"I don't need to go tonight."

"Yes, you do." Lila crosses her arms. "I don't want to go alone."

"Then why are you going?" I counter. "Just let Easton go. I can try to convince Wyatt to bail, and the three of us can watch a movie or play mini golf or have a cook-off in the kitchens. I'm sure my mom would be fine with us in there."
Lila laughs. More like a giggle, to be honest. Everything about Lila is prim and pretty, even a belly laugh from her sounds like a little bell chiming. "You know what? Sure, Ev."
"Are you serious?" I was astounded. Of course, going to the live taping of the Illéa Capital Report interviews with the remaining twenty Selected was literally the last thing on my to-do list. Ever. But I wouldn't want Lila to go alone; after all, she'd just be sitting with Adrian and Elliot, and after learning all her insecurities she had growing up, there was nothing better I could do for her than be there for her. So the fact that she'd agreed to just chill with me and ditch the Report? Win-win situation.

"Sure." She shrugs, hazel eyes gleaming deviously. "On one condition, though."
"Anything, yeah." I nod profusely. She grins.

"Only if you can get Wyatt to join us." Lila raises an eyebrow. "Because I know my brothers better than anyone, and there's no way Wy won't go to support Easton."
I huff. "You don't know that."
"Wanna bet?" She holds out a hand. "Shake on it. I'll bet you..."
"What do you have that I want, Li?" I laugh. "Hold the tiaras and the gowns."

She frowns, and I think I have her then. She knows I'm right. Until she grins sneakily with realization, and faces me strongly. "I'll bet you a prank war on my brothers."

"Are you serious?" I ask her again, this time devastated. Because of course Lila's right. Even I know that. Wyatt would never skip out on this; he's always been the most devoted and dedicated brother. It's part of why I like him so much. But right now I'm cursing his name - I would have loved a prank war.

She shrugs, positively beaming. Sometimes I wonder how a fourteen-year old could be so mischievous. Then I realize she definitely got it from me and Easton.

Should have expected my own attitude to bite me in the ass someday.

"That is, unless," Lila continues connivingly. "You come to the Report with me tonight. Then we can have a prank war. Your call, though."

She is giggling with pride, knowing she was successful. I groan, and shake her outstretched hand. I was dreading tonight.

And she knows it.

oOo

Audrey is, to say the least, shocked when I ask her to do my hair and makeup for tonight. Like, dumbfounded. It was almost funny.

"I could have sworn up and down you would have refused to go tonight, Everly." She hums out. "I thought I'd get the night off from glamour tonight."

"You can still have it off if you want!" I insist. "Really. It's totally okay. I'll just go like this. No harm, no foul, y'know?"

She eyes me up and down. "There is no way you are going on live television in sweats. I would probably get fired. Besides, Prince Wyatt will be there looking all sharp and everything. Don't you want to be all dressed up for him?"

I shrug. "He's seen me in the morning with zit cream and bad breath. I'm sure he'd be able to handle me at my worst." I head to my wardrobe. "What dress should I wear tonight?"

"Well, it's a pretty formal event, so not a day dress. But it's not a ball or anything, so we can rule the ballgowns out too." She sifts through a few longer dresses, before pulling one out gently. The colour pallette I wore was pretty consistent, considering there weren't a ton of colours that were complimentary with shocking red hair. This was a dark forest green dress that fell to the floor in puddles of the softest silk. It was low-cut enough to be tempting, but definitely suitable for television. There was a subtle slit up the leg just until the outside of my thigh, with thin straps over my shoulders. It was classy and beautiful.

"What do you think?" She offers hopefully. I nod.

"I don't know how you do it. But it's perfect." I hug her, and she laughs. "What would I do without you, Audrey?"

"Wear sweats on live television!" She laughs. "Come on. Get dressed before I do your hair and makeup. We all know what happens if I do that first."

"That was one time!" Needless to say, that one time... I arrived fashionably late to all festivities.

Once I've slipped into the dress, Audrey sits me down in front of the vanity. She teases my hair out for volume, then proceeds to curl and pin it. I try my best to sit still - there was a period of time where I had constant burn marks on my neck from the curling wand. While my hair is pinned, she turns me around to do my makeup.

"Definitely a smokey eye for tonight, don't you think?" She inquires absentmindedly.

"It's all up to you, Aud," I remind her.

She nods, priming and moisturizing my face. "What was Prince Wyatt up to today?" A pause. "Wait, close your eyes. Okay, go."
I frown slightly. "I...actually don't know, to be honest. I haven't seen him today. Or spoken to him. I'm guessing he was busy with his father."

"He's really suited for all the political aspects of being a prince, isn't he?" Audrey asks fondly. I wish I could see what her expression was as she said that.

"Yeah. Yeah, he is. I'm really proud of him." I was. There was no doubt in my mind that I was fiercely proud of him. But did I hate how successful he was at the same time? Absolutely. I missed my best friend. My boyfriend.

"He's going to forget all about his job when he sees you tonight." I can hear the smirk in Audrey's voice. "You already look amazing."

"Even with my hair like this?"

She laughs. "Even with your hair like that. Trust me, Everly, those cameramen are going to be upset they're not focused on you the entire time tonight. I'm so happy you've decided to go tonight! You're going to have such a good time."

I thought it best not to tell Audrey about the prank war promise.

oOo

I meet up with Lila and her parents before the show begins. I can tell she isn't nervous in the slightest; Lila has been born and raised to be poised and sophisticated in front of a camera. She's dolled up in a long burgundy dress, her hair in a tight braided updo with a dainty ringlet resting atop her dark hair. She looks flawless, and lights up when she sees me. "Oh, wow. Evy. You look amazing!"

"So do you, Li." I grin at her. "I'm kind of happy you convinced me to come."

"Of course you are." She frowns. "The show starts in fifteen minutes. This is so typical of Easton, but where's Wyatt? He's always punctual."

"He'll be here." Her mom, Queen Elliot, reminds her. She's dressed gloriously in a dress of a colour I can't seem to pinpoint; it wavers between blue, silver, and grey. King Adrian can't keep his eyes off her. "And if he's not, it's no huge worry. It's Easton we're relying on." She sighs and looks at her husband, both shaking their heads fondly.

"You raised them." Lila grumbles.

"Where are you guys sitting?" I change the subject. "Elliot and Adrian in their thrones, right? What about you, Li?"

"Next to them. You, Wy, and Easton will sit up with us too." She informs me. I pale slightly. Up with the rest of the royal family? It's different when I'm sitting with them at the dinner table in the Great Hall or something. But on a huge televised event? Interviews with the Selected? I definitely am not prepared for this, and Lila can tell. "Don't worry. It's not like you'll have to say anything."

"Sorry!"
Wyatt and Easton jog up to us. I'm slightly taken aback by how... well, how good they both look. Wyatt is dressed in a navy suit with a white dress shirt, buttoned pristinely with the cuffs rolled and linked, and brown leather dress shoes. His hair is slicked away from his face; he looks classy and extremely professional.

Easton is wearing a black suit, a black dress shirt, and black shoes. His suit jacket is open, his blond curls loose around his forehead with his crown in his left hand. He pushes his curls out of his eyes with his right hand. "I'm not that sorry. We aren't even late." His gaze falls on me. "Everly. Didn't know you'd be attending."
My cheeks redden. "Well. I'm here."

He nods slowly, biting the inside of his cheek, and pointedly looking away from me, rubbing the back of his neck. As if making sure I know he doesn't want me here. Or doesn't want to look at me. Either way, it kind of stings.

Wyatt dips in and kisses me on the cheek as we begin to file out to our spots. I can hear the Selected girls down the hallway; they're waiting for us to take our places before they can sit out in theirs. He wraps an arm around my waist. "How was your day?"

"It was fine. Spent some time with my mom before Lila invited me to come tonight." I look up at him. "Why didn't you?"
"Why didn't I what?" He asks me lowly, his breath hot on my ear.

"Why didn't you invite me to come tonight?"

I wouldn't be able to tell he tensed up if his arm wasn't around me. "No reason specifically. Honestly, Ev, we both know this isn't your scene. I guess I just didn't think you'd want to come and support East tonight." He kisses me again, on the temple. "But nonetheless. I'm super happy you're here."

I grin, reaching down to squeeze his hand. "Good."

oOo

I hate to say that I zoned out for most of the night.

But I did.

I paid good attention to when Kajemi, Iva, and Relia did their interviews, as well as Lenny. And I watched Easton for a small period of time, to see how professionally he decided to act. I was pleasantly surprised. He was mature and engaged, even though he was sitting up next to his parents. He laughed at the girls' jokes and clapped along at the perfect moments. I was... impressed.

Didn't know it did that.

After the cameras cut, and the Selected file out, the royal family and I begin to head out as well. I turn to Wyatt. "Do you want to do something tonight before bed? I feel like we haven't spent time together in forever."

He grimaces slightly. "I know. I'm really sorry, it's not your fault, Ev, I've just been swamped."

"I'm not blaming you or anything, don't worry." I console him. "Anything tonight sound good to you?"

He scratches the back of his neck apologetically. "I have to be up really early for a conference call with Germany. Tomorrow night?"

I nod. I can't be mad or frustrated with him. This is what I signed up for, dating a prince. He kisses me on the forehead goodnight. "Love you, Ev. See you tomorrow."
"Love you. See you tomorrow." I sigh. Elliot and Adrian excuse themselves, and Lila trails off with Wyatt to bed. Which leaves Easton and I.

"You were good tonight." I tell him reluctantly. He nods.

"Thanks." Clears his throat. "You look really...you look nice."

I smile, realizing then I hadn't even heard that from Wyatt. "Hey. Thank you." I feel incredibly awkward - more so than usual - and I jerk my thumb towards the gardens. "Wanna hang out by the pool for a little bit?"
His head snaps up at me, his blue eyes wide. "Seriously?"

"Uh, yeah. Why not?"

He nods again. "Yeah. Yeah, sure. Okay."

We walk out to the pool in silence; outside, it is lit dimly by lanterns and lights inside the pool. Serene and beautiful. Once we are out there, I kick off my heels, hike up my dress, and plop down on the side of the pool, dangling my feet in. Easton chuckles softly and does the same, removing his shoes and dress socks before rolling up his pant legs. It is pretty much silent outside. And I am unbelievably nervous. I don't know why. I don't know how to be friends with Easton.

Finally I speak up. "Any girls catch your eye tonight?"

He shrugs. "I don't know yet. Honestly, Everly...I don't know how I'm ever supposed to pick one of them."
"Because they're all so attractive and desirable?" I laugh. Typical Easton.

"No. Because..." He coughs slightly. "I don't know. None of them seem right. At least, not yet."

I nod slowly, at a loss of what to say. So I change the subject. "Wyatt wasn't mad at me tonight."

"Huh?" Easton frowns. "Why would he be?"

"The paper. Remember?" How one of the Selected had ratted me out to the press and twisted my words to make it seem as though I had a vendetta against the Braxton boys? Yeah, that paper. He winces.

"Right. Uh, I may have cleared it up with him and told him the truth before he went ape-shit crazy on you."

"You did that for me?" My eyes widen. I guess I didn't expect him to go out of his way to clear my name.

He smirks. "No. I did it for Wy."

"You bastard."

"And for you. A little, I guess." He sighs deeply. "Sometimes...I just want to get out of here."
"We can go inside then, if you want." I offer. He laughs.

"No. I mean outside the castle. Outside of Illéa. I want to travel, Everly. And not just for royal business or political reasons. I want to explore, you know? I feel so...suffocated here sometimes."
"I - wow. I had no idea you felt this way."
He shrugs. "I guess I never would have told you. I've never really told anyone, to be honest. Not the type of thing a prince is supposed to desire. Especially not the heir."

And we sit in silence for a while. The crazy thing was... it wasn't uncomfortable silence. Awkward silence. It was good. I felt comfortable. Happy, even. Which is an emotion I have never felt in Easton's company.

After a good ten minutes of sitting with our feet in the water, Easton hoists himself up, hesitating slightly before reaching a hand out to me. "Come on. Let's go in."

I grab his hand. For some reason, it's so much different than holding Wyatt's hand. He has a ring, for starters, a thick silver band around his index finger. His hands are larger than Wyatt's, maybe, and his skin is warm. He clears his throat once I'm standing, taking his hand back, and my cheeks redden. I forgot we weren't friends, not really. Of course he doesn't really want to touch me. He hates me.

And I have to remind myself that I'm supposed to hate him too.