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!892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFvCYnxJ8j
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.892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fdqL0r4DM
“The only thing you have to do Your Highness is smile and wave at the people. It’s really not hard at all.”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFOnQysYLI
“And how long will I been doing that for?” I raised an eyebrow at my assistant for the Christmas Float.892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVg6slxgH7w
He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. “For about five hours.”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2roJT6l1S
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?”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9eWhcqcri
“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.”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhScP8rCSe
“I’m sorry what?” I leaned closer to him. “An escort? Since when do I have an escort?”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBO3aLkIWK
“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.”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhu3vBTQ38G
You’ve gotta be shitting me.892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcs6ncw1hw
“Well why wasn’t I informed of this!” I said annoyed. “Do you people not tell people things anymore?”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeXvPJKTuC
“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.”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uGhoBk03y
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?”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBilkiJL4hP
He smiled. “The front one which has the theme “An Evening With Santa and the Snowflakes”.892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctL3Nsdq7T
Cheesy much.892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcf1sIcmNGl
“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!”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ723GbL0NTt
“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.”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxDaWvKSct
“Who is my escort by the way?”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpei71PIFw
“Well, that would be-”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5Yymmpv4g
“YO CRIMSON? IS THAT YOU DUDE?”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12l6DIl1aV
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!”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6GdSC1uuC
What?892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ550McogItF
“Landon?” Crimson asked squinting his eyes at this guy. “Is that you? Hey man, it’s been forever!”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiM2CF44TXp
Crimson walked over to him and gave him a man-hug. He’s acquainted with this guy?892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcd6ksE16h
“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.892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkjt7uX91b
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.”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sxMi8WemG
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?892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qV0iZ2AsP
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!”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMSanKJ53Q
“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?”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBmFpCB3hG
What the hell is happening?892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVSYY6lf2C
“What?” I scrunched my face in confusion. “I’m sorry but, who are you?”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJI0KaqJbN
“Didn’t you hear Crimson?” He scratched his head. “I’m Landon Hunt.”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUugVgV67Y
“Well then, Landon Hunt,” I mocked. “What are you doing here?”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0hm0xCQ6P
“That’s what I was trying to tell you Princess.” My assistant chimed. “He was chosen to be your escort for the float.”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XDTHZdOvf
“WHAT!” Crimson and I shouted in unison as our eyes widened.892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgALwTHljgq
“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.”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZRg3dGDSu
“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?”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuK77oReH0
“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!”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgZrkvogcc
Absolutely horrified, I turned to my assistant and tugged on his coat. “Please don’t make me do this! PLEASE! FIVE HOURS WITH HIM?”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOXtC1wedH
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.”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jfPonV7w1
So this was my sealed fate then? Trapped on a giant float for five hours with an imbecile?892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJ9JkeMvMP
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?”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeigCqSuLd
The three guys were all unsure of what to do and Crimson knelt done beside me and began awkwardly rubbing my back. “There, there.”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumlaHfudVW
“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.”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitCW7oQOfO
“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!”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWOEACe5OI
“AT LEAST I DON’T LOOK LIKE AN ASS!”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡte5RNaWn5C
“THAT’S THE SAME AS A DONKEY YOU IDIOT!”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudbsDIIN8o
“YEAH WELL, YOU’RE A TURKEY!”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04SRj6OKAf
Those two idiots continued to bicker back and forth as I lied on the ground and sobbed my life away.892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzz2N8cvFfd
“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?”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88f4m8zvdt
My now teary and snotty face looked up at him as I nodded furiously. “Please!”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnW0987Pa3
...892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxs4qYsSbQO
“Princess keep your head still!”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQDqCvLrUM
“How can I when it feels like Dominic is ripping out my scalp!”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ScokdJ2r9
“THIRTY MINUTES TILL WE GO LIVE PEOPLE! GET THE PRINCESS AND HER ESCORT READY IN FIFTEEN!”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1gHAeUlvS
“Princess stay still so I can button up your dress!”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFFvczVd7U
“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.892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1GD9oH4bJ
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.892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SW5YsXaVS
“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.”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgbuPkZPWZ
“Where is Landon?” I asked. “He better be dressed and ready in time. AND WHERE IS CRIMSON CROSS?”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUmmmKARDz
“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.”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OxQH3eegG
“I know right!” Ava beamed. “Well anything suits our beautiful princess but red just looks extra gorgeous on her!”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIPbj251VI
“So where’s that dumb-dumb?” He referred to Landon.892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmGIJbWxHS
“Who knows,” I twisted my face as Dominic twisted my curly locks in an elegant low bun. “He just better be ready in time.”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfnD79c8ax
“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.”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliTQWIAkKm
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.892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWM8GKotpq
“Hey, watch the hands!” He said before pushing Landon away from me. “She’s still getting ready so get out until she’s done!”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QtH0ZUIzo
“Well your here dude!” Landon said. “If I have to leave, why don’t you?”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwM56PiBVEw
“Cause I’m her Royal Guard dumbass! I get paid to be around her 24/7!” Crimson seethed.892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQ9SwtSViM
“Well I’m her escort, so I have to escort her to the float!”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTAuNEhZEn
“I’LL ESCORT HER!”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbb5FWsnZbI
“HEY!” I shouted grabbing both of their attention. “Both of you leave!”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZDDj8GdY5
“WHAT!” Crimson’s eyes widened. “Alex, you can’t be serious? Why am I even in trouble? He’s the one who-”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfY3JBhfdNd
“Crimson?” I said warningly as I narrowed my eyes at him.892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVN9tMwlDvd
He sighed and grumbled under his breath before grabbing Landon harshly behind his neck and tugging him behind the curtain.892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2pNLH73ra
“Honestly, they’re like children.” I huffed.892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AhbhoLtJC
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?”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwiFWUxQSM
“Undeniably so,” I said trying to be nonchalant. Crimson was more than a cutie, he was sex-on-legs!892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ppk1hoLAe
“How do you resist his attractiveness?” Ava asked. “Royal Guard or not I would’ve been all up on that 24/7!”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPc7rorM7LU
If you only knew.892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1RsMIgS5U
“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.”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63cPh5W7m0
“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.”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRsltc9MmA
“Yeah but-”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aHvlYtq5j
“You should enjoy your life the way you want!”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxL26ct6MN
“It’s not-”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNpp9UbJi0
“If being with him makes you happy then be happy!”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZ7kTtXCfc
“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.892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bsZjeWY54
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!892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PpvC0nWI3
“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!892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4N8FW3uFp
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.892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWCndMv3Q8
“Your Highness!” my assistance came behind the curtain. “It’s time to get on the float!”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRicncxtiJ
Sigh, let’s just get this over with.892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglUm6XzJrq
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!892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNf0Btwyd3
“HOLY SHIT IT’S COLD!” I screamed as my body began shivering. “SOMEONE GET ME A BLANKET...AND SOME HOT CHOCOLATE!”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8k45WOydO
“SOMEONE GET THE PRINCESSEY A BLANKET AND HOT CHOCOLATE!” Landon repeated.892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNLToav1ap
“HOW THE HELL AREN’T YOU FREEZING?”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Imx4tPTgC
“I play baseball dude!” He said as if it was the most logical response ever. Why do I even bother questioning him?892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmTaaUMeF7
“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.892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9z72jsKiN
“How that hell are we supposed to get up there?”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTjl7cRFLe
“If you would come this way,” He led us over to a small lift.892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttAzfTrKBl
“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.892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA27IPdQUly
“Positive!” He gave me a bright smile before a loud machine sound was heard the lift slowly elevated upwards.892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0i57BT1M9
“You think they couldn’t have installed railings on this contraption?892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1J9S50JOuc
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!892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxswxIWAXK
“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!”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLohnHmuPwP
“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.892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1gepSik9I
“WE START IN FIVE MINUTES EVERYONE!” Someone shouted from below us.892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsaWAcwTuH
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!892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GMTezjqha
“NO STEVE! THE COUNTESS GOES ON THE FLOAT BEHIND THE PRINCESS!”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgxdjjpK7a
Say what?892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bt2UJNJPF
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?” 892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkSzDxfPf0
“Didn’t you know Your Highness?” He tilted his head to the side.892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAD84X6zrs
YOU DUMB FUCKERS DIDN’T TELL ME ALOT OF SHIT!892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7pLhnVMHZ
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Keep your chill Alexandra. KEEP YOUR MOTHERFUCKIGN CHILL!892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1e2AFj8LcJ
“Obviously not!” I spat. “What the hell is going on?”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIY9bPDkAv
“The countess, your cousin, is also taking apart is the float!”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhzZSEg9b3
You.have.got.to.be.shitting.me!892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9kBU3363P
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.892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaca0vFHof6
“Find your happy place!” I said to myself. “Find the peace within your soul?”892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVun0cK7LZ
I WILL KEEP MY CHILL, EVEN IF IT KILLS ME!892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQ14NWAwtP
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Next chapter is the Christmas Float!892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWM4c3PAE2V
Follow me on Twitter: @wonderstruck797892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9LsSCpRDq
Keep on Reviewing Beautiful People!892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefGTf8F2Wy
Peace Out and Be Kind!892Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pYYqeN6GY
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