Clary's POV
I woke up. Today was my birthday! I leapt out of bed and got ready. I decided to dress up today. I grabbed my high-waisted leather skirt that flared out. I put on a blue and black polka dot long sleeve crop top. I put on a pair of black tights and added my black pumps. I went to the bathroom and curled my hair. I did my usual makeup except I added pink lipstick. I came downstairs and saw Niall at the table with my mom. "Niall! What are you doing here?"

"I...um...you look...wow." I smiled at him. My mom placed down my breakfast and I quickly ate. Niall slide an envelope over.

"Open it." I looked at him suspiciously but did what he asked. And was speechless when I saw what was inside.

"Niall...you shouldn't have...I only got you cupcakes!" I was looking at two tickets to the Derby Rams match coming up next weekend. Niall just smiled at me.

"You ready to go?" I nodded at Niall then hugged my mom goodbye.

"Yea bye mom! See you after the game. Is Nana and Papa coming?" I was really hoping they could make it out for the game.

"I believe so then we are going out for dinner. Have a good day!" Sweet! I've missed my mom's side of the family. It was always a shame that my duties kept me away from them since I had to be in Russia most of the summers.

"Yay! And I will love you!"

"Love you too Clarissa" I pecked my mom on the cheek then headed out to Niall's car.

He kept on trying not to check me out. I have noticed that his eyes always follow me if we are in the same room. Stupid mom, she had to say something. I never noticed it before. Now its all I could think about. Ugh. We pulled into school and I got out and grabbed my stuff. Haz came over and just gaped at me while Liam choked on the muffin he was eating. "Just when you thought she couldn't get hotter..." I rolled my eyes at Liam. He's always saying something along those lines to get a rile out of Harry...and now maybe Niall...stop I shouldn't even be thinking about him like that. He is my best friend. Nicole is basically my sister so I don't really even count her anymore.

I saw Nate approaching. So I waved while the boys groaned. "Clary you look stunning. Of course you always do."

"Hey back off Lukas." Haz quickly came and pulled me by my waist. He was so cute when he got jealous, but Niall just looked down right sexy why he got jealous. Stop. I shouldn't even be thinking about that. I stood on my tiptoes and whispered into Haz's ear

"You're so irresistible when you get jealous." Then I kissed his cheek and headed off to my locker.

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Niall's POV
I would give anything to be in Haz's shoes right now. Clary just whispered something in his ear and then kissed him. Well on the cheek...but still I would kill to have her do that to me. I just get hugs...and they are totally the friend-zone kind of hugs.

We walked to study hall and the whole way there he was grinning like an idiot. When she walked downstairs this morning I could barely even speak. Clary was super excited to go to the game and in the car she asked if I would join her. I told Haz about that when we got there which caused that grin to leave his face. Yea that's right...SHE ASKED ME STYLES. God when did I care so much...probably since I realized that she was incredible. So poised all the time...like a princess.

"Why would she ask you??" I did give her the tickets...so it only seems fair that I go with.

"I am the only other Rams fan..." Duh...and her closest friend here.

"Yea but I'm her...her..." He better not say boyfriend or I might punch him.

"Friend? Me too." Haz just looked at me. I knew that it was probably a mistake going to the game with her but I don't care. Harry kind of was mad at me for the rest of the day. But it didn't really matter to me. They weren't a couple yet and I could hang out with my best friend at a football match if I wanted to.

School passed fairly quickly today probably since everyone was looking forward to the match. The boys still had practice but I noticed Clary was sitting on the bleachers when I got there. "Hey stranger." I went and sat by her. The wind blew her hair back, she was the most beautiful girl ever. Again very princess like...she'd make a good princess I think. "Hey Niall."

"You can't possibly be nervous. You've played 3 matches before this and dominated." She just smiled weakly at me.

"Its not about that." She looked off into the distance. She pulled out her phone and played a video. It was of her dad when he was overseas.

"Hey Clarissa. Look at you sixteen, you are as stunning as your mother. I wish I could be there with you. I promise next year. I sent a letter I hope you get it. I shouldn't promise to be there though. In case anything happens to me I want you to know how proud I am of you sweetheart. You have made me so proud. I love you so much. Ill talk to you when I can."

Then she played another one. It was one of him in the hospital.

"There is my angel. Now don't you cry over me. I will be fine, I will see my parents again. You have to promise to watch your mother for me. I will be watching over you. I will never be gone Clarissa you know that. I will always be with you. You are my baby girl. You have made me so proud. You are the greatest daughter a man could ask for. I wish I could have kept my promise...but you need to keep mine remember? Remember that promise you made me...I love you princess."

I saw tears rolling down her cheek. Now I understood. I quickly wrapped my arms around her. She cried into my chest. Practice was about to start and I saw the Liam and Louis were looking right at us. "Clary I got to go but you can stay and watch if you want." She wiped her eyes and just nodded. I got down to the field.

"What the hell Niall?" Now is not the time to be all Team Harry on me Liam.

"Shut up Payno. Its not what you think. Just drop it." I looked back at Clary, she was on the phone with someone.

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Clary's POV
After Niall let me cry into him, I got a call from Nicole. "Hey Coley."

"Aw shit. Please tell me you didn't watch the videos again?"

"Not all of them but the..."

"Clary! Stop. Be happy. You have a match tonight right? Start to focus. Listen I am with the girls right now." They sang me Happy Birthday which cheered me up.

"You guys are the best! I miss all of you so much."

"WE MISS YOU TOO CLARY!"

"Yea okay so there's that. I sent you a present. It should be there this weekend."

"Nicole you didn't have to."

"Yes I did. Now I have to say that dress you sent me looks fan-fucking-tastic on you. Niall will drop dead." I frowned at that. Niall? I was going with Harry.

"I am going with Haz though..."

"Details details. Anyways you should go and get ready...I miss you Clars...thanks for calling."

"Anything for you my love. And I miss you too. Can't wait for you to visit during your Christmas break!" I got off the phone and watched the boys practice. I knew I shouldn't have watched the videos or even showed Niall them. I had 23 video messages from my dad. One for every month he was over seas. Sometimes I would play them just to hear his voice. I always regretted it though because I would be sad for the rest of the day. I'm glad Niall didn't ask about the promise thing. I don't think I could tell him...plus him knowing that I had royal blood would effectively ruin our friendship. Which is also why my dad made me promise to never speak that I was next inline for the throne...after him...he didn't want my new life to be tainted by the blood red stain of my past...

It was time for me to go get ready for the game. We decorated our faces in war paint. Which was pretty cool. When we stepped out on the field the whole stadium roared. I spotted our friends holding signs of our names. Then I found my mom with her family, they waved and smiled at me. I waved back. Ellie and I went over to shake hands with the other captain.

"Eleanor...ready to loose yet again?" Ellie just held her tongue and shook her hand. I refused to. This was a stupid thing that they made us do. I never had to shake hands over in America. Which earned me a shit ton of boo's from their stands. Whatever. Coach huddled us up. "Alright lasses I know I have been hard this week, but we have to beat these bitches. Clary go all out. Play how you did with Nicole. Defense, play dirty. NOW LETS GO OUT AND KICK THEIR ASSES!" I lined up and faced their captain. "You must be the American chick. Prepare to go crying home." I just smirked. I got the ball first and passed it away and quickly made it downfield. I got the ball back and tripped up someone who tried to steal the ball. No card yet. I passed it back to my teammate. And tried to get open for the goal. I had to elbow the chick to get open and I scored. I went back to my team. Coach came out and gave us a new play. They got the ball and Ellie quickly got it back and passed it to me. I ran downfield and then got slide-tackled. I got up and saw my mom looking at me with worry and our friends were all up on their feet. I jogged downfield...I didn't feel woozy but my head did hurt a bit. Just shake it off Clary.

Come on you have to focus on the game. I sprinted downfield but was too late to help. They ended up scoring. My head was pounding during our next play, I passed if off as much as I could so I wouldn't run the risk of getting a card or hurting my head anymore.

Halftime, Coach came over to make sure I was fine. I nodded. I could feel Niall's eyes on me. I looked at him and smiled. All of our friends seemed to relax after I did that. But I could still see the worry on my mom's face. You know moms...always worrying about nothing. Halftime did help my head...I asked for headache meds and that really helped with the throbbing. So I felt much much better. I was all ready to head back out and kick some ass.

Halftime was over and it was payback time. I got the ball and the bitch captain that slide-tackled me was up my butt. So I elbowed her in the upper chest causing her to stop. She was gasping for air, kind of over playing it if you ask me. But serves her right. I smirked until I heard the whistle and the ref throw down a yellow card. Coach was swearing up a storm at the ref. "What a fucking baby." I said to the girl when she walked past me to the sideline. She took a bit of a breather so she was out for one play. Using that to my advantage, I quickly got the ball back and scored.

There was only five minutes left and we were up by 1. Coach was saying that it wasn't over until the clock ran out. I got the ball and was slide-tackled yet again. This time it took me awhile to get up. My head was killing me. I heard our stands boo the girl, but it was all a bit hazy. Coach took a timeout and Lilly came to help me to the sideline. I felt a little dizzy. I could barely walk without almost toppling over. The world was tilting and I knew what that meant. I shook my head out, trying to unscramble my brain. I just needed a few moments that's all.
Coach looked at me. "I'm fine." He sighed and let me back on the field. "You're sure Clary?" I could tell Ellie and Lills were worried. "Yes, now lets win this game." I jogged to my position. My head was pounding. Just shake it off Clary. I looked at that bitch...she was going to pay.

Notes