The Village Princess

Chapter Two

Their prayers were answered. That night, a huge storm swept over the mountain on which the little town of Stalifouse sat. It poured all night and long after sunrise. The soldiers announced that they would have to wait because it would be far too dangerous to travel down the mountain while the paths are flooded. Jayla looked out the living room window. Her heart leapt with joy.

"I get to stay a bit longer!" She whispered to Jackson.

"Why don't you go hang out with Cass." He answered, putting the blankets back in the basket. Jayla didn't waste one moment. She threw on some wool leggings and a pink dress and tied up her boots. She quickly braided her long brown hair and ran out the door.

The saturated ground sank beneath her feet as she raced towards Cassie's house. She saw Cass sitting in her wheelchair and one of her older brothers, Peter, coming to push her. Peter was one year older than Jayla, but he was much taller.

"Cass! Peter! Wait up!" Jayla shouted as she ran faster.

"Jayla! I heard you get to stay!" Cass exclaimed as Jayla embraced her.

"Not for long." Jayla said glumly.

"You still have to go?" Peter asked, frowning.

"You don't want me to go?" Jayla asked.

"Not really. I mean, who is going to help me push Cass around?" Peter asked. Jayla laughed.

"You'll find someone to help." She responded. The three friends made their way up to Jayla's favorite reading spot, the Weeping Willow tree.

"Hey, Jayla?" Peter asked, fixing Cass' wheelchair so it would stay and not roll down the dangerously rocky hill.

"Yes?" Jayla responded as she pulled herself onto the low limb that she called her bench.

"Today we were supposed to write notes to the person we like and....Can you help me write one to Milee so I can give it to her before she goes?" Peter looked away, nervously rubbing the back of his head.

Cass sighed. "He likes her soooo much! She's all he talks about!"

Jayla smiled. "Go grab paper and a pen." She said. Peter raced down the hill, and back to his house. Only a little while later he was sitting by Cass and scribbling away. A few minutes later, Peter was done writing.

"Alright Peter! Read it to us!" Jayla exclaimed.

"Ok. Dear Milee, I'm very sad that our time together has ended. I hope you keep this note with you at all times. Roses are red, Violets are blue-Actually, if you think about it, Violets should be violet not-"

"Peter!" Cass yelled.

"Oh sorry. Where was I....ah yes. Roses are red, Violets are blue-but really guys, Violets should be violet!"

"Peter!" Jayla said with an exasperated sigh.

"Alright alright. Roses are-"

"Skip that!" Cass and Jayla yelled.

"Sugar is sweet and so are you!" Peter yelled. Jayla and Cass gave each other a look.

"Ok. So that was actually good, but...Sugar is sweet and so are you? Sure it's acceptable for friends, like Cass and I, but not to someone you like." Jayla said, linking her fingers, turning her palms up, and placing them out as if to be showing Peter something.

"Yeah..." Cass said, tilting her head.

"Fine. I'll write, Roses are red, Violets are blue, I hate poetry, but I like you!"

Jayla's eyes widened in concern. "Um...the first one is so much better. Let's just go with that."

Cass giggled.