My One True Love

Chapter Eight: Chemistry

ADALET...

I felt drained and exhausted after the concert not to mention sweaty and a bit light-headed because of all the air I had been using. The other members of the orchestra were going around congratulating the other musicians and chatting amongst themselves. Others were eating little canapes found in the dressing rooms. "Hey Adalet, we didn't get much time to talk this morning. Where are you staying? The other girls and I thought you were going to stay with us," said one of the women who I considered my closest friend in the orchestra, Emily Wong and by 'other girls' she was probably referring to two violinists, a cellist and three other flute player who got along pretty well. Emily on the other hand, played the clarinet and we had met a few years back when she had joined the orchestra after moving from Los Angeles, California.

"Hey Em, I know and that was my plan since the beginning but in the end a friend decided to accompany me and he got us a room in the same hotel you guys are staying at," I explained and Emily raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"Oh that's new but hey, it's fine. The other girls and I were talking and we are all going to head over to a bar close by, in case you want to come and invite your friend," she said as she nudged me playfully when she said friend. I laughed and nodded.

"Sure Em, I'll ask him when I see him if he'd like to go, just send me the time and place, please. Is it just gong to be us girls?" I asked nervously, I didn't know how William would feel about spending the night drinking with a bunch of girls, he didn't seem like the time. Then again, he always managed to surprise me.

Emily shook her head. "Will do, we are going to meet there at about ten-ish. And Nope, we're inviting everyone but we don't actually know if they'll go," she said as she began to step back to go invite the other members of the orchestra. I chuckled and nodded as Emily disappeared.

I took my time cleaning my instrument, I was in no hurry to leave and William and I hadn't discussed where we were going to meet so I was hoping to find him at the institute's entrance. The women's dressing room was beginning to clear out as the other musicians took their things and headed over to celebrate a great concert. Through all the noises and murmurs I managed to hear someone say; "Adalet? Oh she's right in there, you can go in if you'd like."

A second later I felt as someone touched my shoulder and I turned around expecting to find William standing there. Instead, an older woman that played the trumpet was standing before me, "Hi Adalet, there's someone waiting for you outside."

In my mind I laughed, of course Prince William wouldn't walk into the women's dressing room, he was too chivalrous to do so. I thanked the trumpetist and closed my instrument's case before heading out to meet William. He was standing across the entrance with his hands behind his back and looking a bit stiff as other musicians walked by an eyed him with confusion and interest in their faces. But who could blame them? He looked very handsome in his black suit.

"Why do you look so uncomfortable, Your Majesty, aren't you used to the attention?" I asked teasingly and he turned to look at me and smiled.

"Well first of all, I am used to attention but that does not mean I enjoy it," he said as I walked to stand next to him in the narrow hall. "And second of all, congratulations, Miss Trent, I enjoyed the performance very much and these...," he said as he placed his hands in front of him. Hands that were carrying a small bouquet of white roses, "are for you," he finished as he handed me the flowers and I stood with my mouth open in surprise.

"Oh God, thank you William, I mean, Prince William," I said as I turned back to him who was looking at me with a bright smile.

"You are welcome Adalet but I do wish we could stop referring to each other in such a formal manner, we are friends after all," he said and the both of us started walking towards the exit. Friends, well I didn't know William very well but he seemed like a nice, polite and humorous guy and he was easy to talk to. Huh, something inside me made me feel warm and anxious when he said that, it sounded... nice, and I hoped the friendship between us would last. "So where do you want to go, Adalet?" he asked once we were out in the cold, dark night.

I looked at the ground and then back at him, "actually, the orchestra members were talking and some of them are going to head over to a bar nearby. I told them I was going to ask you, I don't want to put you up to anything you don't feel comfortable with."

William smiled, "I understand and I am actually okay with going with you guys to a bar."

I raised an eyebrow, I really hoped he wasn't just agreeing on going because he wanted to please me. "You in a bar?" was the first thing that came out of my mouth and I quickly covered it but it was too late.

The man next to me only laughed and nudged me, "Just because I am a Prince does not mean I do not drink or hang out in bars with my friends."

I shrugged, "well how am I supposed to know? I do not know much about royalty," I tried to imitate his British accent but I knew imitations weren't really my thing and the accent sounded a bit off. He smiled and we spent the rest of the way to the hotel laughing and joking.

When we reached the hotel I hurried to change out of my dress, I did not want to go to a bar wearing that. I stepped out of the bathroom wearing black jeans and a white blouse. William decided that he was only going to leave his suit jacket and take a coat instead. The both of us walked in silence towards the bar, I was lost in my thoughts and almost didn't hear him speak.

"Were you not supposed to call your friend after the concert?" He asked casually, probably trying to make a conversation.

I gasped, I had totally forgotten to call Judy when we were back in the hotel room. Oh well, too late now. "I'll call her later or maybe tomorrow, I mean, it can't be that important or else she would have told you it was an emergency, right?"

William shrugged, "I would not know, I have never met your friend but she did sound a bit... sad."

Now that was unusual, the only time I had ever seen Judy sad was when she had lost her grandma and that had happened years ago, since then Judy had always maintained her spirit and energy. So if she was sad, that meant something bad had happened. I quickly took out my phone and searched for any messages from her, nothing. Something was definitely off. I tried calling her but every time I dialed, the call went straight to voicemail.

"Are you alright?" asked William sounding concerned. We had stopped at the entrance of the bar a few minutes ago but I had insisted on calling Judy first.

"I guess so but I don't know if Judy is, something's wrong," was all I said as I stepped into the bar. Inside, a few other orchestra members were already seated at a table. It turned out not everybody had decided to show up after all. I tried to push my worry away and walked towards my coworkers with a smile. "Hey guys, I want you to meet my friend, William Johns," I said and they all greeted him with smiles and introduced themselves as William passed.

William and I sat down on two empty seats and ordered our drinks. The conversation was interesting, the conductor was telling us the story when he went fishing with his brother years back and had managed to break his wrist. "Yes and after that nothing has been the same," he said with a laugh and he raised his wrist and turned it slightly and a loud c***k came out.

"Have we met before?" asked one of the women of the orchestra, if I wasn't mistaken she played violin. I was about to respond but then I realized the question wasn't meant for me since she was looking directly at the person next to me. Of course, I was about to embarrass myself.

William fidgeted slightly but his expression remained the same; welcoming and calm. "Before tonight? I do not believe so, Susana."

The woman, Susana, studied him skeptically and then her eyes widened. I sighed defeatedly as I waited for her to blurt out the truth and expose William. "Oh I know, you look like that guy in Gap's commercial back in the 90's!" she said excitedly.

I covered my mouth to keep from laughing and I looked at William, he looked confused but kept on smiling, "I do not know of whom you speak but if I look like him, he certainly is a handsome fellow."

I gently punched him which only made him laugh and Susana laughed along too before turning her attention back to another story they were telling. I looked at William and he only winked at me, "you certainly are very flirtatious."

"Hey, you hurt me Miss Trent, I-" he was interrupted by my phone that was vibrating inside of my pocket. I took it out and saw Judy's name on the screen.

"I'll be right back. Excuse me," I said as I rushed outside to answer. "Hello? J, are you alright?" I asked worriedly and I heard static in the background.

"A, finally! I need- to- talk-to- can you-" I barely managed to understand what she was saying.

"Judy, I can't hear you very well, you're breaking up," I said a bit loud and people walking on the streets looked at me, startled. After than I only heard a beep as the call ended. I looked at my phone and found I had no service. I sighed and walked back inside.

William was listening intently to the conversation at our table and I almost didn't realize when Emily walked up beside me. "Are you alright Adalet? You look totally worn out," she said and I couldn't agree more.

"I'm fine, just tired," I said, I really didn't feel like talking very much.

Emily frowned and then grabbed my hand and led us to where the bartender was. "Can I get four shots for my friend here?" she said and the bartender nodded. My eyes widened and I laughed, there was no way I was doing shots much less after what happened in my 22nd birthday.

"Here you go," said the bartender as he placed the shots in front of us.

"You can have them Em, I'm not really feeling up for shots right now," I said as I tried to walk back towards the table but Emily blocked me and handed me a shot.

"Just one Adalet, come on, I'll join you," she said as she picked up another shot for her. I rolled my eyes but drank the shot. The alcohol burnt through my throat and I placed the empty glass on the counter.

"Phew... I'm done," I said and then I heard a voice behind me say; "you are drinking without me, Adalet?"

I turned around and saw William with a humor-filled smile on his face as he teased me. "Excuse me, bartender, we would like some more of those," he said and I shook my head quickly but he ignored me.

"Woo-hoo, your friend is cool and hot, Adalet," said Emily with a smile.

I laughed uncomfortably and the bartender returned with more shots. William and Emily took one each and waited for me. "Oh what the hell?" I said and I took a shot and gulped it down. After that, some of the other members joined us as well and William and I kept on drinking until I got too excited and started talking nonsense which I would probably regret later.

"Okay, I am going to go put some music on the music thingy," I slurred and headed over to the machine. I found a song I liked and played it and began dancing until I fell on the ground. I tried to get up but the ground beneath me was moving.

"Woah, hold your horses," I heard William say as he helped me up and handed me a glass of water. "I think we should get you back to the hotel." I tried to protest but my protest went to deaf ears as he began to lead me out into the cold night.

"You really are something Adalet," I heard him say as he laughed at me. I turned around and glared at him before sticking my tongue out, which only made him laugh harder.

When we reached the hotel, I was no longer as drowsy and buzzed as before, I could think a little bit clearer now. "I think I want to take the stairs," I said softly and William looked at me worriedly.

"Are you sure?" he asked and I nodded. He led us towards the staircase and we slowly walked up to the second floor where our room was. He opened the door for me and I walked in silence as I took my pajamas and headed to change in the bathroom. "I will get you some water," he said as I disappeared inside the bathroom and when I came out, he was already in his pajamas and holding two glasses of water in his hands.

"Thanks," I said before taking one. We sat in silence and maybe it was the alcohol that made me act so boldly or maybe it was my own forbidden desire but the next thing I knew I put down my glass of water and took William's from his grasp before sitting on his lap with my legs on both sides of him. He was only staring at me with wide eyes and I thought I managed to see some desire but I could be wrong, I was a bit drunk after all. He was holding me at arms-length as I ran my hands through his hair that was so soft and then I slowly leaned forward so that I could kiss him. The kiss was sweet, it was just a peck but then it began to intensify as my hands began to roam his body. I heard his cellphone vibrate and from the corner of my eye I saw a name on his screen; Adrianna Smith.

That's when reality hit me. God, what was I doing?