The star that has to choose

Once Maia finished getting dressed, she stepped out of the bathroom to meet Toby.

The two left the castle and began walking towards the woods on the far side of the lake. They were both dressed nicely, but casually. Maia wore a pink silk skirt with a white short sleeve top, while Toby wore a button-up black shirt tucked into a pair of expensive black jeans.

"Did you enjoy your night?" Toby asked as they took a path into the woods. It was clearly created by foot and hadn't been walked in a long time.

"Of course I did," Maia said, knowing where he was headed.

"Would you like to join me for another night?" He nervously asked, his eyes darting all over the path and through the woods.

"I would but Toby, I just don't think it's a good idea..." Maia started. Toby halted, turning to face her

"Why not? Is it something I did?" He felt his hands start to get sweaty and couldn't help but pick at his cuticles.

"No!" Maia insisted. "No, you were perfect. I just don't deserve some place like that. I need to be where I belong, in my old room." She looked down at the ground next to Toby, avoiding eye contact.

"Maia, my dear, you deserve all that and more. Please, I will do anything to make you feel more comfortable." Toby insisted.

She bit her bottom lip as she weighed her options. Maia really wanted to be with Toby, but she just wasn't comfortable living with all the luxuries.

"If you want to go back to your room, you can. It won't change anything between us. Just know I'd love to have your company." Toby gently moved her head to face his, making eye contact.

"Would you join me in my room? Just for tonight?" Maia offered, wanting to have the best of both worlds.

"I'm not really supposed to, but let me talk with my father. I don't see why he wouldn't allow it." Toby explained as he started leading them back toward the castle. "Come on, we can ask him now."

"Whoa, wait." Maia stopped, causing Toby to do the same. "We aren't going to meet the king, are we?" She felt panic start to rise. She was in no way prepared for such a meeting.

"It's just my father, my love. I want you to meet him. He'll like you, I promise. Just be yourself." Tony eased her worries and started leading them again, going up the stairs of the castle and heading toward a large set of double doors.

"Wait, Toby," Maia grabbed his arm and pulled back. "I'm not ready." She couldn't avoid the fact that she was worried about meeting the king, even if she was technically dating his son.

"It'll be fine, I promise. Please, I want you there when I ask to spend the time night in your room." He begged, but if she argued much more, he was going to have to give in.

Maia took a shaky, deep breath. "Okay. Okay, I'm ready." She stood up a little straighter and tried to gather herself.

Tony smiled and leaned forward, knocking on the door a few times with a strong hand. "Father, it's me. Toby. Can I come in?"

Maia was taken aback by how casually he asked. Sure, he was his son, but he was also the king. They heard a muffled yeah come from inside, and Toby opened the door, letting Maia enter first.

The king's room looked similar to Toby's, just larger. He sat at a desk, looking over some papers.

"What is it, son?" he turned and saw the two of them standing there, Maia frozen still. "Is everything alright?" he sat his pen down.

"Yes, father. I have a question I need to ask you." Toby was casual yet his tone was formal. Maia felt herself try to relax as she noticed how relaxed he was, but she kept tensing up in anticipation.

"Well, what is it?" his eyes darted back and forth from his son to Maia.

"Would it be possible for me to spend the night in Maia's room tonight? As you know, she stayed in mine last night. She requested that we spend the night in her room tonight before she makes a decision on where she'd like to stay." the two stood still, waiting for the king's response.

"He doesn't have to, your majesty. I would just like his company." Maia spilled out, her voice shaking.

"Please, call me Kyron," the king started. "You can relax. I'm not going to get mad at you just for asking a question. Of course, he can spend the night in your room tonight if he wants. I appreciate you two asking me first." he looked at Maia the entire time he spoke, never breaking eye contact.

"Thank you, King Kyron." she tried to still her shaking hands as Toby led her out back to the hallway.

"I'll have someone deliver a change of clothes for us to your room. Would you like to go there now?" he paused outside his bedroom door, waiting for Maia to respond.

"We can. Unless there's something else you need to do..." her voice trailed off, still shaken from meeting the king so casually.

"Today is all yours, my dear." offering a smile, he led her through the castle and down the stairs, heading towards her room.

Once they arrived, he insisted on opening the door for Maia, shutting it behind them.

"It's not much, I know..." Maia awkwardly sat on the bed, unsure of what else to do.

"No, it's perfect." Toby sat next to her. "What do you want to do?"

"What do you mean?"

"What do you normally do during the day when you don't have class? Do you have any hobbies?" he took a quick glance around the room, looking for any sign of entertainment for her.

Maia looked down at her hands. "I write sometimes. Other than that, I just take walks around the gardens."

"What do you write?" Toby stood up, walking over and leaning against the wall, crossing his arms.

"Just whatever."

"Can I see something you've written?" he smiled with hope.

"Of course not." she said simply.

"Why not?"

"Because."

"There's no need to be embarrassed, Maia. I'm not going to judge you." he pushed off the wall and walked back over to the bed. With a sigh, Maia stood up as Toby sat down.

Walking over to her vanity, she convinced herself this was a good idea. With a deep breath, she opened one of the drawers and dug down to the bottom, pulling out a simple brown leather notebook that Mr. Sween had gifted her the day he brought her here.

Rubbing her thumbs over the cover, she handed it to Toby.

"This is my story. From my first memory all the way up to now. I'm still working on it, but that's what I write. It helps me deal with and accept what happened." she was looking down at the ground as he slowly reached up and accepted the notebook.

"Are you sure you want me to read this, Maia?" he leaned down to make eye contact, causing her to look up. Her eyes were filling with tears but she still stood tall.

Taking a deep breath, she nodded. "I want you to know the truth. I know people talk, I'm not stupid. But I like you, Toby. I want you to know what really happened."

Toby nodded as she blinked the tears away and sat back down next to him. Once they were both sitting comfortably with Maia next to him, he slowly opened the notebook to the first page.