Her Betrothed Prince CHAPTER 4, Jennifer Brunner [best classic literature .TXT] 📗

Chapter 4
Landon’s P.O.V.
***

The countdown to the wedding was actually coming faster than I thought it would. The only thing wrong was—I didn’t know anything about Symphony. All I knew was that over the last four days she has had a nightmare every night, and she didn’t like talking about her family (especially her father), and I also knew that she was obviously secretive and quiet. So I knew three things, which was it.
We had less than two weeks until our wedding.
“Landon?” my mother’s soft voice whispered. “How is the writing coming?”
I crumbled up a piece of paper. If I didn’t turn this in by June I would be out of a job. “I don’t know. I can’t concentrate. Why do I have to get married now? Can’t it wait?”

“Landon, stop it. This wedding will take one day of your life. I promise you will not regret nor forget it.”
I sighed heavily and stood. “She’s just… really strange. It’s like she—I don’t know.” I threw my hands in the air. “Shes just out of it. Like her life is really messed up.”
“It is Landon.” She smiled and sat on my desk. “Her brother Krystian died when she was eight and her mom left half a year later. I’d say she had a really messed up child hood.”
I shook my head. “I didn’t know that.”
She stood and patted me on the arm. “There’s a lot of things you don’t know. Well kiddo,” She sucked in her breath through her teeth. “This is your chance to learn anything you want,” She looked at the doors leading to the terrace. “You should do it sooner rather than later.”
I looked up towards were all her attention was and saw Symphony leaning down at the garden to smell a red carnation.
I sighed very deeply in concentration. She had a sad look on her face. It wasn’t the first time that I saw it, but still....
She was slightly bent and part of her lower back was a bit darker than the rest of her.
I did a double take and shook my head. She was too far away there was no way that I would notice if she had a bruise on the small of her back. It was most likely a birthmark. Yeah, that’s what it is. No need to worry.
“Ech-hem.” My mom cleared her throat.
“Right. I’ll—” I cleared mine also, finding it hard to speak. “I’ll get right on that.” I walked out on the patio but stopped for another look at her.
This look was not hesitation or examination. It was admiration.
She was standing now but was over by the white roses. Her posture was something like an angel. It soothed my soul. It was like she had a glow to her.
She looked at me then and the sun was shining from behind me. Symphony shielded her eyes as I walked toward her.
What would I ask her first? I couldn’t think straight!
Before I had time to figure it out she walked over to me and it was like a slow motion scene from a movie. The wind tousled her hair and her slight pink lips were full and pouty.
“Hello.” She said graciously, making her image glow even more.
As nonchalant as I could I leaned on my back leg and smiled. “Hey.”
Her hands folded into each other as she was waiting for me to say something else. I adverted my eyes and whispered. “I saw you looking at the flowers just a moment ago. Did you find them to your liking?” She didn’t answer so I looked up at her through my eyelashes.
She took a slight step back. “I really love the jonquils. They are my favorite.”
“Ah. Do you know the meaning of them? They are very beautiful flowers by the way.”
She shook her head. “Mmm. No I can’t say I do.”
“Jonquils are the flower of affection returned, desire, and sympathy. It also says, ‘Love me’.”
“You must know your flowers.” Symph stated sweetly.
“Well my mom is a botanist.”
She laughed, “Mamma’s boy.” Symphony teased. Her laughter tinkled around us.
I leaned down to pick one of the jonquils and handed it to her. Then I reached out to grab her hand. “Come sit and talk with me, please?” We walked over to the stone bench and sat. “Er, well... I feel like we need to get to know each other better.”
“Well what do you want to know?” Her brown eyes glistened and turned amber in the sunlight. Her auburn hair was straight today.
“Just tell me stuff about you.”
“Um.... Well I’m seventeen. I have two best friends, Lisa and Trey. Trey is actually gay and Lisa has the hots for him.” She gave a small giggle. “It might be weird but he wasn’t always that way.” She took a deep sigh. “Any-who... My brother died when I was eight and about half a year later my mom left me and my dad.”
“Oh. I’m so sorry” I looked down at my hands. Thoughts registered in my head. “Wait. I thought you were sixteen.”
She nodded slightly. “My birthday’s today.”
“Sorry I didn’t know. I would have gotten you something.” I said slightly embarrassed.
“No, no it’s okay. It’s not really celebrated anyway.” She pulled her hand out of mine and pulled up her legs to wrap her arms around them.
I had to touch her so I started rubbing her back, trying to soothe her. “Why? Doesn’t your dad get you something?”
“Kind of.” I swear I saw a tear roll down her face.
I went to lift her chin. She still looked away. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Can we not talk about it?” She whispered. Then she put her head on my shoulder.
I nodded. “Do you want anything for your birthday?” Knowing she only meant talking about her dad. “We could go shopping.”
“Well... It’s been four days since I’ve seen my friends. Could we pick them up and go shopping?” She looked up at me, her eyes glistening.
I licked my lips and nodded. I knew in that moment that I would give this beautiful girl—woman—anything. “It’s a long drive, so maybe we should hurry.”
When she stood she pulled me with her. In that moment everything went still. Everything, except her, turned gray. Slowly, I leaned forward. Then I stopped. “Symphony?” I sighed.
Her eyes slid shut. “Huh?”
“Do you want me to stop? Tell me if you do.” But she closed the distance and our lips touched. The kiss was... more than any words could explain. Too soon it stopped.
She pulled herself back. “I-I’m so sorry.”
I gave a sarcastic laugh. “Why would you be sorry? I was the one who made the first move.”
“No. I meant about pulling away. I just can’t seem to take this all in, let alone think it’s real.” She pulled her arms around herself.
Stepping closer to her, I lifted her chin with my finger. “Symph, hon, this is real. I’m here with you, and it’s all real.”

Text: Aug. 2010
Publication Date: 08-13-2010

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Dedication:
this one goes out to Stephanie, Patrick, Elijah, Ellice and Eyzajah! I'm making my way down the list here...