I Hate Him

Day 1, Late afternoon

After what happened this morning, Texas and California had gone for a walk.

The walk was silent, and yet it wasn't uncomfortable.

They avoided the town and went straight for the forests behind the castle.

"Got anyone to take?"

California looked at Texas, who wasn't even looking at him.

"To what?"

"The ball? At the end of the month, the ball where Georgia is celebrating his birthday."

Georgia was the oldest out of the bunch, turning 235 tomorrow.

"No. I don't have anyone to bring. And you, Prince Texas? Do you have someone?"

"No, I do not."

The duo fall into silence once again.

The setting sun reminded California of his state home.

He turned to ask Texas a question, only to see Texas had stopped.

Texas was looking between the trees.

California walked over, and stood beside Texas.

The field in front of them had wild horses and deer scattered around. The golden hue of the sun had given the illusion that the grass was gold and beautiful.

California was enamored with the veiw in front of him.

Texas whispered to California.

"Do you have a horse in the stables?"

"Yes. But don't you have to be back for dinner?"

"I don't care. I can eat when I want."

Texas grabs California's hand and runs back through the forest.

Texas takes a wrong turn at one point and they are soon running through town.

The setting sun means there is no one in the streets except the occasional late worker and child.

They get to the stables and Texas lets go of California's hand.

California finds his horse almost instantly. He had been here so many times to escape the world that he could find the stables blindfolded.

California had a Missouri Fox Trotter. Apollo was his name.

He got his horse ready and led him out of the stable.

Texas walked out soon after with an Appaloosa.

"Her name is Spirit. How 'bout you?"

"Apollo. Now let's get out of here before someone spots us!"

They continue walking the horses until they're on the edge of the town, somewhere close to California's house.

Texas gets on his horse first, and California follows shortly.

They walk slowly at first, but soon they start to pick up speed.

California can feel the smile on his face grow bigger as the wind flows through his hair. He looks towards Texas to see he is facing him.

Texas has a smile on his face and is smiling at California,and it's all California can see. The setting sun makes Texas seem like a god.

Texas turns away and California feels like the sun has left him forever.

The moon started to rise and they started to head back. Tired and cold, California started to shiver slightly.

California looks towards the moon.

"You okay?"

California turns to face Texas with a soft smile.

"'Course I am. Just a little cold."

They continue on for a bit, until they reach the stables.

They feed the horses and make sure that everything is done.

"How close is your house? Because the castle is pretty close."

"My place is on the edge of town."

"Come stay at the castle. It's late, and everyone's probably gonna be in their rooms."

California felt a giant butterfly flap its wings in his stomach.

"You sure?"

"Course I am. And you'll get a free dinner."

California shrugs and they walk towards the castle.

When they get there, Gov is standing at the top of the stairs with Georgia and Washington.

"Uh oh."

California barely heard the whisper from underneath Texas' breath.

"Where were you?! We were worried sick!"

"Gov, we were just out in the fields! It's okay."

"That's not the point, Texas. The point is that no one knew!"

Silence fell over them, and unlike the silences between California and Texas, this one was uncomfortable.

"Were you with Florida?"

"No, but he went with his guard."

"That means he could be anywhere."

"I might know where they are, your majesty."

Everyone turns to California.

"At this time? Probably the bar. And they'll probably crash at Louisiana's place."

"Doesn't he have a roommate?"

"Yeah… me."

Silence seems to be common when California is around.

"Alrighty then,"

Georgia is the first to break the silence.

"I'm tired, so I'm gonna head to bed."

Washington follows him, presumably to also go to bed.

"Don't do it again."

Gov walks in, but leaves the door open.

"You still staying here?"

"Course Texas. Florida is probably in my bed."

Texas chuckles at the statement and they both head inside.

They did what they normally did before bed, and California was the first in the bed.

He was facing away from the door for only one reason. He was blushing red.

He normally slept shirtless, so he took off his shirt and threw it somewhere in the dark room, got in the bed, then remembered he was sleeping with a prince.

California heard the door open and shut his eyes.

"You asleep yet?"

The beating of California's heart sped up.

"Yeah… you don't mind me sleeping shirtless, do you?"

"Course not. I am too."

California felt the bed dip and his face got hotter.

"Do you mind?"

"No no."

Ten minutes passed, and California was getting uncomfortable. He hated sleeping on his left.

He turned sides to see Texas was facing him, fast asleep.

California smiled softly.

"Guess you aren't as bad as I thought you were."

California went to sleep fairly quickly after that.

But what he didn't know is that Texas was also still awake.

"You aren't so bad either, Cali."

A/n this fic is now being beta read by tumblr user fandomgeeknerd (https://at.tumblr.com/fandomgeeknerd/pngdibd4k0du)

And their ao3 user julireadsfanfics (https://archiveofourown.org/users/julireadsfanfics)