Chapter Twenty-four

Emery

''Tell your sister to stop,'' I grab Cole onto the arm, making him turn to look at me before frowning in confusion as he stops talking to Finn who is currently taking a few bites from his burger.

''Wow, okay, what happened?'' He asks, concern.

''I've been avoiding her since I came here. She won't stop texting me—I don't even know how the hell she got my number and I don't like it,'' I tell him the truth because something like this can cause issues in the future if not stopped now; I know better, hopefully.

''Man, she's been crying this whole week.'' He replies, glancing at Finn who keeps on eating his food without a single care in the world, ''Just—just keep on doing what you're doing. Ugh, I don't know,'' He sighs.

''Keep on doing what I'm doing? I'm only hurting her and that's far from what I have in mind,'' I furrow my eyebrows in disagreement, ''Look, Cole, she kissed me the night I came here and I've never felt as guilty as I've been feeling this whole week,'' I add, hesitating.

''She kissed you? What the—'' Finn coughs.

Cole looks at me in surprise, ''I didn't know she went that far. S—she won't eat, she won't talk,'' He says.

''I'm leaving tomorrow. Just help me on this one. I'll be leaving the country before you know it,'' I turn to look around at my surroundings, seeing that most of the students here are busy preparing for their tests.

''I thought you're staying for two weeks?'' Finn asks.

''I changed my mind. Besides, I miss home.'' I mutter.

Cole nods his head in understanding before patting onto my shoulder, ''Consider it done. I'll make sure that kiss was the only trouble she caused you,'' He assures me and I smile at him; thankful to have him as a friend who would help me through something.

Just like that, I start to make my way out of campus.

Hannah has been acting different; especially now. She used to be understanding and she has never reacted this way before—but now she's just stressing me out. I'm only trying to protect what the media sees about me because if they get one bad side of me, that'll be the end of it. The end of what people think.

The end of what Emma might think.

She might misunderstood and things would get a little rough for us—we're only trying to make us a better couple; so that we can proceed what we have now. I don't need the media or Hannah to ruin that for me.

This whole week I would consider myself safe.

Why? Well, it's because the media found out that I'm in Australia yesterday—so, they didn't know earlier. Besides, the kiss was never known to the public which is good; safe for me and safe for Emma.

God, why can't I stop thinking about her?

''Mr. Van Allan,'' I turn around to see one of my old professors called out for me, making me stop my steps and wait for him to get near me. The smile on his face shows how he's surprised, ''You're back on campus?''

I smile back at him, ''Just sorting a few things out with my degree—how are you, Professor?'' I ask him.

''All well. I saw you on television and clearly I wasn't expecting you,'' He chuckles in which I join later on.

It surprises me a little that no one has found out that I'm actually the prince of England; not until I got married a few weeks ago. The day of my wedding was like the revelation of my true identity.

''There's a lot of unexpected things,'' I joke.

He laughs for a while, ''Okay, then. I'm heading to the library. Will I be seeing you again anytime soon?'' He used to help me quite a lot in my projects; overall, he's by far the best professor I've ever had.

''I'm leaving tomorrow but of course, we might end up seeing each other in the future. Hope that everything goes on well with you and your new students,'' I reply before smiling again at him—remembering the times when he first entered my class, it was different.

''You're the best student I've ever had, Emery.'' He starts to walk down the sidewalk, ''Remember that,'' Then he chuckles before continuing to leave me standing here all by myself—still smiling.

Best student, huh. That tops it all.

Without further ado, I head home immediately, feel like taking a long nap today; clearing my head from everything that has been bothering me ever since I got here—mostly includes, Hannah.

Once I've entered my apartment, I lay onto the couch before taking my phone out of my pocket and check my notifications. I let out a deep sigh once I realise that there's not a single notification from her.

She has been on my mind from the day I left, I wonder if I'm on her mind too. At least once.

I look at her name in my contacts, hesitating whether I should press call or just let it be. Should I call her or should I just surprise her tomorrow? The same damn question has been playing in my head.

As I place my phone onto my chest, I begin to close my eyes—not realising that I've managed to fall asleep without a single care in the world other than thinking of Emma, obviously, she should be on my mind 24/7. All the time. Every single moment.

The sound of the doorbell ringing interrupts me from my slumber which causes me to grab onto my phone that has fallen onto the ground, looking at the time.

My eyebrows furrow before sighing deeply.

I make my way towards the door, opening it to see the last person that I want to see—Hannah. Without me realising, I am already clenching my jaw; wanting to just close the door and let her be but that's inhumane.

''I came to say sorry. You won't pick up my calls,''

My eyes remain focus onto hers, wanting to seek for lies but then again, I'm terrible at reading people so let's just stop right there. I lean closer towards the door as a sign that I'm probably not going to let her in especially not after what she did that night.

''Yeah, you done?'' I clear my throat, seeing that she is looking at me in disappointment but that's no longer my concern—never was but she was once.

''Look, I'm really sorry for acting like that. I should've controlled myself better—it's just that, I thought that you might still want me somehow but I see it now. You're married and you're right, I should respect you and your wife; forgive me?'' Then, to my surprise, she starts to hand me a box of chocolates.

I look down at the box, seeing that it's my favourite.

''Since you're leaving tomorrow, I brought you this. You know, you might not be able to get them back home—so yeah, take them.'' She assures me to take the box. Slowly, I take it from her after nodding.

Before I can utter a word, my phone starts to ring which causes me to turn around—seeing that Daniel is calling me. I glance back at Hannah, she's just looking back at me with a small smile on her face.

''Come on in,'' I say, opening the door wider.

''You sure?'' She raises an eyebrow.

I nod before closing the door once she's inside and picking up the call, ''Yeah, what is it?'' I ask, glancing back at Hannah who is currently sitting on the couch.

''You're leaving tomorrow? That's quick,'' He says.

''Yeah, things are settled here. Besides, I have a lot of things to do back home—there's not much left for me here in Melbourne other than you guys,'' I reply, my eyes continuing to look at her; seeing that she's just eyeing the view outside through the glass window.

''Let's meet up tonight, then? You up for it?''

It takes me awhile to answer but I agree, ''Why not.''

Just like that, I end up the call before turning to look at her again—in which she responds by looking back at me. The reason why we spent a lot of times together before was because we were sexually attracted to each other; why wouldn't I? She's attractive.

I used to like her green eyes and the way her cheeks just flush pink whenever she smiles. So, it would be quite insane of me to not fall for someone like her.

Actually, fall for her is kind of a little bit too advanced because like I said, I was sexually attracted towards her—not emotionally. No strings attached.

''You want something to drink?'' I ask.

The least I can do is treat her like a friend.

''Yeah, just water.'' She answers, smiling. Just like that, I make my way towards the kitchen to grab two glasses of water before adding cold water. Then, I make my way back towards the living room.

''Here,'' I mutter, sitting down the opposite from her.

She takes a sip of her drink as she glances up at me. All of a sudden, my phone starts to ring again, in which I respond with a sigh but apparently, it's not Daniel—it's Evelyn. With a sigh, I stand up and leave the room to answer the call somewhere private.

''Your big sister wants to know what her little brother is doing all alone in Melbourne. If he's even alone to begin with,'' She says through the other line which I respond back with a chuckle.

''If you'd consider a glass of water as company then, yeah, sure I'm not actually alone.'' I reply; not really wanting to tell her that Hannah is here with me. She would not be pleased—she'll start babbling.

''When are you coming home, Emery? Someone is already missing you. So, hurry up will you?'' I can imagine her rolling her eyes in annoyance before crossing her arms; something that she does.

My lips curve up into a smile, ''Tomorrow,''

''She must be—'' I cut her off immediately.

''No, don't tell Emma yet. I don't want her to know because I'll be surprising her. You don't get to spoil this surprise for me, okay? Be a good girl and keep your mouth shut,'' I say before she can interrupt.

''My lips are sealed!'' She chuckles, agreeing.

''Good. See you when I see you,'' I mutter.

''Ciao, little bro.'' Then, she ends up the call.

I place my phone on my bed before heading back towards the living room, seeing that Hannah is currently drinking her water. I sit on my previous spot, taking a sip of my own—after clearing my throat, ''You're not mad at me, right? I hope we're fine,'' She asks, looking directly into my brown eyes.

''We're fine. Don't worry,'' I reply.

We stay quiet for a few seconds without uttering a single word while I drink my water, ''Thanks. By the way, I should get going.'' She starts to stand up before heading towards the door, making me follow from behind; slowly and opening the door.

She turns to look at me, ''Don't forget me,''

Then, I end up chuckling at her, ''I might as well come visit you sometime. I'm pretty sure London is a great place?'' She continues to speak while I furrow my brows once I realise that my vision is blurring.

The more I try to focus, the more it blurs.

Hannah frowns, ''You okay, Emery?''

All of a sudden, I find myself dealing with an unbearable headache before seeing that everything around me is spinning in different directions. Then, before I can even move away or try to grip onto something in order to stabilise my body, I begin to fall onto the ground—seeing the darkness.

The only thing I remember is, none.