The Urban Princesses: Pocahontas

Chapter 4

"Natalie! It isn't funny, if you don't come out soon I'm going to think you drowned and I'm calling nine one one."

I pushed my paddles through the waters of the narrow stream, scouting around for Natalie who, no doubt, thought it was funny to hide on me then pop out and scare me like I always did to her.

"I never hide this long so just scare me and get it over with-"

I heard a rustling in the trees to my right and snapped my head in the direction, expecting to see Natalie standing there but instead, saw nothing.

More rustling. I docked my kayak on the stream bank and walked slowly towards the tree line, hoping it was just a rabbit or a bird and not some bear that was uncommon in this area.

I hissed, hoping to scare whatever was there off, it usually worked with small animals but the rustling continued. I would've gotten back in my boat and paddled away but in case it was something that was a danger, it was on our land and needed to be taken care of.

All of a sudden, a figure stumbled out from the tree line next to me, falling and knocking me over.

My butt burned and I let out a groan, looking up at the thing on top of me that was thankfully not a bear, but a person.

Smith, as a matter of fact.

"I'm so sorry!" He said, scrambling to his feet and offering to help me up.

I pushed myself up from the rocky bank, pebbles embedded in my skin from the fall. "This is private property."

"It is?" He pulled out a map from his pocket, inspecting it, then flipping it around. "Oh," He chuckled nervously. "it was upside down."

"Nice job." I started to turn away when his voice stopped me.

"Uh, could you help me out though? Try to help me get back?"

I grumbled and turned back around. I was only doing this because I didn't want him snooping around on my land. "Get back where exactly?"

"The main road. My hotel is on that street. If you don't mind that would be really helpful."

"Of course." I said with a smile, wanting to be nice to this guy since we will be seeing a lot more of each other in the next few months.

We started walking back through the trees, clambering our way through the untamed brush.

"I'm John, by the way," He stuck out a hand as greeting and I took it awkwardly.

"Pocahontas."

"That's a beautiful name."

I tried to hide my blush as I looked down and kept walking.

"So, you're new to Dawson high school, how are you liking it? I can't imagine transferring at the beginning of your senior year can be easy."

"Well, I've been changing schools a lot the past two years. I work for the Deluxury hotel chain. We're always moving from place to place."

"That must be fun. Getting to go all across the country and seeing new places."

He sighed. "Maybe if I had graduated high school. I just want stability while I'm studying, you know? My grades could be a lot better if I had a real house."

Suddenly, I felt myself feeling bad for this guy. He didn't really want any of this, he needed this. He was being supported, as little as it was, and I was sitting around like a brat refusing to take my father's legacy which could provide a nice life for me. But in some way, I could relate to him and the feeling like you're obligated to along with it.