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!815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHCFWRwmwC
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.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YlgbyDArO
“The only thing you have to do Your Highness is smile and wave at the people. It’s really not hard at all.”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqpI16Y8B0
“And how long will I been doing that for?” I raised an eyebrow at my assistant for the Christmas Float.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWUR5mLI7u
He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. “For about five hours.”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGj9bLKSmqB
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?”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGKKWjJpzl
“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.”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaka5ZYFKDG
“I’m sorry what?” I leaned closer to him. “An escort? Since when do I have an escort?”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQA0IAutOV
“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.”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrg1f1gsHUz
You’ve gotta be shitting me.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZfuVwfA2R
“Well why wasn’t I informed of this!” I said annoyed. “Do you people not tell people things anymore?”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyRvU8h797
“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.”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujcihzys7W
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?”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzeGohxAT1
He smiled. “The front one which has the theme “An Evening With Santa and the Snowflakes”.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEqQKh5tto
Cheesy much.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uQmRppQQ4
“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!”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHW8mvD9Gwn
“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.”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBwRiLnMIr
“Who is my escort by the way?”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TkPoxAnuW
“Well, that would be-”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MBKjnnTin
“YO CRIMSON? IS THAT YOU DUDE?”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70qgOQSJbR
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!”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUcKoYYpNZ
What?815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMTUyKNoUa
“Landon?” Crimson asked squinting his eyes at this guy. “Is that you? Hey man, it’s been forever!”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmqrItTusY
Crimson walked over to him and gave him a man-hug. He’s acquainted with this guy?815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAy0Yo52uZX
“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.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYHSm9T4rr
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.”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgil6vftOq
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?815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8upGMJ4XX
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!”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sy0RlFn4t
“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?”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwK9BVdDEXu
What the hell is happening?815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgcyrO0184
“What?” I scrunched my face in confusion. “I’m sorry but, who are you?”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6DQR5glis
“Didn’t you hear Crimson?” He scratched his head. “I’m Landon Hunt.”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBu5mCAlz8
“Well then, Landon Hunt,” I mocked. “What are you doing here?”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkhFyjwuwa
“That’s what I was trying to tell you Princess.” My assistant chimed. “He was chosen to be your escort for the float.”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIGGKcZfed
“WHAT!” Crimson and I shouted in unison as our eyes widened.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHinYpJ7Xj
“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.”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayDF6XXP95
“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?”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRRfczl8wd
“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!”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRLx2rcJim
Absolutely horrified, I turned to my assistant and tugged on his coat. “Please don’t make me do this! PLEASE! FIVE HOURS WITH HIM?”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQSJjAnJi9
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.”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKaOTByrSD
So this was my sealed fate then? Trapped on a giant float for five hours with an imbecile?815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoQQ4nd5EV
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?”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMGuXdyBzm
The three guys were all unsure of what to do and Crimson knelt done beside me and began awkwardly rubbing my back. “There, there.”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WkJUOqCuH
“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.”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4BnpEa4lG
“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!”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKYrG7pD3V
“AT LEAST I DON’T LOOK LIKE AN ASS!”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwo7Z9uaX3O
“THAT’S THE SAME AS A DONKEY YOU IDIOT!”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYhMzsJiPz
“YEAH WELL, YOU’RE A TURKEY!”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRi8RatoNl4
Those two idiots continued to bicker back and forth as I lied on the ground and sobbed my life away.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10JKZ5ObBG
“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?”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSCAklPMbw
My now teary and snotty face looked up at him as I nodded furiously. “Please!”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxNrIr2KST
...815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsz1ZFQmKUS
“Princess keep your head still!”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQbonsVvLO
“How can I when it feels like Dominic is ripping out my scalp!”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLuSJpMlg5
“THIRTY MINUTES TILL WE GO LIVE PEOPLE! GET THE PRINCESS AND HER ESCORT READY IN FIFTEEN!”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Dvpf5PPHl
“Princess stay still so I can button up your dress!”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaoVvii0s3k
“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.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUStZeVktI
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.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIylWKJetL
“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.”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLSsVuTnir
“Where is Landon?” I asked. “He better be dressed and ready in time. AND WHERE IS CRIMSON CROSS?”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nOCXcAFSD
“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.”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XtYnIJXZG
“I know right!” Ava beamed. “Well anything suits our beautiful princess but red just looks extra gorgeous on her!”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7VjEYTOFi
“So where’s that dumb-dumb?” He referred to Landon.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuUwWcWZT1
“Who knows,” I twisted my face as Dominic twisted my curly locks in an elegant low bun. “He just better be ready in time.”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8IApANQJ4
“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.”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeXqUyu9Mw
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.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeQZNRoowY
“Hey, watch the hands!” He said before pushing Landon away from me. “She’s still getting ready so get out until she’s done!”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1B8qJUU9S
“Well your here dude!” Landon said. “If I have to leave, why don’t you?”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64ad1iEWZD
“Cause I’m her Royal Guard dumbass! I get paid to be around her 24/7!” Crimson seethed.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ol3dFKlzS
“Well I’m her escort, so I have to escort her to the float!”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqTXi18kH0
“I’LL ESCORT HER!”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNChbojjJb
“HEY!” I shouted grabbing both of their attention. “Both of you leave!”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATDuOWgjDm
“WHAT!” Crimson’s eyes widened. “Alex, you can’t be serious? Why am I even in trouble? He’s the one who-”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavS5eCmtaq
“Crimson?” I said warningly as I narrowed my eyes at him.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmt1f6bnsT
He sighed and grumbled under his breath before grabbing Landon harshly behind his neck and tugging him behind the curtain.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLvybanIrL
“Honestly, they’re like children.” I huffed.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlk73WRlk8D
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?”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk40YIKqYCQ
“Undeniably so,” I said trying to be nonchalant. Crimson was more than a cutie, he was sex-on-legs!815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEiVMQgTKx
“How do you resist his attractiveness?” Ava asked. “Royal Guard or not I would’ve been all up on that 24/7!”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczNIHJuOmI
If you only knew.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghfyrutiJP
“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.”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sOJi7hFyP
“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.”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5bmI8rw3L
“Yeah but-”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFE7HJ7s0fg
“You should enjoy your life the way you want!”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRi4mEzl4nr
“It’s not-”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpsxCTANH8
“If being with him makes you happy then be happy!”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWREAhBInw
“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.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAQPdHssuL
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!815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrAxoo0gQG
“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!815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5e4Of724eT
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.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1kY15lSuY
“Your Highness!” my assistance came behind the curtain. “It’s time to get on the float!”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQpwiHSm3N
Sigh, let’s just get this over with.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhhMYHlIEX
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!815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8ZNA96176
“HOLY SHIT IT’S COLD!” I screamed as my body began shivering. “SOMEONE GET ME A BLANKET...AND SOME HOT CHOCOLATE!”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1aIWHuHPu
“SOMEONE GET THE PRINCESSEY A BLANKET AND HOT CHOCOLATE!” Landon repeated.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtNiJnjlQq
“HOW THE HELL AREN’T YOU FREEZING?”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0h9gdyoVi
“I play baseball dude!” He said as if it was the most logical response ever. Why do I even bother questioning him?815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzx94YK1KW
“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.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLrPTeOnar
“How that hell are we supposed to get up there?”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpN6Xk7Ef1
“If you would come this way,” He led us over to a small lift.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05S9TaXw9w
“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.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxq9TkeDW7H
“Positive!” He gave me a bright smile before a loud machine sound was heard the lift slowly elevated upwards.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtptyOdXNxE
“You think they couldn’t have installed railings on this contraption?815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomG13aPScU
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!815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtbQuel9B9
“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!”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPgZRLEAG9
“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.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xMg8LMe1R
“WE START IN FIVE MINUTES EVERYONE!” Someone shouted from below us.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gW2P6toSy
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!815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBelJjFO9hm
“NO STEVE! THE COUNTESS GOES ON THE FLOAT BEHIND THE PRINCESS!”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqO5GiFQ8g
Say what?815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uDKRziaT0
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?” 815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrZACV5am5
“Didn’t you know Your Highness?” He tilted his head to the side.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyM6RV72m5
YOU DUMB FUCKERS DIDN’T TELL ME ALOT OF SHIT!815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQHqYvbqDG
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Keep your chill Alexandra. KEEP YOUR MOTHERFUCKIGN CHILL!815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUS6ixteYaS
“Obviously not!” I spat. “What the hell is going on?”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCdfPgr35q
“The countess, your cousin, is also taking apart is the float!”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTtlP4tiWy
You.have.got.to.be.shitting.me!815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMbUicU77k
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.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJg8LBFlkWZ
“Find your happy place!” I said to myself. “Find the peace within your soul?”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqb3ofFaDz
I WILL KEEP MY CHILL, EVEN IF IT KILLS ME!815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFnpr46FO4
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Next chapter is the Christmas Float!815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyIBFZM6Ns
Follow me on Twitter: @wonderstruck797815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcRfk1IZdn
Keep on Reviewing Beautiful People!815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cwOCUrL5j
Peace Out and Be Kind!815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiI8r4RgBBw
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