Perfect
Chapter XII

Stumbling back to the bed my breathing became laboured, someone had thought it funny to plant a note here with my title on it. I didn’t want it to be him but if it was I was in danger then I needed to rule out all options. Claire came over and sat beside me, “There’s a possibility it isn’t him Bella, we just need to take extra precautions with this one.”

A hefty sigh escaped my mouth, I couldn’t move considering that my body was still in shock. “It can’t be him Claire, he’s in England in jail, he doesn’t know I left.” She looked at me with concern in her hazel eyes as we both tried to come up with a plausible explanation as to who it could be. My body shook and tears were starting to gather in the corner of my eyes, I was past shocked and back to scared again. Eventually it’d turn into fury. Fury that I was being chased again after having peace for such a long amount of time.

Claire was up again and giving guards and security their orders. If I was unable too then she was my second in command, she knew how it worked and what was best for me. I taught her everything she knew anyway. The bed was dipping underneath my weight and I placed my head in my hands. I could never fully understand what I’d done to deserve this kind of treatment. I knew I’d make enemies within my reign but not before it.

Lowering back down beside me Claire took my hands into hers, “No matter what happens Bella we’ll get through this together.”

“My parents will be notified Claire, what if they want me home?” She looked at me sadly.

“Then maybe that’s what’s best but for now we just hope that they’ll let you finish out the school year. If we can rule out Victor then it could just be a silly prank by one of the boys.”

The boys, I hadn’t originally thought of it but it seemed like something Cameron would pull. He probably didn’t even know, it was just the fact that he was mocking me for being uptight, rich and demanding. “Maybe we don’t even have to rule out Victor, I wouldn’t put it past Cameron to play a prank like this Claire,” my hopes rising at getting Victor out of the picture entirely. The look of uncertainty in her eyes showed me that she was still weighing the two decisions up in her mind.

“Look all we can do is ask Cameron. But I’m still getting any signs of Victor looked into. I don’t want anything missed just in case.”

“If it was him then he won’t know what hit him Claire, god help him.” She just nodded her head and proceeded to usher me out of the room as it would become a crime scene for the next couple of hours. I was to stay in the spare master bedroom for the night and school was still scheduled for the next morning. It had been an eventful night and I was out like a light as soon as Claire helped me into bed and climbed in beside me.

Shuffling caused me to wake up bright and early before the set alarm time, looking to the left I found Claire, who could never keep still. I swear she was doing an obstacle course in her sleep sometimes but we’d never know. Deciding it’d be better to get up now and get ready early so I had time to prepare for the day was sounding better then moping around in bed till Claire woke up.

Claire was still fast asleep by the time I’d gotten out of the shower, and my showers were at least a good forty-five minutes long. God, the girl could sleep through a bombing. Grabbing everything I needed for the day and chucking it in my bag I opened the door and went out into the hallway. My room was just to the left of me and it sent chills down my spine. My room, the biggest room in the house which should be my safe place now felt like something out of a horror movie. Like something invisible had left it’s mark there without leaving a trace, just the note. Shaking my head, I tried to clear all the horrible thoughts clogging my mind, how I slept well last night was far beyond me. The only plausible thing I could think of was that I was just extremely tired.

Sauntering towards the lounge room I collapsed on the lush lounge, I still had no clue as to how I was to get through the day. Claire seemed the think I had it in me to be this big strong women when in reality, I was just some scared little girl. I may act all grown up sometimes and pretend I’m five years older then I actually am, but doesn’t every teenager do that? I’m surely not the only one. We still had to ask Cameron if he had any involvement in the note and if it was a prank. It made me furious to think about it either way. It was exactly something he would do to piss me off and make us somewhat even in his little game. I knew he didn’t know about my title but just something about him calling me princess made it seem all too weird. I had my suspicions and Claire had hers. I may be in way over my head but who was I to care. I had nothing to lose but the crown and who really wants an eternal life of misery. Not me.

An hour went by of me napping on the couch before I was awoken by Claire herself. “I thought I heard an elephant coming down the stairs Jesus Christ child.” She giggled and held her hand out for me to grab.

“Well I knew you’d be asleep somewhere and I would have to come wake you up since my forever moving body woke you up early.” Grinning at her I shook my head, “Lets go eat before we leave.” She looked at her watch and started walking towards the kitchen, her pink louboutin bouncing around on her hip. “We’ve got fifteen minutes so we better make these pancakes go down fast.

I knew my eyes lit up because who doesn’t like pancakes. Especially if you make them fluffy and thick, that’s my type of pancake. “Have you thought about how you want to go about today?” Claire brought out of nowhere. It didn’t surprise me because I knew she wanted to talk about it but I was avoiding it with as much force as I could. After yesterday it was jut something I wanted to shove out of my mind and forget even though I wanted to know who was behind it. Well really, if it was Cameron it wouldn’t bother me so much other then the fact that I would kill him but Victor, that’s another story. In the time I’ve got here I’ve had numerous things happen to me that I never thought would and it was all I could think about at that moment in time.

How would I survive the next couple of weeks if I couldn’t even survive a simple conversation with my best friend about a possible suspect that is after me. I just couldn’t think straight and shook my head. She looked at me sympathetically, “We’ll just wing it today and see how it goes, okay?”

“Yeah that’s fine.” I whispered back.

Claire grabbed my hand and dragged me towards the door after we’d finished devouring the pancakes. Pete waved us off at the front door, the car driving out onto the road leaving him a tiny speck in the background.

I sat in the seat nervously squeezing my hands together and fidgeting. I know it wasn’t to do me any good but I couldn’t help it really. If Cameron was the one to do it he was in for a whirlwind of trouble. Shaking my head I tried clearing my head, I had such a long day ahead of me and schoolwork I wanted to focus on. I could focus on the other situation when it came around, and Claire would let me know when that happened.

It didn’t take long to get to school, or really that’s what it felt like since I think I’d napped in the car for a good fifteen minutes. Claire had been rather quiet compared to her usual chirpy self and I was replaceing it unsettling but I didn’t bother to replace out why. She’d tell me if she felt the need too. Michael opened the door for me to get out of the car and helped me with the coat I’d brought since it was starting to now get a little chilly. Claire was already waiting at the end of the sidewalk, she didn’t have an emotion, just looked as if she was deep in thought.

I wondered what was going through her head at this moment. She was obviously keeping in contact with everyone at home considering she had her phone in her hands texting a mile a minute.

“She’s just worried about you Princess, it’s nothing to be worried about though. We’ll all do whatever we can to protect you.” I looked at Claire and back towards Michael. “That’s my worry.”

He nodded as if in understanding and headed back towards the car, “Have a good day at school Princess.” I gave him a short but sweet smile in return and turned to meet Claire at the start of the fence line where our school grounds started. It wasn’t busy yet as we were quite early today, earlier then we usually were. Surprise, surprise. Cameron wasn’t here yet which meant none of his boys would be and neither would Ash; along with his pet. A few less worries for me this morning.

“Hello ladies.” Jumping I’m sure a few feet in the air I turned around to see Seth stealthily following behind us. I slapped him on the arm, “Did anyone ever teach you not to sneak up on people, gosh Seth. Use your brain”

Seth chuckled light heartedly, he seemed to be in a decent mood today. Maybe he could pass some of that this way. I looked to the left and couldn’t replace Claire beside me anymore, panicking I looked towards the doors and there she was about to walk in. She probably hadn’t even noticed I’d stopped.

A phone vibrated and obviously it was Seth’s since he looked at it not a moment later. His face had turned to stone and I’d never seen it so serious, “I’ll walk you to your locker, I have to speak to Claire.”

What, Claire? What about? I was beyond confused and starting to get annoyed. My life was full of bloody secrets and complications. I quickly jolted my little legs into action to keep up with his long strides. I might be tall but I swear everyone was just a couple inches taller then me. Why? I wouldn’t have a clue, I’m just tiny.

We’d reached the locker in not even a minute and Seth went off to replace Claire, she was at the end of the hall and they got into a heated discussion quite quickly. I was hoping it was nothing serious. Claire and I already had enough on our plates and I was praying Seth wasn’t going to add to that.

I grabbed out the books needed for first and second period. Placing my handbag in the locker and locking it up tight. Seth’s face had fallen far into worry and I was hoping Claire wasn’t telling him about last night. There was already a boy roaming around here that knew. I didn’t want another to know. Especially not Seth, he was too important and easily too close to my heart. Those people always get hurt first.

While I was watching Claire and Seth talk doors were flung open at the other end of the corridor and all eyes landed on the figure that resembled Cameron, including mine. The doors slammed back onto the walls and his presence demanded attention, even if it wasn’t wanted. His grey eyes were a lightening storm inside of the large black eye he held. Bruises spotted his jawline and he’d looked like he’d been put into a choke hold. I thought my jaw would drop but my heart did at the sight of his injuries. I was worried and surprised about it.

Seth looked even more worried and furious now. He left Claire but it look like she understood somehow, mentally noting I’d have to ask her later and he stormed towards Cameron eyeballing anyone and everyone who dared look his way, except for me. I thought Seth would clock him one for getting into a fight but he went straight up to him and checked all the bruises on his face and giving him a full once over despite Cameron’s protests.

That’s when I noticed the lack of light in his beautiful grey eyes. His normal playful stature was gone and in replacement was the tired lines around his eyes. He looked exhausted, like he’d been through war and back.

“Don’t you all have classes to get too!” Seth shouted causing the ogling kids to scurry off to their respected classes. I stood rooted to the spot. Some part of me desperately wanted to help him, make sure he was okay. Just like he had to me. Even still it didn’t feel like something I had to do, I wanted to do it.

I was in front of him with my palm against his cheek before either he or I could work out what was going on. His cheek was warm and sent those tingles down my arm again, “What happened to you Cam?” I asked softly my eyes roaming his battered face. His eyes were intense, ablaze with fury but also showed signs of sadness, “Its best if you don’t know Bella.”

He looked me in the eyes causing every part of my body from head to toe to tingle and smiled as best he could softly taking my hand off his cheek and hauled his broken body out of the school doors again to god knows where. Leaving me once again wondering what the hell was going on and adding another problem to my plate. This isn’t the boy who would play a prank so harsh on me. What was happening to Cameron that was so dark he couldn’t share? I needed to know.