounds like. "You're voice is heaven, darling, and so is your name." He compliments me and I smile.

"Thank you," I say, my voice still small.

I think this is what my voice always sounds like when I get nervous. I don't really like it, but what can I do about it?

"Come, sit at our table, we have much to ask you." He tells me, putting his hands in his pockets. I swallow. I don't know, should I?

I look up at Nikolai and he's giving me the look that tells me it's alright to go. I don't want to go alone though, I want him to come with me.

Will you come with me?

'Of course.'

I nod, "Okay." Then he smiles in contentment, turning away and walking off to their table. I follow behind with Nikolai holding my hand. Just as we reach the table, Ezekiel pushes Nikolai back by a little.

"I think I heard Farrah asking for you." He says then Nikolai looks at me, hesitating to leave.

It's okay, you can go.

He looks at me warily then he removes his hand from mine and he walks off to wherever this 'Farrah' is.

Ezekiel gestures to the seat and I take a seat and so do the others. At the seat, I play with my fingers, feeling rather nervous. My heart is palpitating so fast, I squeeze my fingers tight, trying to get them to stop shaking. My breathing becomes a bit shallow and quick, no one can hear it, but I'm stressing over my breathing and how stressed and nervous I feel right now.

"So, Adara," A tall dark-skinned prince calls my name and I look up at him. "How did you and the Prince meet? You're not a princess, are you?"

I shake my head, "No, I'm not. We met through my parents. They're the royal family's lawyers." I tell them.

I don't know if they know about the contract so I tell them the half-lie, half-truth version. Ezekiel looks at me as if he knows that I'm lying. The corner of his mouth is slightly upturned in a smirk and his eyebrows raise a little.

Does he know? I mean, out of all of them, he seemed to be the only one that is really close with Nikolai. He did slap him on the back. If anyone else tried to do that, they'd get their arm broken. . .I think.

The dark-skinned prince smiles at me, nodding, "So you must love him a lot. We all know he loves you, he admitted it in that interview." He tells me, with a smile.

I'm extremely wary and nervous.

Right, of course, he did do that. I can't say that I love him, because, I don't. Could I love him? No, right? Yes? Well, the point is that I don't love him. We do have to uphold appearances though. If he says that he loves me―which I'm 100% sure he doesn't― and I don't, it would look really bad. Why would a girl dating the Vampire Prince not love him? I think it would be the other way around. I'd love him but he wouldn't.

My mouth opens and closes, and I stutter. Dang it, could I not make it anymore obvious that I don't love him? What on earth is wrong with me?

My palms become sweaty again, and a ball forms in my throat which I swallow, trying to get rid of it. I try to keep myself calm and answer it in a way that wouldn't give anything away, but I can't even say a word without feeling like I'm about to melt and die on the floor.

I want Nikolai to come back. Why couldn't he have been here and answered these questions for me? He's great at that. I'm not.

Just then, Ezekiel turns to the Prince who's very curious about my love life, "Why don't you leave her alone with her love life, Amon? You can clearly see how it is, it's going great. Why don't we ask better questions than those boring ones? Questions like: Why did you and your ex-boyfriend break up?" He angles at me.

My eyes widen and anxiety overtakes me. H-How does he know that?

Based on my wide eyes, parted mouth, and shocked expression, he answers my burning question, "You're dating my best friend, I think it's only fair that I know things about you, such as that relationship with your ex. You guys dated when you were fourteen then broke up suddenly at fifteen. From what I found out, he was twe—"

In a sudden motion, I get up from my chair, "Stop! M-May I be excused?" I ask, feeling flustered, and more anxious than I've ever been in my life. Gosh! I can barely speak properly.

Ezekiel nods with a satisfied smile, and I turn on my heels, walking off. Where? I have no idea. I mean, I don't know where I'm going. This is a big palace. I don't know where to go nor where I'm going. My feet step one foot in front of the other. I turn round corners, and go down and up flights of stairs until I find myself behind the doors leading to a garden.

Great, how will I get out when I need to? This is perfect. Oh, my goodness! What is wrong with you, Adara? You just walked off in front of six Princes. That's rude, after all, he was just asking a question. I didn't have to get so scared.

I turn around, resting my head against the glass doors that lead to the garden. I bang my head on the doors just a little, not hard at all. Why am I like this? What is wrong with me?

I close my eyes, and I slide down until my butt hits the ground. I don't care that this dress could possibly get dirty, I need to let it out, I need to let it all out right now. All my anxiety I had for coming here, the nervousness and stress, it all needs to be let out or else it'll kill me being pent up right now.

I bring my knees up to my chest and I hug them then I bury my head and I let the tears fall. I know that this will completely ruin my makeup but I don't care. I don't care anymore, I mean what they say is all right. They're all right about me. I am a crybaby.

Just then, I hear a whoosh and I feel a person's presence in here with me. Nikolai? Warmth fills my chest at the thought of him comforting me by wrapping his arms around me, and I lift my head, showing my tear-struck face.

Thank God, the maids only gave me eyeshadow and waterproof eyeliner. If I had on mascara, it would be running like crazy.

As I lift my face, expecting to see Nikolai, coldness fills me again at the sight of Ezekiel. What is he doing here? How did he find me?

He stands in front of me with his hands behind his back, and he observes me. What is he doing? Trying to get to know me to what? Protect his best friend? From me?

Ha! That's laughable.

He walks toward me and sits down beside me, "I'm sorry. I didn't know it would make you uncomfortable." He apologizes and my head turns to him in a slowed fashion. I'm not sure if he's telling the truth.

I nod, not saying anything. For a little while, there's silence and the occasional sniffle from me.

"I am really sorry, Adara. I shouldn't have pried into your personal business, and forgive me for this, but I wonder why you dated him when he was so much older than you?" He asks.

I let out a dry chuckle. I think Nikolai happens to be way older than him by maybe I don't know, a few millennia?

"I mean, for a human. It's normal to date Nikolai even though he's super old. He looks like a normal seventeen, eighteen, or even nineteen-year-old. It's a bit weird to date a human that's ten years older than you." He says and I bite my lower lip, not saying anything.

I don't want to answer that. That's my past, not even my parents know that. They won't know. Why can't he leave the past in the past?

"It's okay, you don't have to answer it. I am very sorry for prying, however. Could you forgive me?"

I nod. Sure why not? Let's just hope he doesn't say anything about it.

"You know you're getting your dress dirty." He comments with a smile, and my lips turn up a little.

"You're getting your suit dirty." I retort and he laughs.

"Touche."

'Where are you, Adara?' I hear Nikolai's frantic voice in my head.

By the garden.

'Stay there, I'm coming to get you. Are you alright?'

I pause. Am I okay?

Mm, is what I respond with.

Not even ten seconds later, Nikolai whooshes by. He sees me, and he runs toward me. "Are you okay?" He asks, brushing my hair out my face and putting it behind my ear.

I nod. He looks at his friend beside me then he helps me up. He notices the dried tears on my cheeks, my flushed face, puffy cheeks, and my lips. His expression changes and he places his hands on my cheeks.

"What happened? Why were you crying?" He asks.

I bite my lip, and his face twists into an angry one. His head snaps to Ezekiel. "You were to keep an eye on her. What did you do?!" He bellows at him. Ezekiel looks at me and I look at him.

This is it, the moment where he decides to tell Nikolai about my ex or not.

Breathe, Adara, breathe.

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