Maddie and Ollie stayed on the grass in silent. Maddie needed someone, she knew she did not want to be alone right now, although she did not admit it, and would never admit it to Ollie.
The sky was so blue and welcoming. It just felt so calming. Maddie wished that she could just stay like this all day and
Ollie on the other hand was aware that Maddie needed a calming presence, and he was not going to bother her about her feelings. One thing about Maddie was when she was ready to talk to you and tell you how she felt, she would do it without backing down.
"You don't know how good you have it that everyone likes you, blondie," Maddie said out of the silence. Ollie was surprised to hear her voice but knew that if he took too long to answer, she would take it as ridicule and it would cause a huge fight.
"That's false, not everyone likes me," he replied.
"Stop lying, it's so clear that everyone likes and adores you. You cannot deny that vert true fact," she added.
"That is false, because I remember when I first met you, Matt and Annie. You guys did not like me," he said.
He was not dumb. While Annie was in a coma, they were wary of him. Matt was nice, but Maddie was skeptical. It was only when Annie woke up that she was more accepting. He did not blame them at all. They had every right not to simply trust anyone blindly.
"That is true, I still don't like you. Matt was a bit skeptical, but Annie, well she's Annie, and she's nice to everyone," Maddie said.
"Yes, so you see, not everyone likes me," he said.
"That does not count. That is different. If you were to meet a random stranger right now they would instantly like you. They would say you are so kind and nice to be around," Maddie said.
"Really? I am?" Ollie asked surprised.
"I am saying that is what the stranger would say, not what I would say, blondie. Don't get too proud of yourself there," Maddie frowned.
Ollie laughed, "I won't, I won't, but it's nice to hear the stranger think of that about me.".
Maddie scoffed, "Like I said, they would instantly like you. I do not think you have ever had to worry about someone not liking you.".
"That's not true. I will admit that you are right, most people I meet like me, but it's not for the reasons you think," Ollie frowned.
"Mhmm, yeah right.".
"I'm being serious, Maddie. People simply respect and are nice to me because I am the crown prince. My title and the family I come from makes it really hard to know if people are nice to be because of me or because of my title and what an association with me would give them.".
"That may be true, but it's still better to be liked than to be hated," Maddie said.
"I don't think so. At least when you are hated, you know who your enemies are and what their intentions are, but when everyone pretends to like you, you can't tell who your true allies are," he said.
"When you put it like that, I guess, but it's still better to see some friendly faces other than disdainful ones all the time," Maddie said.
Ollie looked at Maddie, she kept her gaze on the sky above. Judging from everything that he had heard and all that was going on recently, he had a feeling that Maddie felt scared everyone in Artrovan would dislike her.
This was very surprising to him. Maddie was always so strong, she acted like she did not care what people thought. This was another side of her that he was seeing, her unsure side and to be honest, it made him sort of scared and worried at the same time.
"Look at those stars up in the sky," he pointed.
"What do you think I'm looking at blondie?" she scoffed.
"They might appear near to each other to us, but in reality, they are millions of kilometers away from each other. That gives them the opportunity to shine as brightly as they want. It might feel lonely some times, I am sure of it, but at the end of the day, shinning your brightest is all that matters," he smiled.
"I'm a star, I know that already, blondie. Your attempt of a pep talk is very weak," she frowned.
"I wasn't trying to give you a pep talk," he replied.
"Mhmm, yeah right," she scoffed.
"Anyway, moving on. You are going to go back to your duties right?" she asked.
"Yes, I am, and I am definitely not looking forward to it. It's back to the whole day stuck in an office, attending various meetings and solving disputes that shouldn't be a problem in the first place," he sighed.
Maddie laughed, "I thought you would like doing that so much because you are very nosy.".
"I am not nosy, and I do like helping people, but it is quite a lot to handle," Ollie sighed.
"I am sure you will be fine, you have been used to solving people's problems and preparing to be king," she said.
"I know, and I do like that I have the opportunity to learn and better myself, but sometimes I wish that I could just go out and have fun, live normally like people my age," he said.
Maddie turned to him, "I thought you are the almighty, responsible blondie who would never want to disobey his father and mother.".
Her tone was mocking. He did not like that, he wanted to frown but decided not to.
"I do love my parents, and I obey them, but I am also a person and I want to have fun, I want to go out with people of my age, and that is why I am so glad that I have you guys now. At least I am not alone," he smiled.
"You are too soft, blondie, way too soft," she shook her head.
"And you don't have to be hard all the time," he chuckled.
"That's a lie, at least when you are hard, nothing can pinch you. When you are soft, you are just lying there, waiting to get hurt," she replied.
"Maddie, I know that you've had to deal with a lot of hard things in your life," Ollie said.
"Harder than you all. After me, the next person who had a lot of things to deal with is Annie, you had nothing to deal with," Maddie said.
"That is not true, moving on
"Mhmm, well, I am going back to bed. I am tired and it's annoying being here with you," Maddie said standing up.
Ollie laughed, "Of course it is, well, I don't think so. It was nice being here with you. Sometimes, you don't need silence but someone to talk you.".
"Right, see you later, blondie," she said.
"See you later, Maddie," he smiled.
Maddie conveyed and disappeared in an instant. Ollie chuckled to himself. Maddie was harsh, she was very blunt and mean, but she was always honest with her feelings, and she could be really sweet when she wanted to.
Maddie climbed back into bed, she yawned and closed her eyes. Everything was going to be alright as long as she was with the people she cared for most in the world.
...
"Good morning, sleepy head," Annie beamed.
Maddie groaned, it felt like she had not slept at all.
"Maddie, come on get up. You can't sleep in today, we have to get ready and pack all our things in time for breakfast. Or else you won't eat until we return to the castle," Annie laughed throwing a pillow at Maddie's head.
Maddie groaned when the pillow hit her head.
"Maddie, I'm being serious, wake up," Annie said.
"I am not being a sleep head. I woke up earlier and I couldn't go back to sleep, so leave me be. Give me fifteen more minutes," Maddie replied.
"We don't have fifteen more minutes. I know you, you won't wake up in time," Annie frowned.
Maddie groaned again. Somehow she felt more tired than usual.
"Maddie, I am being serious. Just be honest, you don't want to leave and that's why you are being annoying this morning.".
"I am not being annoying on purpose. I am telling the truth, I couldn't sleep so I went out. Just give me fifteen minutes, I will be up soon," Maddie replied.
"Alright, suit yourself," Annie shrugged and walked into the bathroom. It was perfectly alright if Maddie wished to stay here. She could remain in the castle alone and live with Ollie.
Annie laughed to herself. The mere thought of Maddie living here with Ollie permanently was impossible. She would probably kill him by the end of three days.
Maddie covered her face with the pillow Annie threw on her. Fifteen minutes was all that she needed.