Crowned

Chapter 4

Gabby ran down the stairs of the castle. "Excuse me! Pardon! Oops sorry!" The staff of the palace was getting in her way.
"Gabriella! Gabriella Richards!" Sheila yelled to her. "You are not allowed to leave the place unsupervised!" She said. She tried to catch up to Gabby. Gabby looked back at her, but kept running. "Just this one time, Sheila. Please." She stopped. Sheila have her a thoughtful look. "Okay," She hugged Gabby. "But you have to be back in time to get ready for the party tonight." Gabby agreed and ran out the huge doors of the castle to the outdoors. Her bare feet touched the perfectly taken care of lawn. She ran to the back of the palace to the gardens. Nathan, the gardner who was about Gabby's age, was her friend.
"Nathan!" She shouted. He looked up from his planting. She sprinted over. She accidentally step on one of the petunias he had just planted. "Sorry..." She said.
"That's okay." He began to readjust the soil around the stepped-on petunia. He had short, dark brown hair that stood perfectly on his head. His skin was dark and tan and his eyes. Oh, his eyes were magnificent. They were bright blue just like the ocean. Whenever he was angry, they seemed to turn gray and deep. Nathan smiled at Gabby.
"I'm really sorry about your mom, Gabs." He patted her shoulder. His hand went back and forth on her arm. She took at seat on the ground next to him. "Thanks. Gracie and I have to compete for the throne now." She looked down and plucked a handful of grass out from the lawn. She sighed and laid back. Nathan laid next to her looking up at the sky that matched his eyes. "Do you think I could be a queen?" She asked.
"Yeah."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I mean, I now your still in your nightgown, but yeah."
Gabby looked at what she was wearing. "Oh my gosh! Sorry I didn't know I was wearing this!" Her face reddened with embarrassment. She crossed her arms in an attempt to cover it.
"I don't care. I think you look beautiful in anything." She smiled at him, but he still stared at the sky.
"You know, you'd be a good king." Gabby said.
Nathan stared at her. Then he began to laugh. laughed. "Me? A king? Oh there's no way. I barely know how to plant orchids, let alone run a kingdom." He smiled. "But thanks anyway."
"Will you come to the party tonight?" She asked.
"Oh no. I was not invited." He replied.
"Yes you were. I just invited you."
"I can't. I'm just a gardner." He said.
"And I'm just a princess. What's your point? C'mon!" She grabbed his hand and ran towards the front of the palace.
"No, Gabs. I can't. I'm a member of the staff. Your mother would not approve of your decision to invite me." He pulled his hand away from hers. "I'm sorry. I hope you have a good birthday." He walked away slowly, not looking back. Gabby sighed and ran back inside the palace.

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At 7:00 p.m., the party began. Gabby and Gracie didn't really know any of the guests at the party, but they still waved and greeted them as though they had know them for years. They wore matching blue dresses that poofed at the ends, and flowed when they walked. Gabby looked around hoping to find Nathan. She knew he wouldn't be there, but she still searched. The crowd of guests swarmed around them, and then the crowd separated on the checkered floor of the main room of the palace. The stairs took up most of the space of the room and they were now filled with guards, because Queen Patricia was walking down. The twins beamed at their beautiful mother. She looked so different from this morning. She was wearing a violet gown with her bedazzling crown. Her blond locks curled behind her hitting her back with every step. She smiled and waved to everyone. She came over to the twins and hugged them. "Happy birthday darlings!" She yelled. All the guests cheered and placed their presents on the huge table on each side of the room. For the rest of the night, the crowd danced and sang to the songs the orchestra played. The girls were forced to dance with princes from other kingdoms, who were so conceited that it made them want to vomit. There were cakes and pastries and bountiful meals to eat. By midnight, Gracie and Gabby had had enough. They were partied-out. They waved good-bye to the guests and their mother. They strutted to their rooms sleepily. Gracie touched her locket before she fell into a deep sleep.