In The High Place

Ep.1 - An Ordinary High School Girl

**Antonia's POV**

  After skimming the report I just handed, the teacher puts on a smile while speaks proudly toward me.

      "Outstanding as always, your highness--This report of yours covers all topics about our contemporary history like a text book! But easier to read and understand,of course"

      "Thank you"

  I bow my head slightly while he pats my shoulder. After the class had finished, I stuff my belongings inside my backpack and leave. Sometimes it still confused me, how come they added the contemporary history class into study course of senior high school students? We all had already learnt it since early primary school--It doesn't make sense.

  By the way, my name is Antonia Castiglione, the crown princess of DaColdsia and senior high school student at Chevaron High. At the end of this winter, I'm going to study at oversea university to be worthy of my role as a crown princess. 

  My father, King Lionel, helps me prepare since I'm the only heir to throne now--Even it might opposes to what he really wants me to do. I know he meant well and wants me to enjoy my life while I could, but our roles require us to sacrifice something for our kingdom and I already made peace with that.

  While I lost in my thought, several sets of excited foot steps and a playful hit on my shoulder take me back to reality.

      "There she is! Her Royal Highness herself--Zack, the Jokester, at your servise"

      "Miss me already? I just been away for couple hours"

      "What can I say? You're the one who might miss my company"

  I let out a chuckle. Zack and I have been friend since we're young. He's the funniest Omega I have ever met.

      "Anyway, have you seen Brandon, your highness?"

      "Seriously Zack--If you don't drop that title of mine soon, you'll never get the answer"

      "No! Please, your--I mean Antonia"

  I never get tired of this teasing game of ours. Zack knows that I prefer to be just 'me' around closed friends and family, so he uses it against me. While I also know that he'd do everything, I really mean EVERYTHING, to get what he wants. So let's say we're even here.

      "Relax, Zack. And no, I haven't seen him"

      "Whaaat? But he was also in the same class with you--"

  The truth is, Brandon, Zack's boyfriend, is is standing behind him and gestures me to stay quiet and I play along. He sneaky walks and covers Zack's eyes from behind the says.

      "Guess who?"

      "My handsome boyfriend!"

  Zack furiously turns to Brandon and jumps into his arms. They exchange kiss before he sets him down.

      "Sorry, Antonia. We didn't mean to cut you out"

      "Don't worry about me, Brand--I'm getting used to it"

  I smile to them. Brandon,or Brand for short, is an Alpha like myself. He's earl Vincent's 1st born son. At first, the earl forbidden his son's love toward Zack because he doesn't see any advantage of doing so, but after they both held their ground, a little bit of luck and tiny part of mine and father's golden tongue--Earl Vincent changed his mind. He still doesn't believe that Zack is Brad's fated pair, but at least, he lets them be together.

  Brand grabs Zack's hands and brushes his lips against it. Zack turns seriously red from it which highlighted the bite mark on his nape further more.

      "I know it still a couple months ahead 'til the New Year Masquerade Ball, but..."

      "Brand, what're you saying?"

      "Will you be my date at the ball?"

      "Yes! A thousand times YES!"

Brandon lifts Zack off the ground with happiness The crowd around us clap their hands to show their congrats on the promposal. Bradon just puts a wrist of bouquet on Zack's wrist when more of our friend had arrived.

      "You finally proposed him--That's cute"

      "Yeah. Congrats you two!"

  Those voice belongs to Abbie and Tyler.They're Betas with bright and generous mind. From what I recalled, Tyler used their 1st anniversary to propose a promposal to Abbie and it was so sweet that could melt everybody's heart.

  We chit-chat for a bit before agree on going for lunch. When we arrive, there happen to be chaos among the crowd and its source is from our friends.

      "You never care about me!"

      "Becca, please, we're drawing the crowd--"

      "See what I'm talking about!?--You care about them more than me!"

      "That's not true. I--"

      "Save it, Christ--I'm out of here!"

      "Becca, wait!"

  I meet each of our friend's eyes and nod toward them. Zack, Bradon, and Tyler go to talk to Christ While Abbie and I go to find Becca who left canteen in hurry.

      "Becca, wait--"

      "Get lost, Abbie. I'm not in the mood"

      "Hey, it isn't the nice way to talk to your friends who're worrying about you"

      "Your highness! I--"

      "It's okay, Antonia. We both know you're just sad"

  Before Abbie and I can speak any further, Becca raises her hand up to stop us, clears her throat and says.

      "No, Abbie. Her highness was right. I shouldn't treat you like that. As a countess and as a friend, I should know better"

      "Becca..."

      "I'm sorry, Abbie, your highness"

  Abbie grabs Becca's hand to give it a gentle squeeze. Becca looks at us both with an apologetic look on her face.

      "You're quite forgiven if you please stop address me with my title--we are friend, remember?"

      "Yeah, like Antonia said, we're friend"

      "Thank you, both of you"

  I smile and sit beside her on the edge of the pond while Abbie does the same at the opposite site. We sit in silent for a brief until Becca broke it up.

      "You aren't gonna ask me what's happen?"

      "No, we'll wait'til you're ready to talk"

      "Guys..."

  Becca grabs both of our hands. She lets out a long tired sigh before tells us what happen.

      "I think you can guess what it is"

      "Same old Christ?"

      "Yeah...that"

  Abbie shares a knowing look with me. The thing is Christ and Becca are having kind of complicate relationship. Becca is an Alpha, furthermore, the countess of PerElla. While Christ is a Beta, so it made he think he doesn't deserve her.

      "I just want him to stop caring about what people might think about us--I just want him to care more about me!"

 Becca yells then sobs on Abbie's shoulder. I search and get her a handkerchief from my jacket. She try to stop crying but ends up worsen than before.

      "Becca, listen to me. Do you why Christ cares so much about what other think?"

      "I don't know! Maybe he was ashamed to be with me!?"

      "No! It isn't true and you know that!"

  Abbie added. I change my position to kneel in front of Becca to make it hard for her to avoid eye contact with me.

      "It's because he's worrying about you"

      "How!? Because it's really hard to believe from where I'm standing"

      "Look, Becca--Antonia's right. He's really worries about you. He cares'bout what people think about you"

      "What?"

      "He worries about your reputation, Becca"

      "Yeah--As a Beta like him, I know it's hard for him not to think he might drags an Alpha countess like you down"

      "You get it now? What Abbie and I tried to tell you was Christ doesn't want to made you looked bad in the public eyes"

  Becca looks at us with unbelievable eyes before comes to a realization look.

      "I'm such a naive--I hurt his feeling"

      "Hey, no one never made a mistake"

      "Yeah. What you have to do now is talk heart-to-heart with him"

  Abbie soothes and I give Becca Advice. We hug her to made she feels better. When we break apart, the guys had arrived with Christ in tow.

      "Becca..."

      "Christ..."

      "I'm sorry, Becca"

      "I'm sorry, Christ"

  Both of them said it almost at the same time. Zack, Brandon, Tyler, Abbie and I agree to give them some privacy and retreat to the canteen.

      "I hope they get it fixed soon"

      "Yeah, I think everyone are hoping for that"

  None of us speak any further. We just enjoy peaceful quality time together while we still can.

      "Anyway, Antonia--we are curious. Does her royal highness have a date to take to masquerade ball already?"

      "Zack!"

      "What? Don't tell me you guys don't want to know"

  Their silent is enough to answer that question. I chuckle and shake my head a little. I turn to Zack who give me a slyly smile.

      "How come I'm being interrogated now?"

      "Come on. Answer us already!"

      "No, no one's brave enough to join the spotlight with me...yet"

      "There she goes. Keeps her mind open, I like it"

  Abbie gun-fingers at me after got my answer. We share lightly laughs over lunch before separating on our way.

  I check my schedule and study time table to find out that I've an appointment to keep. Today is my annual medical check up.

      "Your highness"

  Samatha, or Sam for short, bows her head while opens the limousine's door for me. She has been my personal guard for as long as I could remember and moreover, She's liked a family to me.

      "Thank you, Sam. Let's go to--"

      "See Dr. Sanchez?"

      "Yeah, you know me so well"

      "Just got to keep up my work, your highness"

      "Thank you"

**Continue on the next episode**