Lilah turned to watch him go before shutting her bedroom door. She made her way to the bathroom, where she started a shower. Once she was under the hot water, she sobbed, then clasped a hand over her mouth.
It's your own fault for not saying it back to him.
He would still be here if it weren't for your reluctance.
If you don't love him, why do you even care?
Why does he even love you?
You're so rude to him.
"Shut up, shut up, shut up!" she screamed at her thoughts, clamping her hands over her ears as she sunk down to the bathtub floor, tears mixing with water as they streamed from her eyes.
(/;o;)
Cameron walked a few steps out of the room and looked around. He decided to go left, away from what he presumed to be the other rooms. He swallowed and shook his head fiercely.
It's too early to be thinking she loves me.
(…sorry…not sorry…)
You think you're such a perfect princess, but all you do is mess around all day.
Your brother would make a better king than you would a queen.
Cameron should leave you. You don't deserve him.
Lilah struggled to breath as her breath kept catching in her throat. Why now? Why we're all of these thoughts coming out now?
Cameron paused, gazing at their families' emblem (if they have one).
She doesn't need a Metzler. Though she said she doesn't care…
She might, finished the cruel voice of his thoughts.
(is in pain
To self: You did this to yourself, you know.
Me: Hush…)
He's so amazing, and you're so… not.
Why has he even stuck around for so long? It's not like he even really loves you, you just fooled him into thinking he does.
Sobs wracked Lilah's body as water soaked her. At this rate, she would never leave the shower.
Cameron gazed at the emblem, which started to waver in his vision. He couldn't imagine his family's emblem there, no matter how hard he tried. His imagination wouldn't enable him to.
(Skip?)
More and more thoughts came, swirling around in her mind. Lilah was reduced to a puddle on the bathtub floor, her tears having dried out, finally.
(Yep)
Cameron shook his head as he gazed at the large cloth. He couldn't poison this family. He had to snuff out the line. He had to be the last.
About a half an hour later, Lilah finally stood and turned the water off. She climbed out of the shower, wrapped a towel around herself, and stared at her reflection.
Her eyes were red from crying, her cheeks splotched red and pale. She was a mess.
Cameron had fetched Lily, gotten dressed in his own clothing and went to go sit outside. He didn't call for anyone, he ignored the guards, sat down in a patch of grass hidden by the gate and the bushes. He didn't cry, yet he couldn't deny a couple tears had fallen down his crooked nose. He felt detached, broken, like a blight upon the world. His head throbbed as if his mind were still running, though it was not. The heat and sunlight warmed up his head and hair, making him feel sick, rather than sleepy.
Worthless.
Not even worth being called pitiful.
Failure.
Selfish.
Immature…
Lilah took a shaking breath, closing her eyes as she shook her head. When she opened her eyes again, they held a determined light. She would make it up to Cameron. She had to.
Cameron inhaled softly, shaking his head. I can't stay. I can't come back. Her other family members don't even want me in the same area as them.
(POV switch!)
Jessica had gone home about an hour ago, and Liam was now bird out of his mind. He looked out a window and saw Lilac trotting around the garden. Knowing that the dog was almost never without his sister if she was home, he decided to go outside and talk to her.
Once he was in the garden, Lilac greeted him excitedly. He grinned and pet her, ruffling her and cheeks. After looking around for his sister, he realized that she wasn't there, but he decided to walk around anyway.
A few minutes passed, and he saw someone sitting with a puppy. Coming closer, he realized that it was Cameron.
"Hey, man. Where's Lilah?" he asked as he approached the elder prince.
Cameron tilted his head away from Liam. "I don't know. Probably in her room." His voice was husky and soft. Whenever Liam had heard him talk his voice was bright, loud and happy.
Lily wiggled towards Liam as he approached but was reluctant to leave Cameron's arms.
Liam heard the change in Cameron's voice and frowned a bit.
"Mind if I sit with you?" he asked, fully prepared to be turned away.
Cameron shrugged. "Do what you like." He stared at a pleasant tree, waving at them in the distance. It's breezy nonchalance mocked him.
Liam sat beside Cameron with a sigh. He looked around the garden before turning to the other prince.
"So… Can I ask what's wrong?" he wondered softly. "Feel free to tell me to buzz off if you don't want to talk."
Lily barked a few times and whined softly at Cameron. Cameron ignored her.
Instead, he sighed heavily and shook his head. "I expect too much."
"How do you mean?" Liam asked, stretching a hand out toward the puppy. Lilac had lain down at his feet almost as soon as he had sat down, and she was currently napping.
(how do you mean)
"I'm a Metzler!" Cameron exclaimed bitterly, self-loathing in his voice.
(What?)
"So? She cares about you, not who your ancestors were," Liam said with a shrug as he wiggled his fingers at Lily.
Lily watched Liam's fingers with a happy bork.
"How can you be so sure?" Snarled a bitter voice that didn't belong to him.
Liam glanced up at Cameron, surprise mad by the tone of his voice.
"Because I see the way she looks at you. And yeah, I know how cheesy that sounds, but it's true. She's never looked at anyone the way she looks at you. You should see her. Her eyes just light up, and her smile is the most genuine I have ever seen it. It's obvious to anyone watching that you make her happy," he told him gently.
Cameron swallowed a bit of the doubt he felt. He gently squeezed the puppy. He shook his head with a soft sigh.
"I…I… just can't be here! Something's telling me to leave, I don't want to, but it's pushing me… giving me logic as to why to leave!"
"And what are the reasons it's telling you?" Liam asked.
Cameron bit his tongue. "I can't tarnish another name. It's just… cruel. Your family has such a good name. I'd hate to… ruin it."
Liam laughed. "Yeah, good luck with that. Even if you tried, no one would care much how one person messed up our family. Didn't you learn about our previous kings?"
Cameron looked at him. "No, I haven't. You've surely heard our name in negative opinions, though." Cameron suddenly became aware of how broken record-like he sounded and shut his mouth.
"I have, yes, but my sister has told me only good things about you," Liam said. "Would you care to hear my family history? Or would that be too boring?"
Cameron sighed softly, looking at Liam with his soft puppy eyes. "Let's just… talk about something else."
Lily borked softly and licked Cameron's chin.
