The Aldean Chronicles: Hidden

"Jamie has a girlfriend, they've been dating for months." Kat doesn't say anything. "He's on a date with her right now, that's why he didn't come here." I sit down next to her. "He's moved on, I'm sorry."

She's still silent, it's starting to get scary. "Kat, how do you feel? You haven't said anything."

"The girl, what's her name? Who is she?" She whispers.

"Why do you want to know that," I ask her. "Kat, you have to let it go. You're not getting back together, I know breakups are hard but we all have to move on eventually."

"Oh screw you, Cassandra." She barks at me. "Breakups are hard, we all go through them." She mimics. "What do you know about love, about relationships. Jamie and I have been friends for so long, I loved him before we started dating. He was always there for me. He was my first friend, my first love, my first everything. I don't know how to stop loving him. I see him every day, we have classes together. We have the same friends, our parents are friends. I can't just wish my feelings for him away.

"We have inside jokes, traditions, anniversaries." She's crying again, this time silently. "You don't just get over things like this, it hurts and I'm allowed to feel bad."

I feel so stupid "I'm so sorry Kat, I shouldn't have said that."

"Yeah, you shouldn't have." She wipes her tears with her palms. "Great, my makeup is ruined again."

"I didn't know you felt that deeply about him. This must be horrible for you."

"I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you."

"At least this outburst didn't bring your room down." I make a bad joke. "Sorry, too soon."

She sniffs. "I can't believe we're really over. I've been too scared to face that reality, it might be time for me to move on."

I nod. "You deserve better." I take her hands in mine. "Kat, you are pretty and smart and powerful. You are a great catch, you'll find someone else and be so happy. I know it."

"Thank you."

I smile. "Come on, let's fix your make-up. Again."

"And don't forget my gift. Remember it must be something a queen will give, good luck." She moves to her vanity mirror.

"Where am I supposed to find that?" I lament. There's a knock on the door, it's Grey.

"What's going on, people are asking strange questions and what gift does aunt Freya have for Kat?"

"There isn't one, I need to come up with something." I think. "Is there anything I can give her, something old and priceless?"

"Why did you guys run up like that, it was so strange?"

"There was an emergency, not important. I need a gift."

"I wish we were at the palace, I would have gotten something." Kat sighs.

"There might be something, but it's in a locked vault." Grey says.

"Do you know the code?" I ask hopefully.

"It's magic, it may work or may freeze us temporarily till security arrives."

"Anything else," I ask, shaking my head.

"My mum has this necklace, she's been waiting for the right time to wear it. It's an emerald piece, crafted centuries ago I think."

"Just when I thought aunt Lilian couldn't hate me more," Kat mutters. "I'll take it, she'll understand."

We get back down and everybody gushes over the necklace, it is pretty. I get two slices of cake and go to my room.

Michelle is lounging on the bed, watching tv on my laptop. "Brought this for you."

"Thanks." She puts the laptop aside. "So, how's the party?"

"It's alright, Paisley threw up, Axel is talking to some old friends. And Sara might be dating Jason, that's a story for another night."

She laughs. "I can't believe I was invited to this amazing party and hid in your room all night. I'm pathetic."

"I can't believe I'm at the best party I've ever seen and spent the whole night running after people. I'm pathetic."

"You're not, you're a good friend."

"And you're a good person, it doesn't matter that you stayed here. You're not comfortable in large spaces and that's alright." I walk to my closet. "Here, you seem to like this skirt." I walk in and produce a black wool skirt lined with gold buttons. "A sorry present for forcing you to come."

"Technically, Paisley forced me."

I smile "Do you want it or not?"

"Thanks, Cass, I would have said I'll pay you back. But well..."

The rest of the party goes well. I go back down and get a drink, dance with Sara and Paisley and chat with Axel and some of his second year friends. He went to school with them and they all knew Arin.

"I still can't believe you're friends with him." One of the guys said. "When we were 12, he told on me for cheating of his sheet."

"How terrible of him." I drawl. "To be fair, you also could have not copied his work."

"Still, he could have stuck up for me." We all laugh. "But seriously though, I know he's like a master swordsman, but he's throwing all that away for an academic career."

"I love science, it's one of the things that helped us bond. He sends me links to this article that publishes the funniest science jokes every day."

"That is so creepy," Axel says. "I will never get your love for non-magic-related science."

"I grew up on Earth, that's the only kind of science we know," I argue.

It's almost ten and students who are going back to school start leaving to make curfew. The guests are given their phones as they pass the gate. I wish my friends goodnight. Around eleven, all the guests are gone, I sit down in the kitchen feeling exhausted.

Luckily, we don't have to clean up, the staff come back and soon it's like the party never happened. We drop off Lillian's jewelry where we found it and she and Seb come back early the next morning.

"House looks clean, nothing was stolen, no pictures online. I'm impressed." Seb says over breakfast.

"We did borrow mum's necklace, it was an emergency."

"Which one, it better not be the Jade set." We don't reply. She scowls. "Of all my pieces, why did it have to be that one?"

I go back to school that afternoon. Everyone is talking about the party, the people who went describe what happened to their friends.

Since there were no pictures, exaggerated rumors start to fly around.

I questioned Grey on what happened between him and Michelle last night.

"I'm sorry, Lexi said some mean stuff. I may have also said some less than nice things. I'm just...sorry, okay." And that's all he said on the matter. I consider asking Michelle what happened but she's in a better mood and I'm not sure if I should bring it up.

***

The rest of the school year goes by very quickly. Before we know it, it's summer vacation. The weather is warmer and people's spirits are lighter. Except mine, the pledge is in a month and I cannot stop stressing.

My schedule for the next three months is still fully booked though. Charity functions, state dinners. Might even travel out of the country for official royal visits.

My aunt decided not to cancel Milton's match. She claims it's because the country has been safer but it's really because it's an unpopular decision and her poll numbers were going down. That is still scheduled to take place in July.

My first social event is the night after school lets out. It's a dinner party at Liege Caper, the pro-cages fanatic's house. I'm attending the party with Grey and Lilian, she's wearing her Jade set for the first time and basking in the compliments.

I see Arin at the party. He skipped out on a summer of attending political events with his parents for a summer of attending political events with his grandfather. He called the situation a lose lose but at least now he can spend time with his friends from school.

We chat lightly for a few minutes. Then I remember the pledge and groan.

"July 1st?" He asks knowingly.

"How did you know?"

"It's all anybody can talk about. The rumors are crazy, it's even come up at council meetings. My grandfather asked me to get information from you."

I huff. "That old faker." I spot Secretary Davis and walk up to him. "Seriously Davis, sending your grandson after me."

He just shrugs. "You can't go far in politics without pulling a few smart moves."

"Do you really think that was a smart move?"

"You're standing here talking to me now, aren't you?" He asks.

"I don't know anything okay. It's still weeks away, I'm trying everything I can to not think about it." A photographer comes closer and I pull a quick smile before the flash goes off. If they catch me frowning close to them, they'll twist the headlines and damage control will be a nightmare.

We're soon called for dinner. I'm seated beside Grey and opposite Arin. It isn't bad, the hostess might have questionable political stances but she knows how to throw a decen party.