The Prince and the Ballerina ( part 4)

It's so warm, hmmm. . . smells like lavender and a cool ocean breeze. Its so nice having my mum here, I love it when she strokes my head, gently pats my back and kiss my forehead. This is how I remember the night before she disappeared from my life and engulfed by fire.

"I love you. . . mummy" I whispered as she kissed my forehead again and I embraced her tightly, hmmm. . . She pat my back once again then her hand slowly went down to my thigh and gave it a squeeze, mummy never does that. Wait, mummy is gone so who is this touching me?

I opened my eyes and I was up against a wall of chest muscles underneath a white linen shirt, I squirmed to get out as it dawned on me the last scene I remembered last night before falling asleep. Henry Archer, the guy who stole my first kiss, the guy who forcibly embraced me in the forest near the Grand Hall and the guy who pretended not to be attracted to me in the slightest is now holding me in an embrace on my bed but the worst thing is that I have allowed myself to be carried away by the moment. I thought I was stronger maybe I was wrong after all. Urgh! What would Nana say about this? What would the mistress of the girl's dormitory say if she checks on me and finds Henry here asleep on my bed? I brought my hands right up against his chest and tried to push him. But of course, like all novels and fictional stories I've read, it was a futile effort since men are inherently stronger but these stories also taught me that we may be weaker physically but we are far more clever than some men. So I changed tactics, I put my hand on his face, stroke his cheek and made the motion of coming in for a kiss on his lips. . . then I gave him a head-but as he closed his eyes. It was strong enough to cause a small red mark on our foreheads and made him release me. I quickly clamored to get up and off the bed. He remained on the bed lying there with his right hand supporting his head up and his left hand touching his forehead.

"I. . .I think you should get going now, the mistress might see you when she does her rounds to check on the girls."

"But I'm still sleepy and tired, I think I will lay here for now."

"Sigh! Enough! You keep toying with me."

"I am not toying with you." He suddenly stood up and looked furious. He was sauntering towards me never breaking eye contact with those cool grey eyes of his. "On the contrary my dear, I find that your existence is toying with me."

"I'm sorry what? Are you crazy? I mean what in the world are you saying?"

"You, Ms. Miller have caught my attention and have haunted me and my thoughts ever since the day I laid eyes on you sitting on that bench with your eyes closed and undisturbed by this world's craziness. You have beguiled me Ms. Miller then I tasted those sweet, sweet lips and the world no longer makes sense to me.."

"Well, that's too forward and a little creepy isn't it? You don't even know me that well to say that you have taken a liking to me."

He was now right in front of me, both arms outstretched trapping me in between him and the door to my room. "I am not sure either Ms. Miller but I just can't get you out of my mind, its driving me crazy, up until last night I was just trying hard to cover-up my feelings. I understand why you might be put off by my aggressiveness but it seems like whenever I see you, feel you near me or even smell your perfume I go blank and lose my control. I can tell you that I have been raised a gentleman Ms. Miller but I just forget my boundaries when it comes to you." He proceeds to touch the ends of my long brown wavy hair.

I brushed his hand off from touching my face after touching my hair. "You can't be serious?. . . You were so rude to me just last night and even told Dr. Decker that you were the least bit attracted to me."

"I apologize for the way I have behaved thus far but like I told you I was in denial until this morning when you were lying next to me and I have fully accepted my fate. I have fully relinquished control of my emotions and I am giving in to you. I am in love with you Ms. Miller."

"You truly flatter me, Mr. Archer." I pushed his left arm aside and stepped out of his attractive arm trap.

"But what your feeling might not be love. Have you even stopped to consider that it might just be some pent up sexual desire you need to fulfill? I apologize for my words but I needed to be blunt in order to get my point across. You just might be desiring something else from me and are masking it into what you just called love. Honestly, how can a person fall in love in just the span of three days?"

He looked at me with a pained look and this is what he said, "Yes, I desire you so much Ms. Miller. I desire to be given the opportunity to taste those sweet lips again." He touches his lips as he says this. "Yes! I strongly desire you Ms. Miller and I am not ashamed to admit it to you. I want you. . . Can I have you? Will you quench this aching burn dearest?" ( touching his heart and biting down on his lower lip while saying the last two sentences)

"First of all it's way to early for things like this, confessions for breakfast with a side of sexual innuendo is a little to much for this early in the morning. Besides I am not sure if I like you like that, I am still processing how you and I slept on my bed together. You should know, I don't do these things."

"Its something I like about you as well Ms. Miller, the innocence of all your firsts and the thrill of getting to take all of them is just driving me crazy."

I am not going anywhere with this guy, he is clearly too enamored in "me" right now, I must admit it does make one's heart flutter but I am not on the same boat with him about this. Hmmm. . . Then as I was thinking to myself I heard footsteps nearing the door, in my panic, I grabbed Henry and shoved him inside the bathroom just as the mistress of the dormitory was about to open the door.

"Good morning my dear, I heard you came in very late last night because of an injury, how are you now?" The gentle voice of the mistress echoed in the small room.

"Well, I kind of sprained my ankle and it was a little swollen but I was well taken care of in the infirmary by Dr. Decker. I am fine now though, the swelling has gone down already."

"That is good to know dear, uhm. . . I actually came here to ask you or rather inform you is a more appropriate term. Last night when you were injured and there was no one to call and inform, is just a serious matter and so I took it to the Student Affairs and the Student President's office has also expressed concern since you are one of the Ballet Company Members. The Student President being of legal age has expressed that he is willing to be your guardian during your stay here in Graceland."

"What? I mean pardon me ma'am but I already have a guardian, I have my Nana."

"I am sorry to inform you dear but your Nana has been missing for quite some time now and we cannot let you continue guardian-less and the student president in a way is responsible for the students so it was a natural way to go. Don't worry about your lodgings ang school fees, the board will also sponsor you since they saw potential in you when you were screened for your application here. I hope you understand. Tonight you will stay in the Archer Manor already with the Archers."

"Where is that ma'am?" unable to process it all that was the most I could come up with to respond to her.

"Oh the Archer's have several manors and they have one here inside the vicinity of Graceland Academy. Someone will pick you up from here later, after you get ready. Okay that settles it then, I wish you all the best dear." She turned around and left.

Wait, what just happened? I got adopted again? Why is my Nana missing. Why is this happening? Before I knew it I was on the floor sobbing and Henry Archer who just came out of the bathroom was watching me debating with himself whether to come close and comfort me or stay where he is and just let me let it all out.

"I truly am alone in this world." (Softly sobbing)

"Oh, no. No no my dear. . . I am here for you. If you will allow me, I want to be here for you."

"You don't even know me Henry and when you do get to know me, you will leave me like everyone else in my life. I have been left, passed from foster family to foster family and soon when I become of legal age I will be a commodity to be traded. You won't understand now but I tell you you will be no different from them. . . So I ask you, don't love me now . . .because you will only leave me in the end."

My head was spinning from all that has transpired here today what more can there be in the future? Henry reached out his hand to me gesturing me to get up and take his hand. I am lost and the only way out is taking Henry Archer's hand, but where will he lead me into?