"Would Mr. Grumpy Pants like to dance?" a girl teased and giggled. She was dressed in a slimming red ballgown that revealed way too much and it mismatched her bright, almost scary, green eyes. She had her light brown hair up in a messy bun and bright red lipstick somewhat smeared on her face. She looked like a drunk Christmas decoration.
If Derrick was nice, he would have politely declined.
But no, he wasn't.
"Get away from me. I wouldn't dream of dancing with a woman-with anyone -who can't keep their hands to themselves and looks like an elf threw up on them. I'm terribly sorry."
She looked down-casted but sighed, "It's okay, I-"
"Oh, I apologize, you've misunderstood me. Let me rephrase. I meant, I'm terribly sorry. It must feel awful to be given such an ugly appearance. I'm glad I'm not you," Derrick corrected, swatting away the girl's hand from his chest, where she had previously put it.
The girl's mouth hung open in disbelief, before scoffing and walking away hatefully.
Derrick scowled as he heard the click-clack of heels get fainter.
Well, she didn't deny it.
"Ha! What did you tell her?" a boy walked up to Derrick, making said prince internally groan. The boy was referencing the girl in the red dress.
"The truth," was all Derrick said, "Nathan, why are you here? You're a man, not a woman."
"What can I say, cuz? I missed you," Nathan replied, smirking playfully.
Nathan was the cousin of Derrick. His natural charm aggravated Derrick so much, but only because Derrick didn't have it. The black-haired, deep-blue-eyed, dimpled twenty-two year old had to be the youngest, and most handsome boy in all of the lands.
The worst thing was, Derrick had yet to find anything wrong with him, and therefore couldn't find a way to push him away.
And he found that extremely annoying.
But Derrick was more aggravated at the fact that his cousin from the west looked somewhat familiar to Jake, his soulmate.
They both had blue eyes, but Jake had more of an icy blue and Nathan had more of a deep ocean blue. Jake's eyes were filled with determination and concern. Nathan's only showed cockiness and playfulness. Nathan was pale whereas Jake was a dark tan. Both had the same height, but Nathan was a bit more lanky. Jake let his wavy hair fly free, but Nathan at least tried to tame his.
"Yeah right. I bet you only came to see the girls," Derrick huffed, "After all, all of these guests are just women who are desperate for a man so bad that they turned to me as their last hope. Which is why I asked you why you came."
"Can't a guy visit his cousin?" Nathan asked, still smirking and taking a swig of his drink.
"Not without a reason," Derrick countered, "With you, there is always a motive. Except for teasing, which you do for fun."
"You got that right. But you're also wrong. Maybe I didn't come for the girls," he said then leaned in really close and whispered into Derrick's ear, "Maybe I came for you."
Nathan leaned out from Derrick and backed away. "After all, this is a suitor ball," he said smiling, "And everyone here came to win your hand in marriage."
"But you are a man," Derrick protested. Nathan chuckled darkly.
"Genders don't matter to me," he said, "I love them all!"
"But you are my cousin!" Derrick argued, which made Nathan get close to him again. Their chests were almost touching by a centimeter.
"That doesn't matter to me either," Nathan breathed, "I'm not desperate. I have girls falling at my feet for marriage. I know first hand what it's like not to pick anybody at a suitor ball. If you don't pick someone or find your soulmate in time, they'll assume you're destined to be alone forever. So instead of marrying one of these wanna-bes, how about you marry me instead? Then we will both be happy. You don't have to pick and neither do I."
Derrick stared into Nathan's close blue eyes. He had a point, Derrick did not want to pick one of these girls. Girls, who have heard about his awful temper and grumpy ways, that are only there for money, the feeling of being loved, or just a king to make them a queen. Marrying Nathan would be a great decision...
But these thoughts made his chest pang with guilt, making his heart heavier than before.
Yes, marrying Nathan would be a great idea, even if Derrick was still not keen on the idea of being with a man. But...
Derrick had a soulmate, wolf or not.
And looking into Nathan's eyes, he realized:
It's the wrong color blue.
"Ah, no, I'll pass," Derrick scowled deeper and pushed Nathan an arm's length away, "I do have a question though. Of all the people that want you, why do you choose me to marry? Why the grumpy, snarky prince, huh?"
Nathan's expression softened.
"I know there's something that makes you that way, and I'm going to find it. And trust me, I'm going to make you better somehow. Even if you don't have feelings for me in return, I'm going to do whatever it takes to make you smile," he said, then cleared his throat and put a smirk back onto his face , "I also have a question in return, if not me, then who? Is there someone you've chosen over me?"
"Ah, no. No one," Derrick sighed, but bit his lip. He had thoughts of Jake running through his head, all because of his aching heart.
Why do I feel these feelings? I don't want them!...But I do, He thought.
"Oh. My. Gosh!" Nathan said with his jaw dropped, "Who is it?!"
"WHAT?!" Derrick screamed, catching the eye of everyone, including his father, in the ballroom, before whispering to Nathan, "I said 'no one'. I have yet to choose anyone!"
"Ah Ah Ah," Nathan wagged a finger, "Bad Derrick! I know when your lying because you always bite your lip when you do! And since you didn't when you told me you didn't choose someone, then that means you were telling the truth....BUT THAT MEANS-"
"SHHHH!" Derrick hushed, "Tell the whole world, will you?"
"You've found your soulmate?!" Nathan whisper-shouted, "When?!"
"Earlier today," Derrick answered, running his hand nervously through his blond hair, "I'd rather not talk about it."
"But you do realize you could've avoided this whole suitor ball thing, right? If you've found your soulmate, then you would have been automatically set-up with the love of your life!" Nathan reminded.
"I said I'd rather not talk about it. You are the first to know and, for now, the last. So, please, do me a favor and shut up," Derrick snapped. Nathan eyes widened and he whistled.
"I pity the poor soul who's soulmates with you, " He chuckled shortly.
"Says the man who wanted to marry me five minutes ago," Derrick huffed and crossed his arms.
" Touché," Nathan blushed, "But please, tell me what girl has won Derrick, Grumpy the Prince's, heart."
Well, first of all, it's not a girl.
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
"Just one thing."
"NO."
"A name?"
"No!"
"If you don't tell me one thing about this person, I will kiss you in front of all of these people," Nathan warned, "Whether you like it or not!"
"Okay fine!" Derrick growled, "But if you say anything I will-"
"Yeah, yeah! I get it!" Nathan waved his hand dismissively, "Now tell me!"
"His name is Jake," Derrick scowled, wishing the floor would swallow him up, "And that's all you're getting."
Nathan suddenly started jumping up and down and squealed like a girl.
"I know I have feelings for you and this really sucks for me, but if you love them, let them go, right? I'm just happy that you are happy, even if that means I can't be with you..."
"First of all, I'm not happy. I never wanted a soulmate. Second, Nathan you're a decent person I guess-"
"Thanks," Nathan said sarcastically.
"Shut up and let me speak! Anyways, you are not a bad person, so I know you have a soulmate somewhere. Even if you haven't found yours yet."
Yes, most soulmates are found on a person's twenty-first birthday, but some soulmates are not the same age, therefore some are found sooner or later than intended. Like for example, Jake was only nineteen, but since it was Derrick's twenty-first birthday, they found each other.
Nathan's soulmate must not have turned twenty-one yet, and that's what fate is waiting for.
Either that, or Nathan's soulmate is dead, which is not uncommon with all of these plagues, living conditions, everyday accidents, murders, burning at the stake, and mysterious deaths due to, what Derrick originally thought to be wolves....
But Derrick hoped that Nathan's soulmate was alive, because Nathan was the only person who didn't aggravate his nerves as bad as any other person.
So far.
"Derrick?" Nathan cocked an eyebrow, "That was the nicest thing you have said to me in the last six years. This 'Jake' fellow is really making you fall apart isn't he?"
"You have no idea," Derrick said underneath his breath, then said, "If you want the honest truth, I have no idea what to do."
"Wait, how long have you been away from him?" Nathan asked, "We've been at this ball for a couple hours. Is he here?"
"No. We agreed to meet up in the morning because-" Derrick sighed, "Because he's different, Nathan. If the people find out about him, they would burn him at the stake. Heck, if I wasn't his soulmate, I probably would too."
"Woah, you must be hurting. I've heard that if you are away from your soulmate for too long, you can't function properly. Like, at all. And Derrick, I can help you."
"No, you can't. It's too insane to believe."
"I won't think you are crazy," he promised, "I just want to help. Tell me what is wrong."
"I can't. It is too much to tell in a few minutes. The ball is ending soon, and you will be leaving!" Derrick huffed.
"No," Nathan said, grinning deviously, "No. I won't."
"What do you me-"
"Just play along with it," Nathan winked, before gabbing the prince's hand and dragging Derrick to his father.
"Nathan? Why are you pulling my son's arm like that?" King Rastus asked as they approached. Nathan quickly let go of Derrick.
"Um, I need to ask you something, uh sir," he stumbled.
"Yes?"
"Um, you see, the ball is ending soon-"
"Right. And?"
"Um, and Derrick is devastated that he didn't find a person to marry-"
"He is?"
"I am?" Derrick asked, which earned him an elbow to the chest from Nathan, "Ow! Right, I mean, yes, I am." Derrick was scowling harder now, his glare trained on Nathan.
"Right, anyways, I was wondering if I could stay the night? You know, just to cheer him up!" Nathan continued.
"You think that would cheer him up?" the king questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"It definitely will! Right Derrick?" Nathan gave him a look that told him to play along.
What was he doing?
"Uh right...?" Derrick said unsure.
"Okay then, you may stay the night. Now, if you would excuse me, I have to bid farewell to the guests, since I know that my son will not do that," the king nodded, looked in between the two boys, and then turned, walking away.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Derrick rounded on Nathan, a look of anger on his face.
"What was that for?!" He growled.
"You said we didn't have enough time. I just gave us the whole night, cuz. Now, you have to tell me about this Jake of yours," he smirked.
"I hate you. A lot," Derrick snapped, "You're glad you are the only one I can tolerate or I would have already kicked you out of this castle."
"I love you too, Prince Party Pooper," Nathan smiled.
Derrick could already tell that this night was going to be a long one.
Especially with the pain in his heart growing ever so more.
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