Monarchy

Chapter 6: Samantha

     We slept in late, much later than we had planned. But in our defense we were up until dawn talking about the places we want to visit. He's been everywhere it seemed. I wanted him to take me all the places he'd been.

     When he woke up he said he didn't want to move, and to be honest I didn't either. I didn't want to think about the Samantha person and I knew that there was no good time to ask him who she was. So I lied, I told him that I was hungry and when he left to get food, I snooped. I looked through all the drawers in the room, all the places my parents hid their important things. But there was nothing about anyone named Samantha in any of them.

     Giving up I grabbed a book off the shelf. Out of the book fell a letter. Addressed to Dominic, it was private and I shouldn't have read it, but I did anyway.

     "Do, you don't like privacy?" I dropped the book and jumped backwards towards the shelf. ""I didn't mean to startle you, I just didn't think anyone else read Fahrenheit 451. It's one of my favorite books. That's why i put her letter in there."

     "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you upset."

     "You didn't, thinking about her just makes me sad. She was my girlfriend. I loved her and I was going to marry her. Until she got pregnant, with some other guys kid." His voice broke near the end. "I never thought anyone would find that letter." I picked up the letter an dbook, setting them both back on the shelf.

     "Do you still love her?"

     "Of course, doesn't everyone have some residule love from their first?" She was his first love. I never knew a lot about it. "Sorry, let's do something else okay?" I didn't want to do something else. I wanted to know more about Samantha. I wanted to know how much he loved her and if she was here if he would be with her. I wanted to know so much, what she looked like, what she sounded like, who she was, but I didn't ask. I didn't press forward. I just nodded and followed him as he walked out of the room.

     Instead of there being food on the table like I had anticipated we were greeted by his mother and sisters sitting next to whom I can only assume is their father. He looked just like Dominic plus a few years and a couple grey hairs. They all looked so nervous around him, even Dominic started to fidget under his father's gaze.

     "Dominic, you and your friend, have a seat." The stress he put on the word friend was enough to make me nervous. "Abrianna, that's your name correct?" I nodded, not entirely sure how to speak to him. "What are your parents names?"

     "Kellin and Faith Nash." He sat up straighter, they all did. Dominic looked shocked and the girls all smirked and snickered.

     "I was under the impression the Nash's only had one child."

     "My brother, Zack. Yeah, he's older than I am and he's their favorite."

     "He's a stubborn boy with a big ego." Now it was my turn to be shocked. I had never heard anyone talk down about my brother before. "He thinks he knows everything and neither he nor your father have much respect."

     "My father adores you. You were the biggest deciding factor in our home. That's what my mother told me when I wasn't allowed to go to school, or travel with them. They said you would be disappointed with my existence." I couldn't breathe. What if he really was disappointed with me? What if he wouldn't let me see Dominic anymore?

     "My wife says you're a good girl and our son is quite fond of you. I have three beautiful daughters of my own. How could I be disappointed with you?" He didn't give me a chance to answer. "Why did you run away from your home?"

     "My brother threatened my life when I found our he'd been have relations with his competitor who is the same gender. He embarrassed me when I had gone to town for the first time by telling his friends I was a cheap gift from my father." Dominic's mother went wide-eyed. HIs father didn't look shocked.

     "We're going to have a meeting with your family. Here. I'll send for them tomorrow."

     "No!"

     "No?" He raised his eyebrows.

     "I mean, they would kill me. I'd embarrass them. They'll drag me back with them and no one will ever see me again, assuming that they let me live passed leaving here."

     He stood up, gesturing for his wife. "You're under the protection of the King. They won't force you to do anything." He and his wife left the room mumbling about how to get my parents here. Dominic made his sisters leave and stared at me with angry eyes.

     "Your brother is Zack Nash?"

     "Yeah." I responded quietly. What if Zack did something and now Dominic hates me? He stood up and walked off, I jumped up to follow him.

     "Don't." The word alone was harsh. "I need to be alone right now." I stopped and watched him as he walked away. A few moments after he was gone I heard the door upstairs slam, I ran outside.I wandered around the back yard until I finally sat under one of the many trees. What do they think of me? I'm faced with one problem my entire life and how do I solve it? I don't, I run away. My problem isn't even as bad as it could have been and still I ran away.

     Dominic was mad at me and I had no idea why. I like him a lot. I thought he liked me too. It wasn't long before he came outside.

     "Did he put you up to this? Did he tell you I would have been in town that day?" I was shocked and confused. "Answer me! DId he put you up to this?"

     "Put me up to what?" I snapped back. I was angry and scared. I didn't mean to yell.

     "Your brother is the guy who slept with Samantha. He's the reason she's not here. He didn't even marry her, just sent her and the baby away. 

     So it was about Samantha again. I never heard of Zack getting anyone pregnant but then again that was something my father wouldn't let anyone hear.

     "Zack probably wouldn't have a choice. My father would have taken care of it. He doesn't want Zack involved with anyone until after he graduates."

     "So you're sticking up for him now? You're going to take his side?" Dominic was furious. He was shouting louder than at the restaurant. I wasn't taking anyone's side, I never took Zack's side. I simply know how my father works.

     "Dominic, stop shouting at the poor girl. She never knew about Samantha and I highly doubt she ever would have if you hadn't told her about it. Drop the attitude and straighten up. Act like a man rather than a boy." His father sounded just like mine. "Your father said he would be able to be here in two days Abrianna. Be prepared, they're bringing Zack."