Nope she still isn't here

You sigh and chew your lip at the closed gate. Clare said she would be here today. Did she mean she'd get here at night, or maybe she meant Friday and it was just a miscommunication. She said four days when she spoke to him on Monday so that could be Friday if Monday wasn't counted.

Your distracted running had slowed you down a little and you were beside Anastasia. "Looking for someone?" The questions didn't come from Anastasia and you spun to see Clare running beside you with a grin.

"Clare!" You felt your mouth curl into a smile and your body turn to look at her. Unfortunately, your lower half also got the message and since you were mid stride you tripped and flipped over skidding along the ground before ending up on you back looking up at the blue sky. "Ow."

"Christopher are you ok?!" Clare's asked as she appeared above you looking concerned. Her aura was glowing with golden light.

"Y-yeah I'm fine." You said rolling over and getting up off the ground. You brushed yourself down and tried to give her a self-depreciating smile. You even prepared a head over heels joke when you looked in her eyes. Two light blue eye stared back into your. "H-hey."

"Hi." She said as a smile grew on her lips.

"Hi." You repeated not able to think of another word. Your heart was beating faster, through out the running it hadn't even changed from it normal resting pace but you could hear it in your ears.

"Hi." Her cheeks got a little colour to them and her pupils dilated. She licked her lips and your eyes darted down to take in those slim red lips.

"Christopher how is this?" Anastasia asked appearing at your side. Her aura was unsure but still controlled.

"Huh?" You asked looking away from Clare to Anastasia somewhat losing your train of thought. "Oh ah, Your Highness this is Clare, she's." You looked at Clare and trailed off as the only word that came to mind was 'hi'.

"Highness?" Clare asked feigning confusion as she looked away from you.

"Princess Anastasia." Anastasia said rolling her shoulders back to stand at her full royally dominate height and looking Clare up and down. Clare was wearing a plain brown tunic and pants, nothing flashy or special about it but your eyes kept drinking in the sight of her. "And you are?" There was a lot of tone in Anastasia voice but you didn't pay attention at Clare looked back to smile at you.

"Christopher's dad sent –" Clare started before Anastasia cut her off.

"Nevermind Christopher we still have laps to finish." She looked Clare up and down then looked at you and how you were looking at Clare. Her aura flared with a lot of feeling you didn't have to focus to examine. "You will wait there." She pointed at the Dorm building but Clare didn't look with her.

"I can run with you if you want?" She was talking to you totally ignoring Anastasia. Anastasia glared at Clare clearly not happy with being ignored.

"You will wait there and someone will collect you, you will not speak until I speak to you again." Anastasia said walking between the two of and pointing at the Dorms. "Christopher we need to run." She turned and put her hands on your shoulders trying to push you.

"Run?" You asked as the other students passed you by looking at the strange seen. "Oh right. I'll talk to you in a bit." You said to Clare with a smile. "Won't be long."

"Oh, um, bye then." Clare looked a little sad and you suddenly weren't so keen on running.

"Bye." You said back to her.

"Bye." She repeated with a growing smile.

"Enough." Anastasia said pushing you. You turned and started running, looking over your shoulder to see Clare watching you and waving before she walked to the Dorms. When you rounded it Anastasia's aura flickered and you saw Blue leave from the front door. For Blue sake you hope the herding goes smoothly.

You start to run faster. Anticipation at actually getting to talk to Clare spurring you beyond just running with everyone else. Anastasia sped up, which made Vatarie sped up, which made Asune sped up and soon everyone was running much faster. Three was running beside you. "If you don't slow down we'll start dropping off others."

"And?" You asked starting to run a little faster still.

"And if you set the pace I won't keep up and Stephanie will attack slowing me down enough to risk not completing the laps." She said bluntly. You looked behind you and saw everyone but Vatarie was breathing through their mouth not tried out but reach the point they would be.

You weighted the options. Even if you finished now, Blue isn't going to let you talk to Clare without Anastasia and if you just ignore Blue's protests ... It's not worth it, but only by a very narrow margin. You slow down until everyone is back to a sustainable pace. After the eighth lap the students in the back are slowing down further. Three didn't suggest slowing for them, you were close enough to completion that she probably figured she could finish even if you left her in the dust.

When you finished the tenth lap only Eleven and Ten were left behind. Stephanie looked everyone over. "You need to work on your stamina." She said to the people panting. She looked at you and you saw a question in her gaze, wondering who the woman you stopped for was.

"Thanks for not attacking." You said with a bashful smile when she got closer. She nodded and turned to the students who were slow lecturing them on the importance of being able to run away.

You started walking towards the royal estate when Anastasia stopped you. Vatarie was walking over to you but stopped when Anastasia held up a hand. "I have a dress prepared for you at my estate Lady Vatarie." Vatarie looked at Anastasia and you chewing her lip. "I assure you Christopher will be there soon." She nodded and walked towards the estate. "The same is true for you Lady Asune."

Asune appeared from your other side and you narrowly avoided jumping out of your skin. You thought she agreed to stop doing that. Asune walked away only a little distance between her and Vatarie. You expected Anastasia to say something to you but she didn't she turned to the audience which you were surprised was still here, running laps didn't seem that interesting to not be able to watch.

"Ladies I look forward to seeing you at my estate tonight." There was a cheer from the audience and Anastasia smiled at them. "Remember to dress comfortably in case you recieve an invitation to the after party." That got a much louder cheer from the audience and Anastasia waved her hands. "Best get start getting ready." The audience broke apart as the students hurried to their rooms to change. Edin appeared through the crowd and Anastasia waved him to the estate. When you were alone Anastasia looped her arm with your and pressed her side against you.

"So who is Clare?" She asked as you started walking to her estate.

"Her mother worked for my father and we grew up together." That was the backstory Clare had settled on when she last brought it up so hopefully she is still sticking with it. "Dad said he would send a letter around now, I didn't think she would be the one to bring it." You add. It was pretty basic but until you spoke to Clare you didn't want to embelish.

"So she's staff?"

"I don't think my dad ever gave her a hired position." You didn't want to say anything more. "Why?"

"In case she blabs about you not being a Duke's son." Anastasia rushed out. "How much time did you spend together?"

"A bit, I guess."

"You never mentioned her in your letters."

"Should I have?"

Anastasia stared at you chewing her lip. "Do you like her?"

"Well, sure we're friends."

"Friends? Nothing else?"

You didn't answer as you felt your heart sped up a bit as you considered Clare, friend and nothing else. Anastasia hurmed at your lack of response. She was silent for the rest of the walk but she did hold herself closer to you than usual, She even had her leg pressed against your to match your stride.

When you reached the estate Blue was waiting and bowed. "She is waiting for you." Blue looked up at you. "And she had this." In her hand was a letter with your father's seal on it. She offered it to Anastasia who took it and after a second of examination gave it to you.

"Have her sent somewhere for the night, she can return to her home tomorrow." Anastasia said separating from you.

"Home?" You asked not liking the sound of that.

"Actually," Blue said looking at you very closely, "she said she was here to stay, that Christopher's father sent her here to," she clicked her tongue, "attend to Christopher."

"Attend?" Anastasia asked looked at you with more than a little worry. "You have Edin she isn't needed." Anastasia was trying to get rid of Clare.

"But –" You started before Blue interrupted.

"Actually I believe you should speak to her first." Blue said to Anastasia. Anastasia glared at Blue for a few seconds.

"Fine." Anastasia relented. "Take him to get ready for the party."

"I wanted to talk to Clare." You said feeling your heart ache a little at being once again denied simply getting to spend time with Clare. What is going on with you right now you do not remember being so, so ... love sick ... huh?

"You can speak to her at some point." Anastasia said stomping off as Blue stood beside you.

You stood together awkwardly for a moment. "She's very pretty." Blue said making you spin and look at her trying not to sputter in response. Blue smirked at you and walked off. "Come on." You followed her a little begrudgingly and were led to the estates baths. Inside Black and White, Anastasia's look-a-like attendants were waiting for you. "Have fun." Blue said closing the door behind you.

Black and White looked you up and down. "Strip." They said in unison.