Where I Belong by seastarpwn (ebook reader computer TXT) 📕

“Sit up straighter,” my mother hit me in the back with the ruler. I did as I was told as pushed my shoulders behind my ears. I was being taught the rules of ladies, since my mother thinks I am a harlot.
“I am sitting as straight as my back would go,” I snapped back at her and blew the hair out of my face. I was meeting with Alejandra, the princess of our neighboring town to discuss about how we were going to merge our two towns together. “Mother may I go powder my nose,” I asked as sweetly as I could and tried to smile, but it came out more like a grimace.
“Quickly now, Alejandra will be here in minutes,” she shooed me away and I stormed out of the kitchen. I went into our master bathroom and checked the mirror. My red hair was curled and held up with a huge blue bow that my mother picked out. To match it she gave me a knee length dress that is baby blue and very childish. The skirt had white dots and the top was shirt sleeved. If I let my mother dress me up for my whole life, I would never get married. EVER.
“Daniela come here,” my mother sand from the ball room. I tighten my bow and smoothed out my skirt. I held my chin high and ungracefully walked into room.
Alejandra had brown wavy hair that laid on her shoulder and caramel brown eyes that screams mess with me and I will punch your chest so hard you will have a flat chest for the rest of your life. Other than that she was quite beautiful with flawless skin and rosy cheeks and to make her more special is she was wearing the same dress I was, but yellow and it was more flattering then on me.
She stood when she saw me and we both curtsied to each other. Our mothers walked out arm in arm with smiles plastered on their faces. “So….” I stared down at my finger nails, twiddling my thumbs. Her eyes watched me and it gave me a shiver that ran up and down my back.
“I am Princess Alejandra,” she held out her hand.
“Daniela or Dani doesn’t really matter, but most people call me Dani…. But if you like Daniela you could call me that or Dan, Ella, don’t mind my rambling, I do it when I am nervous. Unless you aren’t nerves then I shouldn’t be,” I gave an awkward smile, “Wow has it gotten hotter in here.”
Alejandra started to laugh, “You are funny Dani. I thought you were going to be some boring Princess that likes her servants and loves politics.”
“Don’t worry, I learned at a young age not to like politics. Truthfully I was going to stay for a couple minutes then make some random reason to leave.”
“I was going to do the same,” she stood and held her hand out. “Let us go for a walk through your town.”
After we both changed into some more appropriate clothing, some jeans and a t-shirt, we were walking the streets. Alejandra said hi to everyone she passed, spreading a smile across their face, and sometimes she would give the children money to buy something nice. She was a good hearted princess and makes a great queen, but it is weird. It is said my mother is the best queen around, but I don’t see her giving away money or even remembering the names of the people in or town.
“Why are you so nice?” I questioned her.
“I am not nice, I am simply polite. I was taught at a very young age to respect the lesser folks and played with many of them in my youth. In my town, I know everyone by name and everyone knows me back. I am not their princess or soon to be queen, I am their friend.”
I nodded my head and we continued to walk in silence. Soon little group of kids ran up to me asking me about life as a princess. I spoke only good things, but didn’t tell them about not having friends or allowed to even talk to people less than me. I promised to come back one day and read them a book or two.
“Are we allowed out of the castle?”
Alejandra glanced my way and slightly smiled, “Technically we are what the city people say ‘sneaking out’.”
“You have been it the city?” I asked with wonder.
“Yes, many times. A lot of people walk the streets and no one cares for anyone.”
By the end of the day, my feet hurt and I gave away half of my money. “Goodbye,” I waved to Alejandra. I dreaded coming home, mother would always have a fuss about me being out to late, If I made it on time or not. I pushed opened the huge wooden door and right on time, my mother marched up to me.
“Where have you been!” she spit all over my face.
I dramatically wiped my face, “If you have to know, I was out with Alejandra.” Her whole face lightened up and I almost saw a real smile.
“Oh, ok. Umm Darrel is in your room, he said you asked him over,” she walked away with a second glance. I sighed and flipped her off. I ran up the stairs and opened my bedroom.
“Why are you here,” I ran towards him and gave him a bear hug.
“Well hello to you too. I am here to visit,” he closed my door and sat down at my desk. “You said you needed some help?”
I laid down on my huge bed, “Yeah, could you get ten sheets, black pants and shirts, and teach me how to use a bow and arrow by my birthday?”
“Why?”
“I am planning things,” I whispered and covered my face with the cover. He jumped onto my bed, crushing me under his body, and uncovered me.
“Are you going to meet someone?”
“EWE! No!” I punched him in the shoulder, “I am leaving.”
“As a vacation,” I shook my head and his eyes filled with tears, “ Forever?’ I nodded my head and closed my eyes. I felt drops of tears fall on my face, “Why?”
All I could think of was don’t cry now, “Because I want to leave this palace. You can come and go all you want, but why do you stay here?”
“Because I love it here.”
“Don’t lie to me. I have been here all my life and all I want to do is break out.” I shook my head and sighed, “Please don’t tell anyone.”
“Daniela, I am coming with you.”
“No you are not! You have a life here,” I opened my eyes and immediately I regretted it. “Darrell the only reason I stayed here this long is because of you, but now you are going to be married and you won’t come visit often. I don’t want to stay in here like a caged animal.”
“Dani the only reason I stayed is because of you,” he wiped away some tears and laughed, “You really want to do this?”
“I wouldn’t want anything else for my birthday.”

I pulled back, feeling the strength I need build inside me in till all at once you let go. The arrow spun through the air and missed its target, the apple. “You see you are a natural,” Darrell handed me another arrow and stepped back.
“Yeah right, I can’t hit the stupid arrow to save my life,” I mumbled.
He placed another apple, farther this time and stood beside me again. I placed the arrow in its slot and drew back. “You are doing that all wrong.” He stood behind me with my back pressed against his chest and he held up my elbows a little straighter and pushed them back a smidge. “You need to keep still,” he softly whispered in my ear. “Make sure you keep an eye on your target and when the moment is right,” I let go of the arrow.
I looked at him with a smile on my face and felt his breath on my cheek. “I-I think I better get h-h-home before m-my mother g-g-gets worried,” I breathed out. I turned around and my breath hitched in my throat. Only inches away I could kiss him, but did I want to? I stepped away and patted his cheek, “I will see you later Darrell.”
“In matter of time, Dani.”
I fell on my bed when a knock came from my door, “Come in!”
“How is my favorite little princess doing?” Alejandra walked in with arms full of clothes in her hands.
“I am turning the same age as you in two weeks,” I mumbled into my pillow. She threw the pile of clothes on my back and sat down on my legs.
“That makes you smaller in comparison, so I was thinking that we could try on clothes for your birthday.”
“Not you too, I am not a dress wearing, trying on clothes kind of girl. So I was thinking that my mother could just hire the best dress maker here then they would make me a dress and I wouldn’t see it in till the day of.”
“They could make your dress pink or something,” she sneered at the idea.
“It wouldn’t matter anyways, it would be the last day anyone sees me, so I don’t care if I wear a clown suit.”
“What do you mean by that? You are going to lock yourself in your room forever,” she laughed at her pitiful joke then stood up pulling me with her, “if we can’t try on dresses, can we at least go outside of this depressing castle.”
“You know my mother would never allow it,” I grabbed a jacket on my way out of my bedroom and closed the door when Alejandra came out.
“Then we just won’t tell her,” an evil glint was in her eye as she pulled me down the hallway. Her brown hair swished back and forth with every step she took.
I looked around one last time, “Are you sure about this?”
“Not at all,” she lifted herself up and jumped out the window, landing in the pool. A wait awhile before I saw her pop back up. “Do you have the money?” she screamed from below.
“Shut up!” I covered my mouth again and mentally slapped myself. Now or never. This is a test to see if I could go through with