Chapter 53 - Heartbreak

Saphira

Zachary took my hand and as we walked outside, I caught a glance of Lynn. She shook her head disapprovingly and then turned around.

When we were outside, Zachary wrapped his arms around me.

He looked at me in a very intense way. I felt very uncomfortable and folded my arms across my chest.

"Are you cold?" Zachary asked. "A little." I said. It was the truth… of course half of it.

"You know I find you absolutely gorgeous right?" He asked as he brushed the back of his hand across my cheek.

I bit my lip, he was making me really nervous. Not in a good way.

"And your lips." He slowly said while biting his. "Zach…" I tried to say but he interrupted me.

"Saph, may I please tell you something, now I still have the courage?" He asked. I was silent so he continued.

"Before I met you I was always chasing skirts. Now I just want to chase yours." He said trying to flirt with me. "Well, in your case; dress." He said as he looked down on what I was wearing.

I was shocked.

"But Zach…" I tried again. "I know I'm no Benjamin and I'm not as foolish as him to promise forever love. Who knows what will happen tomorrow." He said in a serious voice.

"We are still young." Zach said as he took my hand and spun me around. Then I stood still before him again.

"All I know is that it's you I want right now." Zachary smiled.

"Zach I-" I tried to say.

Zachary came closer and I took one step back. He put his hands around my waist. Before I could react, he placed his lips on mine.

I wanted to push him away, but I got blind sighted by a flash of light.

When my vision returned, so did the anger. "What the heck are you thinking?!' I yelled at him. "You are my best friend, why would you do this?" I screamed.

I punched Zachary in the face and my hand hurt. "Ah.." I grumbled shaking my hand in pain.

Zachary wiped a little blood from his lower lip.

I turned around and stomped away from him.

Benjamin

I fell asleep in Jasmine's bed. Her hair was fanned across her face. I kissed her forehead and gently got out of her bed. I covered her with her blankets. "I'm sorry." I mouthed to Raina's maid. She only smiled in return.

I looked at my phone. Still no pictures from Sierra. What was taking her so long?

I waved my hand through my hair and I slowly walked towards my palace wing. I was still tired.

"Your highness." One of my guards greeted me, before I entered my chambers.

"Morning." I said in return.

Taking a shower, I thought of the right words for the conversation I would have with my grandfather today. He wanted to marry Jazz himself and I had to convince him that I was the one who wanted to do so.

If I would honestly tell him of my little construction with a fake marriage, he would certainly never agree.

I would have to convince him that I loved Jasmine.

That couldn't be so hard.

With all the courage I had within me, I walked into the throne room. This was where my grandfather was before breakfast each morning.

"Good morning. May God be with you grandfather." I greeted him.

"Son." He acknowledged me.

"What can I do for you?" He asked while fumbling with the beats of his praying necklace.

"I wanted to ask your permission." I said tilting my head a little higher.

"Continue." My grandfather said impatiently.

I cleared my throat. "I want to marry Jasmine." I had a hard time speaking the words out loud.

My grandfather stood up an clapped his hands. I raised one eyebrow. I hadn't expected that.

'Good." Was the only thing he said.

"I'll see you at breakfast." He said dismissively.

In a daze I walked to Jasmine's room. I knocked two times.

Jasmine abruptly opened the door. Her eyes were even bigger then they normally were. She cocked her head to the side. "Why are you here?" She said starlet.

I glanced around the hallway. We were alone. "Meet me under the willow in thirty minutes." I said as I walked away, making sure she didn't have time to question the reason behind it.

Walking into the palace garden, the heat of the sun touched my face. I took in the scent of the wild flowers that were planted across the garden and sat down under the willow.

I closed my eyes, trying to think. I couldn't.

Then my phone buzzed again and again and again. It was Sierra. She had sent me over thirty pictures.

I scrolled through the them. There were a whole bunch of Sierra in her sparkly dress. Then there were some of Lynn and Thomas. I had to talk to my sister about that when I got home.

Finally I found what I was looking for. Saphira.

I sighed heavily, because I did not necessarily like what I saw. Pictures of Saphira and Zachary dancing. Pictures of Zachary holding Saph around her waist. I wanted to break the phone in half.

And then… And then there it was.

My worst nightmare became true.

I looked at the picture over and over again. I had never been so betrayed in my life. Zachary was my friend, how could he do this to me?

How could she?

All this time I had been imagining a future between us, as I planned to ask her to marry me. I had felt so guilty wanting to save my friend from a life full of abuse, that I had a hard time to go through with it. Only to find out, she didn't hold me in regard, as I did her.

I breathed out sharply as I looked at the picture again. I saw Zach's hand on Saphira's hips.

They were kissing and my heart almost stopped.