69 Chapter 69 - chocolate cake date

Lola wasn't paying attention to where she was going, her thoughts filled with heavy topics. She had given up on romance, she had given up on everything just so that she could be by Declan's side, and it wasn't even worth anything to him.

She absently touched her face, it wasn't that she was ugly, she still turned heads but what did that matter when she couldn't get the attention of the one person she wanted?

She had been at the royal palace for years now, could she really just pack up her things and leave? Wouldn't that make her the laughingstock of the entire country…

Lola came out of her thoughts to find herself in a part of the palace that she didn't really go to, she knew that there was a lounge around here and she really didn't want to return to her quiet and lonely room so she stepped up to the door on impulse and pushed it open.

The sweet scent of baked confectioneries hit her at the same as a strangled sound followed by the sounds of choking. She flicked her eyes in the direction it came from and saw Gillian seated with a tray of muffins and slices of pie in front of her.

Lola's shoulders tensed up, the werewolf princess made her nervous because she knew that it would be completely over for her if she got on her bad side so she kept her distance. It was no secret that Prince Declan adored his younger sister.

It hardly mattered now, she doubted that Declan would pay attention to her even if she was bleeding at his feet, nothing she could do could possibly ruin something that was already so bad.

So she strode in, a tentative smile on her face. Allan seemed to look right through her most times, she craved companionship. "Uh, hey," She waved nervously, walking in. "That smells delicious."

Gigi finally managed to stop herself from choking, her eyes wide in disbelief as Lola spoke to her - that had never happened before. Her black hair was in a ponytail, sea-blue eyes guarded. "There's muffins and apple pie, would you like some?"

It was Lola's turn to be shocked, she had always thought that Gillian despised her at the very least so she expected the werewolf princess to up and leave at her appearance, she definitely didn't expect to be invited over. She would be stupid not to take it, her heart was too heavy, if she couldn't talk out her worries, she could at least distract herself.

"Thanks… but, you know you don't have to do that just to be polite-" She found herself saying, hesitating a bit.

"Just take a seat," Gigi said dryly, patting the space beside her as nothing but a gesture so her mouth went completely dry when Lola sauntered over and sat right next to her.

"Can I try one?" Lola reached out to the tray, breaking the tense silence that bloomed between them after she sat.

"Sure, the apple pie is just as awesome!" Gigi blurted out, picking up some with a fork.

Lola leaned forward without warning to eat the pie off Gillian's fork, she tucked her hair behind an ear as she did so it wouldn't get in the way. Her black eyes gleamed as she ate it, "It's actually really good! Who did you have make it? I've got to request a chocolate cake…" She rambled.

Gigi just stared, her eyes fixed on Lola's dark red lips. She should probably say something- actually, scratch that, she should definitely say something before Lola thought she was weird and left.

"Uh, a friend made it but I know a great place to get chocolate cake," She blurted out and immediately winced.

Of course, trust her to put her own foot in her mouth. Lola should be getting up to leave now. Why did she say it like she was asking her on a date-

"Really?" Lola's lips stretched into a smile, "You don't mind coming with me?"

Actually, scratch that- that was the perfect thing to say.

"I wouldn't offer if I did, you can have the rest of the pie," She immediately offered, although she had to fight Ash and Cade for it.

She didn't know what had happened to make Lola reach out to her but she wasn't going to let the chance slip past her. She didn't mind filling a room with chocolate cake if that was what she wanted.

"Oh! The muffins are just as nice! You have got to ask your friend for their recipe," Lola's voice broke into her thoughts.

"I don't know how to bake," Gigi automatically said, jumping to the conclusion that she would be the one to bake for Lola.

"I do," Lola admitted sheepishly, "It was a hobby of mine."

Gigi didn't bother to ask what made her stop, already jumping on the bandwagon. "I'll get it for you then," She agreed without hesitation.

"After you take me out to get cake?" Lola reminded, her tone gentle to match the state of her mind. She didn't know why she hadn't done this a long time ago, Gillian was really soothing to be around, and she paid her attention.

"O-Of course!" Gigi agreed a little too eagerly, "I just need to change into something bette-"

Lola found herself studying the princess as she spoke, noting how she looked nothing like Declan. Which was great because she didn't need anything to remind her about him.

Her brief conversation with Gillian helped her come to the conclusion that she should have left the palace a long time ago. Her parents wouldn't be happy to hear that but her parents weren't the ones playing mantelpiece in the palace for almost two years.

She wouldn't even be going back to her parents, she needed to find herself. Maybe she could pull a Declan and disappear - she thought with a small smile.

"Lola?" Gillian's voice broke into her thoughts, making her snap out of her thoughts. Lola flinched slightly at how close Gillian's face was to hers, her dark eyes dropping to the princess' lips without her volition.

"Are you alright? You spaced out hard for a bit there," Gigi spoke with worry in her voice, looking her over like she expected Lola to keel over in a dead faint.

Lola found it difficult not to space out again; When was the last time someone showed concern over her?

"Yes, I'm fine," She enunciated slowly so that her voice wouldn't come out shaky. "Shouldn't you be changing?" She added, her tone teasing.

Gigi immediately shot to her feet, "Right! Yes! Stay right here, I'll be right back." She said in a rush, darting out.

Lola didn't have anywhere else to be and even if she did, she didn't see herself leaving. Not when there were muffins and nice company.