Falling For You

Chapter 9

Prince Dex was an intelligent young man. When Biana met him in the Grand Hall, he suggested they played chess while drinking eggnog. Biana agreed, happy to end the night on a quiet note. She learned that Dex was 17, with 3 younger siblings. His parents were good to him, and he had a quality life back at home. Biana beat him twice, but once he was warmed up, he was quite good. 

"I must say, Prince Dex, you are very clever." she said, when he check-mated her for the 3rd time in a row! 

"Thank you Princess, though you did quite well yourself." he said, "I'm surprised I won. I have been busy studying for college lately." 

"College?!" Biana shouted. 

Dex smiled. "I know, I'm a bit of an overachiever. Or that's what my friends say at least... I plan to go to Harvard in the fall. I got accepted 2 weeks ago." 

"Wow! That is amazing! I wouldn't call that an overachiever...I'm so proud to know someone that smart." Biana said. 

Dex blushed and grinned. "Thank you, Your Highness." 

They played a few more rounds, with no luck for the princess. But, Dex made Biana laugh, and she was appalled by how many fine young men she had met lately. 

"Well..." Dex said, standing up after beating her again and stretching, "I say we call it a night." 

"You can say that again!" Biana said, "thank you for tonight, Dex. I enjoyed my time with you." 

"I enjoyed my time, too." Dex said, "sleep well, Princess." 

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When Biana walked to her room after saying goodnight to Dex, she was ready to crawl in bed and forget everything that just had happened. It was weird to think that just this morning, she had met the 5 suitors, and one had already gone home! But when she entered, she saw her window open and Tam sitting on her bed, facing the wall. She forgot he was coming. Her mind drifted back to her and Keefe's conversation, but she forced those childish thoughts out of her mind. 

He looked up when he heard her enter. "Oh good, you're ok. I was starting to think something happened with Prince Dex." 

"Hi Tam. I'm fine. We just went a little over." she said, "so what did you want to talk about?" 

"Well I wanted to make sure you were ok after what happened tonight. I didn't want to pry when we were with Prince Keefe." he said, standing up and walking over to her. 

"Honestly, I was horrified. Nothing like that has happened to me before...but I tried to not show it in front of Keefe." she said.

"I thought that was the case..." Tam said, "are you hurt? I mean he didn't physically hurt you, did he? I swear if he did, I will..." 

"That's unnecessary, Tam." Biana said, cutting him off, "nothing major. I guess the only thing I got was a headache when he shoved me against the wall. I have a slight bruise on my left hip, too." 

"Ugh B, if I was there..." 

"I know..." she said, "I wish you were." 

Suddenly, Biana felt no bravery as her legs began to shake, and her eyes watered. She ran and flopped on her stomach on her king sized bed and let out a long, "ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh." 

The bed shifted as Tam joined her on his back. They sat there for the longest time, not saying anything. Slowly, Biana dosed off, and before she knew it, she'd fallen asleep. After what seemed like hours but was only a few minutes, Tam gently shook her awake and she crawled under her silk covers. He turned off her lamp, pulled the sheets up to her chin, and thinking she was asleep, he planted a soft kiss on her forehead. 

"Goodnight, B. Sweet dreams..." he said, crawling out of the windows and shutting them behind him.  

But what he didn't know was that Biana was awake the entire time. And her heart was pounding out of her chest. Was she falling for Tam, her best friend since 6? And if she was, what was she going to do about it?