a dark shade of green

library interview

The next day

By the time lunch rolled around, I was exhausted.

Sitting on the steps in front of the water fountain in the courtyard, I lean on my elbows, soaking in the tiniest bit of sun we had gotten.

It had just been pouring rain for the last couple of days. This felt nice, almost rejuvenating.

My moment of peace was ruined by two girls plopping down next to me.

"Nicoli!"

I open my eyes but don't move from my comfortable position.

Olivia was perked up next to me, her hands on her knees as she smiled.

"Olivia?"

"This is my friend Briana."

I lean slightly forward to see the blonde-haired girl peeking around Olivia with a shy smile.

"Hello."

Briana waves, tucking her hair behind her ear.

Why is she disrupting my peace?

I had come to not mind Olivia. She was nice in moments. Good company even sometimes. She would pop in say hi, then talk incessantly before she'd be back on her merry way.

But this new girl... by the way she looked at me, she looked dangerously interested.

"Hi, do you need something, Olivia?"

I ask, sitting up and wiping the gravel and dirt off my hands.

Sliding my phone in my pocket from where it sat next to me on the step.

Olivia watches my movement. Grabbing my arm, she shakes me.

Whoa, calm down there Energizer Bunny.

"Oh my gosh Nicoli, I just sent you a follow request on your i********: early this morning. You should accept it."

"I'll check later."

I say brushing it off.

"Anything else?"

I ask, wanting this conversation to be over so I could go back to resting.

"Nope, Bri here was just dying to meet you, isn't that right Bri!"

She giggles, pushing Briana's shoulder.

The blonde-haired girl's eyes widen at Olivia's words.

"What? Haha, Olivia... act cool."

She murmurs, her voice taught as she pinches Olivia's leg.

"Ow, stop it. Don't be shy! Bri, Prince Nicoli is so nice. And he plays on the lacrosse team."

The feeling I was now getting from the conversation now is feeling like a setup. And I was not interested.

I pick up my iced coffee taking a sip, staring at the girls like I was investigating them.

I don't like being perused. I never have. I prefer to be the one doing the chasing. It's more fun when I can't have what I want.

"Oh, you do? That's so cool."

Briana says playing with her hair. I blink, looking at the two girls. Olivia giggles at her again, whispering something in her ear.

This is my cue to leave.

"Yes, I do. Oh no, would you look at the time? I have to go, uh... tend to some Prince Lacrosse things. Yep well, I'll catch you later Olivia."

Grabbing my drink and my books. I stand to run away from the vultures of girls, but Briana stands when I do.

"Talk to you later?"

She asks, Her eyes looked so hopeful. How could I crush that?

"Sure."

I give her a smile to fill her heart in the moment. Turning to leave, I could feel them watch me as I walked away.

When I enter back into the school, I drop my half-empty drink into the trash. Heading my way to my next class, my name is called again.

"Nicoli!"

Is it everyone bother Nicoli day? I sigh, tapping my fingers on my books.

Alex walks up to me, camera in hand.

What does he need?

"Yes?"

I ask, keeping myself neutral. I had chosen to not attend maths class today. Most definitely because I wanted to avoid Alex until I sorted out what I was feeling. Ask me, I wasn't feeling very well.

Seeing him didn't exactly make me feel too ecstatic after how our talk in the kitchen went last night.

"I didn't see you in class today."

I shrug, putting my open hand in my pocket.

"Didn't feel too swell."

He looks me up and down. Was that really necessary?

"You look alright to me."

"I'm cured. Can I go now?"

He fiddles with the camera in his hands, not saying anything. I nod once if he has nothing to say, then there is no need for me to stay.

I've got places to be. I try to walk around him, but he grabs my arm.

"Wait. The school newspaper is doing interviews, and they want you on the front page."

I look down at his hand that held onto the fabric of my long-sleeved shirt.

"Maybe another day."

I push his hand lightly, making it fall to his side.

"Please. They gave me the story, and I don't want to mess it up. Just one quick picture of you doing anything really and a short recorded interview."

I thought about it for a minute, standing in the large hall with the students moving around us like fish; it felt like time had stopped as he waited for my answer.

"Fine. But can we do it tomorrow on the weekend? I'm rather tired today."

I caved in to the boy who stood there with his large brown eyes.

He made me weak, saying yes was the farthest thing from what I wanted to do.

I didn't want my face plastered on the school's newspaper, or a video of me talking posted on the school's webpage and social media. They just wanted to use me for publicity and sent the only person who would be able to convince me to do the job.

He nods quickly, my answer making him happy.

"Yes, that works great! Tomorrow, let's say 10:00 am at the library?"

"Okay."

Sleeping wasn't something I did much of that night in anticipation of meeting up with Alex. But once I did finally catch some shut-eye, it was already morning, and I was waking to my alarm.

Grabbing my things, I go and brush my teeth and wash my face before getting dressed. not being in a rush for once felt nice.

Most kids had chosen the choice to leave campus on Saturdays. I however didn't. There was no point.

Jeffrey would have to follow behind me and watch my every move, and where would I even go?

Not much fun I could have when my huge, grumpy bodyguard is doing his job guarding me.

I got dressed. In some casual clothes, forgoing the usual white button-down and dress pants. I felt refreshed as I put on my usual jewelry.

I heard the sound of Alex's door open, grabbing my phone off its charger. I quickly make my exit to meet up with him.

"Good morning."

I say keeping it short, as he picks up a camera stand and settles it in his arm. Struggling with the strap of his bag around his shoulder

"Morning. Are you ready?"

He asks trying to grab the other smaller bag he had set down.

"Yeah, you've got everything? Your hands look full. Let me carry something."

"Okay, here take this."

He hands me the camera stand.

I grab it, surprised at how light it was.

I've never held one of these before.

Alex began making his way down the hall to the library. I followed suit, catching up behind him.

We walked in silence me slowing my pace to match his smaller strides. He leads us to

The far corner of the library where a table was hidden away in the corner.

All of the study rooms were being used, so it was the next best option away from the peering eyes of other students.

He starts taking his equipment out, setting up the camera.

"So what exactly are we doing?"

I ask curiously, picking up a paper of his. He takes it from me, setting it back down.

"I'll ask some questions. You'll answer, and then I can snap a picture of you holding a book. And off you're free."

Sounds simple enough, but why did he look so nervous to be around me?

I sit in the windowsill just staring at him as he finished sheeting everything ready opening his laptop up. He checks the view of his camera.

"I'll sit here in this chair. You're fine where you're at, the light from outside looks great."

Pulling a chair in front of me but still keeping a good distance from me, he sits holding a clipboard.

"And can you introduce yourself?"

He asks, looking up at me.

I lean on my hands looking out the window. The grass outside that usually was littered with students was empty.

"The crown prince, Nicoli Micheal Stroff."

"And Nicoli has studying here at Hillston held up to your expectations?"

I sigh, looking back at him. Not responding.

"Okay... Moving on. How do you balance lacrosse and schoolwork on top of your prince duties?"

"These questions are so boring."

He sets his clipboard on the table next to him. Obviously frustrated I won't answer.

"Please work with me here Nicoli. Don't be difficult."

"I won't be difficult if you entertain me. I'm bored, Alex. I'd rather be running drills."

"And how should I entertain you? I'm asking the set questions I was given."

Lifting myself down from the windowsill. I drop my head to the side. Resting it on my shoulder I watched him move in his chair. The only thing in the whole library that held my gaze was the boy in front of me.

"What's your favorite subject?"

He breaks the silence.

"Maths."

I answer without a single thought.

Alex looked surprised at my response.

"You don't have any more interesting questions? There isn't anything at all about the crown prince you've been dying to know?"

"No, there isn't."

I grin as his voice falters. His words sounded like a lie.

"Hm, I think there is, and you've just been too scared to ask."

I walk past him looking at the books along the bookshelf, running my hand across the titles.

"The whole school wants to know more about you, not me. Now can we please sit down and finish recording the interview?"

He stands clicking something on the camera.

"What is there to know? Hmm, let's think."

Alex glances around the deserted part of the library before deciding to leave his camera unattended.

"My favorite color is red. I enjoy being outside. I dislike talking in general, but I really don't like when people use my title in a conversation thinking it'll make me favor them."

He stays quiet, following me down the row of books. I pull out an interesting one, flipping through the pages.

"I love drinking coffee, but I can't have too much caffeine. It makes my hands shake..."

I hold up one of my hands flipping it back and forth. I knew his eyes would go straight to the self inflicted wounds.

Maybe the pretty prince isn't so pretty?

"Why are you telling me? Let's sit so you can tell the camera."

I ignore his words, continuing what I had to say.

"And I think that boys with curly hair and brown eyes take up too much of my time and attention, for me to say I'm here at Hillston just for my studies."

I close the book, setting it down on the shelf.

Stepping closer to him, I slowly reach out, spinning one of the coils of his hair around my index finger.

"Nicoli..."

He trails off, looking out of the corner of his eye at my hand.

"You have all of 10 seconds before I decide this interview is over."

I warn leaning in so my breath fans across his ear. He shivers but doesn't move.

10.

9.

8.

I reach down, grabbing his hips and moving him to where his back was to the bookshelf.

"Seven."

I voiced out, making him aware just how little time he had before it was too late.

He gulps, his Adam's apple bobbing as his eyes search mine, trying to figure out exactly what I would do if he didn't run from me right that very second.

6.

5.

4.

"Alex, you're running out of time."

3.

He still chose the route of not speaking. The only thing he did do was reach out and lightly grip onto the fabric of my shirt.

2.

"One."

I tsk caressing my hand down his face. Him shivering away from my light touch.

How fragile.

"You should've ran."

Without another word, I smashed my lips down onto his, a gasp drawing from him at the impact.

Closing the last bit of distance we had between us, I pull his middle to press against me.

Both of his hands moving to grab onto me as I kissed him like we weren't in the middle of a public library.

Deepening the kiss, I turn my head to the side.

A small moan escaped Alex that only fuels me further; cupping his face, I lick my tongue across his bottom lip.

I feel his hips on mine and take the opportunity to grind slightly into him. Gasping for air. I move down his neck, kissing at the space between his jaw and ear.

My hand finding its way down to cup his ass as his head flung back, moving my mouth back up to capture his. I wanted nothing more than to pull down his pants and give us both the release we needed, but sadly we had to pull away for air.

His breathing heavy and his eyes looking hazy as he opened them. Not letting him free from his spot, I feel my very apparent erection.

"Why didn't you run?"

I ask, my voice strained as I stop myself from leaning back in and devouring his soft lips again.

"I don't know."

Alex admits a noise in the distance pulls us out of it, making me jump away from him and adjust my pants.

He clears his throat, running a hand through his hair. His cheeks flamed a bright red.

"I'm going to—I think we've finished for today."

He squeaks before running off to grab his things and leave.

"Okay, yeah."

Fuck, how was I going to walk back with this b***r? I smiled, leaning on the bookshelf. I just made out with him.