On the market

*Saphira's POV*

In the end, I didn't really go. For one, I wanted to spend some quality time with my mom. It had been so hectic since we've gotten here.

We hadn't spent much time alone. Of course, if I was honest with myself that wasn't the real reason behind it all. I chickened out.

That was the only thing that had happened here. I didn't know if they really swam at a pool party or just walked around in swimwear. Both I wasn't comfortable with, and I actually couldn't swim, though. I'd always been afraid of depths.

But that did not scare me more, as having to go through what happened down at the beach today. Again. I think I couldn't handle that.

Of course Lynn was a bit disappointed, but I made up to her by letting her pick out a school outfit for tomorrow. She said that I would be lost without her. I laughed at that. There was more truth to it, then she probably realized.

When Lynn went home I came to sit down at our living room with mom. We decided to go out for dinner tonight.

"Should I go change mom?" I asked while looking down at my outfit, which Lynn described as hideous. Mom smirked at me. "Do you feel comfortable in what your wearing?" mom asked significantly. "Yes…" I slowly answered. "Well, then let's go!" mom said. I didn't even brush my hair after the windy day at the beach. Honestly, I had no reason to care right?!

We ordered dinner at some fancy restaurant. When our food arrived we both started to laugh out loud.

The food wasn't what we were used to. Too healthy for us and in much too small portions. "Isn't there anything else I could please you with?" The waiter kept asking, when he saw that my mom wanted to get the bill, without us even touching our food.

Mom tried to be nice about it. It wasn't his fault. We were the freaks here.

We went straight to the nearest MacDonald's on the Pacific Coast Highway. Mom and I had ourselves quit a laugh.

"I've told your Grandfather, I wanted to keep working" mom said as she took a bite from her burger. "How did he take it?" I asked. "He didn't want to hear it," mom said making a mocking face. "Now what?" I asked anxious.

This didn't mean we would move again right? "We agreed to disagree," mom said sounding proud of herself. "So, that means?" I asked.

"I work of course," She said smug. "Only, he gets to decide Where…" Mom said biting her lip.

Mom told me Lynn's dad has a really large company in the oiling business. His family back in the middle east owned some oil fields or something. When I would be starting to attend MALIBU HIGH SCHOOL the next morning, mom would begin her job as the direction secretary of my friend's dad.

She wanted to keep busy, she said. The main reason was that she didn't want to depend on my grandparents, for money. At this job she would earn more per day, then she would in a month at the jobs she had before. When she talked about her new boss she sounded a bit nervous. I couldn't imagine why.

After dinner we went to see a movie. The movie was about this girl who fell in love with a surfer on the beach. I laughed at the irony of that.

When the movie ended, my mom went to the ladies room and I waited for her at a little table. It was very crowded but I couldn't shake the feeling someone was watching me. I bit my lip and waited for mom to return, when a tall boy, with green eyes and light brown hair came walking up to me.

"I seem to have lost my phone number. May I have yours?" he asked while tilting his head to the left. I blinked my eyes a few times. What?!

I shook my head trying to come up with an answer to that. I think he took that as a 'no' because he smiled and walked away.

I was really grateful when mom returned. "What's wrong?" mom asked. I didn't have time to answer because the guy with the green eyes returned again. He held a folded paper in his hand and handed it out to me. He was wearing a blue colored pair of shorts and a green shirt.

I shook my head again. Instead of looking discouraged he just gave the piece of paper to my mom. "I'm Zachary," he introduced himself politely. "After your daughter denied me her phone number, I luckily remembered mine," he said flashing me a smile.

"If you approve, she can call me," he added. Mom looked very amused. "I will make sure she will," mom said smirking.

"Good evening gorgeous," he said as he walked towards what I assume was his family. I just sat there in disbelieve. With an open mouth, frozen with shock. "That guy has some actual guts.

"I like it," mom said breaking the silence. "That was just Err…" I was lost for words.

*Benjamin's POV*

Our little get together was great. It was good to see my friends again. And to be honest I truly needed the distraction.

I kept thinking about Jasmine, and it frustrated me that I wouldn't see her anymore. We had become friends, although I thought we had become more that. She was just to stubborn to admit it.

My private jet was almost ready for takeoff, and I fiercely hoped Daniel would be back at our apartment near Harvard campus when I got there. I didn't care to be alone.

It bugged me that I had no way of contacting Jazz. I ran my hand through my hair when I thought of something to fix that.

Too bad Saphira didn't come tonight. She was stunning though. Should I feel guilty for thinking that?

No. Wasn't Jasmine the one who said I should go on with my life?!

I didn't have the time to wait for her, I had only one year. Still, I wanted her in my life. Even if it meant if we would remain friends.

*Jasmine's POV*

Today I accompanied Raina as she met the wives of foreign allies. As the woman babbled on about designer dresses, babies and gossiped about other royalties, I had a hard time trying to keep my eyes open.

I hadn't slept since Benjamin left. Raina hadn't really spoken to me since she found out I was the one whom Benjamin had spent all his time at the palace with. You could say life wasn't that peachy at the moment. 

"I heard the youngest prince is on the market for a bride." One of the foreigners said flushed. "I heard he is a womanizer, so he shouldn't have any trouble," Another woman said amused. The woman started telling all kinds of tales about Benjamin and the collection of woman he acquired over the last years.

I felt absolutely nauseated.