Chapter 39 - With Clear Eyes

Saphira

Apparently I was hit right in the face with a basketball. I head hurt badly. When I opened up my eyes. There was a big burning and aching bump on my forehead.

Zachary carried me to the school nurse. She said I probably had a slight concussion and I was excused for the rest of the day. "You were thinking of that stewardess, weren't you?" Zachary asked while he walked me towards the passenger seat of his car.

He was excused as well, so he could bring me home. My mom was in a meeting with the board so she couldn't come pick me up. I pouted my lips in an angry manner, looking very darkly. "I thought so." Zachary said shaking his head again. "Do you want me to stay with you?" Zachary asked me with a smile lingering on the edge of his lips.

"No, I'll be just fine." I lied. I wasn't going to be fine… but that had nothing to do with my head. "Alright." He said as he got out of the car and opened the passenger door. He saw that I was a bit dizzy so he scooped me up. "Don't start complaining now." He said as he walked me towards my front door.

"Keys." He asked and opened up one hand from underneath my bottom. Zachary laid me down on the couch. "Can I get you something to drink before I go?" He asked like a real caretaker. "Really, I'll be just fine." I said trying to sound convincing now.

When Zachary went back to school I stared at the ceiling for a while. Trying not to think about the stewardess incident. Or the fact he did have time to call last night, but chose not to. Apparently just no time for me. I was sulking in the negative now. I was glad I remembered something positive.

He had send me a picture if he had kept his word…. I turned my cell phone on and saw that he did have time to grant me that favor… I opened up the picture and I gasped. He had taken a picture in front of a tall mirror. He wore a pair of light blue jeans, cognac colored shoes and a white slightly unbuttoned blouse.

His hazel eyes looked happy and he made a thumbs up. How could he be happy? I wasn't happy at all… I felt totally miserable and what was up with the jeans? I had never seen him in anything other than a suit or a short when we went to the beach.

I did nothing else then stair at that picture until mom came home after work. "I heard you bumped your head in physical education…." Mom said gawking at that big bump on my forehead. "How bad does it look?" I asked mom. Mom smirked at me. "Well that says enough." I said. We both started laughing now. "How was the rest of your first day?" Mom asked.

I thought of Lynn's little tale again. "fine." I lied trying to sound convincingly. Mom just eyed me. "What are we having for dinner?" I asked wanting to change the subject. "Rice and chicken." Mom said sounding proud of herself.

Jasmine

It was the prince of Saudi-Arabia, Benjamin Al-Raji Saud. Why would he lie about his identity? Benjamin was much taller than his friend and his shoulders were much broader. Benjamin was actually very buff, I had never noticed that about him before.

Ryan looked like a frail man compared to our so called 'Daniel'. They were quite the contrast. Ryan wore a fancy suit and Ben wore jeans with a white blouse causally unbuttoned. He was overdoing it, trying to look like a commoner. He didn't look common at all. I hated the fact that I once fell for his act when he convinces me he was a servant. I should of known instantly.

Ben held his big fingers to his lips, while his absolutely stunning hazel eyes were smoldering mine. I forgot how much his presence affected me. Unwillingly, I was breathless.

Why did that smug prince always have that effect on me? It had been a while since I worked at the palace, to pay off some of my families dept and all the while I was there, I tried to keep my feelings concerning him at bay.

That all fired back at me now. Didn't I tell him, I never wanted to see him again? What was he doing? He could get me killed.

This had to be the first time I had ever dared myself to really look at him. and I couldn't stop starring. I fought the urge to clear the distance between us. He was bad news, I thought to myself, fighting back the awe. "And you are?" Benjamin asked me with a crooked smile, that knocked the breath right out of me again. Keep breathing, keep breathing, I chanted to myself. Wait what did I miss?

"That is my younger sister Yasmine." Naïma said, stretching out the word 'younger', clearly making a statement. "Jasmine." He said stretching out my name. "Oh, I see." Benjamin said with a deepened smile showing his unfairly straight and white teeth.

"Uhm, yes uhm, we figured that we would help the two of you prepare your course. That way we can get to know each other a little." Ryan stumbled. I couldn't help feel sorry for him. Although Benjamin could use some of his shyness, judging by the way he stood there as his cocky self.

"Under supervision of your brother in law of course." He added looking shyly towards Saeed, who was standing near Naïma. "I suppose it would be best if you help Naïma." Benjamin said to Ryan, while still staring directly at me. This was awkward.

"That way you can get to know each other and then I will help your younger sister." Benjamin said and glanced at Naïma for a brief second, immediately returning to my gaze. Breathe, I chanted to myself again. Didn't they recognize him?

Clearly not.

"So, what can I help you with?" Benjamin offered smiling warmly. "I'm supposed to make rice porridge." I blurted out. Benjamin chuckled quietly. Was he laughing at me? "You are supposed to huh." He said meaningfully. Shoot he was on to me. "No, no I chose to make desert." I said trying to get myself out of this one.

Why would he do this to me, why would he come here? "It' my favorite course." I added hoping he would be convinced. "Did you know rice pudding offers more health benefits than any other dessert?" Benjamin asked while coming closer than any unfamiliar man was supposed to.

He smelled ridiculously good as always. His expression made me smile, it almost seemed like he was trying to pierce through my black veil. "Actually I never thought about that." I said in all honestly. "Makes sense though." I beamed.

The porridge was almost ready and I was adding spices and razons. "I'm curious." Benjamin said narrowing his eyes with a playful smile.

Of course he was.