Diary of a Reluctant Ruler

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The next morning, there was a light tapping at my door. Brushing my teeth, I walked over and opened the door to a James. A James who still made my blood run hot.

Isn’t the phrase ‘blood ran cold’?

Not for him.

“Hey,” I said through toothpaste.

“Good morning,” he smiled, then kissed me on the cheek.

My skin tingled in a more-than-friendly manner.

“What’s up?” I asked, after I’d spat and rinsed, conscious that James was watching me.

“Just coming to inform you of today’s task.”

“Which is?” I asked.

“To wear mismatched socks,” James replied.

“Sounds simple, do you want to pick which ones to mix?” I asked.

“Sure thing… er, whereabouts in your colossal cupboard would they be?”

“Bottom drawer on your left as you walk in.”

James disappeared into my cupboard, whilst I quickly changed in the bathroom.

“You have really boring socks!” came a muffled complaint.

“I have to agree with you,” I said, swinging round the corner, only to bump into James, who was coming my way holding said boring socks. I bumped into his chest rather hard.

“Ow,” I moaned, rubbing my nose.

James grinned and kissed my nose, then my lips in quick succession.

“Better?” he asked.

“Much,” I breathed, a feeling of euphoria sinking into my skin.

“Voila,” he said, proffering the socks.

“These aren’t mine,” I puzzled.

“No, half are mine,” James explained.

Clothes sharing already?!

The boy moves fast, I’ll give him that.

“Is there anything else for today?” I asked.

“Well, I found out that you were having a languages lesson, so I thought we could attempt some of Tolkien’s elvish, or maybe a made-up code?”

“Sounds cool,” I smiled.

I don’t think we quite finished number forty...

James drove me to school, Jade waving us off at the steps, smiling knowingly at me in the mirror. I laughed at her then concentrated on not being bright crimson. Iona picked up immediately on my mental state, and screamed when she saw me across the foyer.

“What?” I said, clutching my ears.

“You didn’t?! You did!!”

Jenn smiled at me, David looking confused from next to her.

“You have to tell me everything!”

Everything didn’t take too long, but I felt happy reciting it. I showed off my mismatched socks, and we moved on to other topics.

Like Quantum theory…

Or James.

No, Quantum theory.

Well, I’m sure you can wrangle James into Quantum theory somehow.

*sarcastic* Really.

Well, without Quantum theory, he wouldn’t be able to move, and would be therefore be unable to kiss me. Voila.

Marie met me for Languages after school, which I was admittedly a little late for, because James had given me a lift back from school… need I say more? I was a little breathless when I got in.

We really need to stop letting them infer.

Lord knows what they’re thinking.

Oh god, not that!!!

Dirty reader.

“Auf Wiedersehen Marie,” I called as I left the classroom exactly one German lesson later.

“Aaye,” said James, leaning against the wall outside.

“Eh?” I replied.

“It’s ‘hail’ in Elvish,” he explained, “It’s today’s word.”

“Oh, ok. Er, aaye,” I copied.

“Very nice, amin hiraetha,” he continued.

“Which is?”

“I’m sorry.”

“What for?”

“Not kissing you sooner,” James replied, “I probably should have made a move weeks ago.”

“I’m just happy you did eventually. Hey! Now if I bump into an elf in the forest, I can say sorry,” I replied, the last part sarcastic.

“Oo, sour grapes,” James replied.

“Sorry, I just don’t want to spend all my time doing new stuff, or I’ll have done everything by Christmas,” I explained.

“Why would you want to spin it out?” James frowned.

“Er, let me think… to spend more time with you?” my voice wobbled a little as I admitted it.

“Now that’s a good reason,” James smirked.

“Don’t go getting all big-headed,” I laughed.

“Now, about the list…” James began again.

“No!” I cried.

“Do you want a nickname or not?” James asked.

“Oh,” I frowned, “I’m not sure.”

“Well, it needs some thought. Nicknames can be a curse as well as a blessing.”

“They’re sort of meant to be earned as well…” I sighed.

“I think you’ve earnt one,” James smiled.

“You got any ideas?” I asked.

“Let’s start with your own name shall we?”

“Meredith Eleanor Isabella Rosamund Caramont?” I recited.

“Yeah, let’s start there.”

After half an hour and a to-the-library-walk’s worth, we had boiled it down to several possibilities. James was rather struck with one.

“Pickle!” he cried for what seemed like the millionth time.

“No way!” I cried back.

“It fits you perfectly,” James laughed.

“I will not be named after a vinegar-soaked vegetable,” I complained.

“For me?” James pleaded.

“Not even for you,” I replied.

“I’m sure I could persuade you,” he insisted.

“Oh really?”

“Really,” he smirked.

“Just you try,” I challenged.

“My pleasure…”

He pulled me gently towards him on the sofa, lips inches away from mine. I breathed raggedly as he traced my face with his fingers, trying to keep my mental state free of fog. It was impossible. I threw nearly threw myself into him, taking him by surprise. We toppled off the sofa, landing in a tangled mess on the floor.

“Oof,” James moaned.

“Sorry!”

“I’m not complaining,” he smirked, kissing me back.

It took a lot of strength to detach myself minutes later, but sadly, breath is necessary for living. There can only be so much breathing through your nose.

Only short breaks are necessary mind.

A nickname wasn’t decided that evening.