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

my other plan, I told myself. Before I could back down, I was falling and landed with a huge splash. It hurt more then when Darrell throws me in. I opened my eyes and looked around, searching for a sign that tells me to go where. Everywhere was dark and I was slowly losing air.
A hand came out of nowhere and pulled me out. I greedily sucked in air in till I was breathing normally, “Thanks.”
“Dani, what are you doing? You know you can hardly swim!” Darrell whispered/screamed. Water dripped off the tips of his hairs and his shirt clung to him.
“We were going to go out,” Alejandra stepped in front of me, “Who are you?”
“I should be asking you the same question,” his eyes glistened with rage, “I am Darrell, Dani’s best friend.” He grabbed my arm and dragged me towards the castle, “Come on, you are leaving.”
“No I am not!” I tried pulling away.
He turned around and stared at me. He crossed his arm over his chest, making his muscled bulge out, distracting me. “Dani, you have no idea what you are doing. If you get caught now, then you wouldn’t be able to leave your room without a guard.” He lowered his voice, “How are you going to go with it then?”
Personally I never thought about that, and freedom was more important to me than sneaking out for rebellion. Alejandra jogged up to us, “What are you doing? Are we going?”
I looked between Darrell and Alejandra, “No I can’t.” Her smile fell and she started to slump forward a little, “But I will in some time. I just have something really important that I can’t miss.” She still looked a bit off, but she forced a smile and nodded.
“Ok, some other time.” She hugged me and nodded to Darrell, “See you soon Ells.”
I waved goodbye and turned toward Darrell, “Thanks for saving me,” I said before pushing past him and climbing up stairs. I felt bad, but what are you going to do?

Chapter 4

“Daniela, you look so beautiful!” My mother walked into my room. Her dress was long and golden, making you have to look at her when she walked into the room. Her black hair was in a tight bun on the top of her head and had pins to make it stand out. Her brown eyes and skin looked more beautiful in the dress, but I felt the complete opposite.
My mother picked out a light pink dress. Simple and curved with my hips, but it didn’t feel right. It stopped at the floor and had no sleeves. That was it, no sparkles or lace. I loved it, but my mother wouldn’t have picked something out so plain. It didn’t fit her personality.
“I brought you something,” she handed me a box from behind her back. It was red paper wrapping and a white bow on top. I undo the bow and ripped the paper.
Inside was a red velvet box, “Mom, are trying to propose to me?” I chuckled, but got nothing from her. I thought it was pretty funny. I slowly opened the box and got blinded by what was inside. “Mom…. It is beautiful,” she took my present out of the box and set it on my head. I turned around to see myself with a beautiful crown on my head. Now I knew why I had such a plain dress, she wanted all the attention on the crown. It shimmered with every twitch or movement you made.
“It was my first crown and I wanted to give it to you. It represents courage and responsibility, and was passed down from generation to generation.” She kissed my temple and started for the door, “Guest are arriving so come out in thirty minutes.” She closed the door before I could respond. Why did I to make a big entrance? I wanted to be down there, greeting the guest when they came in instead. What are you going to do?
A knock came from my door and I quickly answered it. Jules stood with a present in her hands, “I know what you are planning to do tonight.”
I let her in and she sat down at my desk, “What am I planning to do?”
“You are leaving tonight, gone forever,” a tear formed and rolled down her cheek. I ran towards her and gave her a hug.
“It is not because of you or anyone else, but-“
“You need to go find yourself,” she whimpered and cried in my shoulder. I stroked her back and cried into her shoulder, “You were like my daughter.”
“You are like my second mother and I promise to come back, soon.” She nodded her head and gave me the gift in her hands. I greedily opened it and tears sprung to my eyes. It was a picture of my father and I. He just got home from a business and promised to take me anywhere in the world. I picked the zoo. I was on his shoulders and we were making funny faces into the camera. A monkey was on the other side of the glass and eating a banana. “Where did you find this?”
“I was going through some boxes yesterday and came upon this. I thought you should have it,” she stood and brought me up with her, “Be safe and have fun.”
“I will try Jules,” I gave her another quick hug before she walked off leaving me to wonder if this was a good idea. I stared into my clock over my mantel. I lifted my dress and walked out of my room, but not before leaving the note I made for her on my desk.
I stood at the top of the stairway, waiting to be introduced. “Princess Daniela Valenzuela,” my mother announced and I made my first step. I held tight to my dress, making sure it doesn’t go above my ankles, and gripping the railing. Every time I practiced this, I screwed up. Once I slipped and another I started to awkwardly giggle. I smiled down at everyone who came. Royalty from surrounding towns and all my people in my little down was staring up at me. If I thought two maids and Darrel was hard, I could hardly keep a steady breath with thousands.
I took the last step and my smile brightens. I did a little curtsy and everyone started to clap and talked again. Alejandra, my mother, and Darrell came up to me, hugging me all at the same time. “You did great!” Alejandra said.
“Yeah I feel great.”
“That mean you want to do it again next year?” my mother pleaded.
Knowing I wouldn’t be here, I nodded and gave mother a peck on her cheek. “I will be saying hi.” I rushed off before people grew suspicious because it wasn’t like me to agree with my mother or anyone in the matter of fact.
“May I have this dance?” I heard all night. I couldn’t have a couple minutes for myself without another prince coming to me asking me for a dance. I knew I couldn’t deny their request or word would get back to my mother.
I snuck out of the party and walked the path of the garden. The moon and my crown made everything sparkle in till I got sick of it and took it off. I set it on the bench, hoping I remember it later. “Dani?” Darrell turned around the hedge and sat down next to me.
“How did you find me?”
“Where else could you have gone?”
“True that,” I sighed and laid back. We watched the stars for, I don’t know how long, and listened to the music and laughter fill the air. “How can you deal with it?”
“Deal with what?”
“The annoying parents, abusive royalty,” I turned toward him.
“I became a warrior,” he got up and held out his hand, “your mother must be worried by now.” I grabbed his hand and got off the ground.
When we got back, no one was left and it was quiet, “Done already?”
Right when I said it my mother stormed up to me, “Where have you been?”
“I-I-I was saying good night to everyone.” Her face softened and she nodded, “Can I go to Darrell’s home tonight?”
“By yourself?”
“I promise nothing will happen,” we took a step away from each other, “and I will be home early.” I gave her a smile and put dog eyes.
“Fine,” she sighed.
I gave her a hug and tears started to slip, “Thank you mother.” I wiped tears away before letting her go. I smiled and walked past her with Darrell behind me.
In minutes, I had my bag and I was at Darrell’s house. He didn’t live far away, only a short walk from the castle. “Hello Daniela,” his mother gave me a hug, “Sorry I couldn’t make the party tonight. She had Darrel’s dirty blonde hair, but had amazing blue eyes. She had little Maggie in her hands, Maggie had black hair, but Darrel’s eyes.
“It is Ok,” I gave her another hug before climbing the stairs and into Darrell’s bedroom. He didn’t live with his mom anymore, but he stayed here when he came to visit her and me. “It never changes,” I laid on his single size bed.
“My mother would never want my bedroom to change.” His room had baby blue walls and pictures everywhere. His bed was dark blue and had a spaceship on it. Darrel sat down next to me, “I got you this,” he held out his hand.
In his hands was a charm bracelet, “It is amazing,” I picked it up and studied it. It only had three charms on it, a pond, bow and arrow, and my name.
“I bought it a while ago when I was had a break from the war,” he whispered.
I held out my wrist, “Can you help?” He slipped it around my wrist and snapped it close. I sighed and got up, “There will be no better time than now.”
I went into the bathroom and changed into jeans and a t-shirt. When I got out Darrell was by the window and already had my sheet rope in his hands. “Are you 100% sure about this?’ he asked me again.
I numbly nodded my head and put one of my leg through the window, “Darrel?”
“Yeah?”
I kissed the corner of his mouth, “Thanks for being there for me.” I ducked under and climbed down my sheets and landed in the ground. Darrel threw down my bag and I caught it. I waved him good bye before I went to his stable and took out my favorite horse. It was completely black and his name was Cello.
I climbed on his and strapped the bag to my back, “You ready?” I whispered to the horse. He neighed and we took off. Not knowing where we were going or where we will end up, but free.