Chapter 26 Royal Preliminaries
Jason
"This is a little unexpected." Jason's mom commented. "You think this was a little over the top?" Since she was the one driving, she was limited to how much she could look around. Jason could only gaze in wonder, he'd never been out this way. To him, it was like stepping into a living fairytale, and it slightly terrified him. Lights hung from the trees, low, and there were a lot of fancy cars parked just up ahead. The kind he was never familiar with. Would he eventually learn?
She wasn't kidding, Jason figured, for a simple night with the royals. Sure he was dressed up like he was going to a party. So was his mom. Her silver dress glittered as she hunched forward, looking up, as they moved beneath a canopy of lights. Christmas lights from what Jason could tell, were strung, crisscrossed through the branches on the trees just overhead. Jason half expected to see water fountains. Maybe something fancy of men, women, cherub children spewing little tubes of water from various body parts.
Driving down the driveway indeed, was like entering a fairytale. Did he expect to find some creatures playing harps just ahead as well? Real live Cupids maybe?
"Seriously, this was completely unexpected." Jason agreed while gazing around himself in wonder.
"Did he say anything? About this I mean?"
He could feel her questioning gaze but Jason couldn't seem to get himself to answer. There were a lot of fancy cars and people Jason never met before standing at the steps. All of them with their chins up, facing into the night or towards... a house? Mansion? There were too many people milling about, and he found himself growing uncomfortable.
Fancy dressed people wearing sashesâ
Jason unknowingly brought his hand over his too tight stomach. "Mom I think I might be sick."
"Don't be ridiculous." She said without glancing his direction. They were now swerving towards the steps. Men dressed in red button up jackets stood with their hands behind their backs without so much as an eyelash out of place. "You're fine. Just nervous."
Mom, he wanted to say, I don't think I'm ready for this. But the words never came. In all the time he'd spent with Caleb, he'd somehow managed to forget. He was freaking engaged to a Prince! A freaking Prince! It was easy to forget. Easy to overlook the charm and the way he sometimes carried himselfâlike a Prince. Even though he tried hard to hide it, sometimes he slipped up, but mostly, Caleb was simply Caleb.
Caleb listened to Jason's rants. Caleb also had to problem showing Jason affection no matter where they were. Caleb had become more than just a best friend to Jason. He was his fiance now.
The flashing camera lights, the paparazzi, never ending questions being fired his way...
Was he getting this thing he'd only heard of called cold feet now?
Jason's mom still looked uncertain as she pulled up next to the steps. They were much wider than Jason would have expected. He thought about counting the steps leading up to the mansion sized house in order to keep himself in check. A hummer that looked like it been stretched out from the hood to the trunk had just pulled away. Not to mention there was a cameraman already snapping a couple of photos at what appeared to be a young man, he couldn't be much older than Jason. Though Jason couldn't get a proper look at his face. He knew this person had to be of some kind of royalty.
Another member of Caleb's family? Had he ever met this Augustus face to face to before? No he couldn't have. He'd seen Caleb's older brother only once and this guy resembled nothing of Caleb's older brother.
One of the men dressed in red buttoned up jackets stepped forward expectedly, right by Jason's window. Jason involuntarily flinched.
He noticed even his mother was at a loss for words. Until, "O-oh, t-thank you. S-so kind of you."
There was another man in a red jacket opening the door for his mother. Jason half expected to find himself being treated the same, and wasn't let down. This wasn't like the times when Caleb used to open and close doors for Jason. That alone took some getting used to, but this was something he may never get used to.
But where was Caleb?
Jason found himself not only missing him but suddenly needing him. He thought about sending a quick text message but that would have been pointless now. He was already out of the car. The man who opened the car door for his mother was already driving the car away, someplace... else. Jason was finding it difficult to keep tabs on what was going on anymore. The young blonde that arrived just before them was already gone. The cameraman had already snapped two candid shots of him, didn't even register in his mind. His mother on the other hand was more ready. If she was nervous, she was hiding it well. She flashed a smile that could win the hearts of the millions. Jason wished he could have at least inherited that trait from her.
The whole thing of him being engaged to a Prince had finally started to feel real. He found himself doubting himself, lacking charisma. How was he supposed to rule a country he knew so little about? Would he only end up holding the Prince back?
Wait, Prince? No, no, no, no, no. Caleb. The man he found himself in love with.
Stop thinking Jason!
"Jason! Hello!"
This had to be the sister Caleb spoke so much about. Unlike Augustus, Jason had already met her once. Directly. That was a whole other lifetime ago. Jason had already forgotten how beautiful the girl was. Er, woman. Now she was the real deal fairytale Princess. Minus the fact that she wasn't wearing anything that resembled a ball gown. She wore jeans and a button up gray sweater over something else. Jason was no fashion expert. The pair of light blue jeans, now that was something Jason could say he knew about.
"Not yet Sam. Please." And there, Caleb also stood in the midst of the chaos in Jason's head. His doubts and fears suddenly evaporating. What was he so worried about to begin with?
Jason had to fight the urge to run into his arms. There were too many people standing around. Jason needed to remember his manners and address the Princess properly. He noticed even the men in fancy red jackets were looking their way, but then his mother turned to glare at them causing them to look away.
"I want to thank you all for doing a fine job." The words were kind but the meaning was sharp. Jason didn't think his mother cared they grown men. She used the mom voice and they knew better than argue with that.
Jason took a short bow towards Samantha and addressed her as Duchess. She only waved a small hand movement to acknowledge and dismiss. "Can I at least hug him first? Get him to feel more welcome to the family?"
Caleb, ever so handsome, was dressed in a simple tuxedo. Like everyone else around them, he was primed to perfection. Then again, to Jason, Caleb would always look perfect no matter what. Maybe he was just being biased.
Caleb was currently glaring at his sister while she only looked innocently back. "What?" She even sounded innocent, eyelashes fluttering and hands tied behind her back.
"He's mine." Jason noticed the deep edge in those two simple words, and found that he liked it! "Butt out."
Jason realized he REALLY was liking this!
Caleb's glare softened when his eyes and face turned Jason's way. He spread out his arms.
"Huh?"
"I think you've managed to glamour him with your possessiveness." Jason's mom was only slightly smiling but was looking smug from what Jason could tell from the corner of his right eye. She turned and gently told Jason, "He wants you to run into his arms."
Something like that, he thought. His brain was still caught in a haze. It was like he was meeting Caleb for the first time. His heart thumped hard and his breath almost became ragged. Was he really going to do this in front of all these people?
"R..." he coughed and tried again, "really?" This time he hoped he sounded less cheesy and more sure of himself.
The next words Caleb said weren't shouted, though he might as well have. A wind picked up at that very moment sending the trees nearby rustling. Caleb's left, Jason's right. Lights flickered like candle light. Jason thought he could smell the ocean. It still managed to carry the words down the steps towards him. That shouldn't have been possible since the ocean was too far away. "Trust me."
Jason didn't exactly run to Caleb but he did trot fast enough that it could instead be considered a jog. So when he met Caleb's strong arms, he felt strangely winded. A small voice in the back of his head sent a prayer to the heavens above, Please don't let him drop me by accident. But Caleb stayed true to his word. Jason felt like he woke up and entered Disneyland because there was no way things like this happened in real life!
A Prince! A real life Prince happened to come out of nowhere, attend his school, and take a liking to Jason! Jason was thinking how funny life was as Caleb held Jason close. Jason got in a good sniff of the Caleb he'd always known. Soap, water, cologne, a hint of something spicy that reminded Jason of cinnamon and Christmas.
Caleb was grinning like the Cheshire cat, with only eyes for Jason. Jason had to wonder, just how did he come to be so lucky? What were the odds that a Prince decided to attend his school, and that he was now engaged? Engaged to an honest to goodness Prince!
Maybe this wasn't going to be so hard, not when he had someone as strong and kind like Caleb at his side. So even though he'd only recently found out there were many things that come with his newfound responsibilities. Like first, he had to have his title reinstated, his family lands reclaimed, a busload of paperwork to be filled and the countless appearances to be made around the country to show his involvement. Last but not least, dealing with the paparazzi.
That could all wait, because just looking into Caleb's eyes, he felt like he had all the time in the world.
The tips of his toes finally touched the ground and Caleb brought his hands down to the underside of Jason's ribs. Jason thought about getting on his toes to at least get a kiss in but there were still too many people watching nearby. He noticed Caitlyn and Nicklaus were standing inside the front doorway. Nicklaus was giving a thumbs up with one hand, his other hand on Caitlyn's left shoulder. Caitlyn for a change, was smiling. Her eyes swam with unspoken emotion.
Through it all, Jason suddenly couldn't help but think: Things were a little too happy.
Right on cue, Caleb's face changed and the words that came out next, made that little pessimistic voice whispering in Jason's ear louder. With only the ghost of a smile behind, Caleb uttered the words so only Jason could hear. "Can we talk for a minute?"
Jason tried not to sigh heavily. It wasn't completely out of frustration with Caleb. Jason wasn't born yesterday. He suspected a number of things all along.
"I already know." He said, while fighting the urge to hold a hand up in a stop signal. Caleb seemed to get the point, his jaw snapped shut. The sound of his teeth snapped together was audible enough. "I wasn't born yesterday you know. Seeing all these new people that I've never met, pretty much sealed the deal of my suspicions."
Jason let his eyes fall for a second. He needed to keep his nerves under control. Caleb shifted from foot to the next, restless. Jason almost smiled at that. Caleb was showing signs of what Jason was feeling on the inside. It was like they could project each other's emotions now.
"Do you think this is all happening too fast for you?"
Now Jason brought his eyes back up, his brown orbs, locked with Caleb's blue. Right now Caleb's eyes were a dull blue, heavily guarded. His eyes told Jason everything he needed to know. This was the question Caleb most dreaded, but it was now in the open.
Jason needed to answer, because with each passing second, the guard Caleb held in place in his eyes, were getting dimmer. Sadder.
Jason knew he needed to speak the truth. "Maybe." It was Caleb's turn to cast his eyes downward, but they shifted elsewhere. "But I have no regrets." That brought Caleb's eyes back to Jason's though they were still guarded. "I know we're both still young. Neither of us are even out of high school yet." Jason laughed a bit dryly at that before continuing. "But I really do want to spend the rest of my life with you Caleb. I want every minute, every second we have together to be cherished. I don't care how unrealistic that sounds. I know there will be times when we won't like each other, and that staying together won't be easy. But I really want to try. We both have to want to try."
Jason didn't realize his hand was reaching for Caleb's face. If this kept up, they would never be able to finish this talk, because all Jason now craved, was Caleb's lips against his. "It may be nuts to everyone else Caleb, but to me, telling you yes has to best choice I ever made. I can't really explain it to you Caleb, but I want you. Every part of you."
This time, Jason let his hand reach Caleb. Caleb turned his head, to lean into Jason's hand, his face shifted enough that his lips were almost touching the palm of his hand. "I know the whole Parliament is in there, and I'm ready Caleb."
Caleb looked like he brought up short. For a small glimpse of a moment, alarm triggered in his eyes but Caleb was well practiced by now to quickly smooth it away. His face still froze, eyes watching Jason's. As if expecting Jason to suddenly bolt, but Jason wasn't. Jason felt his eyes harden to make the point known. They were already able to communicate silently it seemed, because Caleb kissed the palm of Jason's hand. His lips were smooth enough that the sensation tickled and sent prickly waves down his arm.
"I know things won't always be easy," Caleb said now reaching up with both hands to hold Jason's hand in place. He held Jason's hand in place while closing his eyes briefly. Jason felt of a pang of tears, for the fact that true love was rare, and for Caleb's insecurities. "There will be days we won't be able to see each other and I do despise politics." His kissed the back of Jason's hand, eyes still shut. "But it's as you say, every minute, every second, matters with you."
Jason had to blink back tears that threatened to fall, least his eyes would become red rimmed and give the paparazzi something nasty to spin out of it. "So what if the Parliament is going to turn this into a social debate. We can do this together." Now it was Jason's turn to gulp uncomfortably. This made Caleb shift his face to meet Jason's and his eyes opened. Though they appeared drunk looking now, he held still. "I don't know if they'll let you hold your place for the crown if we go through this."
Alarm. Worry. Certainty.
All three of those things flashed one after another. Caleb was indeed a stubborn young man. That was something they both obviously shared. The worry in the pit of his stomach grew, opened right beneath his feet, threatening to pull him down into the abyss.
"I don't care." He said, plain enough, eyes hard, both his hands holding Jason's right hand in place a little harder. He shifted his head to the side once more that his very breath tickled the flesh of his hand. "I want you."
Jason felt his own eyes darken. He almost forgot they weren't completely alone but when he suddenly looked around, everyone was gone. No mother watching nearby or footmen standing along the steps. He must have been the last arrival after all. Not even the photographer was standing around at the foot of the steps anymore. Eerie, Jason never heard them leave.
What Caleb said next, was what really caught Jason off guard. The words burned him from the inside out. Jason was sure the heat showed over his cheeks.
"I want to see you again. Tonight. All of you."