Stolen Princess

Chapter 18

"That father was dead," she whispered while trying to contain back the tears that threatened to spill. 

The tension broke, temperature decreasing, as the room went deathly silent. They all stared at her, wide-eyed and speechless, anger dancing across their features, like a pack of deadly wolves. "I should probably t-tell you something," she began, a small quiver in her voice along with a distant look in her eyes. She didn't want to know what they were feeling, not yet. She mustered all her courage and began to speak once more, "I-I, I'm your sister, well technically your step-sister." She sucked in a breath, waiting for any response, but hearing none, she continued on, "Our father, he had an affair with another woman, my mother, a couple of months before he knew your mother was pregnant. I suppose he felt remorse, seeing as he returned to you family and disappeared from our lives, leaving my mother with child. I didn't know you even existed until, until I received a letter from him, the day after his accident. At first, I was tempted to throw it away, seeing as he was but a simple stranger, but curiosity got the better of me, and I'm glad," she breathed, mustering a weak smile, preparing to finish her story, "The letter, it told me all about you. The way he described you, you seemed perfect. When I finished reading the letter, I found an address he had left for me, your address. So, I made up an excuse and left home in order to search for you, but as you already know, I found it completely empty. I knocked and peered through the windows until a tall boy, about our age with blond hair spotted me snooping around, asking me what I was doing. I asked him about you, I didn't know how to find you and so he was my best chance. At first, he didn't answer me, probably didn't trust me, so I made a plan to gain part of his trust, I needed to find you. I asked him if he could show me around, in the hopes that he would open up and I was surprised when he actually agreed. We walked for a while and I told him a bit about myself and after some time, he seemed to have warmed up to me and proudly mentioned how he was your best friend. He also explained how you had gotten into Rosewood with a scholarship, which according to him is almost impossible. I spent some more time, trying to get to know him, he seemed like a really nice guy, but eventually I had to leave. I didn't tell him any of this, afraid that he would tell you before I got the chance. I thanked him and came here. I transferred schools, something which I was already going to do, so my mother found no problem when I told her I wanted to come here. They accepted me quite fast, and I was surprised to say the least. When I came, it didn't take me long to find you, after all, you are the most known person in the school. When we had art together and you told me that you were the Maravish Princess, I was shocked and clearly didn't believe it. I knew you were lying, yet I couldn't confront you, afraid of your reaction, as well as shocked that you didn't know who I was. Although as it turns out, you didn't even know that father was dead either. Time went by, and I couldn't bring myself to tell you, the secret had been kept for too long. I feared your reaction, afraid that you wouldn't want me and would turn me away. I know I should have told you, and I know what I did was wrong, and you can't even begin to imagine how sorry I—" her rambling was cut off, as Lottie engulfed her in a welcoming hug, as she tried to take it all in, "you did all of this to meet me?" she asked breathless. "Of course, how could I not, you were totally worth it" she answered unable to contain her joy. 

They stayed there, intertwined together for eternal seconds, until Lottie finally pulled away, a radiant glint in her eyes, a beaming smile stretching along her glowing face. It was like staring directly at the sun itself, all traces of the broken, sobbing girl gone. Lottie turned towards her friends, wondering what they were feeling, they were her family after all, and nothing would ever change that. Elie's eyes looked ready to bulge out of her sockets, as her thoughts tried to figure out her overwhelming feelings. Elie knew she was meant to be happy; her best friend had finally managed to make her dream come true, yet somehow, she only managed to feel disappointed. She turned to Jamie, who had lowered his usual stoic mask, replaced by his side smile. Of course, he was happy for Lottie, how could he not be?

"So guys," Lottie began breaking the silence that threatened to stretch on forever, "do you think we can accept her into the family?"

A/N: Thank you so much for the +1K reads, I could not be happier. I honestly never thought it would reach that far. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to read my book, it means the world. I changed the cover because I thought the other one was quite plain, what do you think? I would love to hear your thoughts!