32.

32.

It was when I was passing one of the long corridors, that my eyes fell on Caleb, standing still outside one of the doors with a traumatized expression on his face and a piece of chocolate cake fallen at his feet.
Ah, shit, he may have dropped that cake accidentally and now he was going to fuss over it for a long time.
I shook my head, walking towards him. “Come on, Cal. There will be more food at the party tonight. Let’s go and get ready.”
His face snapped up towards me and the severity and intensity of his expression took me by surprise.
Caleb was never serious…unless, it was about food of course.
I rolled my eyes at his dramatic tendencies and wrapped my hands around his arm, to drag him along with me.
“Chloe!” he suddenly whispered, making me halt. I frowned at the urgency of his tone.
He gestured for me to keep quiet, then, he pointed a finger towards his ear, then, to the door.
It took me a few seconds to understand him. He wanted me to eavesdrop?
Before I could protest, or ask him why, I heard Anna’s distressed voice coming from behind the door.
“Noah, I am adopted. I am not royal by birth.”
I froze on my spot, trying to process what I had just heard. Then, after realizing the implications of the whole situation, I directed a stern look at Caleb.
“Come on, let’s go. It’s not our place to listen.” I muttered, dragging him forcefully with me.
“It’s not about listening or eavesdropping, Chloe,” Caleb said irritably. “I was trying to gauge the queen’s character and how much of a tyrant she is on her own children. I am worried for your future, Chloe.”
I sighed, turning around to face him. “Let’s not talk about this right now, okay? And, don’t mention what we just heard to anyone, either. We will discuss this later.”
He looked like he had more to say but, kept his mouth shut and reluctantly complied. While my mind kept running only in one direction: when was Noah going to open up to me?
***
“Oh my God! Look, chandelier!” Soph exclaimed, pointing towards the ceiling.
I cast a nervous glance around and shoved her hand down to her side. “Soph, don’t act like a kid. We should try not to embarrass Noah and his family tonight.”
“Really?” Caleb pouted. “How am I going to get my kicks now?”
I gave him an unimpressed look, while Mia and Sophia chuckled.
“I am sorry to say this, Chloe. But, embarrassing ourselves is a part of our hardwiring. I don’t think we have any control over it.” Mia pointed out in amusement.
“Hey, you guys!” Quinn’s voice traveled to us, and we looked up to see her walking towards us. She looked absolutely stunning in her maroon colored A-line gown, with her hair done up in a sophisticated bun.
“Look at you all! Looking all gorgeous and…comfy!” she exclaimed, upon reaching us.
A laugh escaped my lips. “Comfy?”
“Yeah, you get to keep your hair down.” she grunted, touching her hair, “this shit hurts. They have stabbed my head with at least hundred and twenty hairpins.”
Ouch.
“Jeez, how are you still alive?” Caleb asked, in genuine disbelief.
“Practice. I have years of practice.” She sighed. “Anyway, enjoy the party, and look out for Noah’s grand introduction tonight,” she beamed. “I will be back in a few minutes.”
Caleb and I shared a look as soon as she said ‘Noah.’ We had no idea what state of mind he was in, whether he was okay or not and how was he going to endure everything tonight…
I was snapped out of my thoughts by a very rude voice and an impatient click of heels.
“You!” Alice was pointing her pink colored nails at me. “Where is Noah? What have you done to him?”
Ugh, seriously?!
“Beach, what?” Soph came forward. “How dare you talk to her like that?”
I exhaled a breath and turned to Caleb. “Caleb, take Soph and Mia, and go enjoy some food. I will join you guys.”
Caleb nodded hesitantly and dragged Soph and Mia away. I scowled at Alice.
“I don’t know where Noah is.” I replied, sourly.
Alice crossed her arms across her chest. “Then, why can’t I find him anywhere? I thought I would make an entry with him! Where did he disappear to? Today is the big announcement! The queen will announce to everyone that Noah and I are betrothed to be married.”
I didn’t let my face betray my feelings, even though I was feeling a million things on the inside. That didn’t stop Alice from taunting me though.
“Oh, yeah,” she smirked. “I think he didn’t tell you yet.” She threw back her head and laughed. “Actually, he hasn’t even talked about you to the queen, I think. How pathetic!”
With that she turned around and walked away, while I had to rub my temples to sooth and incoming headache.
I knew better than to listen to Alice. But, still I couldn’t help but feel a little hurt by what she said.
Was Noah even going to talk to the queen about us? Or were things going to be as they were?
I want the queen to meet my girlfriend.
This was what he had said before inviting me here. Surely, he must have something I mind then…
I was snapped out of my thoughts yet again, when I heard a deep, loud chuckle. My head whipped in the direction of the sound to see Noah, laughing uncontrollably, and looking as gorgeous as ever in his formal suit and trousers. I took me a moment to register that Zain was there too, laughing along with him.
What even-
I walked over to them. “Am I missing something?” I asked, folding my arms across my chest.
“Chloe, my mate!” Noah said loudly, a little too loudly, and pulled me to his chest. “It’s been years. Where have you been?”
I glanced around in embarrassment; at the looks we were receiving, then looked up to meet Noah’s eyes.
Red? Check.
Disoriented? Check.
Dark circles? Check.
I inhaled a sharp breath. “What are you on?” I hissed. “Do you even realize what you are doing?”
Instead of replying, he buried his head in my shoulder, mumbling something. I had to use all my willpower to ignore his hair which were tickling my cheeks, and focused on what he was saying.
“I wish I knew what I am doing.”
His voice was low, quiet and broken; and made my heart break in return. I had never experienced this…vulnerable side of him.
“Hi, Chloe!” Zain suddenly spoke up, raising a glass of water in front of me. His voice turned into a whisper, as he leaned in slightly, “Drink this up, if you are having a bad day. I swear, it helps.”
Oh my God!
“Zain, did you give this to Noah?” I asked, calmly, while Noah had settled for laughing at random moments and playing with my hair.
Zain gave me a sheepish smile. “Sorry, I know this was all meant for you but-”
“Wait, hold up. Meant for me?”
He nodded. “Yeah, that friend of yours…what’s her name…Alice I think? She wanted me to deliver this to you, but, I found Noah…looking all gloomy and sad, roaming the abandoned parts of the palace all alone. So I thought, why not share some with him?”
My mouth fell wide open, as my brain tried to process the load of information, Zain had just dropped on me. But, before I could even say anything, a breadstick was stuffed into my open mouth.
I turned to Noah in shock, to find him laughing at my expression. Then, out of the blue, he started pinching my cheeks. “Chloe, my cutie, my mate, the love of my life. Let’s play a game.”
“What?” I asked warily, trying to swat his hands away. “What do you want to play?”
He tapped his chin in thought, before his eyes lit up. “Let’s tell everyone what happy means and ruin their happiness forever.”
Without even giving me time to react, he started stumbling towards the stage. When I realized that he was going to announce the meaning of ‘happy’ on mic, my eyes widened.
Oh shit, this was going to be a long night.