Chapter X Royal Surprise

Chapter 10 Royal Surprise

Jason

Jason found himself more than a tad shocked when he set his bike by the front door to take off his shoes. His mom had razor sharp eyesight when it came to Jason walking through the house with his shoes on. No matter how quietly he walked, or how carefully he tried to get by, she'd find the smallest speck of dirt, and the shrieking would commence. So walking in through the house with shoes on was not worth the trouble.

"Jason." Had she been crying?

"Mom? What are you doing home so early?" Jason hoped she didn't get fired. At least, as far as Jason knew, his mom rocked at her job. He'd never known anyone that could have two phone conversations at once, and still get him to school on time. She was the master at multitasking.

The kitchen was past the living room where Jason currently resided. He finished taking off his shoes first and quietly made his way over to his mother. Jason was also a bit taken back when he saw they had a guest as well. He made sure nod with a greeting to be polite.

The woman almost looked out of place in a room with 'a barely standing' kitchenette. Both Jason and his mother were still quite proud of the tiny apartment they owned. The oven, microwave, coffee maker, wooden chairs with a matching kitchen table were all outdated. At least the kitchen had character. Jason had spent many days happy with his mother here, and well cooked meals. Due to the hours she had to get through, those days were now numbered.

"Good evening," The woman had eyes that-

"Um, hello," Jason wasn't sure why he suddenly felt shy. Like he had to look away all of a sudden. The woman's eyes reminded him of someone else. That... particular person in question had also gone silent on the ride back. Jason knew he needed to give up trying to figure out what he'd done wrong this time. If he had done anything, because one moment Trent seemed just fine and comfortable in Jason's position, the next, he almost wasn't. Trent was impossible to figure out.

But was it too much to hope that Trent didn't want to Jason to go? Jason could only agree if that really was the case. As if Jason could be that lucky! Still, it was a nice thing to fantasize about if he could help it.

"You can call me Clara." The woman went on. Jason had to force himself to look in her eyes. Unlike Trent's hers had a lukewarm look. "Pleased to meet you Jason."

Jason almost forgot about his mother, that he had to look at her questionably. Jason's mother had brown hair but the roots were naturally black. She'd been spending time out in the sun judging by the tinge of brown skin on her face. They hardly looked alike, Jason and his mother, but they had a lot in common.

Jason was still trying to figure out why his mother had to wipe her face, something she did with her hands.

"Do you need me mom?" After all, he was the man of the house.

"Jason Saint Laurent," this, Clara said in an unrecognizable tone.

Jason was about to reply with a slightly annoyed, yes, but the woman continued. "You carry your father's name. Am I correct?"

She has a British sounding accent. "It is." There was a hint of something else there. Something Jason couldn't quite put his finger on.

"And neither you nor your mother changed your names." The way she pronounced the word 'neither' like the neighing of a horse. Strangely, this somehow kept Jason's interest.

"No we have not." Jason politely replied but then started to wander. He found himself studying the woman further. There was more to her than a British accent and perfect posture. There was something in the way she carried herself...

"From what I've been told, your father also left in an untimely matter." Jason didn't know much about jewelry, but her earrings could have been the real deal. They could have been rubies. Her head moved to the side while trying to catch Jason's attention. Jason had apparently started to let his mind wander, and wasn't listening anymore until, the next thing she said. "I'm afraid I have some bad news."

Jason felt himself straighten up, preparing himself for whatever the worst might be.

"You father," She began, "Has passed away fairly recently."

It might have been insensitive of Jason but he could help his choice of words. Lack thereof. "Ok." He tried carefully at first. "I hardly knew him. Let alone own a photo of him."

Jason felt his mom scrutinize him with a look that he had to readjust his voice and change his pace. "I mean, it's always been my mom and me." He made sure to look Clara in the eyes first then at his mother. "I'd say, she's done more than exceptional."

Jason didn't have to say much more than that. He could jut out how chin with pride as he said it. He knew his mom did way more, keeping their living conditions afloat. Jason never went without any needs. He never missed a meal in his life or had to wear the same clothes every week. He never felt bad when all the other kids noticed that he only had one parent at every parent teacher conferences.

"But I am sorry to hear that." Jason added for good measure. He knew his mother would approve.

So what now?

"Were you aware of the Saint Laurent's being one of many next in line to the throne of where I come from?"

Jason found himself looking around the kitchen for any hints of red lights. This had to some part of a reality show. To think his own mom would have gone along with this ruse. Maybe they would at least get paid a lot. Maybe they'd have enough to finally move. Better yet, his chances of getting into Yale or Harvard might have increased! Not that he was sure those were the kind of places he could easily keep up in.

He decided to play along anyway. "No." He didn't ask what country that would be, because why bother? This had to be some kind of a prank. It was too good to be true. Jason had to bite back a laugh. For now, he would LET himself play along, for the sake of the hidden cameras.

"I take you have no curiosity of what country that might be?" Clara looked crestfallen momentarily, as if she expected more of a reaction. "Who am I kidding? I have a son about your age. Looks like I should skip past all the formalities and get straight to it then."

"Ok." What else could Jason say?

"I, as they would say here in America, am a Queen. I am the Queen of Sweden and I have come here to tell you-"

"That I am crowned Prince of Sweden. Got it." That might not have helped any ratings in the future but the joke was now on them.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Jason!" His mother hissed. "I raised you to act better than this!" She was scorching him with a glare now.

Oh right. The act. Better get back to it then!

"I'm sorry mom," to his mother, "Kind lady," to Clara, "But I've seen enough television to know better than to fall for an overused trick." He ignored the looks of shock suddenly not caring to keep up with the act. Well played you two. "So what's the name of this new TV show? It is new right? Because I haven't heard of this prank but let's be honest, be more original."

Neither Clara nor Jason's mother looked able to speak yet. They managed to look back at each other then back at Jason as if he grew an extra head. Jason couldn't stop smiling that his face almost hurt.

"Don't look at me, just being honest. Now may I please be excused? I have some homework to get to."

He was turning to leave when his mother spat out a big 'No' that had Jason spinning, feeling again like he was somewhat out of the loop again.

"What?" Jason didn't mean to let his patience slip but what more did anyone want from him.

"I didn't know." Was Jason seeing tears in his mother's eyes just now? "I really did not know. When your father," she took a deep breath before continuing. Jason wasn't sure if his mother was that great of an actress or if it was for real. "When your father left and I was pregnant with you-"

"Oh come on, I'm not a prince. Royalty. Whatever." Jason didn't want to push his mother to tears but he found himself getting more flustered by the second. If he was by chance standing before royalty, perhaps he shouldn't have sneered the word.

"Not exactly," Clara said mostly through clenched teeth. He'd apparently struck a nerve. She should throw stones. "I mean to say, that after my family, it's yours that's supposed to take over next. We can't have people in our family marrying cousins anymore. We don't even fully allow arranged marriages like we used to. No one is forced to do anything they don't want to."

"Uh huh." Jason wasn't always typically rude.

Clara acted like he'd never spoken. "Speaking of arranged marriages, no more than two hundred years ago, the Saint Laurent's were originally intended to have an arranged marriage with current ruling family, my family-."

"Ok, now are you telling me that my biological father died or that-"

"You are in line for the crown yes but not quite." Clara was looking a little flabbergasted herself. "This more than simply being Royal. We live in modern times. We are simply a representatives-"

"Then are you trying to tell me I'm engaged to an arranged marriage?" He thought by confusing the woman that someone would jump out from behind a curtain and call it quits.

"Not exactly. No." The woman was starting to get more and more flustered. Which was funny because even though Jason knew Trent for two days (give or take) his hair had a funny way of going a little crazy whenever he started to lose his cool.

"Then I have homework, so good luck being the queen of Sweden and all. Mom you'll know where to find me."

"Do you think this is a joke?" Clara was red faced and now standing. The kitchen suddenly felt smaller and Jason found himself cringing away in fear. Not that he allowed it show. "A queen doesn't joke."

Jason wanted to let out a big HA. He wasn't born yesterday. He was certain Queens joked over Brunch or tea time or whatever in the royal palace.

Clara visibly calmed herself before speaking again. "First and foremost, I am sorry about your father's passing but you are in fact, royalty. Not quite a Prince but eligible to be one."

Jason spent a long moment looking into Clara's eyes before he said anything. He didn't want to believe her but he didn't want to not believe her either. He kept hoping someone would finally pop out and point out the hidden cameras. He also hoped this would be the big break for his mom where she'd never have to work another day in her life. Jason would be able to take care of her for a change.

Then Jason was suddenly reminded of his two and only best friends. Caitlin and Nicklaus. Would this mean he'd have to uproot his life, away from them? Away from everything he'd known. Did this mean his whole life was about to change? Jason had always dreamed of going out of the country, but he should have been more careful of what he wished for.

"No."

"What?" Clara.

"What?" Jason's mom.

Apparently a queen wasn't used to being told 'no' before. A storm of emotions surged through Clara's eyes as if she might order to have Jason beheaded. Try me, he hoped the words conveyed through his eyes. No way was he about to back down now. No more!

"I decline. Surely there are other families after me. Right?"

Clara turned her head and was met with Jason's mother's reply, "Denial. Teenagers suffer this the most."

Clara regained her posture. "Yes, yes, I know. My son acts the same. It's a shame after the first two, you'd think I would be an expert at this by now."

"You have other kids?" Jason's mother openly stared at the queen and something clicked. At least he felt it in the back of his mind. It was like this was somehow important but it was like trying to hold water in his hands. The thought quickly slipped through his fingers. It was out of his hands, out of control.

"Yes, four."

"Then there's your future rulers, count me out," Jason said. "You don't need me. I'm not even Swedish. Am I mom?" But he didn't wait for the answer. "So why bother?"

Clara could have shot fireballs from her eyes but in that very moment, Jason could have cared less. "Because you are the only one left to speak for yourself."

It might have suddenly explained a lot, but Jason still wasn't having it.

"I'm just saying," Jason tried to explain, "What difference does it make? My so called father ran out on us when we needed him the most. Where was he, when my mom had to get knee surgery that one year?" He couldn't recall the year. Too many years of built up anger were surging through him now. "Where was this royal family to help us out when we were practically swimming in debt? I can't be the only Saint Laurent can I?"

Jason didn't bother leaving any resentment out of his voice. When he started thinking about the years he and his mom spent alone. Struggled. No one came to help them out when they could have used it. Jason as a child used to wonder hours at a time, while he waited on a bedridden mother. Not that he regretted having to wait on her, it helped him grow up, but at the time, he secretly hoped his mysterious father would walk in, find his son shivering, take over and make it all go away.

"So what else is there? Hm? Money? Hate to be rude, but we're doing just fine on our own." He finally snapped while putting as much venom in the words as possible.

Jason was already leaving the room stone faced when his mother ran after him. Her heels clicked consistently but was unable to keep up. "She's not saying you are royalty, just that you kind of are."

"You can't... throw away or run from this!" She continued struggling with words. A trait both Jason and she shared, but Jason had already locked his door.

At first, all Jason could think about, what he really wanted most, was someone else's arms (if he could pick, it would be Trent's) wrapped securely around him now. He would tell Jason more than everything would simply be ok. He would say things, like how he would stay with Jason every step of the way. That they would get through this.

Jason had only his arms to secure him.