Chapter 6

"It's Not A Date!"

Luke had to wear another freaking dress. He didn't understand what the deal was with all the dresses! Sure, girls wear them, but do they seriously have to drown in dresses like he had to? Huffing in annoyance, he let the servants choose his clothes for him.

Luke was aware they didn't know he was actually a guy, so he tried to cover up his frustration as the girls fawned over him like he was actually having fun. Who could have fun like this!?

"How excited are you for your first date with Prince David, Princess?" One of the seamstresses, Iris, asked Luke with a big Cheshire grin spread across her face. Luke suppressed the urge to yell at her.

"I-It's not like a date! We're just going out!" He tried explaining it. Guys hang out together! Even if one is wearing a dress...

"Silly, that is a date!" Iris giggled. Luke wanted to face palm.

"Okay. Sure. Whatever you say," he sighed. Iris and the other girls just giggled and giggled. Luke just wanted to go back to sleep.

xxXXxx

"Hey Luke-a! N-Nice dress...psshaha!" Dave tried hard not to laugh. He really did. But seeing Luke all angry over being girled up was too priceless. Luke elbowed him in the side, hard.

"Shut up, jerk! I can't control what I wear!" The Prince rubbed his side, before nervously taking the princess's arm in his. His father watched approvingly, before sending them off towards the carriages.

Guards lined up on either side of them. "Quite extravagant for an outing, hm?" Luke growled under his breath. Dave had never told him where they were going.

"Father's sending us to some fancy restaurant where the public can view the prince and the princess eating out together for their first time," Dave explained like it was plain as day. Luke paused.

"You mean I have to act like a girl in front of everyone!?" He cried quietly as they got into the carriage. Dave watched in mild panic as Luke's cerulean eyes got progressively more and more anxious. He was pretty good at reading faces, but that didn't mean he was good at comforting someone. Dave bit his lip.

"Um. Yes?"

"I hate you. I hate this. I hate everything." Luke growled, crossing his arms like a five year old throwing a tantrum.

"Ha, I second that motion," Dave replied. "Well, it's a fifteen minute ride to the restaurant...want to play twenty questions?" He asked. Luke raised an eyebrow.

"What's that suppose to mean?"

"Ah, right, I forgot you had a sheltered upbringing. Let big brother Dave explain it to you."

"You're only a year older than me!"

"Shush. Now, twenty questions is a game where one person asks the other a question, and they must either answer or pass. Then that person asks the other person a question, then switch, and you get it?" Luke found it rather entertaining to watch the prince's extravagant hand gestures as he was talking.

The game sounded simple enough. "Yeah, okay. You go first."

Dave didn't expect Luke to let him get the first question. He shrugged. "Sure. What's your favorite color?"

"Blue. What's yours?"

"It's gold."

"Hm, fitting for a prince." Luke replied. Dave stared at him, then flustered.

"Oh! No, no! It reminds me of my mother, that's why!" He laughed, waving it off. He looked out the window of the carriage, watching the scenery pull by with curious green eyes. "It's my turn, now..."

"Do you have a favorite season? Like, summer, spring, autumn, winter..." Dave trailed off, watching Luke out of the corner of his eye. The boy looked down.

"...well, it may seem a bit odd, but I like winter the most. Even though all the crops on the farm are usually dead, and its terribly cold out... I couldn't help but love winter the first time I saw snow." Luke answered. The prince nodded in agreement.

"Mine's autumn, because of all the beautiful colors nature creates."

"Nah, you just like it because it's gold outside!" Luke exclaimed playfully, laughing. "It's my turn, too. Hmm... Would you rather be attacked by a horse-sized duck, or a dozen duck-sized horses?" He asked the randomest question off the top of his head.

Dave blinked. Excuse me?

"Was that a legit question?" He looked at Luke like the boy was brain dead. Luke stared at him with every ounce of seriousness in him.

"Yes. You have to answer it."

The prince smirked, looking up at the ceiling. "A horse-sized duck...or a dozen duck-sized horses... I'd have to say the horse-sized duck." Luke furrowed his brows.

"Are you kidding me? A horse-sized duck would crush you!" Oh. So it appears there was already an answer to this question, Dave thought in amusement.

"Would the latter even be better?"

"Of course! Duck-sized horses, you could just swat them away, but a massive, horse-sized duck with a beak and talons..." Before Luke could elaborate, the carriage jerked the two of them forward as he came to a sudden stop.

"I guess we're here," Dave stated, looking out the window. Oh yes, that's a lot of people out there. "I hope you're not camera shy." Luke paled. "What?"

As the two exited, a roar of cheers rose up towards the skies. People were waving banners colored in the nation's colors, red, yellow, and orange. The banners seemingly lit the sunset sky with colorful highlights. Luke nervously eyed the crowd of people, gulping. Dave nudged him.

"Calm down. I do this all the time," he reassured him. The two were escorted into the restaurant, and led to a table booth in a secluded part towards the back.

Flowy, golden drapes were drawn around the table. Luke watched in awe as two waiters unfolded the curtains, and set the table in fancy silver dining ware.

Nobles stared as Dave led his "princess" to the booth. Luke nervously smiled at them. He hesitantly sat down in the booth, savoring the soft, cushiony fabric beneath him. The sensation of someone sitting down next to him, however, brought him out of the daze. Luke gave the prince a look when he sat right next to him instead of across from him.

Their audience seemed to sigh at the "adorableness" of it all, however, Luke's face immediately went red when he heard an "aww."

"Sorry, the king's watching," Dave whispered. Luke barely nodded in response. The prince adjusted his position so that he had a bit more space, but he wasn't too far away to seem distant. Suddenly, a microphone poking into Dave's personal space broke him out of the spell.

"Prince David and Princess Luka! Would you two be as kind as to answer a couple questions for the loving public?" A lady, with bright red lipstick, asked, an enthusiastic smile plastered over her face. Luke stared timidly at the large videocameras pointed their way. Dave, however, didn't seem phased at all.

"Of course! We'd be happy to!" He replied cheerfully. Luke leaned forward.

"Thank you! First off, we'd like to know what made you choose Princess Luka to be your, well, princess!?" The reporter asked. Dave smiled charmingly, as if he already knew the answer.

"It was as if she was meant to be my soul mate..." The prince answered, a distant look in his emerald green eyes as if he was recalling a fond memory. Luke almost raised an eyebrow.

"That's so romantic! Next, we'd like to know... What makes Princess Luka different from your previous wives?" She asked, almost craving for some gossip. Dave felt a tad singed by the dry comment on his past wives, but he kept a bright grin on his face.

He looked up, then returned his princely gaze towards the camera. A sly grin spread across his face.

"It's a secret." There was a sharp intake of breath from the audience.

"Ooh! I wonder what that can mean?" The reporter laughed, grinning as if she was imagining something...dirty. Luke couldn't help but snort. "Ah yes, and the final question is for Lady Luka."

Luke's eyes widened, and he tried his best to smile and look attentive. The reporter paused, before asking her question. "Dear princess, we'd like to know...is Prince David your first love? And what made you fall for him? Be honest, now!" She asked, pushing the mic over to the nervous "princess."

Dave cast his friend a worried glance, hoping he knew what to say. Luke thought for a moment.

"I fell for David...because I saw someone I could relate to in him. He is my first, and only love. In fact, he stole my first kiss at our very own wedding," Luke spoke softly and slowly, eyes glazing over ever so slightly. People held their breaths.

"O-Oh my... How sweet..." The reporter spoke blissfully. "You two are obviously madly in love..." Then, as if it had only been a facade, she turned to the camera with a wide grin. "And there you have it folks!"

She turned back to the prince and "princess," bowing in thanks. "Thank you for your time, princess, prince!" She said, before taking off.

Then the food was done. It was set up before Luke, and he couldn't help but feel his mouth water and stomach grumble. He gazed lovingly at the heavenly food before him.

Dave shook his head, drawing the curtains shut around them. Luke blinked in surprise as a veil of gold wrapped around, and enclosing them in a private circle.

"That was," Dave whispered. "Brilliant!" He quietly exclaimed. Luke snorted, mouth half stuffed with food already.

"Think so?" He replied, words muffled with food. The prince grimaced. He really needed to get the boy some table manners.

"Yes! I don't think anyone else could've sold it so well!" Luke smirked. The prince was almost squealing excitedly. He stared in amusement at the golden-haired boy, trying not to laugh at the hand-gestures and exclaims Dave made. It was almost childish.

Licking his lips, Luke took a gulp of water. "I don't know... I just sort of said it on spot. You seemed to have it all planned out."

"I sort of do that, sometimes..." The prince laughed hesitantly, rubbing the back of his neck. Luke rolled his eyes. More like all the time.

"Everyone here is so dirty and immature! I bet they all think we're making out right now," Luke snorted. Dave felt his face heat up uncomfortably.

"That's true..." Did you seriously have to say that? The prince yawned to cover up his sigh, then began to eat his food.

Luke had already finished with his packed plate by the time the prince was halfway through with his meal. The boy kept leaning on him, peering at his food with lusty eyes, and continued to ask him, "are you going to eat that?"

Finally, the prince gave in and let the boy finish his meal for him, trying to ignore the fact that the "princess" had just taken his silverware along with the plate. How unsanitary!

"Are you really just that hungry?" Dave asked, a bit concerned. Did the poor boy suffer a life of malnutrition? Luke spared him a blue-eyed glance before he was fixated on the food again.

"I can't help it! When you live and work on a farm, and work in a restaurant where you can't eat anything... You get really, really hungry! Like, downright ravenous. Even a bowl of porridge can't satisfy it, when you're serving quality food to folks half of the day," Luke rambled. Dave could hear his slight country accent now. Actually, now that he thought about it, the "princess" was beginning to sound less and less female.

"Keep your voice low! They can hear us out there, you know," Dave hushed. Luke paused, before lightly elbowing him in the ribs. The prince flinched, confused by the action.

"I know that, prince stupid!" Luke chuckled. Dave blinked.

"Prince stupid?" He said. "What kind of nickname is that!?"

"A stupid one?"

"A stupid o- wait! Hey!"

"Ha!" Luke laughed after stealing the words right out of the Prince's mouth. Dave pouted.

"Heh, well this has been fun and all, but there's no more food left so we should go. And I'm tired." As if to prove his point, Luke yawned.

"So the beast is ready to sleep after its feast?" The prince chuckled, a small smirk on his face as he made a move to pull away the curtains.

"Yeah..." Luke sighed.

"Ready to go home?"

"Mhmm..." Luke hummed pleasantly, interrupted by yet another yawn. He leaned back, closing his eyes. "Can you carry me?"

Dave rolled his eyes. "First hungry, now lazy? What kind of princess are you?" He chuckled. No response.

The prince sat there for minutes, waiting for a response, before he realized his friend was asleep. He gazed at the dozing boy, who looked so peaceful, Dave just couldn't wake him up.

"You really are lazy," he smiled, wrapping one arm around the boy's torso, and another under the crook of his legs. Luke's long, black hair brushed against the Prince's arms, and for a second, he marveled how soft it was.

Slowly and steadily, Dave lifted Luke off the booth and exited the curtains with a sleeping "princess" in his arms. Several onlookers sighed happily at the sight, but Dave passed by them with sparing a glance.

The King was delighted to believe their "date" went so well. He fondly watched as his son carried his wife into the carriage.

Dave sat on the cushioned bench. Luke leaned against the cold window, steady breath fogging up the tinted glass. Dave sighed, covering his face. He could already feel a headache coming on.

Quietly, he whispered, "it wasn't a freaking date..."

Yeah, you keep telling yourself that, Dave. Hopefully, you got to know these two better as they got to know each other better! Character development is an important piece in a story.
Also, incase you never realized- the country this story takes place in isn't real! Well, maybe it's real, like, in another universe somewhere, but sadly, not on earth. It's sort of stuck somewhere in between old fashioned and modern, as you can tell with the carriages starkly contrasting with the modern technology flaunting all over the place. The national colors are red, yellow, and orange. I was thinking of the national bird being a sea hawk- which are beautiful birds. No. I'm not talking about the football team.
Rate and Review...blah blah blah...blah...blah blah...review...blah blah...rate...blah blah blah.
Here's a question for you: "Would you rather be attacked by a horse-sized duck, or a dozen duck-sized horses?" Answer wisely!

"The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience."
~Eleanor Roosevelt