Falling in Love with You

The Unexpected

(Jessica's POV)

I decided to look for Brady that day. Even though I didn't really want to, I had to tell him that Mikayla didn't like him. He would have found out sooner or later anyway. I wanted to talk to him after dinner, but he somehow disappeared by then. I searched the whole castle, which was kind of difficult since I just arrived that day, but he was just nowhere to be found.

I was just about to give up and just wait until he shows up, but then the realization hit me. Why don't I just ask someone? So I went to look for Mikayla. Luckily finding her wasn't so hard. She was in her room, getting ready for her guard shift or whatever she was doing. I asked her and she told me she saw Brady heading to the beach. The beach! What didn't I think of that? Actually, why didn't I ask where Brady was in the first place? Everything would be so much easier. I could be so dumb sometimes.

Leaving Mikayla's room, I started heading to the beach. It was already late at night so it was dark, but the moon was shining brightly. I found Brady sitting down on the sand. But what surprised me was that he was holding a guitar in his lap and he was actually playing it. And he was singing too. I knew that he knew how to play guitar and sing since Mikayla told me about the Harvest Festival where he performed, but I didn't know he was that good! He was amazing, actually. It felt impolite interrupting him in the middle of his song so I just stood a few metres behind him, listening to his singing quietly.

Once he finished by strumming the last note on his guitar, I couldn't help but smile. That was amazing! That song was so deeply felt. And I bet it was about Mikayla! It was so obvious. Now I hated Mikayla for not liking him. I mean, how could she not like him? I can't believe she said he was a goofball. He seemed like a really sweet guy to me! Dear cousin, please tell me, what is wrong with you?

"That was amazing, King Brady," I said as I stepped forward to the boy, who jumped right up once he heard my voice.

"Jessica," he exclaimed, "you startled me!"

"Oh, I'm so sorry," I apologized.

"It's okay. And, um, thanks," Brady said, putting his guitar on the ground.

"So was that song about someone certain?" I asked, maybe stupidly.

"What, no!" Brady riposted. I raised an eyebrow. He sighed. "Okay, maybe it was."

"Okay," I smiled slyly. "It was a nice song, by the way."

"Thanks," he said again. "So did you talk to Mikayla yet?" Oh no. There comes heartbreak.

"Actually..." I trailed off. "I did."

"And? What'd she say?"

I sighed. I didn't want to tell him. He would be heartbroken. I just felt it. But I couldn't hide it from him. It wouldn't be fair, would it?

"Brady– King Brady," I started. It probably looked like I wasn't going to say anything cheery by the look on my face. "I'm going to be honest with you..." Brady probably knew what I was going to say, he had the expression in his eyes. It wasn't sadness, but it wasn't happiness either.

"The truth is," I paused, more trailing off than doing a dramatic pause like they do in the movies, "that Mikayla doesn't have feelings for you." There. I said it.

The look on Brady's face was heartbreaking. "...A-are you sure?"

I nodded slowly, feeling the grief with him. "Yes. She said she only liked you a friend. I'm sorry."

"No, don't be. I was kind of expecting it," he sighed and sat down, turning his head to face the ground. I sat down right next to him. I felt so sorry for him.