Chapter 2

A Few Months Later

Flashback to the day after.

I wake up hoping that last night is all just a really bad dream. There is no way that Chris will hurt me like that. We’ve been best friends forever. Why would he date Sera? Why would he not stick up for me?

My hopes are ruined, however, when the look on Talon’s face tells me that it is just wishful thinking. My best friend is dating my mortal enemy, Sera. I can’t even seem to breathe. How does he think this is going to work? Does he think that we will get along? No. He doesn’t. He knows.

The events replay in my mind. Now that I think about it, Chris’ look wasn’t one of concern. It was a challenging look. He doesn’t care what I think. He made that perfectly clear when he just shook his head and left with her.

I can’t even come up with a good way to get back at her. I guess that I don’t have a mean backbone in my body. So, I go to school like I have every day except this time I walk by myself. Chris never shows and neither does Sera. I guess their night was a good one. Talon doesn’t come, either, and he won’t tell me why. That leaves just me, Emma, and the seventeen year old black smith twins; Erin and Tobias.

My heart drops when Tobias smiles at me. I know that he’s just being friendly but there’s something about that smile. It makes me feel like melting in a puddle. I can’t help it. I offer a shy smile back and look away, feeling my face heat.

The feeling that I’m having disappears pretty quickly when I see Christopher walking hand in hand with Sera. Emma notices my face and follows my line of sight. She looks over in the direction and her face falls as well. She sneers at them while I attempt to control myself losing the contents of my stomach.

“What’s going on, Rae?” She asks, in barely a whisper.

I just look at her. “What do you mean?”

She rolls her eyes. “Don’t tell me that you don’t know what I am talking about.” She nods her head over towards Chris and Sera. “Why is Sera hanging onto Chris like they’re dating?”

“Oh, that.” I shrug, trying to act like it doesn’t matter. “That’s because they are.”

“Since when?”

“Yesterday, I guess.”

Everyone goes quiet whenever they get close enough. I do, however, notice the look the twins give each other as Chris walks up to me, Sera hanging on his arm. He attempts to give me a hug but I back up. No way am I going to hug him while she was hanging onto him. He has the nerve to look hurt for a quick second before he straightens his facial features up.

“Rae. How was your night?” He asks politely.

“It was fine. Yours?” I answer, playing the same game.

“Oh, we had all kinds of fun. Didn’t we, baby?” Sera cuts in, grabbing a hold of his arm and placing her hand on his chest..

I don’t know why but that cuts into my heart. I look at her. “Oh, okay, that’s good then.” I respond to her. I look at him for a second. He doesn’t seem to feel bad, or care, what this is doing to me. “I’ll see you around, Chris.”

I walk off with Emma trailing behind me.

“Rae.” I ignore her. My heart is breaking. “Rae!” She tries again. I hear her sigh just before she grabs my arms and yanks me to a stop. I hadn’t realized that I’m crying until she whispers. “You’re crying.”

I reach up and rub the tears from my eyes. “I hate her! I hate her and he knows it, Em.”

“I know.” She agrees sadly.

End of Flashback

That was the last time that I even attempted to talk to Christopher. He didn’t attempt to converse with me either except one unforgettable time. As a matter of fact, he sat back and watched as his girlfriend purposely made my life hell.

His birthday is here and his parents are holding a ball. I don’t want to attend but my family was invited by the King so I have no choice. My mother and I spent the last few days making the perfect dress. It’s baby blue. The sleeves are made of frilly material and we have sown some birds into it. The top is sequined and fit snugly against me. From the waste down, it flares out, made out of the same frilly material as the sleeves. I actually feel pretty.

When we arrive at the ball, I notice that Chris has stopped his conversation with Sera and her friends to stare at me. It’s too late though. My brother was right. He not only stopped talking to me but he had the same conversation with me that his sister had with my brother. He’s the Prince and I’m just a farmer. He needs to start taking responsibility for his Kingdom and that doesn’t include me hanging onto him like a leech. His words, not mine.

When he walks towards me, I turn to the stunning young man that happens to be standing beside me. I don’t know his name but I know that he’s important. It’s inappropriate of me, but I need to avoid Chris. So, I turn towards him and start a conversation.

“Good evening, sir.” I said as I bow slightly, being submissive.

His responding smile gives me chills, the good kind. “Good evening to you,” he answers, smiling.

I see him glance behind my shoulder and smirk. I know Chris is behind me. I can feel him. “I’m sorry to be so incredibly forward but would you care to accompany me inside?”

His smirk grows wider. “Of course. What is your name, gorgeous?”

“Raleigh, sir.”

“Raleigh.” His eyes glisten as he says it. “I like it. May I call you Rae?” He asks as he extends his arm.

“Of course.” I loop my arm inside of his, completely ignoring the Prince.

“I’m Alrich. My dad is Sir, Bentley.”

“Good to meet you, Sir Alrich.”

We dance all night. He is a great dancer. He even made me laugh more than a few times. I’m incredibly grateful that I spent my evening with him. When my brother comes to collect me, he hands me over with a small kiss on the back of my hand.

“I’m so glad that you accompanied me.”

“Thank you, sir.” I bow, blushing, and grab my brothers arm.

“You look so beautiful tonight, little sister.” He says, shocking me.

“You don’t look so bad yourself, brother.” I smile.

“Did you have fun?”

“I did. Did you?”

“I think that I may have found my future wife!” He says with such excitement that I can’t help the laughter that bubbles out of me.

A Few Months Later

My brother wasn’t lying. He did find his future wife. They do everything together. One good thing came out of all my heartache. I became closer to the twins and Emma.

Sometimes my heart will hurt when I think of Christopher but I’ve stopped trying to keep up with his love interests. It hurts too much. I hadn’t realized how much I loved him.

I love him more than just a friend, another thing that Talon was correct about. Unfortunately, it seems like my friendship with Christopher was a lie. Or, I guess I should say the Prince since he told me that I am only allowed to call him that now. I’m pretty sure that he hasn’t thought about me much.

My birthday is today. I turn 14. Yippee! I always thought that I would have both of my best friends here. Emma is the only one to show up. Well, Talon and Katy showed up but he’s family and Katy is always attached to his hip. It grosses me out.

Emma gives me the most beautiful hand made dress that I have ever seen. It’s purple, my favorite color. It’s a summer dress so the straps are skinny and it hangs down to my knees. It’s very comfortable and I decide to wear the dress for the rest of the evening.

After my party, the twins come by. I’m so happy that the smile on my face feels as if it’s cracking. All throughout the night, I keep stealing glances at Tobias. When he catches me, he smiles showing his perfectly white teeth and big dimples. My heart flutters uncontrollably.

I have no idea what is wrong with me. He’s four years my junior. His blinding smile almost always sends me to my knees. It definitely makes my heart soar. Emma notices and steals me away from the embarrassing situation. She, of course, keeps gushing about my brother and how romantic he is with his girlfriend.

“I really hope my husband is like your brother Talon.” She gushes.

I roll my eyes and make a fake gagging sound. “Oh, please. Do I have to keep hearing you crush on my big brother?”

She looks at me and smirks. “How about we talk about that hottie over there then.”

I glance over towards Toby and blush. “You’re right. He is super hot.”

We burst into a fit of giggles.

It isn’t long after that my night is completely ruined and my heart breaks some more. Erin, one of my new found friends, delivers me some news that I can’t handle. She takes Emma and I to the other room to gush about her new found love interest. We all knew that she had been seeing someone but never knew who.

The previous night, she found out that the Prince is leaving for a few years. Although I’m saddened, to find out by someone other than him, that’s not what hurts me the most. What hurts me the most is the next part of the conversation. She apparently, unashamed, slept with the Prince last night.

He is who she had been seeing for a month, and I didn’t even know it. The night before my birthday, he got drunk on mead, and she tells us that one thing led to another. She doesn’t stop talking about how good he felt and how gentle he was.

She doesn’t notice my hands shaking, or my eyes watering. I grab a hold of my chest as I feel as if the broken pieces of my heart are trying to claw their way out. I want to lose everything that I have eaten. Why did it hurt so bad?

Of course, she is four years older than me. Of course, that’s something that she would love. Who wouldn’t be excited to have the Prince’s attention. That only serves to remind me that I don’t, and never did, matter to him.

I see Tobias attempt to make his way over to me. He is looking at me, with concerned eyes, and I blush. I’m hurt, embarrassed, and crushed. When did I fall so hard for my best friend? I do the only thing that a girl my age can do. I run to my room, slam the door, and cry my heart out. I ignore every knock on my door.