The girls come back a minute later. The Queen doesn't speak with me after that. Instead, she watches the girls with careful eyes.

After a couple hours of them splashing around, I still continue peacefully reading, until a sudden splash causes my book's pages to be speckled with water. I jump up, furious now.

"Who did that?!" I shout, my anger flaring.

Maybe this is just my emotions getting the better of me in the moment - I'm unstable after Kim and all - and I probably shouldn't be yelling, but I need some way to let my emotions out. Besides, I do get extremely irritated when someone messes with my books or with me while I'm reading.

I glare at the girls in my vicinity, then my eyes sweep over the guilty party. They resurface, looking confused as to why everyone is staring in my direction with terror.

"What's going on?" Prince Tyler asks, oblivious to the death-glare I'm sending at his bare back. Oh, you'll get it, Your Highness...

"You," I seethe, stalking over to the edge of the pool and glaring at his back. He slowly turns around, his face showing his guilt.

"Sorry?" He apologizes, making it sound like an apology.

"You. Wet. My. Book."

"Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to! I truly didn't , Amber," he says quickly, waving his hands in front of him furiously.

"Please try to not ruin my private property next time?"

He nods, his eyes wide, before he carefully backs away in the pool. Prince Mason begins to laugh, getting a splash from his younger twin. They playfully fight with each other, earning giggles and yearning looks from the girls. I roll my eyes, sitting back down and reading again.

"Amber, won't you be swimming?" Someone asks me. 

I look up to find Prince Mason leaning on the edge of the pool, his arms crossed in front of him on the pool side.

"No; I don't do swimming," I say, looking down shyly.

My anger is gone, and I'm left with this empty feeling. It eats away at my heart, leaving me feeling torn apart. Is this was true pain feels like? But why? I didn't even know Kim that well? Why do I feel as if my own twin has died? No, if Kiara were to die, I would feel so much worse. So much pain, in fact, I would drown in it.

"Why?"

"I just... don't."

"Alright," he sighs, before going back to splashing around with some of the girls.

Honestly, this scene looks perfect. The sun is shining bright, the clouds drift softly by, and the laughs and cries of joy fill the peaceful air. It's sickening. How could the world be so happy after an innocent girl died? How can they be so happy when a few hours ago, Kim was murdered in her own bathtub, probably during a nice shower or bath.

After another hour, the girls and princes get out, drying off with towels the maids fetch them. I still lay on my chair and read, looking up occasionally to watch everyone.

"Hey, Ams! Come on!" Kiara chirps, pulling me up.

I stare at her, dumbfounded. Is this the same girl who was sobbing into me about Kim? How can she be so happy after this?!

"Kia! How the heck are you so happy?"

"What do you mean?" She asks, confusing crossing her features.

"I mean, how can you be all giggly and happy when not even seven hours ago, Kim was murdered?!" I scream, gaining everyone's attention.

Their stares press into my body, making my heart jump around. I start to feel closed in, my breath speeding up. When I look around, I see some of the girls whispering to each other. Their small laughs seem to grow in my ears, until they fill up every crevice in my mind, making tears fill my eyes.

"Ams?" Annabelle asks, putting a soft hand on my shoulder.

"I have to go," I suddenly whisper, shrugging off her hand, and speeding off to the palace, ignoring the calls I receive. 

My feet patter against the marble floors, as my blonde curls whip behind me.

Tears leak down my face, blurring my vision too much for me to continue safely. I still run anyways, tripping and falling two times. 

By the time I get to my room, my face is a mess, and my palms and knees sting from my falls. I open the door and crash down on my bed, grateful that no one is here.

My feelings pour out of my heart, drowning me in strange feelings. This isn't only about Kim. No, this is about everything: Kim, the attention I've been getting, my fears, my home-sickness.

I cry for what seems like forever, until I feel my conscious wearing thin. I slowly start to close my eyes, when something lifts me. I'm too tired to open my eyes and look. They keep my elevated for a moment, before I'm placed back down on the comfort of my bed. Something soft is draped over me, and I realize dimly it's the covers.

"Goodnight, Amber," someone whispers, and I'm too far gone to figure out who it is, before I fall asleep.

Oopsie, this is super short; sorry! I was super busy these past two days, so i had little time to write enough! Then, I realized I needed to rush it a bit to post this on time. This is what happens when you don't pre-write, children. My lesson is yet to be learned, though. 

All well, I think this isn't TERRIBLE, right?

Comment, vote, and share plz!

-Mel