The Choosing Game

Ego

Alex's POV:

I kept tossing and turning last night thinking about Lilly. What happened to her? Who hurt her this badly? She was crying last night and she didn't even notice. Oddly enough i wanted to hurt whoever it was that made her this way.

I got up dressed in a white shirt and gray slacks and made my way to the dinning room.

"Good morning" i greeted to everyone at the table.

"You look terrible dear," mother said with a pitiful smile.

"I feel terrible too"i grunted

"If you are coming down with something please go to the clinic. I need you healthy for the polo tournament next week," father said looking at my tired face. I just nodded not having the energy to argue.

"I'm taking the girls out for the whole day today but Emily called in, saying Lady Lilliana wasn't feeling well," mother said catching my attention. "I was hoping you would take the doctor to her. Wouldn't want anyone getting sick on our watch" she said leaning in kissing dad and leaving the room.

Finishing with breakfast i went straight to girl's quarters. Most of them had already gone to meet my mother, i said hi to the few that were still there, walked to Lilly's door and knocked.

"Come in" came Emily's voice. I entered, Lilly immediately sat up and winched in pain and Emily just gave me a sad smile.

"My mother said you're unwell. I will call the doctor to come check on you" i said observing her carefully. She had eye bags matching mine and winched once in a while.

"No that isn't necessary, i don't need to see the doctor" she said and turned to Emily "you should go, i'll be fine, don't keep the queen waiting" she forced a smile at her friend. Emily nodded and left the room leaving us alone.

"Of course its necessary for a doctor to examine you, you're in pain"

"Its nothing i can't handle. Please just let it be," she said stubbornly.

"You flinch at every little movement you make and you say you are fine." I moved closer to her and put my hand on her temple, it was a bit warm. "What is hurting?" i asked softly. She turned her face away from me.

Alright, two can play at this game. I turned and left the room.

I came back carrying a tray of breakfast with Dr. Grace trailing behind me and knocked on her door. I heard her mumble a come in. We stepped in to the room she looked up and groaned causing me to chuckle.

"Dr. Grace ask lady Liliana what is wrong maybe she will tell you" i said setting the tray on the bedside.

"Hello Lady Liliana. I'm Dr Grace, what seems to be the problem here?" She asked her smiling.

Lilly looked flushed " i told him I didn't need a doctor. I'm just having cramps" she said lowly. That was when i realized she was blushing causing me to let out an unconscious chuckle at the discomfort. No wonder she was more pissed than usual.

"I'm glad you find my situation amusing" she turned more red with embarrassment.

Dr.Grace cleared her throat "Your highness do you mind waiting outside for a minute please?"

After a few minutes Dr Grace emerged from the room and smiled at me "i have prescribed some pain medications for her. She should be fine, it's nothing serious really"

I went back inside the room and found she did not touch her food. I picked the tray up and sat down with it beside her on the bed. I could feel her panic but I chose to ignore it.

"What are you doing? I've seen the doctor I'm better now, you can leave" she said sternly

I moved even closer to her. My face was a few inches from hers " i am going anywhere. I'm going to stay and take care of you babe" I winked and moved back.

"Eat" I commanded as I picked the remote up changing the channel.

She sighed and picked up a croissant pecking on it like a bird. I passed a channel that was doing a rerun of friends.

"Go back I want to watch that" she said. I put the show on and we sat there in silence.

I wasn't watching the show instead i was watching Lilly. She was so fascinated by the show she didn't even notice me, she was giggling like a school girl and occasionally she would laugh, as in laugh wholeheartedly and let me tell you it was indeed a rare and beautiful sight.

"What?" she caught me staring.

"You're are beautiful especially when you're laughing"

I finally started enjoying the show as she started explaining the characters to me. For a few minutes she was quiet, i turned to see her sleeping so peacefully. i dimmed the lights for her to sleep longer. A few minutes later I felt myself yawning and the sweet darkness of sleep consumed me.

.........................

I woke up to a comforting warmth and a sweet lavender scent. I felt something move under me snuggling deeper into my chest, I looked down and i saw her 'Lilly' her blonde locks all over her face, I reached out and swept the hair from her face. Her beautiful eyes closed but I could see her long light lashes with her small but sharp nose and her plum red lips all perfectly aligned on her beautiful face.

I couldn't help but to keep starting at her. I felt her move as if she was beginning to wake, i felt paralyzed, I couldn't move. She opened her eyes and looked at me in confusion and she quickly moved away.

"Ermm I'm going to take a bath now" she said in a sleepy voice. 'God it was sexy' I thought.

"I'll freshen up too" i got up heading to the door

"I want to show you something when you are done" i said holding my breath, hoping she would say yes.

"OK. I'll meet you out in ten"

To say i was surprised would be an understatement, she didn't even put up a fight.

Liliana's POV:

I woke up to a calming warmth, i did not want to move, I wanted to stay there for as long as I could but I suddenly realized i was snuggled up in something or rather someone. I looked up to find Alex staring at me. I quickly moved away and out of the bed.

"Ermm I'm going to take a bath now" i said my voice gruff from the sleep.

"I'll freshen up too" he said heading towards the door then stopped, "I want to show you something when you are done" he added, pleading with his eyes

"OK. I'll meet you out in ten" It wouldn't hurt to hang out just for today. I didn't feel like being alone right now.

I took a hot shower and dressed in some jeans shorts, white tank top and a knee length kimono, i tossed my hair in a bun and made my way out.

i met Alex outside. I don't know why but my heart skipped a beat. He was wearing cargo shorts and a black tee as i got closer my nostrils were filled with the sweet scent of his chocolate mint cologne, his hair still damp from the shower he took. i collected myself and moved closer to him.

"Shall we?"he asked gesturing me to walk with him

"where exactly are you taking me?" i asked as we head towards the north keep

"its a surprise" he said grinning ear to ear

"I hate surprises"i mumbled and kept following him

"You are an Enigma, my Lady" he chuckled at his own little joke. We have now passed the north-keep and are now heading into the forest behind it.

"Where are you taking me to?"i asked a little bit worried.

"Your lack of trust in me is really hurtful"he said clutching his chest feigning hurt.

"Well, excuse my lack of trust in you at the moment, because no normal person will be trying to show me 'something' at the extreme end of the castle in the forest, for all i know you could be leading me to my doom" i said overly dramatic. He just laughed at my response not giving anything away.

We walked further into the forest and he suddenly stopped causing me to halt too.

I looked up to see the reason why we stopped and i was shocked beyond words. it was a beautiful creek with calm flowing clear water, trees of different shapes, size and color and pretty birds singing softly into the wind.

"How did you know?"not believing he would actually know all this without help

"i called Sophia this morning when you were with the doctor" he said smiling sheepishly. "I had a feeling you were a little bit home sick"

i smiled too and moved closer to edge of the waterfall. i started taking off my sandals and kimono.

"what are you doing?" he asked moving closer to me, he sounded a bit worried.

"Going for a swim" i simply replied.

"You are not planning on pulling another prank like you did on the yacht, are you?" he asked eying me carefully.

i just laughed and jumped into the water. "Oh my God the water feels great"i screamed into the air.

In no time Alex joined me. we swam around for almost an hour, embracing the calmly silence of the surrounding.

"are you home sick?"Alex blurted out swimming closer.

I stayed quiet for a while, not knowing where the question came from " i miss home, yes." i finally said

"Was that the reason why you were crying last night in my sister's room?" he asked softly, looking at me intently, gazing into my soul.

I looked down at my wrinkled fingers in the water and started playing with them.

He moved closer to me until he was really close, he put his index finger under my chin and pulled up my face till i was looking at him. His sweet scent even stronger in the water.

"Who hurt you? Who made you build this many walls around your heart?" he asked softly. i felt a tear slip out of my eye. He used his finger and wiped it away "I want to hurt that person badly" he gritted through his clenched teeth.

I hate feeling this way. i hate not being able to hold it in, whenever tears escape my eyes i feel so vulnerable and i hate it. i knew how weak and pathetic i must have looked in his eyes but what i hated the most was the fact that i was giving me most closely guarded secret out because i couldn't hold back my stupid tears.

I pulled away from his hold "you!" i said with a blank face

"I?" he asked, looking confused.

"Yes you! you are hurting me by not letting me go" i said stubbornly "why can't you just see that?!"

He let out a frustrated sigh "why do you always have to be like this?" he said, getting angry.

"Like what? it is the truth" i was angry too "you too selfish to let me go home"

"You get all defensive at the littlest things like the world is out to hurt you. I am trying here to understand you but you make it so damn hard"

"I never asked for you to understand me. I only asked you to let me go" i spat

" You are just a broken girl and i understand that. You need to let someone in before its too late" he pleaded but his words cut through me like a sharp knife.

i laughed humorlessly trying to hide my hurt "All this because i hurt you little man ego"

"You know what? fine! Have it your way. Keep everything bottled up"he yelled, fuming.

"Fine!" i said screaming in frustration, turning away.