The Prince has a Secret Girlfriend (part 4)

Anthony's soft lips are on mine. . . wait but why?

I was so shocked that I was like a petrified mouse cornered by a cat. When his lips left mine, I could vaguely see his wonderful brown eyes, he looked at me like he was genuinely in love at me. Everyone, also saw the look he had and they were all quiet and not making a single sound until, Chase walked up to Anthony and then he hit the back of Anthony's head.

"Smack!! What the heck bro? Why'd you go kissing Christie?" Chase berated Anthony in front of us all.

"I thought Henry said we lacked emotions so I went all out. This way I really will fall in love with her." Anthony says to Chase while blushing.

"What!? How can you fall in love with just kissing someone for the first time bro.?" Continues Chase.

"Well, she's pretty. She smells like lavender and petite. Plus her lips are so soft it's not that hard really to fall for her." Anthony tries to straightforwardly explains.

Henry is now clenching his fist but was blushing as well, I assume it was because it was also the reason for him like what Anthony mentioned a while ago. Chase was also blushing because of how Anthony mentioned that I smelled like lavender, he might've remembered what happened in the bathroom when he tried to scare me into keeping quiet. Just great, all three guys whom I have some sort of crazy moment is inside the ballet studio with me. This is just crazy but just as I was running away with my thoughts again, I was pulled back to reality by the sound of a loud smack.

"Smack!! Dude don't go saying a lady smells like lavender 'cause it would mean that you were smelling her while you were practicing. That's just crazy dude. You're going to creep her out. Apologize to her now!" Chase was still berating Anthony for his stunt earlier.

"Okay. . ." Anthony turns around and faces me then speaks "Hey, I'm sorry for smelling you unintentionally…"

"Uhmm… Oh okay…?" I replied rather unsure if it really was okay.

"But I won't apologize for kissing you because it really felt like I was falling for you and that I needed to be sure of my feelings and now I can say for certain that I think, I like you… Will you be my girlfriend?" Anthony boldly declared to me.

I just stood there listening to Anthony and then I took a peek at Henry who was just a little behind everyone else. He was pinching the bridge of his nose and then he saw me looking at him, I guess he wanted to end this and just say that he is my boyfriend already then Anthony would recant his offer to me to be his girlfriend.

"I. . . I'm sorry Anthony. . . I can't be your girlfriend." I stated matter of factly.

"Why not? I don't look half as bad as Henry or Chase and I am sure I am a good match for you. Unless, . . .you have a boyfriend already?" Anthony corners me in.

"Sigh! First of all, you can't ask someone to be your girlfriend when you don't know anything about them." I questioned Anthony.

"Fair point then I take this as a maybe. Go out with me then you and I will get to know each other better. How does that sound?" Anthony continues.

"C'mon dude since when did you become so aggressive with a lady like this?" Chase says to Anthony.

"Well, it's not everyday you get to meet "the one" for you." Anthony then looks deeply into Christie's olive green eyes.

Henry was about to step in when we all heard Mr. Michael speak which called our attention.

"Clap! Clap! Clap! Can you kids get this over with we still have a few more sets to practrice in the pas de duex." Mr. Michael seem to be irritated.

"So what do you say my little lady?" Anthony spoke one last time.

"Alright, if I agree to this date, will you keep it professional during practices and not make any pass at me? Additionally, if we do go on this said date, you must promise to respect whatever decision I may have afterwards. Can I have your word on it?" I try to find a way to make it a win-win situation to my advantage. I will go on that date and then tell him that I have another person as a boyfriend.

"Okay, seems fair enough to me. You have my word." Anthony takes Christie's hand and kisses it like a real gentleman would.

"Great! Now that, that's settled. We can continue with the practice and a reminder to you Mr. Anthony, no more funny business. Let's keep it professional in here. Okay kids?" Mr. Michael shot a warning to all of us but mostly directed towards Anthony.

I have to admit that all the while, Anthony and I were practicing and following the directions of Mr. Michael, I was little hesitant but Anthony would continue to reassure me and tell me that he will not make any move anymore.

"My little lady feel free to dance and move, you don't have to hold back because of me. I already gave you my word and I plan to honor it. Anthony spoke.

"I will try." I cautiously replied.

I must say though, Henry has never bothered us and kept quietly observing us from a distance but his eyes tell me a different tale. His cold grey eyes seem to burn with something. Is he angry? Is he angry with me? Or is he angry with Anthony? I was uneasy all the while we were practicing. Though our skills, Anthony and I are at par even though I was a little hesitant to move he would draw me out and let me get a feel of the step and let me know that he will be there to support me.

Minutes passed by and it was now 12 in the morning, I didn't know that it took them forever to practice, maybe because its almost time for the Lantern Festival. This is the typical life of a performer, long hard hours and days of practices, all for an hour worth of performance. These are the sweat trickling down on our foreheads, giving signs of our hardwork. This is the dedication that people like Mademoiselle Natalia has had before she ended her career and retired although she might have given more than what we are giving now. It somehow feels exciting to be part of something like this. To belong to a group and know that my skills have brought me here and have given me the opportunity to stand toe to toe with all of them. Not my name and certainly not who my family was but because of me and even though this will be temporary, I still have the GABC and my memories in here to call mine.

Me and my sentimental thoughts have seem to put me on auto pilot because I didn't even realize that I was already standing in front of the door to the Archer Manor. I knocked softly and Henry opened up for me which surprised me because he was still up when I clearly remember he left earlier than any of us in the studio. He didn't even wait for me to go home but he waited until I came home to the manor? Hmmm.. .

"You sure did take your time to come home? Where were you?" Henry asked like an agitated father to her daughter.

"I. . .I was just walking, I didn't even realize I was home already. I must've been spacing out." I replied as I entered the Manor.

"Oh yeah, I bet you were thinking of Chase or even that sly fox Anthony, that's why you didn't realize where you were." Henry said accusing me.

"No. . . I was just bone tired. So if you'll let me, I'm going to head to my room now. It's already late in the evening. We both need rest." I said rather harshly and walked pass by him and went straight to my room.

None of what happened today was my fault and yet there he goes accusing me of something that I didn't even do. How was I supposed to control how Chase reacts to me every time he sees me when he remembers what he did to me and how I comforted him when he was sobbing like a child and how was I supposed to know that Anthony was a wolf in sheep's clothing. None of that was my fault so why am I feeling guilty as well. I mean it wasn't my fault but what is this feeling?

I tossed and I turned all night, I barely had enough sleep again… that feeling last night just wouldn't let me sleep. The sensation of causing pain to someone unintentionally does not sit with me well, that someone being Henry has haunted my head and have not given me rest last night. My heart feels a little heavy but how do I fix things? I don't know what to do. I wish Nana was here to tell me what to do.

I freshened up and went to the dining hall for breakfast. I was expecting Henry sitting on his chair, busy eating his breakfast and drinking his coffee but there was no Henry. Just a plate for me and no one else. I asked Mr Reniel if Henry didn't have breakfast and just left and this is what he answered.

"The young master will not be coming home here for the next few days my lady. But he has given instructions about your stay here my lady. Rest assured that we shall take care of you well even if the young master isn't around. " Mr. Reniel answered me in a nonchalantly manner.

"Ahehehe, that's not necessary, I would not want to impose on all of you. I mean who am I to be treated like that. I am just a nobody after all." I spoke up but my voice was a little bit sad.

"Oh but you're not just anybody my lady. . ." Mr. Reniel spoke as if he meant something more.

"Hehehe. . . " I just shyly smiled.

Breakfast went by normally and off to my class I went. Everything seemed to go on as normal as possible with my classes despite of the fact that last time I sat on my table I was wearing Henry's PE shirt and then I planned to return it to him only to draw attention to us. But surprisingly no one seemed to care or is it possible that no one noticed at all? Still I am thankful for this. I really don't want to create trouble. So I welcome normal days like this with open arms.

Meanwhile the same could not be said about our practice today because, today I no longer dance as part of the Corp de Ballet dance but as an understudy to Amelia. We started last night and now here we are again, Anthony and I were shadowing the leads in our little corner ever attentive, observant and ready to step in when called and we have been called a few times now.

"Great! Extend those legs Christie, okay now ready for the jump. Anthony. . 1. . 2. . 3. . and jump! Well done so far you two. You have good body chemistry in dance just remember to keep it professional always Anthony." Mr. Michael critics us.

He had to double his work since Henry is not around, nobody knows where he is exactly but they do know that he usually takes a few days off of school from time to time. I can't escape the feeling that something is brewing, I feel it in the air. I wonder where Henry is. I wanted to set things straight but now I don't know if I will be able to do it before the Lantern Festival.