There’s a note on my bed, a small paper. I unfold it, after saying goodbye to Cai, who walks off to his room with a stack of books in his hands. 

Hey, sweetheart, 

Ember and I are sneaking into the palace at eight tonight. Unlock the window on the West side of the second floor sitting room for us, and meet us there. We’re so excited to see you.

Flint

Oh, no. I think, and tuck the note under my pillow. It’s fine, I can distract myself until they come. Dinner is in a few hours, and an hour after that’s over, he’s coming. I’ll get back to my research about how to run a country.

Julia shakes me awake, and I groan, looking up from my book. “You missed dinner,” She says, folding her arms. 

“What time is it?” 

“Just after seven,” She says. “You slept for a long time, I’m guessing. Did you get enough sleep last night?” I think of how Cai and I stayed up late reading in his room. 

“Nope,” I mumble, and stand up. “Thanks for waking me up.” 

“No problem,” She says, and I run out of the room, panicked. 

I change, and check under my pillow to make sure I’m getting the time right, then look for the room he specified, eventually finding it after a mad search for the sitting room on the second floor of the palace. 

When I arrive, I still have twenty minutes to go, and I pat myself on the back for being able to do it. I unlock the window Flint specified, and sit on the couch in the dark room, tapping my foot. Someone walks into the room, and I turn to face them, sighing in relief when it’s Cai and not a guard here to arrest me for illegally sitting on a couch. 

“Hey.” Cai says, walking over to me. “I was looking for you, and the servants said they saw you here. What are you doing?” 

“Thinking,” I say, looking around in the dark. 

“About what?” He asks, sitting on the couch next to me. 

“I’m not sure,” I answer. Cai nods. 

“Can I show you a magic trick I learned?” He asks, leaning closer, and reaching into his back pocket. 

“Magic doesn’t exist,” I mumble, shaking my head. He chuckles and pulls out a deck of cards. I stare at him for a few seconds, then burst out laughing. “Card tricks?” I ask, my stomach starting to hurt from laughing. Cai smiles. 

“They’re the most elegant form of magic, Ivvy. Don’t be disrespectful,” He says, and holds the cards out to me in a fan, facedown. “Pick a card, any card.” I roll my eyes and pick one. “You can look at it, but don’t show me.” I look at my card. Four of spades. “Now put it back in the deck.” I put the card into the middle of the deck, shaking my head. “I’ll have to use the magic word now,” He says. 

I put my hand over my mouth to stifle a laugh as he mumbles something in gibberish. He pulls a card from the top of the deck, and hands it to me. 

“If you could read that aloud, so the whole audience can hear?” I roll my eyes, and read what it says on the card. 

“‘Do you want to go on a date with me?’” I read. My jaw drops. 

“I’d love to,” Cai says with a smile, and I stare at him. 

“Smooth. Real smooth,” I say, putting the card back into the deck. He grins and puts the cards back in his pocket. “So we’re going on a date?” I ask dryly, tilting my head. 

“I discovered I really, really like you. I wanted to do a real date, instead of the fake ones we do for the press. Just us, no cameras. Would you be okay with that?” He asks, his blue eyes on mine. 

“I’d be okay with it,” I say. He smiles, and hugs me gently. 

“Hey!” Someone yells, and we pull apart. My face pales as Flint climbs through the window, followed by Ember. “I saw the news.” Flint throws a newspaper with the photos of our last date on it at me. 

“Flint-” I start, standing up. 

“Who the heck is he?” Flint asks, not using heck, but the word that starts with f, pointing to Cai, who also stands up. Ember stares at me, her eyes wide. 

“These are my friends from home, Flint and Ember,” I introduce, my voice shaky. Don’t cry. Don’t you dare cry, Olive Ferrum. “Guys, this is Cai. He’s another champion.” 

“Friends?” Flint asks, glaring at Cai. “Since when are we just friends?” He steps closer to me. 

“Flint, don’t lose your temper,” Ember warns, stepping forward. Flint turns his glare on her. She puts her hands on her hips. 

“Em, for once in your life, shut up!” He yells, and Ember flinches, her eyes filling with tears. He turns back to me. “You’re betraying me.” He says. Cai steps in front of me, and starts talking, his hands outstretched. 

“Guys, I’m sure we can talk about this in a calm and rational w-” 

Crunch. 

Flint’s fist collides with Cai’s nose, and Cai stumbles backwards into the wall, clutching his nose. Blood streams from between his fingers. 

“Flint!” I shout, folding my arms. “You can’t treat people like this!” 

“You said there was a chance, Olive,” Flint tells me. 

“I never said that. And I didn’t know anything about anything when I talked to you.” Flint sighs. 

“Right. Because only an idiot could like an Iron like me, is that it?” He asks, watching Cai crawl to the other side of the room to get some tissues for his bleeding nose. Ember stands next to the window, her face shiny with tears. 

“I didn’t say that, Flint,” I say, crying a little myself. “Stop twisting my words.” Flint glares at me, and starts walking forwards. 

“Don’t you care about me at all?” 

“Yes, I do,” I say. “You’re like family to me, and I hate seeing you hurt.” 

“Well, if you cared, you wouldn’t have left home for this stupid competition.”

“Oh, so I’m supposed to put your wants above Mom, Dad, and Casey’s needs? That makes a ton of sense, Flint.” I say, folding my arms. My back hits the wall. I’m cornered. As Flint takes another step towards me. “Look, I’m sorry that I hurt you. But I am not going to lie to myself, and pretend I’m in love with you, because you threw a tantrum.” I say calmly. 

He steps towards me again, still glaring. He’s within a foot of me now. I gulp, as my head bumps into the wall. Flint’s face changes, as he searches my eyes with his brown ones. 

“You’re afraid of me,” He says, his expression softening. He steps away from me, and I sigh in relief, only confirming what he said. 

“Flint-” I say, but he’s already leaving the room through the window. Ember hugs me goodbye silently, and climbs out after him. I walk over to Cai, who sits at the table, holding a tissue to his nose. His glasses sit on the table, the frames and one of the lenses broken. 

“Are you okay?”I ask, handing him another tissue. He takes it from me quietly, sighing. 

“Yeah,” He says. “I never would have pursued you if I knew about him, I promise. I didn’t mean to get you in trouble,” He says, throwing the tissue away. His nose has stopped bleeding. 

“I believe you,” I reply, sitting down next to him at the table. I see the cards poking out of his pocket, and smile. “So, are we still going to go on that date?” I ask, turning to him. His eyes widen. 

“Are you sure? Your friend won’t-” 

“If he wants to be immature and rude, then I’ll let him. He doesn’t control me.” Cai smiles, and moves closer, putting his arm around my shoulders. I pull him into a hug, getting blood on my shirt. “Your lip is bleeding too, you know,” I say, noticing that Flint’s fist cut his lip too. 

“Dang it,” Cai mutters, grabbing another tissue. 

“Language,” I say jokingly. Cai scoffs. 

“You’re one to talk. I’ve heard what you say when you stub your toe,” He says with a smirk. “You say crap.” 

“Cai, there could be children nearby! You could be poisoning their ears with that sort of talk!” I try to keep a straight face, but burst out laughing. Cai chuckles and leans back against the table leg, looking out the window. “Is your nose broken?” 

“I don’t think so.” He says. “Does it look normal?” 

“Yeah.” I say, looking at him. He really is very handsome. This kid has an entire fan club of screaming girls, and he chooses me over them. I smile to myself. Cai’s voice brings me back down to earth. 

“Are you okay, then?” He asks, standing up. I nod. 

“He didn’t hurt me,” I say blankly, moving to the couch. He sits down next to me, and turns my face to look at him. 

“I’m not talking about just physically okay, Olive,” He says, rubbing my hand. His hands are so smooth and perfect, and mine are rough, and scarred. We’re an odd matchup. I’ll tell him I like him soon. Once I get the courage and I’m sure he won’t hurt me. “Are you really okay?” I sigh, and lean against his shoulder, closing my eyes. 

“It’s okay. You don’t have to deal with him anymore,” Cai says, putting his arms around me. I nod, and yawn, my eyes starting to close. Cai smiles and rests his head on top of mine. “I’ll protect you.” I roll my eyes, and lean back onto the couch, falling asleep. Only an idiot could like me, right? Flint’s voice echoes in my head. You’re cruel. You’re a stupid little girl, and you ruin everything. You ruin fun, you ruined my life, and you don’t deserve to be happy. I’m cornered, as dozens of shadowy figures step towards me, all talking in unison with Flint’s voice. I step backwards, and hit the wall. My heart starts to beat faster, and my breathing uneven. 

“Olive,” Cai whispers, tapping my shoulder. “Wake up. You’re having a nightmare.” I open my eyes, and the room comes into focus. I’m safe. “It’s okay.” I lean against Cai’s shoulder, my breathing slowly getting back to normal. 

“Oh, you fixed your glasses,” I say, seeing Cai as he appears at my door. 

“No, these are my other ones. I thought we’d need to have a disguise if we’re going out in public.” Oh. Clever. I untie my hair, and let some of it cover my face. Cai laughs. “Nice disguise.” 

“Thank you,” I say with a grin, and come out of my bedroom, wearing sweatpants for the first time in a week. 

Cai takes my arm, and we glide down the hallway to the basement. We walk past several locked doors, then find a staircase that leads up to the back of the palace, and the gates. 

Cai pulls me out the gate after giving the guard some money, and we walk out onto the sidewalk facing the street. This is the first time I’ve seen it directly. Every other time has been through a car, or an over-clean window. 

“So where are we going to go?” I ask, holding Cai’s hand. It’s strange seeing him in casual clothing.