Chapter 7

I was so nervous about dinner with Archie, but I was also so excited.

I decided to wear a black satin top, jeans, a leopard print cardigan, and tan boots. My hair was brushed back into a low ponytail, I did some light makeup, and sprayed on my favorite Chloe perfume.

"Are you nervous?" Sydney asked me as I put my earrings in, "You never really told me how you felt about him."

I turned towards her, "If he were just a normal guy then I wouldn't be so nervous. I'm just scared to make the wrong move."

"Alena, I love you but you kinda need to remember who he is and who you are." my cousin assured me, "How do you feel about him?"

"I actually like him. He listens to me, I miss him when he's gone, and we have the same values. He's a good guy." I expressed to her

Sydney shrugged, "He's also the Prince and the next in line to the throne. When have you ever seen a girl with brown skin like yours go public with a royal family member? Never because they're normally side chicks, I don't want you to be some dirty little secret. Maybe you should ask him about that."

I rolled my eyes, "You're being a bitch."

I grabbed my things and walked down to the outside of the apartment building. Even though I hated every word Sydney said, she had a fair point. How far would he even want to take this?

People could claim they didn't see color, but that was a lie. Everyone sees color, especially with high profile people like this.

"Hello." Archie greeted me as I got into his Range Rover, "You look lovely."

"Thank you, Arch." I smiled, "How was the tour?"

"It was pretty nice, I got to go by myself so I didn't have to worry about the stress from my Father or anything." he began to drive, "It's always good to roll up your sleeves every now and then and do something that matters."

I had a slight grimace of my face, "I know, I finally Googled you and you looked passionate about what you were doing. You speak very eloquently in interviews."

"Ha, that's nice to hear. I have been working on my speaking skills." Archie informed me, "Do you know if you're coming the summer closing for BP?"

I shrugged, "I'm not too sure if they want me."

"I'll specially request the beautiful woman who works in HR." Archie joked, "Do you think being with me is hurting your career?

I frowned, "Why would it?"

"I don't know, maybe cause you were seen with a lousy, ole prince," Archie suggested

"No one knows who I am though." I justified, "Plus it was only once."

I sighed, "I wish you could see yourself in my eyes, I hate that you talk about yourself like that, Archie."

"That's only because you haven't known me for that long or what I've down. I've calmed down a lot in the past months." Archie justified

"And?" I questioned him, "That doesn't change the fact that you're one of the most caring people I know. You're so wonderful, I don't know why you can't see that."

Archie looked me in the eyes, "Thank you, that means a lot."

"But it's hard to see something in yourself when your own father or the media doesn't see it." he continued, "I lost my mother when I was eighteen and I just kind of ran wild for a while, which I'm sure you know."

"I was just brought up so structured and I just couldn't take it anymore when she died. So I did do some wild nonprincey things that my father never lets me forget. I'm getting older, finding my purpose, and continuing to grow." Archie informed me about.

It was nice to hear him open up and explain why he was the way he was.

I patted his knee, "I hope you can see it in yourself one day."

"If things keep going the way they're going, I think I could." he admitted, "Especially through you."

Archie took us to a Greek restaurant called 'Alexander the Great' and we were able to get a nice quiet table towards the back. It was such a cozy restaurant and the food was delicious.

"So do you live in the palace or in the house in Hampstead?" I asked Archie

"Both, depends on the day really, but mostly Hampstead. Sometimes It's just nice to be alone, it gives you a lot of time to think and to come to conclusions," he answered my question

I looked Archie in the eyes, "What was it like to grow up as a prince? I hope that's not a weird question."

"No, it's not. I like that you're actually getting to know me. In the past girls would get caught up by the title and not really care." Archie started which made me feel good about myself

"I was born on July seventh, twenty-six years ago at 7:07 in the morning." he went on before I stopped him

"Did you know seven is the number of perfection? I pointed out to him, "That number seems to come up a lot with you."

Archie nodded as he raised his shirt up. There was a small '7' tattoo on the side of his ribs.

"I got it when I was eighteen. My Mum's birthday was July seventh too and I just saw them everywhere when she passed." Archie put his shirt down, "No one knows about my tattoos except Christian and Leo."

I raised my eyebrows, "Tattoos? Plural?"

"Yeah, they're all in places that the media would never see. Mostly on my chest and back. I have a tiny one on my ankle. I can show you later and tell you the stories about them." Archie proposed

"I'd like that," I agreed, "Tell me more about your upbringing."

I listened to the stories of his super-exclusive private school, how he played every sport under the sun, his Mom believed that his title was no excuse for being idle, he had lots of etiquette classes, his Dad was the stricter one of his parents, and he was very close to his sisters.

"Does it suck being the only boy?" I asked him

"It definitely does suck being the only boy and the oldest. It has a few perks sometimes." Archie poked around at his food, "Like being the first in line for the throne."

"What does that feel like? Are you scared? I went on

He nodded, "It definitely can be intimidating and scary. I just want to be the best, be someone who makes everybody feel like a somebody, but yeah. I definitely do get scared sometimes when I think about the whole process. It probably won't happen for a while."

"What has to happen for you to be King?" I wondered

"My father will have to kick the bucket or step down, abdicate his title." he explained to me, "He'd only step down if he were to get sick or if things were to get bonkers."

Archie stared deeply into my eyes, "Now, you tell me what it was like to grow up the way you did. Did you play any sports?"

"I played volleyball from third grade to my senior year in college plus golf and tennis." I answered his question

"I figured, you're tall." Archie added as he picked at his food, "What was growing up in California like?"

"It was very warm, lots of trips to Disney, beach and boat days, I'm actually going to go visit in October." I informed him

Archie looked up from his food, "Oh really? I've been itching to go to the states and it would be nice to have a tour guide."

I just stared at him, "Are you asking to come with me?"

"Or perhaps we happen to be there from the same dates." Archie smirked, "I haven't been in a while."

"You were just there for Coachella in April." I pointed out as he made a face, "Google."

"But maybe bringing you to the states could be fun." I decided, "I'll text you my flight details."

Archie took a sip of his water, "Cancel them. We'll go on the jet."

"Or you could fly on a commercial airline," I suggested

"Alena, be adventurous. How many times will someone offer a ride on a private jet?" Archie made a fair point and I hated it.

"Ok, we'll go on your lavish jet." I caved in

Archie held out his pinky and I held out mine in response. We let our pinkies intertwine with one another. We looked at each other and smiled.

After dinner, I ran into a store to grab us ice cream because if Archie did the attention would be ridiculous. He drove us back to my flat and he actually came in.

I introduced him to the sleeping Sydney on the couch before we went into my room.

Archie began to take off his coat and shoes, "So you and Sydney are first cousins?

I nodded, "I'll introduce you two again when she's awake, she has weird hours which makes for a weird sleep schedule."

"What does she do?" Archie asked me as I took off my makeup

"She works for the BBC." I answered and the moment it left my lips, I realized what a conflict of interest that was especially the way Archie was portrayed by journalists sometimes.

I turned towards him.

"She isn't going to - you know - use us for her job, right?" Archie made sure

"She won't, she's not that type of person." I assured him, "What movie should we watch?"

Archie and I debated classic movies before deciding on Casablance because I'd never watched it before. We scooped our ice cream into bowls, Archie changed into a cheap pair of sweatpants I bought for him at the store, and I changed into my sweat pants.

"When will I learn about the rest of your tattoos?" I asked him as I sat down next to him on the bed.

"You can right now," Archie sat up and pointed to his ankle, "You can barely see it, but it's a tiny arrow. It reminds me to keep going forward and have strength and perseverance."

He took off his shirt and I took a quick second to stare at his body. And those back muscles, don't even get me started.

On the upper right side of his back was a bear. It was so gorgeously done, it wasn't done with harsh lines and super shaded, it was light yet defined. Under it was the phrase 'You won't go lonely'.

I traced the bear with my fingers, "This one is my favorite."

I noticed the chills go across his body as I touched the tattoo. I smirked even though he couldn't see my face.

"The bear stands for wisdom, strength, power, and confidence. 'You won't go lonely' reminds me that at the end of the day, I'm never alone. It kind of ties in with my mother too; reminds me that she's always with me." Archie spoke gently, "I got it a year ago."

I moved my hands from his back, "You put so much thought into them."

Archie slipped his shirt back on, "I'm definitely not impulsive when it comes to tattoos which is probably a good thing."

"It's definitely a good thing." I emphasized. We laid back in my bed, eating ice cream while watching Casablanca.

I had no idea how I never got around to watching that movie. I thought it was utterly amazing especially after hearing Archie's perspective on it.

When the movie was over, we laid in the dark talking for a while. It was one of those deep, late-night conversations when you were delirious yet in your truest form.

It was when the light poured into my room with my head resting on a chest that I realized what I'd gotten myself into.

"Woke up this morning, light poured in, you're with me

I thought I'd be better off alone

Now, my soul has been torn and reborn, started breathing

What have I done?"