August 14th, 1998
Adelaide’s eyes were closed tightly as she held Leo’s hand, her nails digging into his skin as the fear of the flight taking off settled in. Yes… Addie did have a severe fear of flying - despite having been on planes for most of her life as a kid, going from function to function for her parents. There were times when being the oldest was a good thing, but more often than not, it was just… a menace to her life. While Justin, who was the definition of the middle child - being able to even go to a different country to study at a school, albeit a good school - Addie never got that option. Adelaide Belle Paker was expected to uphold the Parker name… even if sometimes she didn’t want to. In any case… back to her fear of flying…
Even when she was on her parent’s private Jet, she couldn’t help the nerves that overcame her body. She knew a flight crashing was rarer than getting bitten by a shark but… god how did this bloody thing even stay in the air. HOW DID THEY KNOW IT WASN’T GOING TO GO DOWN? Answer? THEY DIDN"T. Okay fine they probably knew some of the mechanics to how planes worked but… that didn’t mean Addie wasn’t p!ssing herself with fear. Leo and Addie were currently in first-class going to London because she had convinced him to come with her after her parents were forcing her to come back for a charity gala with Justin - a man who was a row ahead of them with Natalia. “Addie don’t bloody kill the poor guy,” she heard her brother state, looking over the seat to turn back and face her - specifically looking at how tightly she was holding on to Leo. Justin had often been in that position and gotten used to wearing long sleeve shirts on planes just for that reason.
“OH bloody shut up Justin,” Addie sighed, looking back at her brother who knew how anxious she got on flights ever since an incident when she was 5… though she rather not talk about that. A sigh met her brother’s lips as he shot Leo a sorry look before one of the flight attendants told him to get strapped in since they were ‘about to take off’ - which honestly only made Addie hold on to her boyfriend tighter. Her breathing increased - slowly nearing hyperventilation limits. Bloody hell, if she had only not ran out of sleeping pills… this would have been easier. “Hey Addie, look at me,” Her bright eyes met his own as he placed his hand on her cheek, “Remember the other day when we were laying on my terrace looking at the stars?”
Addie, though confused, nodded her head slightly. “Remember how you were telling me about how the positive action bill was shot down in Labor Party… remind me, what did you feel about it?” Addie immediately recalled what he was talking about, and the anger in her rising about the BS the European Union pulled when the Labor Party attempted to get women nominated to the council. “It’s bloody terrible. For fcks sake Leo, we’re almost coming to the year 2000. It’s not bloody 1500 anymore, why are old white men so bloody annoying about women being on a damn council. Anything and I mean ANYTHING a man can do, women can do too. I just don’t understand what is so hard to understand about that. And another thing…”
That went on for approximately an hour, without Addie even realizing they were up in the air - she was too… passionately involved in what she believed in when it involved women in politics. It was only when she heard someone come by asking her if they wanted peanuts that she realized they were… actually in the air. Though as the realization hit her, she felt Leo’s hand tighten around her own as he pulled her head to face him before pulling her in for a kiss. “Hey, it’s okay. I’m right here. Tell me again how you want to rule the world in the future,” he whispered and she found herself relaxing to his touch.
Adelaide Parker did make it through that flight alive… thankfully. And the next few days were spent showing the man all around London; from her favorite places to eat to her favorite sights to visit. It was perfect. Every night ended in his arms in a hotel room they shared - though even Addie knew the impending approach of her parent’s party drew near. See… for most people that wouldn’t be an issue - introducing their boyfriend to their parents was a given. For Addie, however, that wasn’t… exactly the case. The issue being… well… Addie wasn’t supposed to date… anyone. After all… she was… engaged. It was something she found out about only a few years prior, discovering in her parent’s correspondence to the King of Norway that her hand was given to Prince Hakkon since birth. What. UTTER. Bullsh!t. Ever since she realized, she had confronted her parents - tried to get out of it but it didn’t work. Nothing she could do would convince them otherwise. Since then, she had met the prince a handful of times and he was… fine… she just… didn’t love him. And she never would simply for the fact that their parents had set them up with no choice nor option… perhaps… maybe that was why Adelaide Parker took the first chance she had to get out of London even if it meant being on a plane… and maybe it was also the reason she got close and slept with a man who wasn’t her future husband. Simply: At least it was HER choice. It was her choice to lose her virginity… her choice to be with a man because she wanted to … and she just happened to fall for that very man bringing a few… additional complications. She did… or she thought she did… love Leo. So she just… couldn’t let him find out about this. She just needed to deal with it alone.
“So what are you going to do Addie? The party is tomorrow and we both know that mum and dad won’t be ecstatic to meet your boyfriend” Justin asked with a genuine look of curiosity. The four - Justin, Natalia, Leo, and Addie - were out getting coffee at one of Addie’s favorite bakeries and both Natalia and Leo had stepped out for a second: Natalia going to the bathroom, and Leo getting a call rendering Addie and her brother alone. “And I’m the only one? What about you and Nat? We both know mum and dad wouldn’t be too happy about that either,”
“You’re dodging the question. Mum and Dad can think whatever they want about Nat, but we both know they care more about you because of Hakkon… who from what I remember is going to be at the party,”
Before she could respond to that, Addie found Leo taking his seat next to her, his hand immediately intertwining with her own as he drank his coffee. Though a worried expression on her lips, Addie immediately hid it when her boyfriend returned…attempting… well… to figure anything out.
And she did… was it the best idea to tell the man that night that her parents canceled the party because one of the main guests caught a transmittable virus and they couldn’t, in good conscience, hold it? No… it wasn’t… was it even a worse idea that she told him that she needed to drop by her parent’s house to help coordinate clean up while they were gone and it was too troublesome so he could just stay at the hotel and do some work before she returned? No…
Lying to Leo was something she never… wanted to do. But… maybe it was better than… well… him knowing the truth. That’s exactly why she found herself going to her parent’s house… underdressed and changing when she arrived.
The room was extravagant - as it often was with her parents who spared no expense during parties, especially parties where royalty would be in attendance. All around her there was champagne, music from the live orchestra, small talk… and all she could bloody think about was the fact that she had lied to her boyfriend to be there… and how much she wanted to be there with him, dancing in his arms.
That’s what she found herself doing - dancing with guests… older… handsy-er ones… young ones… really… anyone and everyone. It was her… job, in a way: make her parents look good… sadly that included keeping her own mouth and own beliefs about politics to herself even if she wanted to tell everyone what she really fcking thought about what was going on in the world. Honestly, in this country, all she is… was a pretty face.
“Darling, can I have this dance?”
Addie looked up, seeing her father, and nodded - placing her hand in his and then his shoulder before going into the rehearsed movements. “What’s wrong, love? Keep your head up - Prince Hakkon will be here momentarily. We’ve arranged it so that in a few weeks, we’ll be sending you to Norway to study alongside him,”
“Wait… father we didn’t discuss this. I thought we agreed that I could choose what to do until I graduated,” the worry was apparent in her voice - she didn’t… want that. God… she didn’t want to be… bloody married off to a man she barely knew.
“Hakkon’s parent’s only recently brought up the opportunity love. Don’t worry about it - it’s a chance for you two to get to know each other better before the wedding and in any case…”
Before her father could continue, Addie heard someone clearing their throat behind her, though turning to face the sound, she did… not expect Leo to be standing there - a suit on his body as he looked at her with an unreadable expression. “Adelaide, who’s this?”
What was she supposed to say? He wasn’t… supposed to even be there… and now she found herself cornered with not only the news that her parents wanted to send her away, but that her boyfriend was here. “Father… this is… my… friend from America, Leonardo… Leo this is my… father, Jacob Parker,” Did she just… yeah… she just called her boyfriend her friend… to her father… and Leo clearly wasn’t happy with her words. One would think this whole situation couldn’t… wouldn’t get worse right? Wrong, because before her father could even respond to her sentiment of Leo being her friend, her mother came over with… Hakkon. “There’s my beautiful girl,” her mom muttered immediately walking over to Addie with a smile as her father continued talking to Leo “Oh… well it’s very nice to meet a friend of Adelaide’s. Why don’t we talk a little more over there so we can give Adelaide and her fiance some time to dance?” . And that was it - where chaos grew. She could see the instant confusion on Leo’s features before he scoffed and started walking away, and almost just as instantly, Addie ran after him with no hesitation. It wasn’t until they found themselves in a quiet hallway, after Addie literally shouted his name various times that he finally turned towards her.
“You know… I was wondering why your brother texted me if I needed any help with my suit after you… specifically told me that the party was over… so I thought… what the hell… I’ll check it out. No harm if he wasn’t updated and maybe I could surprise you but instead I see this Addie? You lied to me not only about this damn party, but what the fck was that about being engaged? No… maybe I should ask about being introduced as your friend instead? Really? Friend?”
He was hurt… she knew he was hurt and Adelaide Parker had no idea how to… fix this. “Leo… I didn’t… you weren’t… supposed to find out…”
“That’s all you have to say to me? Well, you don’t have to worry about it, Adelaide. You don’t have to worry about introducing me as your friend… or your boyfriend, because we’re done.”
“Leo…LEO”
Tears brimmed her eyes as she saw him giving her one last look before walking away from her and she found herself frozen in that very hallway: unable to move as she watched the man that meant so damn much to her walk away from her… simpl.y because she didn’t know how to express how she felt.
“Addie? Are you okay…”
She heard her brother and soon felt his arms around her, hugging her tightly as she cried. She didn’t want this life… god… she had been unhappy for so long and finally… she had gotten some of that happiness back because of Leo. No… she… couldn’t lose him. It was as if her body was moving without input from her mind as she walked back into the party - not caring that her make up was smudged. She knew her brother had followed behind but she didn’t care, all she cared about was finding her parents.
“Adelaide, what the hell was that. Hakkon traveled a long way to talk to you and you can’t just walk away like…”
“I’m not marrying him,”
“Adelaide, keep your voice down. We’re not having this discussion here,”
Did she? No, instead, she raised her voice. “I, Adelaide Parker, am not marrying Prince Hakkon of fcking Norway, no offense,” With her words, she turned towards her “fiance” who was watching her from the side - though he wasn’t the only one. It seemed that her words had gathered an audience.
“Adelaide, don’t embarrass us. Stay quiet, and we’ll tell everyone that you hadn’t slept well,” as always, her mother tried to diffuse the situation while negating anything Adelaide was saying.
“For fcks sake no. NO I’m tired mother. I’m tired of being the perfect daughter who wants nothing out of life but to be a bride. I don’t want to be a house wife that just makes children all day and plans stupid events like this. I’ve never wanted that but you don’t listen to me. You just push your ideals onto everyone. I am not some virgin to sell away to the highest fcking bidder… hell,” she started, a historical laugh to her voice. “I’m not even a virgin. You know that man… the one I introduced as my friend because I was scared of what you would say if I told you the truth? Well, I lied. He’s my boyfriend… was… my boyfriend. I don’t even know because I hurt him… but what was I supposed to tell him? That even though I love him, my parents married me off without telling me and I had to follow through with their wishes? God… no… I’m not doing it… I’m not marrying Hakkon, I’m not moving to bloody Norway… and I’m not going to be a housewife, mother. I want to be a politician… I want to make an actual change in the world instead of being this person you’ve tried to morph me into being for the last fcking 17 years. And you know what… I think I’m going to start by moving to Beryl for my senior year with Justin because I need a break… from both of you”
Appalled - those were the only words that could describe the look on her parent’s features - her mother more so than her father. Security had started breaking up the gathering around them - trying to give them some privacy but it didn’t matter. She found her mother nearing her ear, whispering “Darling, I suggest you go to your room and stay quiet for the rest of the night or we’ll have to disown you right here and now. I have worked too hard to make sure you had a comfortable life like I did, you will not be throwing it away for some commoner who lives in America. We did not raise some peasant wh0re,”
Addie was p!ssed but it was clear that the conversation was over and she found herself giving her mother a look of resentment before walking towards the hallway that led to her bedroom - tears leaving her eyes the moment she reached the room. Not only had she lost one of the only people who made her feel alive - but now, it was clear her parents would never truly respect her decisions.
She didn’t know how long she was in her room crying - though she did find herself drifting in and out of sleep waking up to crying once again. This was exactly why she wasn’t sure if she was dreaming when she heard his voice. “Addie… get up. We’re going back to the hotel,” Whether it was a dream or not, it didn’t matter. The second she heard his voice, Addie jumped out of bed and into his arms, holding him as tightly as she could muster the strength for. “I’m sorry… god I’m so sorry Leo. I love you… I just… I didn’t know how to say it without…”
She saw him smiling, wiping her eyes as he held her close. “Shh… we can talk about this when we get back okay?” After a few seconds she nodded, smiling as he kissed her before hearing the softest mumble of “I love you too”
The “Something Old” - 2031 - Continued - PART 3.2
“I didn’t realize until long after I returned to Beryl what had brought Leo back that night… apparently, Justin had gone after him and told him what I said to my parents, and for that, I will forever owe my brother a debt. And… well… mom and dad forgave me. I don’t… actually know why but they wrote me a letter a few days earlier saying it was okay that I stayed with Justin… that I dated Leo. Perhaps Justin talked to them… either way… I couldn’t be happier and now I get to spend my senior year with Leo at Cerulean High.”
Wait… WAIT… her mother had gone to Cerulean High too? Why had the woman never told Jessica about that? She knew her mother was in Beryl… but Cerulean? Did that mean she played… the Blue Royalty Game? What the actual hell…