His father looked at him impassively, but something close to hurt flickered in his eyes before he smiled. “All right then, I’ll call Nottingham’s and let Jon know you’ll be there at nine. Okay?”
Xavier grinned. “Yeah. Thanks, Dad.”
“Will you be home for lunch?” Jeremiah asked, continuing with his breakfast.
“Ah, well, I wanted to talk to you about that. I was...hoping that I could take Robbie to King’s Cafe for lunch so I was wondering, can I borrow some money?” he asked hopefully.
Jeremiah gave his son a knowing grin. “Really now?”
“Daaad! Don’t start!” he griped trying not to laugh at his father’s teasing. “Can I have the money or not?”
He laughed. “You don’t need money.”
“Yes, I do! How can I pay for it?”
“Son, you don’t need money in Warwood. Merchants will just bill me,” his father stated before whispering jovially, “For some reason, they believe I’m good for it.”
“Oh, yeah. Right,” Xavier snickered. “Okay.”
On his way to Nottingham’s, Xavier called out to his friends using his telepathy ability and made arrangements to meet them at the Coliseum at ten-thirty to play rugby. Beck suggested that they could go to the lake and cook hotdogs over an open fire for lunch afterwards. Everyone was eager and willing, except Xavier.
“Sure, but you’ll have to count Robbie and me out,” he told them.
“Why?” Robbie’s voice crowded into his thoughts.
“Well...I’d like to take you out.”
“Ew, God! If this is going to get mushy, Xavier, please do the rest of us the courtesy of disconnecting with us,” Erica’s dry, mocking voice interrupted.
Beck began making kissing noises and the group laughed.
“Shut up, you guys,” he spat, feeling himself turning red. “Geez. How about Robbie and I meet you guys at the lake after lunch. We can all go swimming!”
The group answered at once, their enthusiastic agreement blasting painfully into Xavier’s mind. “Ouch! You don’t have to shout! Man that hurt! All right, see you guys at ten-thirty.”
“Oi, X? Glad you’re finally paroled. It’s been boring without you,” Garrett added.
“Thanks, but there was no way you were as bored as I was. See you later,” he responded before disconnecting with his friends.
When Xavier entered Nottingham’s, he found several Wells Academy students with their parents shopping and being fitted for new uniforms for the new school year, but the moment the owner, Jon Nottingham, saw Xavier, he immediately stopped what he was doing and hurried toward him.
“Good morning, young sire,” he greeted happily. “Your father said you’d be by this morning. Right this way and I’ll get your new measurements.”
The man led him past staring customers to the rear of the store where racks upon racks of school blazers, slacks, and shirts hung. He set a stool in front of the young prince and Xavier quickly mounted it, hoping the measurements wouldn’t take long. He felt uncomfortable being measured while twenty people gawked at him. It wouldn’t have been as bad if he hadn’t been facing the other customers, but as it was, he was extremely self-conscious as every inch of his body was measured. His face combusted with heat as Mr. Nottingham measured his inseam, running the tape measure from his ankle to his groin. Two girls started giggling unmercifully before their mothers hushed them.
“All right, Prince Wells, that’s the last of the measurements. I’ll alter your slacks and jackets and make arrangements with the palace to have them picked up before the end of the day,” Mr. Nottingham told him.
“Okay. Thanks Mr. Nottingham,” he responded and shook the man’s hand before rushing out of the store.
The rugby match with the guys was an absolute blast, and after a brief scuffle between Beck and Garrett, the group decided that playing rugby against one another was asinine and defused the argument by ribbing Beck over an incident involving Melissa Dorne.
“Yeah, it’s a shame you were grounded, Xavier! You missed a classic!” Court laughed.
“What happened?” he asked with a grin.
“Well at campout,” Court began, dragging out the story with dramatic flair. “Beck and Melissa snuck behind the rocks for some alone time, and Beck...well, let’s just say he discovered a new ability!”
“What?” he asked eagerly.
The entire group looked at the blushing Beck before bursting into laughter. Beck glanced meekly at Melissa before finishing, “We...kinda got stuck together.”
“Stuck together?” Xavier prompted.
“Yeah! They were snogging, and Beck’s glaciator ability suddenly manifested itself and froze their lips together!” Court blurted before succumbing to uncontrollable laughter, with Xavier joining in. “Man! You should have seen them! They had to walk sideways through the woods, along the streets of the kingdom, and through the palace gate to get to the infirmary so that a healer could unfreeze them. You should have seen the guards’ faces along the way. It was hysterical!”
“Damn! I would have killed to have been there to see that!” Xavier laughed.
“Okay, okay! Are we doing this picnic thing or not?” Beck spat grumpily, eying Xavier irritably. “See you and Robbie later, loverboy,” Beck muttered and stomped toward the woods.
“You kids have fun,” Erica chirped.
“Yeah, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” Court chuckled, elbowing Xavier.
“Better yet, do something Hardcastle wouldn’t do. It’s the only way you’d have any fun,” Erica ribbed and was chased from the Coliseum by Court, who was spouting threats of revenge.
Xavier and Robbie laughed as they watched the group leave. Then Xavier turned to Robbie, suddenly nervous. “Ready?”
Robbie nodded eagerly, smiled, and slipped her hand into his.
He felt a rush of heat course through him and his heart skipped in his chest. His legs felt like weights and didn’t seem to work properly as he led Robbie from the Coliseum. As they exited the arched doorway, Xavier’s feet tangled with each other, and he stumbled into Robbie. The pair collapsed into a heap onto the grassy earth. Xavier was devastated.
“Oh, God! Robbie...I...I’m so, so sorry,” he blubbered, carefully rolling off of her and detangling their legs.
But Robbie wasn’t angry or hurt. She shook in barely suppressed hysteria, and the moment she saw his concerned face, laughter erupted from her.
“I’m sorry...I...can’t... stop! It’s... just... I keep seeing... what we must have... looked like...” She was unable to continue as laughter swallowed the last of her words.
Xavier tried to imagine what they would have looked like falling, and he chuckled half-heartedly with her. When her laughter finally died away, Xavier looked at Robbie lying on the ground next to him. She was panting to regain her breath and his eyes dropped to her chest.
“Xavier Wells!” she snapped and playfully slapped him.
He jerked his gaze to her flushed, moist face. God! She was pretty. “What?” he muttered guiltily.
She giggled. “What? What? I’ll tell you what! You just keep your eyes and your mind out of the gutter, sire!”
“Hey! My mind wasn’t in the gutter!” he retorted indignantly.
“Oh, yes it was! I saw where you were looking!” she blurted and pinched him playfully on the side.
“Ouch! Hey!” he laughed, pinching her back.
Suddenly, Robbie lunged at him and pinned him to the ground.
“Ah, come on, Robbie. Get off!” he complained, squirming under her weight. “This is embarrassing! My girlfriend shouldn’t be able to out-muscle me! I’m a man after all!”
“A man?” a voice guffawed above them.
Robbie and Xavier jerked upright to find Sara Jefferson grinning down at them. They quickly stood. Though Sara was only a little over a year older, she was tall and had developed much of her womanly shape. She looked much older than fourteen. But what annoyed Xavier no end was that sh
e often talked to and treated him like a little kid.
“Now, Prince Wells. Don’t be in such a rush to grow up. You have plenty of time to grow into a man. Just enjoy being the cute little boy that you are,” Sara remarked in a sticky sweet voice.
He drew himself up to stand as straight and tall as he could and met the older girl’s eyes unwaveringly.
“Thank you for the compliment, Miss Jefferson,” he remarked, doing his best imitation of his father. “Now, is there something Roberta and I could do for you?”
Sara’s confidence and maturity slipped and she gave Xavier a searching look before she responded, “Ah, yes. Daddy is looking for Erica. If either of you see her, tell her that Daddy got a call from Angus McCrady, the manager of Wellington Bookstore.”
“Uh, oh,” Robbie muttered. “Thanks, Sara. We’ll warn her. Is Loren very angry?”
Sara’s smugness was back in full force. “Oh, yes! Erica won’t be able to charm her way out of trouble this time, and I think it’s about time Daddy punished her. She’s always getting away…”
“Yes, Miss Jefferson. We understand the message. Is there anything else?” Xavier interrupted with superiority.
Sara faltered and looked hesitantly at him. “No. No, that’s all. Have a good day, kids,” she added before turning and making her way to the secret passage in the palace’s wall.
“Miss Jefferson?” Robbie hissed with a snicker.
“Well, I’m sick of her talking down to us like babies! She acts like she’s so much older than us when she’s just fourteen and a half, for crying out loud!” he blared.
She studied his irritated face a moment, nibbling on her bottom lip. “Xavier? You don’t like her, do you?”
“What? No way! She’s too bossy and conceited for me!” he gasped indignantly. “Besides,” he added with a rueful smile, “I’ve got a complete hottie for a girlfriend.”
She beamed. “Good answer,” she replied, kissing him.
He felt a kick in his gut and his face flooded with heat, but as he reached for her to lengthen and deepen the kiss, she bounced out of reach, giggling. He felt a wave of irritation and reached for her again, scowling.
Again, she leaped out of reach, giggling, “You’re gonna have to be faster than that, Prince Wells.”
He lunged toward her only to grope air as she danced away. He dove at her again but tumbled to the ground empty-handed. Suddenly, a loud reporting crack pierced the sky above them and lightning blazed a path to the ground only a few yards from Robbie. With a scream, she fell to the ground and cowered into a tight ball.
“Robbie!” he shouted, clambering to her. “Robbie? God! Are you all right?”
Slowly, she unwound herself and looked at him with large frightened eyes. Without a word, her eyes glanced to the screaming blue, clear sky before looking accusingly at him.
“Why did you do that?”
“What?” he asked shakily, but he knew what she meant. He had done it again. He had lost control of his abilities and nearly killed the one person he held most dear. He looked away from her large, pain-filled eyes, unable to bear the guilt they stirred in him.
“Xavier, why did you conjure an electro force?”
He squirmed before finally dragging his eyes back to her, and his guilt turned into annoyance. It would have never happened if she hadn’t been teasing him and messing around with his emotions.
“Well, you shouldn’t have teased me and made me mad!” he sputtered indignantly.
“You were mad at me? What on Earth for? I was just playing!” she replied, her voice rising with apprehension.
“You’re kidding, right? You can’t possibly be that...Look, it’s not all that comforting for a guy to know that his girlfriend is taller, quicker, and stronger. It’s embarrassing and humiliating!”
“What? You mean you did it on purpose? You did it because I got the better of you?”
“No..yes…I mean no! You’re twisting my words up!”
“Which is it then, your highness?” she spat condescendingly.
He released a weighted breath. “No, I didn’t do it on purpose. I’d never try to hurt you. I just…my power just happened, like before. I was embarrassed and it just got away from me is all.”
She stared at him.
Guilt gnawed at him. “Look, Robbie, it was an accident,” he coaxed as he rubbed her shoulders gently. “I didn’t mean to do it. Please, just…just don’t tell my dad. Please? He’d cane me if he found out. Please!”
She shrugged his hands off of her shoulders, stood, and glared down at him. “Tell me something, sire. Are you more concerned that you nearly killed me, or that I might tell King Wells?” she spat.
“How can you ask that?” he questioned indignantly, getting to his feet.
“Well, it sounds to me that you’re scared to death that Daddy will find out and you’ll be punished. You know what? Sara was right. You are a little boy. A man wouldn’t be worried that his girlfriend might tattle on him. A real man wouldn’t be embarrassed because his girlfriend has some advantages over him. A real man would say he was sorry when he did something wrong and not try to blame someone else! It’s always someone else’s fault! You never think you have anything do with anything! Well, I’m done putting up with it. I’m going home!” With her insults said, Robbie turned and marched toward the secret passage.
“So, I guess this means the date is off?” he called sarcastically after her before turning and stomping into the woods.
Chapter 14: Dealing with Daddy
As he trekked to the lake, Xavier chastised himself over how he had handled the situation with Robbie. He should have never mentioned his father. He shouldn’t have lost his temper when she was playing around with him. He should have told her he was sorry. He should have ... oh, what was the use of that now? Robbie was ticked, and she would probably tell his father everything. He tried not to imagine what would happen to him when the king found out. With a heavy sigh, he pushed through the last barrier of vegetation and into the clearing of the lake. His friends had built a small fire, and Frankie, Court, and Garrett were roasting hot dogs over the flame while the others splashed riotously in the lake.
“What are you doing here? I figured you’d be off snogging your number one groupie,” Beck taunted.
“What happened, mate?” Court asked.
Xavier glared darkly at Beck before mumbling, “Well...uh…Robbie remembered she had to go home.”
“That means, they had a huge fight and Robbie stood him up.” Erica snickered.
“Yeah, well, speaking of fights, Jefferson,” Xavier retorted testily, “your dad’s looking for you. Mr. McCrady called him, and according to your sister, he’s pissed.”
Her haughty expression flickered, but she quickly recovered. “Oh, well. Daddy’s been mad before, but I’ve always been able to smooth things over.”
Xavier shook his head. “I don’t think so this time. Sara doesn’t think you’ll be able to charm your way out of it.” He flashed a grin at her stricken face.
Erica stammered, “Ah...w…well, I’m sure Sara was exaggerating.”
“Yeah, right!” Garrett hissed.
“You’re dreaming, Jefferson. After what you pulled in the bookstore, Loren will bust your butt and you know it.” Beck laughed. “And I’m betting he wallops a good punch behind his whippings. I mean, the bloke’s biceps are as big around as Garrett! Xavier could tell you. I think every member of the Royal Guard has had a go at his butt!”
“Shut up, Beck!” Xavier growled. “It hasn’t been the entire Royal Guard…just…Loren and Ephraim…”
“And Sir Spencer, and Lieutenant Davies, and Sir Blaire, and Sir Underwood…” Beck added snidely.
The group snickered.
“Seriously, mate,” Court commented, “you seem to have a fascination with Xavier’s butt. What’s up with that?”
The children burst into riotous laughter and several began heckling Beck. Xavier looked at his best friend and nodded his th
anks.
“Shut up! The lot of you! I’m telling you I can handle my father. Besides, he’s never hit me in my entire life,” Erica boasted.
“He just might, love. I think you pushed it too far this time,” Court commented.
“What exactly did you do, Erica?” Xavier asked.
She gave him the most devil-may-care smile he’d ever seen. “Well, it was old Mr. McCrady’s fault! He was being a huge prat! Yesterday, I was in Wellington Bookstore browsing with Melissa and Robbie, and he started yelling at me that if I wasn’t there to buy anything, to leave. I mean, how rude is that?”
“Well, Erica, you were being kind of loud and obnoxious. You seemed to offend the other customers a bit. Especially Ms. Williams! Your comment about her being wider than the aisle probably had something to do with it,” Melissa noted with a snicker.
“That’s beside the point!” she waved away Melissa’s comment before continuing gleefully, “Anyway, this morning, I bought three bottles of bursting bubbles from Gregor’s Novelties and dumped one down each toilet in the Wellington Bookstore bathroom. In hindsight, I probably shouldn’t have used an entire bottle. I guess the pressure from the bubbles proved too much for the pipes because the toilets blew up, literally. It shook the entire building.”
“Whoa!” Xavier gasped, and she grinned at him proudly.
“That’s not all,” Melissa stated. “After the toilets exploded, sewage came gushing out of the bathroom like a tsunami, ruining a lot of books and stuff.”
“God, Erica! I’d have to agree with everyone else. Your butt’s toast!” Xavier concluded as the rest of the group groaned their agreement.
“Oh, stop it you guys! It’s nothing! I’m telling you I can handle my father,” she retorted smugly.
“Can you now?” a deep voice grumbled from the edge of the clearing. “Then, you better start handling him.”
The group turned and found Loren Jefferson standing stiffly with his massive hands on his hips. He looked livid, and Xavier shuddered at the cold, icy glare he saw in the green depths of the general’s eyes. Erica stopped knee-deep in the lake, frozen at the sound of her father’s stern tone.
The Prince of Warwood and The Rise of the Chosen Page 11
