• “What did I do?” She whispered into her pillow. Her quarters were shared with the Princesses personal Maiden. The women now slept in the bed beside her. Mellia remembered looking up into the Prince’s green eyes and then out of nowhere he complained of being tired and walked away out of the library. She had felt as though it had been her that changed his mind.
    “I have to get out of here.” The girl stood from her bed and began packing her clothes into a backpack and duffle bag. After filling neither of them full she rolled her blanket and tightly fit it into the duffle bag. Without thinking she also put the mansions sash into her bag then slipped into her jacket and shoes and left.
    The hallways were empty but she knew the cameras were watching her. Hopefully the guards on watch would not notice her passage. Her walk to the library was long for the worker quarters were two levels below the ground and the library two levels above it. It took her longer then she had hoped.
    At the door she slipped into the room with her key card and flicked on the light. No one was in the room or had been since she had left. She knew her library. Her feet hurried up the ladder that still sat beside the journal. She let her fingers find the worn cover and pull it close to her heart.
    “Mellia?” She didn’t have to look down the ladder to know who it was. The words could only come from one mouth. “Please...”
    “Amore....” Her legs carried her down to him. He was standing by the table with his fingers rubbing the edge of his shirt nervously; his eyes on her body.
    “You can’t do this.”
    “Leave?” She asked slipping the journal into her backpack.
    “Yes,” his arms tightened. “I don’t want you to.”
    “If they find out, Alex, I wont be here anymore.”
    “How would they?” He looked into her eyes and waited impatiently for the answer.
    “Alex,” she sighed and grabbed his hand; the hand she had held so much as a child. “You know they will. It cant be that well hidden.”
    “It hasn’t come up at all; ever,” he rubbed his fingers over hers. “I would know. They have no idea. No one knows of the book.”
    “Alex....” Mellia looked up into his eyes and smiled at the concern in them. “I think my mother hid this book in here when she was still alive. For me Amore, for me.”
    “I don’t want you to leave,” he pulled her body to his into their first real hug. Forbidden it had always been to show him affection. She wrapped her hands around and squeezed him close to her. He smelled of sweat and blankets.
    “I don’t want to leave you, Alex,” she breathed in his scent. “But I have to. For your safety.”
    “You have to write me,” he whispered into her hair.
    “I will. You must write me back.”
    “No online connection.”
    “No,” she sighed. It would be much faster but it was much easier to track. “I will send the address of the next place I will be staying.”
    “Alright.”
    “I will send them to Bilford.”
    “My butler?” Alex rubbed her back up and down.
    “Yes.” She looked up at his face. “I will use a fake name so no body suspects a thing. You have to burn them after you read them.”
    “There will be so many secrets, my love.” She gasped and he smiled down at her.
    “I love you,” he whispered into her hair. “Mel. I do.” And he reached down to kiss her lips. Her arms moved up and around his neck and pulled him close. His hand slid up her body to her cheek and held it in his palm. She slowly pulled away not really willing to.
    “I love you, Alex.” She could feel her cheeks on fire and her fingers were shaking. Alex slide his fingers in hers; he to, was shaking.
    “I will miss you, Mel.”
    “I will miss you, Alex, my Amore.” She reached up on her tip toes to give him one last quick kiss and then slid her hands from his to grab her bags. Without looking back she moved to the door and opened it.
    “Mel?” She had to look back at that. He was standing there in the dim light next to the elegantly carved table his green eyes on her face. “I love you.”
    All she could do without crying was nod. Her body moved from the door. Once it shut she bolted down the hallway running toward the back door.

    He stood there in disbelief. Tears were running down his cheeks, he could feel the wet trails but he couldn’t move. She was gone and he hadn’t gotten any time with her. He hadn’t made his dreams come true. Laying in the gardens with her under the warm sun holding her on his chest. Giving her flowers and bringing her snacks in the library as she read. Nothing. He didn’t have the time. No, he thought. I didn’t have the guts.
    Alex ran his forearm over his tears and turned toward the science room. There was one book Mel had always been reading when he came in as if she wanted him to read it. He glanced around finding nothing that looked familiar until he moved some of the books on the table. There under two other large books was a science book titled. Seeing Love Through Science. He grabbed it and left the library behind.