Chapter 12: Average

As they walked down the hallway together, Stephen stared at Tiqa. She glanced up, looking at him, and smiled softly. They continued to walk, finally making it to the dining room, and entered the dining room. They continued to stare at each other, ignoring all the stares they were getting from their family members. Stephen escorted Tiqa to a chair, pulling out her seat, and she sat down, as he sat at the chair next to her. He continued to stare at her, as she looked down smiling, and Catherine said, "I see you two finally made it." Tiqa's face turned red and she said, "Yes, His Highness was escorting me, so it took a little bit longer." Ana said, "I can understand. It seems His Highness can't keep his eyes off of you long enough to focus on anything else." Stephen continued to stare at Tiqa, and Susan said, "Wow Stephen, you must really, really like Princess Tiqa." Stephen quickly looked away, saying, "Huh?" The girls giggled and Stephen's face turned red. Tiqa glanced over at him, and looked down, smiling, saying, "I hope so, because I like him too." Jenessa, Driaka, and Susan gasped, while Stephen looked at Tiqa, his eyes widened. Ana, Catherine, Victor, Mark, and Cedar smiled at each other, and Susan said, "You like Stephen?" Tiqa looked at Susan, smiling, saying, "Of course I do, His Highness is a sweetheart and such a gentleman wouldn't you agree?" The girls screeched, and Susan said, "Yes of course, my brother is the sweetest." Susan looked at Stephen, and said, "Stephen, did you hear that? Princess Tiqa likes you." Stephen said, "I-I," and Justin entered the room with other servants interrupting him. 

Justin and the servants served dinner, left, and they said Grace, and everyone, except for Stephen, began eating. As they ate, Stephen continued to stare at Tiqa. Catherine looked up, seeing Stephen staring at Tiqa, and said, "Son," but Stephen continued to stare. Catherine said, "Son," but Stephen continued ignoring her, feeling his heart racing. Mark said, "Stephen, my boy, your mother's talking to you" and Stephen looked at him, saying, "Huh?" Ana said, "Stephen, your eyes are going to fall out if you keep staring at Her Highness." Stephen looked down saying, "Staring… I-I," and Catherine said, "Stephen, how was your day?" Stephen looked at her, saying, "Average, I mean F-Fine, I mean okay." Tiqa pushed some of her hair behind her ear, thinking, 'Today was just okay for him… It was just an average day.' Ana glanced over at Tiqa, seeing a soft frown on her face, and said, "Just okay? It sounded like you had an extraordinary day." Stephen glanced up at Ana, saying, "I-I, it was okay… It was an okay, I mean average, I mean good day." Cedar glanced at Tiqa, and said, "What about the berry patch? We're going tomorrow after studies, remember?" Stephen kept looking down, saying, "U-Uh yeah." Mark said, "Speaking of studies, Princess Tiqa the girls have expressed how they want you to start teaching them their studies." Tiqa glanced up at Mark, saying, "Yes, Your Majesty." Mark said, "Well I think it would be a fine idea. As long as you learn what you need to beforehand, I think you would be a fine teacher for the girls." Tiqa said, "Thank you, Your Majesty." Ana said, "And how about to celebrate Her Highness becoming a teacher for the girls we cancel studies for tomorrow so you guys can spend all day at the berry patch." The girls cheered, and Tiqa said, "That sounds like a lovely idea. I guess I should be off to bed then to get ready for tomorrow." Tiqa stood up as Stephen looked at her. Catherine said, "You too girls, bedtime." Susan said, "Can Princess Tiqa tell us another bedtime story," and Catherine said, "If you're up to it Princess Tiqa." Tiqa nodded, saying, "Come along girls." The girls said, "Goodnight everyone," and Tiqa said, "Goodnight everyone," glared at Stephen, and said, "And goodnight Prince Stephen. I hope you have another average day tomorrow."

Tiqa left with the girls, to Susan's bedroom, while Stephen watched her leave. He looked down, sighed, and Ana said, "Nice going." Stephen facepalmed, saying, "I blew it didn't I?" Cedar chuckled, saying, "Big time." Ana said, "You have a date and escort the girl into the dining room and then say you had an okay day AFTER she says she likes you?" Stephen said, "I know, I don't know why I said okay." Ana said, "She must make you incredibly nervous for you to have your foot this far in your mouth." Catherine said, "Alright, alright. Stephen you know she likes you, and by the way you're acting it seems you like her back. Am I right?" Stephen sighed, saying, "Have you seen how perfect she is? How beautiful she is? How she lights up a room when she enters it? She's so stunning, you can't keep your eyes off of her. She's everything I've been Praying for. I like her very much but I just blew it." Cedar said, "It sounds more than like to me." Stephen sighed, saying, "I'm going to bed," and left to his room.

While Stephen went to his room, Tiqa sat on a chair in Susan's room. Jenessa, Susan, and Driaka laid on Susan's bed, dressed in pjs, and Tiqa said, "Are you girls ready for a bedtime story?" Driaka said, "Yes but…" Tiqa looked at the girls, saying, "What," and Susan asked, "Are you mad at my brother?" Tiqa looked down, saying, "Why would I be mad at him?" Jenessa said, "Because you said that you hope he has another average day." Tiqa said, "Yes because he said today was average." Jenessa said, "So you are mad at him." Tiqa said, "Well I-I… I… Do you guys want a bedtime story or not." Susan said, "My brother really likes you, I don't know why he said that." Tiqa said, "Okay enough about me and Prince Stephen let's listen to a bedtime story okay?" The girls nodded, and Tiqa said, "Now where were we in our story?" Driaka said, "Mia was going to the castle." Tiqa said, "Ah yes… I remember now…"

Tiqa told them a bedtime story and left to her room. Tiqa changed into her pjs, saying, "God, why does it bother me so much that he said, average? I feel so embarrassed right now, I said I liked him and he says average… Maybe I embarrassed him… Maybe he doesn't actually like me and I'm just seeing things… God, if he isn't for me, show me please…" She laid on her bed looking up at the ceiling, saying, "Why am I here?" 

She closed her eyes, drifting into a deep sleep. 

7 hours later 

Knock, knock, knock, knock 

Tiqa rolled over in her bed, slowly waking up from the knocking. She heard a woman say, "May I come in, Your Highness?" Tiqa said, "Come in," and Elisabeth entered the room, saying, "Good morning Your Highness. Did you sleep well?" Tiqa sat up in her bed, rubbing her eyes, saying, "I slept okay…" Elisabeth said, "Well are you excited for the berry patch today? You'll practically be spending the whole day with His Highness." Tiqa looked down, sighing, and Elisabeth said, "Are you feeling okay, Your Highness? Normally you're always so excited to meet His Highness." Tiqa said, "I'm fine, I just want to get this day over with." 

Elisabeth sighed, went into Tiqa's closet, and pulled out a purple empire style floor length dress and black flats. She showed them to Tiqa, saying, "How about this?" Tiqa glanced up at it, said, "It's beautiful," and looked down. Elisabeth said, "Well let's get this on you and then I'll do your hair." Tiqa got out of bed sighing, they put the dress on her (Tiqa), and she sat down at the vanity, while Elisabeth did her hair. 

She braided Tiqa's hair up into a fishtail braided bun, putting a silver tiara in her (Tiqa's) hair as Tiqa stared at her own reflection. She said, "There all done, you look so beautiful, Your Highness." Tiqa rolled her eyes, looking away from her reflection, saying, "It looks beautiful." Elisabeth said, "Are you sure nothings bothering you, Your Highness?" Tiqa looked at Elisabeth, sighed, and said, "He doesn't like me." Elisabeth said, "Who doesn't like you?" Tiqa sighed, placing her chin in her hand, saying, "His Highness." Elisabeth said, "Surely you don't mean His Highness Prince Stephen." She looked at Elisabeth and Elisabeth said, "Surely you aren't talking about the same Prince who can't speak around you, the same Prince who asked you out on a date, the same Prince who can't keep his eyes off of you, you can't be talking about him?" Tiqa said, "Yes I'm talking about him." Elisabeth chuckled, saying, "Forgive me for being improper Your Highness but are we seeing the same things, because I've never seen His Highness look at anyone the way he looks at you and I've never seen His Highness act the way he's acted around you. What gave you the idea that he doesn't like you?" Tiqa said, "He did, at dinner, when he said he had an average day after I said I liked him." Elisabeth said, "Oh Your Highness, he likes you very much. I'm sure His Highness was just nervous which is why he said that." Tiqa said, "Or maybe it's that he doesn't like me." Elisabeth said, "Well have you asked him if he likes you or not." Tiqa said, "Not exactly," and Elisabeth said, "Then don't put words in his mouth, Your Highness. I'm sure His Highness really, really likes you but is so nervous around you that he can't say it." Tiqa said, "You think so?" Elisabeth said, "I do, he likes you a lot and if you're really unsure about it, ask him… Now we must get you to the stables on time… Let's go, Your Highness." 

Elisabeth escorted Tiqa to the stables where they saw Stephen and Cedar standing there. Tiqa looked down, while Elisabeth curtised and said, "Good morning, Your Highness and Nobleman Cedar." Stephen stared at Tiqa not saying a word, and Cedar said, "Uh good morning Elisabeth and good morning Your Highness." Tiqa looked up at Cedar, saying, "Good morning." Tiqa looked down and Elisabeth said, "Well I must be going, I'll be back for you later Your Highness," and Elisabeth curtsied while leaving. 

Tiqa looked up, saying, "Where are the girls," and Susan shouted, "We're here," while she, Jenessa, and Driaka ran up to them. Tiqa looked at the girls, saying, "Good morning girls," and the girls said, "Good morning," back to her. 

Driaka said, "You look beautiful Tiqa," and Tiqa smiled, saying, "Thank you, you look beautiful too. All you girls look beautiful." Susan walked over to Stephen and said, "Don't you think Princess Tiqa looks so beautiful Stephen?" Stephen's face turned red, as he looked down, saying, "U-Uh, yes, yes she looks beautiful." Driaka said, "And don't you think Prince Stephen looks so handsome Tiqa?" Tiqa looked at Stephen, saying, "I think he looks average." Stephen looked at Tiqa as she looked away and Cedar covered his mouth, hiding his smile and laugh. Jenessa said, "Just average," and Tiqa said, "So how are we going to do this?" Cedar contained his laughter and said, "We're going to be taking carriage Your Highness. We all should be heading to the front of the castle right now." Tiqa said, "Okay, well let's go." Cedar said, "You guys go ahead and we'll catch up." Tiqa and the girls walked to the front of the castle while Cedar and Stephen stayed behind. 

Stephen glared at Cedar, seeing him holding back his laughter, and Stephen said, "She hates me." Cedar bursted out laughing, while Stephen said, "It's not funny. I just messed everything up. She completely hates me." Cedar said, "She doesn't hate you, she's just angry at you, probably because she thinks you don't like her." Stephen said, "But I do, I just… Ugh…" Cedar said, "I know you do, but she doesn't." Stephen said, "Well how can I convince her that I do like her when she's so mad at me?" Cedar said, "Leave it to me. I'm going to help you out. Now let's go, I'm starting to get hungry." Stephen said, "You're always hungry," and Cedar said, "Exactly." 

While Stephen and Cedar walked to the front of the castle Tiqa and the girls were standing there, waiting by 2 carriages.

Susan said, "Princess Tiqa?" Tiqa looked at Susan, replying, "Yes," and Susan said, "Do you like my brother?" Tiqa said, "Of course I like him, I like him, and you, and," Driaka interrupted Tiqa, saying, "No Tiqa, like, like. Don't you like His Highness? You said so at dinner." Tiqa sighed, saying, "Girls, why are you so interested in me and His Highness?" Susan said, "Because you make him so happy," and Driaka said, "And His Highness makes you happy too. Doesn't he?" Tiqa sighed, saying, "Where is Cedar and His Highness we should be getting going." Cedar and Stephen walked up to them as Cedar said, "Here we are, ready to go."  Tiqa said, "Alright let's get going." 

Tiqa walked with the girls over to a carriage, as a servant helped the girls inside the carriage. The servant said, "The carriage is full, you'll have to take the other one, Your Highness." Tiqa looked at the girls, saying, "Alright girls we'll see you at the berry patch," and Tiqa left going to the other carriage as the servant closed the door to the first carriage. 

A servant helped Tiqa inside the carriage as Cedar and Stephen walked up to the carriage watching Tiqa get inside. Cedar stroked his chin, whispered in Stephen's ear, "I'm going help you out," and Stephen looked at him with his eyebrow raised. 

Stephen got into the carriage, sitting across from Tiqa, and Cedar said, "Looks like there's not enough room for me, I'll just have to go by horse." Stephen glared at Cedar as Tiqa looked down, and Cedar said, "I'll meet you guys there." 

The servant closed the door and the carriage took off. 

Tiqa glanced up at Stephen, seeing him stare at her, and she looked away. Stephen sighed and said, "Looks like we're finally alone."