𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 - Book 1

~Chapter 15~

                                                                                         Leonor

     The next morning I woke up in my bed, still feeling giddy from the previous night's activities. It was like I was living in a dream. I was on cloud nine.

     I couldn't deny the fact that I was starting to gain feelings for Gavi. Real feelings, not just some fake show that I was putting on for my parents.

     I sat up in bed, rubbing my tired eyes. I wonder if he lost sleep thinking about me last night like how I did with him myself.

     I really wanted to see him again. Soon.

     The sun was already high in the sky for being early morning. August was coming to a close; the hottest months of the year were past us in Madrid.

    It took me quite some time to get ready. Even though I had nothing to get ready for, I was exhausted. I rinsed my face in cold water to wake myself up. It didn't fully work.

    After I was dressed and ready for the day, I tried to busy myself and not think about Gavi. I helped Sofia to clean her room, mother asked me to help her with some business word, and my father taught me how to cook some of his favorite meals.

     When evening rolled around, I needed to get out of the house. 

     "I'm going on a short walk," I called to my parents over my shoulder. They told me to be safe and said that they would see me soon.

     Leaving the palace felt like freedom. I felt like a normal girl who wasn't set to be the future queen of Spain. I wondered if this was how every other girl my age felt.

     I enjoyed myself, taking in every sight around me. People walked up and down the sidewalks and cars drove up and down the roads. It was nearly dinner time, and the amount of people out and about was a bit shocking.

     I saw an older couple sitting on a bench holding hands. I smiled inside as I walked past them. I had always hoped I could find someone I would love forever.

     I tried to keep my mind from racing and tried to  just relax; focus on the present as I made my way into the bustling Madrid streets.

     It was getting darker by the minute. Soon enough, the sun was completely below the horizon and the city was engulfed in darkness. The neon signs of clubs and business lit my way down the Main Street. I was glad I hadn't been recognized yet.

     I had never been out of the palace at night. It was a little unsettling, seeing all of the people moving strangely in the shadows.

     I could hear voices on every side of me, and I immediately took a deep breath to calm myself. I was just being paranoid.

     Still, I gripped my phone tighter in my pocket.

     A older man smiled at me as I walked past. He was sitting on a bench all alone, smoking a cigarette. I cringed inside as I walked past him.

     The nagging feeling in my stomach grew stronger as I kept walking. Maybe this was a bad idea. Maybe I should run back to the palace as fast as I could.

     As I approached one of the bars, I noticed there was a big group of men outside. Most of them were older, either smoking or drinking, and had some big-eyed girl glued to their hip. Great.