Bloom: The Kingdom of Archer Series: Book I

by J Rose

  Making my way to her room, Oliver simply smirked shaking his head and stepping away from the door. I felt my heart racing and my palms sweating feeling like a dumb teenager with a crush. I hadn’t talked to Lyric since my confession, mainly because I was nervous about rejection.

  “What if she doesn’t want to see me yet?” I think to myself, hesitating to knock on her door.

  Behind me, I could hear Oliver snicker and I realized I had no choice but to speak up and get it over with.

  “Lyric,” I call out to her knocking on the door of her bedroom. For a moment there is silence and then I hear movement inside indicating she was awake.

  “Good. You’re up,” I manage to say to her walking into her bedroom trying to maintain my composure. She’s sitting on the bed her eyes wide and somehow she looks a bit flustered. She doesn’t say anything and I can tell our silence is more awkward than ever.

  “I. Morning,” I say dumbly trying to lighten the mood but Lyric simply looks down and I can see a blush on her cheeks. My heart tightens and slows down from the uncomfortable silence, so much so, that the slow thumping makes it hard to breathe.

  “Morning,” She says, her voice soft before looking back up at me with her big brown innocent looking eyes and a tinted pink hue on her cheeks.

  *Bump, Ba- Bump*

  “Damn it.” I inwardly curse fighting my own blush and feeling like such a chick for it.

  “I. My father wants us all to have breakfast downstairs.” I rambled out to her.

  “Oh. Okay,” She says awkwardly before she gets out of bed. When she passes by me, I can smell the soft scent of strawberries and a soft scent that I can only describe as hers. She moves around in the room gathering her things trying to ignore me, I assume. She stands by a drawer opening it and taking things out of it silently. Part of me knows it would be best to leave her alone for now but I also wanted to know if she’s decided to give me a chance.

  “Lyric,” I call out and for a moment she stiffens her back going rigid while she straightens up. Silence ensues again before she turns to look at me.

  “Yes?” She asks quietly her voice hesitant and shy.

  “About what I said. About. What I asked? I know it’s only been a few days but. Have you thought about it? Giving me a chance?” I ask her and the moment I do Lyric’s face goes completely red while she looks away from me.

  Automatically my own face heats up, and I’m glad she’s not looking at me.

  I feel like such an idiot knowing I’ve embarrassed both of us with my question.

  “Never mind,” I tell her trying to ease both our embarrassment only to feel my own nerves intensify when our eyes meet.

  “You don’t have to say anything. I. Forget I asked right now,” I stutter out quickly trying to bolt out of the room and trying not to die of embarrassment myself. Heading to the door I want to leave but my mind screams at me not to run.

  “Don’t be a coward!” I tell myself before turning to look at her while she simply looks back, a mixture of curiosity and something else that I can’t read.

  “Just. Think about it. Please,” I tell her before walking out, as I do, I almost bumped into Oliver who’s standing right in front of me. There is a smirk of mischievousness on his face and I have no doubt he heard my ramblings in there. Shaking his head Oliver pats me on the back chuckling.

  “Real smooth Parker,” He says and all I can do is inwardly curse myself knowing his sarcastic remark is right. Wasn’t I always cool and collected when it came to women. Why was it that Lyric Mason completely disarmed me?

  “Damn it.”

  CHAPTER 14:

  TWO SIDES OF THE NIGHT

  (Lyric)

  Everyone was gathered downstairs in the long dining hall once again. There was no sound other than the clinking of forks and the occasional clunk of a glass being set down after having a drink. Everyone seemed to be in their own mindset thinking about their own problems. No one really dared speak that was until King Thomas finally broke the silence. Clearing his throat, he looked at both Parker and I.

  “Son. Have you thought about what I said?” King Thomas asked. For a moment I turned to look at Parker, who was sitting across from me on the table. His eyes met mine and though I wanted to look away feeling my blush, curiosity got the best of me.

  “Yes. I’ve already made arrangements.” Parker said to his father.

  “That’s good.” King Thomas spoke nodding his head absentmindedly.

  “Oliver will be going with you as a precaution. There will be more Novas to protect you but they will keep their distance,” King Thomas spoke. His words making me tense.

  Where was Parker going? Why would he need protection? Then I realized it was more than that. Maxwell had warned us and I knew that wasn’t something that was meant to be taken lightly.

  “Lyric,” Crystal whispered. Turning to look me she simply offered a smile and took my hand from under the table. I was glad that she’d chosen to sit beside me at a time like this when I felt so afraid. Then again, I always did feel afraid, and that made me feel weak.

  “It’ll be alright. It’s just a precaution. Parker will be fine,” She whispered offering me a smile.

  It wasn’t like me to worry about Parker. Maybe it was due to what we’d gone through recently, but part of me realized it was more than that. Parker had changed and so had I. Part of me wanted to not care about him, but then I remember his words to me from a few nights ago.

  “I love you.” I’m still confused by it. I’m still unsure if he really meant those words. Even so, time and time again he’s protected me, saved me from harm’s way. The least I could do for him now, even though I myself am unsure of my own feelings, is care about him just a little.

  “Would you excuse us?” Crystal speaks up to everyone, the boys and King Thomas proceeding to stand up courteously. Crystal smiles at them politely before taking me by the hand and guiding me upstairs without speaking a word as to where we are going. We go up to a different wing of the house, one that I assume is her room and Spencer’s.

  The room is rather large the curtains a vibrant shiny emerald green color. The bed has soft yellow colored sheets that appear almost cream like. The nightstand on the far left beside the bed is small holding a lamp and a large old book that reads Archer History of Kings and Queens. There’s a piano at the far end of the room just like mine. Once again I drift toward it like I did in my own room and Crystal offers a smile.

  “Spencer sometimes plays for me,” She says her look is soft and her eyes get a dreamy starry-eyed look. Her expression only makes me wonder if I could ever look that way at anyone… At Parker.

  “I love you.” I can feel my face heat up at the thought of Parker again and try to shake my thoughts away.

  “We haven’t had a chance to talk much with everything that’s been going on lately,” Crystal speaks cutting my train of thought and making me turn to her. She’s moving about in her room hurriedly going to her closet to grab a few articles of clothing and then going through her drawers taking a large box out.

  “How have you been… With Parker? It certainly is a lot to take in,” She says pulling me over to the large bed. It feels so soft almost like sinking into a fluffy cloud.

  “Yes,” I say quietly unsure of what to tell her. Not when I feel like a jumbled mess inside.

  “How do you feel?” Crystal asks and for a moment I feel confused again. Not of what she’s asked me, but confused as to how I myself feel.

  “I don’t know.”

  “He says he loves me. He. Told me he was sorry for everything he’s done to me and. I don’t know,” I tell her looking down at my hands.

  “He really is sorry Lyric,” Crystal assures taking my hand and offering a kind smile.

  “You don’t know how much he worries about you. Even then. After the fire,” She says and for a second my heart tightens remembering that horrible day.

  “I know he was a jerk but. He does care about you. At the hospital. He nev
er left your side. He never left you alone. Who do you think asked King Thomas to help you when you had nowhere else to go?” Crystal asked.

  Crystal’s words only made the jumbled mess of my emotions more confused.

  “But. He hated me he-”

  “He didn’t,” Crystal speaks cutting me off and offering a smile.

  “Maybe that’s the way you feel but. You have to ask him Lyric,” She says.

  “He was never there when I woke up,” I tell her and Crystal only smiles shaking her head.

  “Maybe that’s something you need to talk about with him. For now, let’s just get you ready okay,” She tells me.

  “Ready for what?” I ask looking at her in confusion only to have her push a white frilly skirt my way and a soft orange long-sleeved blouse.

  “For your date,” Crystal clarifies.

  “Date?” I question, causing Crystal to laugh lightly, before standing me up and pushing me toward the bathroom to change…

  #

  I feel so uncomfortable. I’m wearing a white frilly skirt that goes down past my knees. A pair of white three-inch heels that make my feet hurt, a long half sleeve orange blouse, and my hair has been curled at the bottom into perfect soft waves. Crystal has done my makeup soft and light. She has applied pink blush on my cheeks, mascara, and the softest of pinks on my lips. Normally I wouldn’t protest on what I was wearing but the thought of getting “dressed up” for a date with Parker Archer, made my stomach churn. Whether that was a good thing or not I was still trying to figure that out. I’d never been on a date before. Much less kissed anyone or held someone’s hand for that matter. It seemed however that I had gotten hand holding over with a few days ago with Parker. Blushing at the thought, I tried to stop the way my heart was wildly beating as I walked to the bottom of the stairs with Crystal.

  I could see Parker standing at the bottom of the stairs and I couldn’t help but think how cliché this all felt. Still, even more cliché was the way I felt inside. He was standing there with a smile on his face his hazel eyes shining. He was wearing a black leather jacket again and for a second I felt like we were back in high school. Only this time he was smiling at me instead of glaring.

  “She’s ready,” Crystal speaks up pushing me forward lightly toward Parker who offers a smile.

  “Thanks Crystal we-”

  “Just have fun,” She says before turning to me.

  “Both of you,” She adds causing my cheeks to flame. All I could do was simply look down and nod before hearing her retreat back upstairs.

  “You look nice,” Parker speaks causing my blush to intensify, making me unable to meet his eyes once again.

  “It’s just Parker,” I thought to myself wanting to stop my shy reactions.

  “Do you want to go now?” Parker asks reaching for my hand. Finding myself unable to speak again I nod in agreement before Parker takes my hand. His hold on me is firm, but gentle at the same time, while he pulls me along and out of the castle doors. Outside Neil is waiting for us with the car door already open. Without a word, Parker helps me inside the car.

  *Bump, Ba- Bump, Bump*

  Pushing myself to the far end of the car as close to the window as I possibly can I avoid eye contact. My hands go to my sides and I begin to clutch at my skirt, the rough fabric at the bottom scrunches at my fingertips. I’m afraid. Not of him but that he’ll be able to hear my pounding heartbeat. I’m embarrassed and part of me feels idiotic for letting myself get carried away by one single word. When I turn to look at Parker, he’s looking right back at me. My heart seems to skip a beat and just like that I can feel my face flush again. He chuckles lightly and I turn my gaze back to the window.

  “Don’t be nervous,” Parker assures me.

  “I promise I won’t do anything,” He adds.

  #

  We drive for about an hour going past Archer homes, schools, past the main city. I wonder where it is exactly that we’re going and where the Nova guards are.

  “Don’t worry we’ll be fine,” He says. Part of me wants to ask how he knows that but I’m too nervous to speak up. I don’t see another car behind us, nor do I see any Novas following us on the side.

  “His father did say they’d keep their distance,” I think to myself, but I wondered where Oliver was. Was he not the one that was supposed to stay close? The city and the people have slowly left my car window and there is nothing but grass, green grass, and pastures.

  Everything around seems so empty, yet the sky is so beautiful. The sun has slowly started to set. By the time the car stops there is a soft orange glow slowly going down to bring forth the night in the beautiful rich sky.

  “Where are we?” I want to ask Parker who simply offers a smile and takes my hand again leading me out of the car. We walk along the grass and my feet wobble as we climb up a small hill my heels sink into the dirt. The shoes pinch at my sides and I feel like they don’t quite fit right but I know I’m just uncomfortable. Heels are something I don’t wear often and when I do they make my feet hurt. I’m afraid I’ll fall due to my clumsiness at the moment and I’m glad that Parker is holding my hand to keep me steady. We walk a good fifteen minutes in silence, Parker pulls me along with a smile on his lips that makes my heart continue its fast-paced dance.

  “We’re almost there,” He speaks to me. In the distance, I can see people standing around, working on something, and causing Parker’s smile to intensify as he pulls me towards them. The closer we get to them, the clearer I can see.

  There is a large basket on the ground that almost appeared to be weaved entirely of rope and was definitely strong enough to carry both of us. Attached to the large basket was a large green air balloon that was being inflated by hot air. Large sandbags have been put around the basket in order to keep it down and I feel my stomach churn. It took a few moments for me to understand what we were doing here and I felt my heart stop. Watching the air balloon rise to life made uneasiness spread across my entire body.

  “We’re going on there?” I hear myself dumbly ask, and Parker simply turned to me, a smile on his face as he nods.

  “Prince Archer. Princess,” The five men working on the balloon speak, before bowing politely to us. I’m quiet again. This time Parker’s hand feels like the only thing that’s anchoring me down.

  My mind has gone blank from fear. Far away I can hear Parker speaking with someone. By the time I've come back to my senses the hot-air balloon is ready to go, and all I can do is gulp my fear down.

  “Are you sure you can steer it?” One of the men asks Parker and I feel my stomach do another flip realizing it’s almost time to get on the air balloon.

  “Yes,” Parker answers, taking my hand and guiding me into the large basket.

  My heart feels like it’s drumming out of my ears but I don’t say anything to Parker when he closes the little basket door. Slowly he begins to pull the large metal hanger on the top of the balloon igniting the flame and slowly we begin to ascend. The higher we go the more I feel my stomach tighten and I begin to feel slightly dizzier.

  “Don’t look down. Don’t look down,” I chant to myself.

  We go across pastures of clean grass and mountains. Higher and higher we go until everything and everyone seems like small little ants crawling about. My grip on his hand has tightened more and my nails are digging into his skin. I know I’m squeezing too hard when I hear him wince. Turning to me his gaze penetrates mine and something flickers in his eyes.

  “You’re so pale. Are you okay?” Parker asks concerned. Still, I can’t find my voice and I simply nod at him trying to calm myself down.

  “Are you afraid of heights?” He questions.

  “I’m afraid of everything,” I think to myself feeling like such an idiot.

  “I’m sorry. I wanted to surprise you but I realize I should have asked if you were afraid of heights,” Parker says, running his hands nervously through his hair.

  “We can go back down okay I.”

  “It’s
okay,” I answer him quickly, not wanting to make him feel bad for this. I already feel like crap for the both of us, anyway.

  “I just. Need some time to get used to it,” I assure him though he remains unconvinced I try to even my breaths and calm down my racing heart. I’ve let go of his hand and instead opted to grip tightly on to the basket, hoping to calm myself. Parker doesn’t say much after that and for the longest time, I try to calm myself. My heartbeat finally reaches normalcy or at least as normal as it can get with Parker around me. It’s hard to stay calm but I realize if I don’t look down and concentrate on what I can see around me instead, I’m not so afraid.

  Night has fallen and the glistening stars begin to align one by one lighting up the sky beautifully.

  “This isn’t so bad,” I assure myself.

  “Really?” Parker asks, and I blush realizing I’ve spoken out loud. His eyes meet mine again and I find myself smiling before looking away from him.

  “Really,” I tell him.

  “I’m really sorry. This wasn’t exactly how I planned this day to go,” He admitted rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.

  “It’s really alright. It’s nice,” I tell him.

  All around us the night sky was lit up, a few fireflies have already come out, their soft glow make the night have a special spark to it. Magical. Part of me feels a bit cliché again, the way things end up in a romantic scene of a movie right before a kiss. I can feel myself blushing at my own thoughts feeling stupid again and realizing that a kiss is something that’s never going to happen.