Chapter 4
When Rich woke the next morning, Jake’s arms were protectively wrapped around him which pulled him so close that he could probably feel Rich’s breath against his neck. He could’ve stayed like that looking up and at a peacefully sleeping Jake, but unfortunately there were other people in his house.
Rich removed himself from Jake’s hold and was immediately met with 6 people staring at him. “Hi?”
“So what happened to ‘Jake sleeps on the floor’?” Michael teased.
“Thup up.” Rich remarked.
“What are you doing?” Chloe asked as Rich wandered around the room, picking things off selves and from behind the walls. He picked up an empty bag and grabbed a cloak before answering.
“You guyth want to eat right?”
“You’re gonna steal food?” She questioned.
“How elthe are we gonna eat?”
“Good point.” Jeremy agreed.
“But-” Rich grabbed a small knife and hid it in his belt, “Thith ith a lot more than I uthually have to get.”
“So?” Jenna
“Tho I could uthe thome help.” He mumbled. “If you’re okay with thtealing thit.”
“I’m cool with stealing.”
“Thorry Chloe but you are too much of a target.”
“What?”
“You’re a princethth, a princethth who altho ran away tho guardth are probably looking for you, and you're fancy.” Rich listed. “Tho you are a big target and that’th not really what I need right now.”
“Okay but who here isn't a target?” She questioned. “I mean, look at you. A short guy with burn scars and a lisp. I’m surprised people aren’t stealing from you.”
“Thay that again.” Rich threatened, holding the knife up to her neck. ”I’ve gone my whole life without being caught. I’m not gonna let a bunch of royalth ruin my life.”
“Well at least I’m trying to help. I doubt that Jake's helped you.”
“Do you actually think I’d let him help me? What if Brooke wanted to help you commit crimeth that could ruin your life? Would you let her?”
“I guess not.” She realized.
“Michael and Chrithtine are probably the leatht targetable.” He remarked. “You can help if you want.”
“I’ll help.” Michael agreed.
“Get rid of the armor firtht.” Rich ordered, handing him another cloak similar to the one he was wearing. “And thankth.”
“I can help too!” Christine smiled, snatching the cloak right out of Rich’s hands.
“We thould get going.” Rich announced.
“Be careful Micha.” Jeremy whispered to his boyfriend.
“I will.” Michael promised, kissing Jeremy on the cheek before heading to the hatch on the ceiling.
“Be careful too Crissy!” Jenna yelled.
“I will!” She yelled back.
“If Jake waketh up, can you tell him we went to get breakfatht?”
“Course!” Brooke smiled. “Bye guys.”
"Chloe, I think you went too hard on him." Jenna said once Michael, Christine, and Rich left.
"He held a knife to my throat!"
"Who did what?" Jake muttered, finally waking up.
"Chloe was mean to Rich and he held a knife to her throat." Jenna summarized.
"What did you say to him?" Jake questioned Chloe.
"I just told him that I'm surprised no one steals from him figuring he's...him."
"Yeah he doesn't like that." Jake sighed.
"Oh by the way, Rich, Michael, and Christine went to get breakfast." Brooke remembered.
“They’re gonna be okay right?” Jeremy asked with worry in his voice.
“Yeah, Rich wouldn’t let anything happen to them.” Jake assured.
“Tho we can’t thteal anything too noticeable, but if we do Chrithtine can probably create a good dithtraction.” Rich explained.
“Why Christine?”
“The’th an actor, the can do her acting thtuff to make people notice her.”
“I’m great at that!” She grinned.
“Is this going to be really dangerous or just kinda dangerous?” Michael asked.
“Dependth.”
“Depends?” He echoed.
“I don’t know, I’ve never had to do thith with other people before.” Rich answered. “I’ve never had to be rethponthible for other people’th thafety.”
“So I’m guessing you’re an orphan too?” Christine quizzed.
“You’re an orphan?” Michael and Rich said simultaneity. Which caused the two maybe friends to laugh.
“Yeah, but I don’t like to talk about it.” She responded.
“No preththure. I don’t like talking about it either.” Rich smiled, trying to offer some empathy. “I’m gueththing you have parenth?”
“Hm?” Michael hummed, not paying attention to the previous conversation, “Oh, yeah I got parents.”
“So how do you know Jeremy? And live in the palace?” Christine probed.
“Nanay is head chef and Mama is a royal guard. Since they both work there and me and Jeremy were so close, his dad let us move in.”
“Wow, your kingdom does sound nice.” Christine sighed.
“Thorry to change the thubject, but we’re here.” Rich interrupted, pointing at what must've been Jake’s kingdom. “I gotta check thomething real quick, don’t move.”
Rich ran off into the village which turned into a city farther in with a castle in the middle, leaving Christine and Michael alone.
“What do you think he’s doing?” Christine asked.
“No clue but hope he comes back."
"Hey if you and Jeremy got married, wouldn't you be a king?" Christine pondered.
"Well, I guess? I don't know."
"Would you want to be a king?"
"I don't know." He responded, but almost more to himself then to Christine.
"I'm back!" Rich yelled as he ran up to the friends. "Ready to thteal thome thit?"
"We're back!" Christine announced, walking into the weird bunker that served as a temporary home.
Rich started to unpack the food and hand it around to the others.
"Need some help?"
"Hey Jake."
"I heard what happened with Chloe." Jake stated as he sat next to Rich.
"I keep fucking up, don't I?"
Jake pulled him into a comforting hug, letting Rich nestle close to him. "No you're not Richie, I admit that the knife was a bit much, but you're trying."
"Get over here love birds we're bonding!" Michael called. Rich and Jake headed over to where everyone else was eating (and being sappy with their partners).
“Chloe, isn’t there something you wanted to tell Rich?” Brooke whispered.
“I’m sorry that I offended you earlier.” She apologized.
“Well I’m thorry for holding a knife up to your throat.”
They expected someone to say something after that, except that no one did. Instead an awkward silence filled the room.
“So how much longer are we gonna stay here?” Brooke asked the group. No one had an answer. I mean, it’s not like they planned this. They didn’t know what they were doing, well Rich did.
“We could leave tonight?” Jake suggested. “Jeremy how far is your kingdom?”
“Pretty far, I don’t think we could walk there.”
“We could ask Dustin for a ride.” Rich suggested to Jake.
“Who’s Dustin?” Christine asked.
“A friend of mine, he owns a carriage.” Jake explained.
“Can we please worry about this later? I can’t eat and be expected to think at the same time.” Michael complained, which the group laughed at, helping clear some worries and tensions.
“Thanks for apologizing to Rich.” Brooke whispered to Chloe.
“It was nothing.” She claimed.
“Are you okay with all...this?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean running away.” Brooke clarified. “I don’t want you to regret coming with me.”
“Hey,” Chloe gently cupped Brooke’s face, “I’ll never regret going anywhere with you. Plus neither of us like our parents and our parents don’t like us, so what’s the point of staying?”
Brooke placed her hand on top of Chloe’s and broke the small space between them with a sweet kiss.
“Hey Rich,” Christine started.
“Hm?”
“If you don’t mind me asking, how’d you get those scars?”
There was a moment of silence before Rich spoke again.
“I mind.”