Royal Affections

Cheering student yells fill the air around me, the cool breeze whispers across my golden hair lightly ruffling it up. I look up and see all the graduation caps fly. I look to my right to see a beautiful brunette, my best friend Vic with a brighter smile I’ve not seen much on her face because of all the exams. Her green eyes shine bright as I expect mine to be replicating.

“We did it, Haley!” She shouts while we pull each other into a hug.

“We did it Vicky!” We laugh and jump around lost in our world.

As of two minutes ago, we are officially graduates of Alasia School for the Creative Arts. I finally got my degree in fine art whereas Vic chose to do her course in literature, I’ve always been more creative with art and trying new techniques in sketching, Vic has always loved to write and shows me a few of her works and I tell her how she should publish but I get the look. The look is that it’s a dream she can never go for and I understand, she has too many responsibilities at home.

Our parents have known each other since we attended the same baby group when I was three months old and Vic was two and a half months. It’s all thanks to our parents for allowing us to see each other whenever we could. Since we lead very different lives, we each begged them to let us attend this school for the creative arts together.

“Since we are finally eighteen…” I start and Vic continues, “and we both have successful grades each…”

I carry on while both of us hold each other’s hands so strong. “And I got my confirmation of a scholarship a few days ago…” god you would think Vic was giving birth with the grip she has on my hand. “We did everything you asked of us both for the past two years.” Her shaky voice lingers. I can’t wait any longer. “Can we attend Alasia School and live together in the dorms?”

Our fathers look to one another. The look of slightly letting go of their little girls. Dad doesn’t have to worry, I’ll always be his little girl, I’m the shortest in my class.

“You can both attend the school for the next three years.” Vic’s father, Jonathan Hastings says in his study. Vic inherited his strong green eyes and her mother Raven Hastings chestnut hair. My best friend and I both have massive smiles on each of our faces.

Another deep voice fills the study. “Under two conditions. One: Be on our best behaviour.” My father, Jackson Ray says. His hair has gotten a little more grey at the sides ever since I told him about wanting to study and stay in dorms with Vic.

A lighter more feminine voice enters, “Two: No Relationships. We don’t want you to focus too much on boys and not enough on your studies. Also Raven and I are not ready to be Grandmothers just yet.” This sentence has both our fathers coughing as if they swallowed something and it went down the wrong hole.

Ha! That’s what she said! I crack myself up.

My mother, Genevieve laughs with Raven on the other side of her quietly. Her blonde hair shines in the low light, her light blue eyes zoning in on me winking. I wink back.

To ease their worries I say, “No bad behaviour and no babies. Got it.” The whites in my father’s eyes should be studied. Vic and I both laugh and run out the door shouting thanks.

That was three years ago, we are now turning twenty and I thought being eighteen would scare me. Wrong. Turning twenty-one is scaring me shitless. I need to figure out my career. At least when I was younger I had school to occupy my time.

Mum said relationships would distract me from my studies. I just think she doesn’t want another guy to break my heart. The jokes on her, I’ll break the guy’s heart before he even gets close to mine.

Relationships are the last thing on my mind, I got to be with my best friend for the whole three years. Anyway, in my case, all the males who attend here live off their parent’s money, and it costs a lot to attend here. They boast about going on boats and what cars they own.

Millionaires are only interesting to me when they’re fictional.

I got a scholarship since I worked so hard to show my and Vic’s parents we both deserve to attend school together. Vic’s parents offered us the tuition for my fine art degree course at Alasia, which was sweet of them but way too much. Besides I will feel like I’d need to repay them but I don’t have anything to give them. I could offer to wash their cars but from an incident that happened a few years ago I am banned from going close to any of them, I didn’t realise that I was washing the car with wax instead of polish. I was wondering why it was so shiny yet slippery.

I want to earn my place and if that means going through it the harder way then so be it. I went through the next few years of college working my ass off for the scholarship that I got and have never felt so proud. Vic and I don’t go partying, it’s not who we are. So instead we would binge-watch Friends for the comedy and One Tree Hill for the drama. One Tree Hill was my example of how messy relationships can be and Chandler and Monica showed me how a beautiful relationship can be.

A man with a suit and sunglasses approaches us from the side talking into an earpiece while looking up at the stands. Where our parents were sitting in their private box, they are now gone.

“The Hastings and Rays are waiting for you by the airport.” I think his name is Rick.

Vic speaks, “That was fast.”

“Well, we can’t be too careful ma’am.” At this formality, Vic rolls her eyes.

“Just Vicky or Vic please Rick.” She sighs remembering what her reality is. It is Rick I was right.

“So Ricky, are you coming with us to the airport or do you have your car.” His face is not amused, dark grey hair and wrinkles show how long he’s been serving Vic’s family. I’m pretty sure there weren’t so many when we were younger. Huh.

“It’s Rick.” He replies. “And I will be driving you both to the airport.”

“Lead the way, Ranger Rick.” I can tell that if I weren’t friends with the family he works for he would strand me in the desert and have me walk back for miles.

“Just Rick.” He starts to move away from me as we follow behind him.

“Okay, Ricky. Ricky boy. Rick the dick…” at the last nickname he stops and I see his shoulders tense and I swear I hear him counting down from ten. I couldn’t care less since I then felt Vic trying to cover a laugh. I could feel her getting sad when she saw the bodyguard approaching which set her back to the real world and her future. So I said it for a laugh, I know Rick knows the same but plays along with me.

We get into the fancy black Aston Martin and get driven twenty minutes to a private airport. Once outside the private jet owned by the Hastings, we meet our parents inside. Once they see both of us, the tears start. I rush to hug my mother who is dabbing her eyes with my father’s handkerchief. Vic heads over to hers hugging them and hearing their congratulations.

We are all saying goodbye for now while The Hastings head back to their family home which is a few hours jet ride to the countryside that is home to the country Deltoria.

“I’m so proud of you. My baby, you did it. I always knew you could do it.” She sniffles as I hug her to me. She has been my biggest inspiration since I was little, but if my father asks it’s an even score between the two. Mum created her own company to help raise money for the less fortunate. Teaching me from an early age how to be grateful for everything no matter how small.

“Congratulations girls,” Jonathan announces. I snuggle into Mum’s side while she brushes my hair with her fingers. A habit I never want her to give up.

“Haley,” he continues. “Since you both have worked so hard and deserve the degrees you achieved. I take it that you’re thinking of what to do for a career?” He asks expectantly.

“Honestly I just wanted to get this degree out the way. I have not thought about what to do now.”

“Good.” That is all he says.

“Sorry Sir,” Jonathan corrects me. “How many times Haley? It’s Jon to you.” He says with a smile. Even though he has been basically like my second father to me, his title intimidates me and I would rather be formal now I’m older.

“I am confused. Why is that good?” I ask.

“Well, since you need to find out what you want to do and Victoria needs to have some fun before the summer ends and she steps up to her responsibilities, why don’t you come back with us and stay for the remainder of the year? Only if you would like to of course.” I look to Vic seeing her look astonishingly at her father as if this is the first she has heard of the idea.

He continues, “I have spoken to your parents and offered them to stay too.” I turn to them expectantly.

Mum starts, “You know we would love to. But I’m expanding the company to a bigger space and your father has had a lot on his plate at the moment with all the computers coming in to be fixed. You deserve this sweetheart.” She kisses my forehead. “I want calls every night you hear me.” I laugh and nod.

I turn to Dad. He doesn’t like me growing up. Trust me I’m not thrilled either.

“Dad?” I want to know what he says because I’ve always looked up to him. Literally and figuratively.

“Go have fun. But I mean it, if one bad thing happens or something goes wrong or just want to come home, we will always be here for you.” Just when I think he’s done he goes on, “Especially come home if you find a boy you like, better yet I’ll buy a plane ticket and fly out to you.”

“You think that I’ll find someone?” I gasp sarcastically, he looks at me deadpan.

“Well I didn’t think you’d graduate but you proved me wrong on that one.” Oh, he is good.

“Touché, old man.” I laugh.

Rick’s radio goes off alerting the pilot is ready to take off and to load the passengers.

“The jet is ready to depart Your Majesty-“ but just as we are about to load the jet a bang goes off and screaming can be heard and both Vic and I get shoved to the floor.

“GET DOWN!”

“PROTECT THE ROYALS!”

“ARE YOU OKAY PRINCESS?” Rick yells to Vic.

Or should I say…

Her Royal Highness, Princess Victoria Rose Hastings of Deltoria.

My summer is about to get a lot more interesting…

Authors note:

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I hope you enjoy this story!