"Aww, that's so sweet of you Ollie." Annie smiled, the way Ollie so casually and sincerely said that he would drop his last name for the girl he loved just warmed her heart. He was always so cute and thoughtful.
Ollie smiled at Annie, he didn't think it was that sweet, he was just speaking his mind.
"I don't know what so hard to believe Maddie, I'm being serious." Ollie said turning to Maddie.
"I don't believe you." Maddie scoffed.
"Since when did that become a surprise?" Matt chuckled and she frowned at him.
"It's easy for you to say with your mouth, actions speak louder than words, and mind you, you don't seem like a guy who would do that." Maddie replied.
"I don't know why you always seem to think the worst of me, but I'm telling the truth." Ollie said. "What makes me seem like a guy who wouldn't do that?" he asked.
"I don't know, you just seem like that." Maddie shrugged.
"Wow, at least now I know what you truly think about me." Ollie said as she scoffed.
"Anyway, I would do anything for love, for true love and if that includes dropping my last name to assure the girl I love that I truly do love her, then I'll do it without batting an eye." Ollie said smiling unwavering.
"Yeah, we'll see about that." Maddie said.
"I bet you guys fifty dollars each if when the time comes the blondie will actually drop his last name for a woman." Maddie said playfully, there was nothing like a little wager to sweeten the deal.
"You can't be serious about that Maddie." Matt looked surprised, even though by now, he knew not to be.
"Yes, seriously Maddie, of all the things to bet on, betting on someone else's life is just another level entirely." Annie shook her head. She wanted to say that she did not expect such from Maddie, but that wasn't true, she did, this was classical Maddie.
"Oh come on, don't be a downer you guys, the blondie didn't even say anything." She pointed to Ollie who truly was silent, but not for the reason they thought he was.
Ollie was silent because firstly, he finally knew how much Maddie distrusted him, and secondly, she actually saw them all remaining friends in the next ten years or so and that was more than enough to overshadow the fact that she was betting on his life choices like a horse in a race.
"Look, he's even smiling." Maddie laughed with a shake of her head.
"Dude? Are you feeling alright?" Matt asked concerned, he was truly smiling, he wondered if Maddie had finally broke him or maybe he had been charmed, either way, him smiling at this was not normal at all.
"I'm feeling fine." Ollie laughed.
"But you are laughing... after Maddie just placed a bet on your marriage choices." Annie pointed out.
"I know, and her bet only takes my mind to one thing." Ollie replied.
"Which is...?" Matt asked.
"The fact that she's prepared for us to remain friends for a long, long time in the near future in order for her to collect her claim." Ollie laughed.
"What??! No! No, I never said that!" Maddie quickly refuted, she did not mean it that way at all.
"Oh but you did, indirectly you said it." Ollie smiled.
"Mhmm, he's right, you did indirectly say it, aww you wish to attend his wedding." Annie laughed as she and Ollie high-fived.
"Wait a minute no! I never said that!" Maddie shouted.
"It's too late Maddie, you already said it, no take backs." Matt laughed.
Maddie did not like this at all, she did not like the three of them joining together to push her into a corner.
"Hey! You know what, fine, you can say whatever you want, but now, I'm increasing the bet, it's a hundred dollars each and when I win, you three are going to have to pay me." Maddie said proudly.
She was certain that Ollie would forget about this whole thing very soon. It wouldn't even cross his mind when he was finally ready to settle down.
"Well, get prepared to pay us, because I'm sure Ollie is a man of his word." Annie smiled equally as proud. She trusted Annie and besides, she knew Ollie was a sweet guy, he would definitely keep to his word, apart from that, she could not help but be happy that he was so happy that Maddie finally acknowledged that their relationship would continue for a really long time.
"I agree, even though it's still weird for you to bet on his future wife's last name, but okay." Matt shook his head.
"Oh please, knowing the blondie, he would probably end up marrying some lady as annoying as him and as boring." Maddie scoffed.
"Well you never know, I'll just make sure to tell my future wife that you tried to foretell her personality." Ollie smiled.
"Mhmm and I will be right, she's going to be as uptight as you, she's going to follow the rules a hundred percent, she's going to be to stiff and strict, gosh, I feel bad for your future children, they are not going to know thrill and fun at all." Maddie tsked.
"Okay, okay, that's enough, you're going way too far now Maddie." Annie interrupted.
"Yeah, don't talk about the guy's future children like that." Matt frowned, Ollie on the other hand just laughed.
"Hey, hey, I didn't mean anything bad, I'm just sympathizing with the poor fellas, if their father marries someone exactly like him, their lives are going to be as bland as soap." Maddie said. She knew she shouldn't care for his future children, but knowing how stiff and unsocialized Ollie was when they first met him, she had a feeling that those poor children would be even worse.
They would be so nice, sweet, polite and responsible at the expense of growing up like normal children needed to grow up.
"I'm not worried if that happens, they would have a fun aunt to teach them all the thrills and tricks." Ollie chuckled.
"Who said I'm going to be an aunt to your children?!" Maddie shouted.
"You did, you volunteered." Ollie said as she frowned at him.
"Anyway, let's stop talking about Ollie's life and future children." Matt said.
"I agree, let's move on." Annie nodded.
"What about you Matt? Would you drop your last name?" Annie turned to him and asked.
"Well, I really don't see it as a big deal but..." he took a pause.
"But what?" Annie asked.
"I don't think that if I did drop my last name both my dad and my grandfather would be okay with it." He said. He really did feel that way. Even with Evie, they were highly protective of her, not to even talk about him.
Matt liked his life to remain calm and smooth. So if dropping his name would change that, he wouldn't do it.
"What do you mean?" Maddie asked.
"Well, you know it's their last name, they are super proud of it and it's symbol of our kingdom and all, they wouldn't like it if I changed my last name." Matt laughed.
"I get what you mean, you are the first prince after all. Your children will have to bear your last name." Ollie said.
"Well, I personally think that whether you change your last name or not is up to you and the person you love, because as Ollie said earlier, there are much more important things to focus on in a relationship other than a last name." Annie said.
"Agreed." Ollie smiled at her.
"So, would you change your last name or keep it Annie?" Maddie asked.
"Honestly, I don't know, I heard Curtis saying one time that as a Grey it's impossible for the last name to be dropped, I don't know what he meant by that, either way, I'm really not sure if I want to change it or not." Annie chuckled.
"I think you should keep it, your last name doesn't have to be erased just because you love someone." Maddie scoffed.
"Well true, but it doesn't have to be a big deal either. The women before us have done it and the ones after us will still do it, I don't think we should make a whole fight about something so trivial." Annie replied.
"Whatever, all this last name talk has gotten me super bored. I am going to read." Maddie said walking to a secluded corner and sitting down. Annie just laughed and shook her head, her friend was always so headstrong which wasn't a good thing, neither was it a bad thing.
"Alright, everyone enjoy your reading." Ollie said snapping his fingers and a couch appeared behind him and he sat down on it.
"Thanks Ollie, you too." Annie smiled and with that the entire library entered into complete silence.