I stood outside the shop. The cool air hitting my back. I instinctively wrapped the sweater tightly around my body. Looks like summer is ending sooner than expected. The sun giving only a quarter of warmth. Looking around one more time, I came inside the warm shop. This may be an ice cream shop, but the sweet aroma of coffee made it into a café as well.

A tall slender woman greeted me. "Good morning Lily! Do you want your usual vanilla sundae, or just a hot coffee?"

"Good morning, Maddie. Just coffee would be nice." I answered her.

"Coming right up!" She gave me a sweet smile that she claims attracts customers.

In less than a minute, Maddie handed me the coffee. I payed for it, and went to find Art. Walking towards the end of the shop, away from the cashier and any other people, I saw a boy sitting near the window in one of the booths. He had shaggy hair, which I recognized as Art's. So he wouldn't attract any unwanted attention, he wore plain blue jeans and a red sweater with white converses.

"Hey." I said, trying not to sound overly dull nor excited to see him, as I slid into the seat across from him.

"Hey." He grunted. His expression looked tired and worn out, but I didn't question it.

"So..." I started, trying to get a conversation started. I sipped my coffee. "Why did you want me here at 7 in the morning?"

His eyes never leaving mine as he also sipped his cup of coffee. "To get away from Adriana." He replied bluntly.

"Thats all?" I asked, "Better be careful, she might come looking for you."

He didn't smile, instead he said, "I know you didn't steal that globlet." I drank some more of my coffee as he continued, "They found some finger prints, but can't find a match."

I peacefully drank my coffee while he talked. Okay. Maybe not peacefully, but I still tried to keep my cool. I was still waiting for that apology though. I know, demanding right?

"Lil'?"

I hadn't realized that I'd been staring him down, and that I totally wasn't paying attention to what he was saying.

"Yeah?"

He looked at me for a second, "Are you paying any attention?"

I nodded, "Oh yeah sure, a little bit."

He rolled his eyes, "I take that as a no."

"Okay, I'll be more serious. But I'm still waiting for my apology." I pointed out.

He sighed, "I'm sorry...better?"

I shook my head. He gave a quick smile before saying, "Would you like me to propose or something?"

My heart thumped, "Let's get to business." I quickly said.

He laughed, "Thought so."

He talked about all the possibilities and what the investigators found. I was shocked to hear that Adriana was spending more time on the crime scene after her lessons. Art took the time to tell all of this to Karina and Zack, even Max.

"So wait wait wait..." I stopped him, "let me get this straight, so you're saying that you're spying on the investigation, includimg Adriana?"

Art smiled sheepishly, "Yeah...?"

"Just wow. Who would have thought that me, as in a citizen, is living under a prince who is a spy."

"I don't have to be a spy. But unless you want to be innocent, then you'll have to bear with me for another day or two." His eyes were directed at me. All of time was frozen still.

"So...you are actually trying to prove me innocent?" I asked. My breath caught in my throat.

He shrugged, "Not just me, Zack and Max are too, and Karina is purposely making her lessons longer than it should. Making Adriana less of an obstacle."

The whole gang is on board? Even Max? I can't believe my ears. I slumped in my seat. Art took that time to drink the rest of his coffee.

"I can't believe you guys." I finally said.

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" He asked.

"Are you kidding me?!" I exclaimed, being careful as to not be so loud, "I can't thank you guys enough!"

Art smiled showing his dimples, "I thought you didn't want to be in this dumb contest. If I recall correctly."

I tried to kick him under the table, "Okay, maybe it's not that bad."

"I knew you'd fall for my charms." He grinned at me. This time I actually kicked him under the table.

He scrunched up his face in pain, as he rubbed his leg, "Geez, I was kidding." He winced, "Thats gonna leave a bruise."

"Sorry!" I quickly apologized, I hadn't meant to kick him that hard. It just...happened. "I mean, I'm actually sorry. Like for real." I tried to explain myself.

He groaned, "Lets just hope I can still walk." He gathered his trash and went to throw it away. I followed him as well.

Once we stepped outside, the wind hit us. It's not that its cold air, just the fact that it's just about autumn made it seem cold. I shivered.

Art also wrapped his sweater around his body. "Wow, it's really windy." He remarked. "So where are you off to now?" His green eyes looked at me.

"The pet store, gotta work you know. Easy for you, everything is done for you." I replied.

He chuckled, "I may be the prince, but I still have things to do as well."

"Like what?" I chortled.

"College, kingdom stuff, citizens like you to take care of."

"Citizens like me? How do you do that?" I inquired.

"Like this..." my eyes grew wide when he bent down and kissed my hand. I blushed, making him smile.

Without a word, he walked me to the pet store.

When we got there, Art turned around to face me, "I guess I'll see you around soon princess." He smirked.

"As for you too." I added before he turned and left. I rubbed my hand where he kissed me. It wasn't that of a big deal, but right at that moment, it was. I walked into the store, and smiled to customers nearby. Putting on my name tag, I prepared for another day at work.

♔♔♔

"Honey, can you watch Jamie while I'm gone?" Mom called from the kitchen.

"Sure, where are you off to?" I asked, walking up to her.

"Just some errands." She gave a sigh, writing some stuff on a napkin she found nearby. What you do when you don't have paper. Classic.

"Okay. I'll be sure not to order pizza while your gone." I joked.

Mom looked up and gave me a stern look, "You better not. We need the money right now. We need to pay the bill for this month, then Dads golf stuff, and Christmas is coming up."

"Mom," I looked at her, "don't worry, God won't leave us stranded, and besides, Christmas is more than four months away."

"That's four months, sweety, it'll get here before you know it." She looked at the oven clock, and put the napkin in her purse, "I must go before it gets too late." We said our good byes as she left, her car drove off the driveway.

"Jamie?" I called.

"Yes?" His little six year old voice replied.

"Would you like to go to the pet store?"

He walked into the living room where I was at, still holding his favorite red truck. "Can we go to the park instead? I want to play in the sandbox."

"Very well," I agreed, "put on your shoes, while I go get something." I half ran into my room, and grabbed my journal and pen off my desk. Before we moved, Sam introduced me to journaling. From that day on, I used this journal as a getaway. Putting it into my purse, I skidded out of the door where Jamie was already waiting for me.

"Okay! Lets go!" I piped up, opening the door for him.

Grasping the truck, he went outside. The park wasn't too far from the house. Putting that in walking distance, it's about 5 or 6 minutes.

When the park came into view, Jamie ran off to the sandbox, while I went to find a spot where I can sit and journal. I found a bench, and sat down. I looked around for Jamie, and saw that he was still in the sandbox. Satisfied, I took out my journal, and opened it to a clean page. I tapped my pen on the brown notebook, and hoped for ideas to come. So instead of doing anything specific, I doodled a compass. It actually turned out pretty great. Better than I expected.

I heard foot steps crunching on dead leaves. I quickly stood up and turned around. I saw Sandra. Adriana's sidekick so-to-speak. Creepy? I think so.

"Can I help you?" I asked.

She smirked, "Help me? The only way you can help is by staying away from Art and Adriana." Okay. What is wrong with these people. I'm suspended, I can't do anything, not even go to the palace. I'll be happier once college starts in one week.

"Um...Sandra? I think you have forgotten that I am suspended. And that I can't reach Karina or Art." That was partially the truth.

She rolled her eyes, "Uh huh. What were you and Art doing this morning?"

I shrugged, trying to keep my cool, even though I was surprised that she saw us together. "We were just talking, that's all."

"Talking, huh. With a kiss on your hand? Seems like you two are hiding something. Wait until the newspaper hears this." She walked off.

Its no use fighting against her or Adriana. To them, I'm just that poor girl who enjoys working at the pet store. They have more power than I do. Plus, I don't think I'm allowed to see the prince, nor the secretary since I'm still suspended. Except of course Zack. So from now on, I'm gonna have to keep conversations short between Art and me to keep Adriana and Sandra at bay. Even though it kills me to do that to him.

Authors Note:
Hope you enjoyed this chapter! It was actually really hard to write this. My imagination is faltering me:) I'm trying to keep this clean and Christian with good Christian advise, so if you have a favorite quote or Bible verse please comment it down below! And I'll try to bring it up sometime in this book to make the following chapters flow and come together easily. Sorry for this long note, enjoy the rest of your night or day! God bless!

Note-not edited