Chapter 29 - Preparations
Today was the big day, the Annual Edensville Christmas Float Parade. The city was buzzing with excitement and on my way here, I saw numerous, gorgeous floats being pulled in line. Thankfully, this managed to take the attention away from Crimson and I, at least for now. He’d been released from the hospital four days ago and since then, we haven’t fought or argued or even disagreed on anything! I took part in three charity events and they all were successful and went smoothly. Over $500,000 was even raised for a charity that pays medical bills for sick children!893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzx9m192ie
Pinky and Lux are also flying in tonight, just in time to see the parade. I’m still a bit uneasy about seeing Lux and his mother since finding out he was my brother. I just pray to God that I’ll keep my chill, at least until we’re back in the capital.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnL9GAISLFd
“The only thing you have to do Your Highness is smile and wave at the people. It’s really not hard at all.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCPXOK8MC9
“And how long will I been doing that for?” I raised an eyebrow at my assistant for the Christmas Float.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UvjzhOInp
He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. “For about five hours.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uDQHzTsXu
My eyes widened. FIVE HOURS? Oh hell no! I thought this was like a one hour event! “Five hours? Are you insane? It’s twenty degrees outside and you expect me to stand and wave on a float for five hours while I succumb from hypothermia?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71uC8nima7
“No no Your Highness!” He furiously shook his hands. “The float you’ll be on will have an incubator at the top for you. You and your escort will be perfectly warm.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9VIDv0kjz
“I’m sorry what?” I leaned closer to him. “An escort? Since when do I have an escort?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRhyeMApR6
“Since always,” He said. “A student from Edensville Highschool is always chosen as an escort for the royal who takes part in the Christmas Float.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihuzvVAzwl
You’ve gotta be shitting me.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRg2zUSI0eV
“Well why wasn’t I informed of this!” I said annoyed. “Do you people not tell people things anymore?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZy7CczV1dI
“I-I’m sorry Your Highness!” He stuttered. “But I thought you would’ve been informed! I’m sorry but it’s protocol and the student is already here and prepared.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5CPuLlglB
Grabbing the bridge of my nose, I sighed deeply as Crimson reassuringly patted my back. “Ok ok fine, moving on,” I said. “Which float am I going to be on?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPj8XM1wyO7
He smiled. “The front one which has the theme “An Evening With Santa and the Snowflakes”.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetS2p5BXJ1
Cheesy much.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcoFzTG3xl
“Are you sure I just have to smile and wave?” I asked skeptically. “Because if I get up on that thing and they tell me I have to perform Jingle Bells, their will be a problem!”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHbbk8NHvZ
“I assure you that you won’t be Your Highness!” He smiled reassuringly. “I am positive that things will run smoothly for you and your escort tonight.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSFR9frXqK
“Who is my escort by the way?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxCMUi9k4k
“Well, that would be-”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0exE7fMqm
“YO CRIMSON? IS THAT YOU DUDE?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCiZB31QM7
The three of us whipped around to see a big burly blonde guy in overly baggy sweats and a hat that was nearly falling of his head. “DUDE I HEAR YOU’RE WORKING FOR THE PRINCESS NOW!”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2LEZGRMxN
What?893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuiN2qYkkh
“Landon?” Crimson asked squinting his eyes at this guy. “Is that you? Hey man, it’s been forever!”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmReJjqzQI
Crimson walked over to him and gave him a man-hug. He’s acquainted with this guy?893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtP2kSa1P2
“Alex, this is one of my friends from Edensville High and their star baseball player, Landon Hunt. Landon this is Princess Alex, she’s mi- I’m her royal guard.” He quickly corrected his slip up.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1e6DXSbXy
Landon came over and began circling me like a lion before he stopped directly in front of me and held out his hand with a wide grin plastered on his face. “Nice to meet ya Princessey! You know, you’re really hot.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNuMZV39Wg
Was this guy never taught how to interact with royals in school? He could be arrested for talking to me like that! And that the hell was a Princessey?893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Z3w0xTjJ9
My assistant looked appalled at Landon’s word and Crimson immediately intervened. “Hey man! You can’t say things like that to her! She’s a princess!”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmfYS3mEmx
“What did I say wrong?” He asked furrowing his brows. “She is a Princessey and she is smoking hot! Wait, do I need her permission to call her Princessey? Hey, Princessey, can I call you Princessey?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv13OJbgaW8
What the hell is happening?893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcV4eC2ubf
“What?” I scrunched my face in confusion. “I’m sorry but, who are you?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCUOTfh1lW
“Didn’t you hear Crimson?” He scratched his head. “I’m Landon Hunt.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwH82ncvjo
“Well then, Landon Hunt,” I mocked. “What are you doing here?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAo57LZMPL
“That’s what I was trying to tell you Princess.” My assistant chimed. “He was chosen to be your escort for the float.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQ1XddUJ6z
“WHAT!” Crimson and I shouted in unison as our eyes widened.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24mnp6OSJC
“Yeah dudes!” Landon grinned. “I was just at practice the other day, baseballing, and the principal came out of nowhere and asked me if I wanted to be in the float parade as the princess’s escort. And I was like ‘Yeah dude!’ It was a truly awesome moment.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjULNUM3ZA
“Wha?” I said confused. “How? No, why the hell did they choose you? Just because you play baseball? Why didn’t they pick the smartest student?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWX1jBnWBb
“Brains are overrated now-a-days Princessey!” He casually slung his arm over my shoulder as if we were the best of friends. “People are into sports!”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrF7eHgaWIG
Absolutely horrified, I turned to my assistant and tugged on his coat. “Please don’t make me do this! PLEASE! FIVE HOURS WITH HIM?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOWGXHsy3b
He scratched the back of his head. “I’m sorry Your Highness but their is nothing I can do at this point. The float starts in less than six hours.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PG28aU5Aw
So this was my sealed fate then? Trapped on a giant float for five hours with an imbecile?893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkbsRVF6hj
Feeling as if I have nothing else left to live for, I began so sob as I slowly fell to my knees and curled up in a ball as I let out my frustrations. “OH DEAR GOD WHY?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYJ7E1VAWc
The three guys were all unsure of what to do and Crimson knelt done beside me and began awkwardly rubbing my back. “There, there.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kXurCVeOw
“Aw man I’m sorry Princessey,” Landon said kneeling on the other side of me. “I knew Crimson was ugly but I didn’t know he looked so bad that it makes you cry like this.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKG8pl7vYJ
“WHAT DID YOU SAY PUNK!” Crimson flared up at him. “YOU SHOULD BE THE LAST ONE TALKING ABOUT LOOKS! YOU LOOK LIKE A DAMN DONKEY!”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIqjXr9aP5
“AT LEAST I DON’T LOOK LIKE AN ASS!”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdI92lJ79j
“THAT’S THE SAME AS A DONKEY YOU IDIOT!”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtx0qh1I8n
“YEAH WELL, YOU’RE A TURKEY!”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvx7qoTwi92
Those two idiots continued to bicker back and forth as I lied on the ground and sobbed my life away.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjRy9mE34S
“I don’t know if it’ll make you feel better Princess but,” My assistant said stooping in front of me. “Would you like some ice cream?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPOXVnXcYS
My now teary and snotty face looked up at him as I nodded furiously. “Please!”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNIip7cXFq
...893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5ec1HOIu4
“Princess keep your head still!”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHwf7QPvJs
“How can I when it feels like Dominic is ripping out my scalp!”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vbxJONoqj
“THIRTY MINUTES TILL WE GO LIVE PEOPLE! GET THE PRINCESS AND HER ESCORT READY IN FIFTEEN!”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZ68FtkAf0
“Princess stay still so I can button up your dress!”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFM2frF18gX
“WHAT DO YOU PEOPLE WANT FROM ME!” I shouted at my glam squad who flew all the way from the capital just to get me ready for tonight. I really have to give them a raise for this.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnie3qaR0n
I knew I would have to dress up for this event, but Ava went all out with my dress. You remember that big gorgeous yellow dress the Belle wore when she danced in the ballroom with the beast in, “Beauty and the Beast”? Well, Ava got an exact replica of that dress made. Only difference was it was red and had over three hundred mini diamonds as sequences. I even had shimmering elbow length gloves to match.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvQFFtDPGm
“We want you to stay still!” Tiffany rolled her eyes as she painted my lips a bright red. “Now stay still! You’re making this way harder than it needs to be.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzx8NPEjrsp
“Where is Landon?” I asked. “He better be dressed and ready in time. AND WHERE IS CRIMSON CROSS?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzWYuLJzJb
“Here!” Crimson poked his behind my curtain as he annoyingly munched on some popcorn. Where the hell did he even get that from? “Wow, you look gorgeous! Red suits you.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgjzLOkoFr
“I know right!” Ava beamed. “Well anything suits our beautiful princess but red just looks extra gorgeous on her!”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVCABkFavK
“So where’s that dumb-dumb?” He referred to Landon.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sStDwXMmz
“Who knows,” I twisted my face as Dominic twisted my curly locks in an elegant low bun. “He just better be ready in time.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbKb06zOKd
“Did I hear my Princessey calling for me?” Landon said as he magically appeared from behind the curtain, decked out in a velvet red and white suit, top hat and all, with a huge candy cane in his hand. When he saw me, he whistled in approval and pointed his cane at me. “My smoking hot Princessey, a sexy lady in red. It is my awesomely awesome pleasure to be your escort tonight.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6TkIqnbhR
He bowed in front of me, even taking my hand and kissed it. I snuck a glance at Crimson and he was not happy about it. He clenched his popcorn bag tightly, making them all spill onto the floor.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKFbYY0d28
“Hey, watch the hands!” He said before pushing Landon away from me. “She’s still getting ready so get out until she’s done!”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjUYp2cP3s
“Well your here dude!” Landon said. “If I have to leave, why don’t you?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfqubsFMSu
“Cause I’m her Royal Guard dumbass! I get paid to be around her 24/7!” Crimson seethed.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9f9cAJzSBT
“Well I’m her escort, so I have to escort her to the float!”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGMUaALkmJ
“I’LL ESCORT HER!”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlvc6TMuW3
“HEY!” I shouted grabbing both of their attention. “Both of you leave!”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2b4sY0EuyZ
“WHAT!” Crimson’s eyes widened. “Alex, you can’t be serious? Why am I even in trouble? He’s the one who-”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgoeaAylkX
“Crimson?” I said warningly as I narrowed my eyes at him.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcuaUmfpPp
He sighed and grumbled under his breath before grabbing Landon harshly behind his neck and tugging him behind the curtain.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhhTO6A4Hp
“Honestly, they’re like children.” I huffed.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrbbqypFsM
Tiffany chuckled as she finished up perfecting my eyebrows. “That Royal Guard of yours really is a handful. But he’s a cutie! Don’t you agree Princess?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtZBVvAILC
“Undeniably so,” I said trying to be nonchalant. Crimson was more than a cutie, he was sex-on-legs!893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNPl3ly1nQ
“How do you resist his attractiveness?” Ava asked. “Royal Guard or not I would’ve been all up on that 24/7!”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXwBvjxmw9
If you only knew.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenygZMIeMB
“It’s against the law for us to be together like that,” I said. “Crimson’s a great Royal Guard and I don’t want him to get fired.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQuseBhk6a
“Yeah, but sometimes you have to take risks honey.” Dominic said pinning my tiara in place. “Life’s way too boring if you don’t.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1Q0zGrFxc
“Yeah but-”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNd5IXlEimd
“You should enjoy your life the way you want!”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCeFEg73H0
“It’s not-”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsiJE054VX
“If being with him makes you happy then be happy!”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrMkWuVRhy
“LISTEN!” I shouted before regaining my composure. “Thank you but, their is nothing going on romantically between Crimson and I. He’s my Royal Guard and my friend, that’s all.” I lied.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5AUP7U6x8
They all looked at me skeptically for a few moments before finally deciding to drop the issue. I wonder what even brought all that on? Were Crimson and I being affectionate and they caught sight of it? Or did they see us making out in the closet? Dear God, if they did, I just hope they don’t say anything!893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkflKS3bM0c
“Sorry for bombarding you so much Princess,” Ava said as they’d finally finished getting me ready. “But please, we’ve noticed that you seemed a bit more stressed lately and all we want is for you to be happy. Even if you are a princess, just do whatever makes you happy! You’ll be thankful that you did in the long run!893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdm6ZCMMMNy
I really wish I could Ava. But, reality prevents me from being happy; because of who I am, their are certain happy things in life I cannot enjoy. And to mock me even more, the universe sends a piece of happiness to me, but I am only allowed to skim the top, never getting to fully indulge without any restrictions, limits or doubts. But as for right now, I am content with skimming the surface for such a long time, because when I eventually reach the middle, it’ll be worth the wait.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxApcffSZUa
“Your Highness!” my assistance came behind the curtain. “It’s time to get on the float!”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MUBGBuNkI
Sigh, let’s just get this over with.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnKv39m8dp
This dress was very heavy and it slowed down my walking speed by a lot; but damn, I looked gorgeous! I was lead outside where I saw Landon waiting on me with his goofy grin on his face. But I couldn’t even say anything because the freezing cold air of outside slapped me in the face like a bitch!893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutTPE2DY4L
“HOLY SHIT IT’S COLD!” I screamed as my body began shivering. “SOMEONE GET ME A BLANKET...AND SOME HOT CHOCOLATE!”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8PuNCu0vj
“SOMEONE GET THE PRINCESSEY A BLANKET AND HOT CHOCOLATE!” Landon repeated.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SLmDQZ3PM
“HOW THE HELL AREN’T YOU FREEZING?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIN6j3Pn52
“I play baseball dude!” He said as if it was the most logical response ever. Why do I even bother questioning him?893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjYGjDdQWW
“Don’t worry Princess, I told you we have an incubator ready for you.” My assistant said as he lead me to the back of a humungous float that I nearly broke my neck trying to look at. From the back, it looked like a giant replica of Santa’s workshop, with a huge snow globe at the very top that I assume where Landon and I will be situated.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbmnG6L9sG
“How that hell are we supposed to get up there?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7VrdAtmeA
“If you would come this way,” He led us over to a small lift.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfMYw0OVpP
“Are you 100% positive that this is stable?” I asked hesitantly as I stepped onto the lift; gripping Landon’s biceps tightly so that I don’t fall.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlSVX8iG0t
“Positive!” He gave me a bright smile before a loud machine sound was heard the lift slowly elevated upwards.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrXVDCDc56
“You think they couldn’t have installed railings on this contraption?893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrRvYVmztE
Finally after what felt like hours, Landon and I made it to the top of the float where we were inside the snow globe. And true to my assistant’s word, it was very warm and toasty in here; their was even two fake thrones for us to sit on. This was a bit scary though. Elevated God knows how many feet in the air in a giant clear ball! A banner was in front of us so the people wouldn’t be able to see us until it moved a few feet ahead. But I see streetlights that lined all the way down the long road!893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcL8TsE4roJ
“This is some view!” Landon said as he stood directly in front of the banner; which would mean he can’t see shit except for the back of the banner! “Nice, really nice I tell ya!”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBC9ZIqmmm
“This is gonna be a long five hours!” I sighed to myself as I plopped down on my throne. “Might as well make myself comfortable.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8jFsaAf0K
“WE START IN FIVE MINUTES EVERYONE!” Someone shouted from below us.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbd1ZJYU4c
Just smile and wave Alex, that’s all you have to do and then you’ll be done. That’s not hard. You’ll be fine! Everything will go smoothly!893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtscWzfoqHA
“NO STEVE! THE COUNTESS GOES ON THE FLOAT BEHIND THE PRINCESS!”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mhZFTtp5B
Say what?893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZ79H92gbf
I immediately shot up out of my seat and opened the door below this contraption to look down at my assistance. “DID YOU JUST SAY COUNTESS?” 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJoPi6Q97H
“Didn’t you know Your Highness?” He tilted his head to the side.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPWST98EwS
YOU DUMB FUCKERS DIDN’T TELL ME ALOT OF SHIT!893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rEoouuvn4
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Keep your chill Alexandra. KEEP YOUR MOTHERFUCKIGN CHILL!893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRH2YJfxs9X
“Obviously not!” I spat. “What the hell is going on?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrLhK7EsLy
“The countess, your cousin, is also taking apart is the float!”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0FMK97oG0
You.have.got.to.be.shitting.me!893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOCagUF8zO
Very calmly I shut the door and returned back to my place on the throne. I calmly folded my arms and began taking deep, calming breaths.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlCN9eGvNw
“Find your happy place!” I said to myself. “Find the peace within your soul?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQJnzf1UHl
I WILL KEEP MY CHILL, EVEN IF IT KILLS ME!893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMD0kqooiD
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Next chapter is the Christmas Float!893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf90G3XA46D
Follow me on Twitter: @wonderstruck797893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgBNqqsYHW
Keep on Reviewing Beautiful People!893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45kupYg8qK
Peace Out and Be Kind!893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ooBqZZbD0
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