To Be Loved

01 - Haven

1986

    "Ms. Haven?"

    I heard Drew, my handmaiden say to me, interrupting my comfortable slumber.

    "You're going to be late, again." She said, eagerly.

    I huffed and pulled the soft blanket off my body, "Ok, ok. I'm up!" I walked over to the bathroom that was connected to my room, and saw that my outfit for the day was already picked out; courtesy of Annalise. She always knew what to wear and had the best taste in clothes. That's why I always could count on her to make sure I actually look like royalty.

    I changed out of the blue nightgown and put on the lavender colored dress. It was knee length and had spaghetti straps that wrapped around my neck.

After, I slipped on the gold flats and told Drew she could come in to do my makeup.

Drew searched through the compacts and brushes until she found what she was looking for and dabbed the nude pink eyeshadow around my eyelids. She took a bigger brush and spread the foundation, concealer, and bronzer on my face. Lastly, she took the blush and dabbed my already pink cheeks with it.

I was about to leave when she pulled me down into the chair again and told me she wasn't finished with my hair. She brushed through it and pulled my chocolate curls into a half up-half down hairstyle.

After I left the bathroom, I couldn't help but feel annoyed. I hated wearing all this makeup and fancy clothes just to ride through the kingdom. The people won't even be close enough to see my face clearly, so did it really matter?

Half way down the corridor, I spotted my Lady In Waiting- Annalise- walking aggressively fast.

"Can you be any slower?!" She practically yelled, "You were supposed to be ready ten minutes ago!"

I sighed, "Sorry. I overslept...again."

She grabbed my arm and pulled me the rest of the way, me having to jog to keep up with her. After running through the halls and rushing down the grand staircase, we finally arrived at the front open foyer that led to the beautiful and large front doors.

Mother and Father, along with my two older brothers, were standing there- or I thought they were. One of my brothers was missing from the group of royals. Which was weird because I was always last.

Just when I was about to ask where he was, two large arms were around my waist. They lifted me up and I screamed.

"Lawrence William Collins! Put me down now!" I yelled.

He mocked a child's voice, "....."

My mother butted in the bicker, "Lawrence, put your sister down." She said bored and annoyed.

He sat me down and we walked over to the rest. I noticed a slight blush spreading across Annalise's cheeks when Lawrence greeted her. I knew she had a crush on him, but she would never admit it.

"Seriously? Why can't you two grow up?" Brookes chimed in with a cigarette hanging out his mouth. He was always telling us what to do and what to say. My mother scolded him for being rude, but he just rolled his eyes. 

"Alright, Collins Family. Time to go." My father said while clapping his hands together. We walked outside the palace and gathered into the limousine that was already there waiting for us. The seats were constructed into two sections. I sat in the back with Annalise and Lawrence while the others sat in front of us. Brookes had gotten rid of his cigarette and adjusted his suit coat.

Once my father was seated, since he was last to get in, the driver started the car and slowly drove around the circle shaped driveway. I glanced over at Anna. She was looking at my brother intently. I tried my best to suppress a giggle. She noticed and averted her gaze.