Page 34 of Forbidden Heart

“Roonie?” JJ presses.

“Huh?”

“The food court has the best french fries,” he says in a very familiar tone, one that suggests he’s said those exact same words at least once already. “Are you in?”

“Really?” I shoot a hopeful look at Charles, who nods.

“I won’t be having any fries, of course,” he says, “but I’ll join you after I drop off my watch.”

“Okay.” I grin and jump to my feet, relieved that he’s not holding the watch comment against me.

“We can also stop by Simply Tech,” JJ adds. “They have some great stuff there!”

“They do.” Charles nods. “And if we’re making a trip of it, then I’d like to go to the bookstore as well.”

“I love books!” I blurt out and then feel another wave of embarrassment over how stupid I sound. At this rate, I’ll get myself uninvited before we even leave the dorms. Dorms I’m not even supposed to be in.

I race back to Tate’s room to get ready... not that I have much getting ready to do. Mostly, it’s an excuse to get away from the guys before I say anything else I’ll regret... or blurt out the fact that I haven’t actually made any progress on their song.

When we’re all set, we make our way downstairs. The guys flank me like they’re my own personal entourage, but I don’t feel safe. Marcus the RA could pop out at any minute, and my eyes dart around, making sure he’s not lurking around some corner.

“Are you all right, Roonie?” JJ frowns.

I nod and give him a serene smile. The sort of smile a princess would give her knight.

JJ frowns at me for a second, like he’s trying to gauge whether I mean it, and then shrugs and leads the way outside.

The three of us head across campus, retracing the exact same path Tate and I took when I first got here. The walk is familiar, yet different. The sun is shining, for one, and neither of my princes is carrying me the way Tate had. Plus, that peaceful, magical fairy tale feeling in the air when I first got here is gone, replaced by fear.

Fear that I won’t finish the song and disappoint the guys. Fear that Marcus the RA will tell them I have to go and they’ll kick me out. Fear that someone’s watching me.

I can feel their eyes on me, but when I look around, the campus seems ordinary. Emptier than usual since it’s a weekend, but without evil witches lurking in the shadows.

When we reach the parking lot, Charles leads us to a shiny black sports car. It’s only got two doors, and I wonder how he plans for all of us to fit. Would I get to sit on JJ’s lap while Charles drives? Or will I get sandwiched between my two princes as the three of us try to squeeze up front?

Charles unlocks the car door with a push of a button, and another button has the driver’s seat sliding forward and tilting to reveal a spacious back seat.

I’m about to climb in, but Charles stops me and raises an eyebrow at JJ.

“Shotgun?” my Knight in Shining Armor asks hopefully. One scowl from the Beast, and he climbs into the back.

Charles places a hand on the small of my back and helps me into the front passenger seat. He’s a true gentleman, a prince helping his princess into their carriage before they embark on a journey across the kingdom. Or in our case, a drive to the mall.

The nearest one is just one town over, but it’s small and worn down, so I’m not surprised when Charles turns in the opposite direction. There’s a fancier mall there, one I’ve been to a few times, and I estimate we’re in for a twenty minute drive each way.

Charles picks the music—classical, as always. I don’t really mind it. It’s quiet, peaceful, sophisticated. I just wish Charles had chosen fun driving music instead. What I wouldn’t give to play popular a cappella songs or tunes from my favorite musicals and sing along with the guys.

Instead, I stay perfectly quiet, like a mouse. JJ asks me a few questions, which I manage to answer with small nods and serene princess-like smiles, instead of saying something stupid that will ruin the entire trip.

When we step into the mall, I am greeted by the smells of popcorn, rubber shoes, new plastic, and old perfume. It smells like... well, a mall. I’ve been on campus so long, I’ve forgotten what the rest of the world is like. The places I’ve been to recently have all been different. Unique. This mall, however, is quite familiar. Even though I’ve only been here a few times, a mall is a mall. They’re all the same, in a way. They all have a similar smell, a similar sound, a similar feeling.

I immerse myself in the environment, mindlessly wandering toward the nearest shop that catches my eye. Charles and JJ follow.

I pause.

Are they following my lead? I thought I was tagging along with them, not the other way around.

“Charles, don’t you need to get your watch fixed?” I ask hesitantly.