Princes In Hiding

Three Idiots

Bars. I've been placed behind bars. It would've been more normal to say prison bars, but no. I've been locked up in a dungeon, a palace dungeon. I was lucky that there were no dragons or high towers involved in this adventure. I sit at the far corner of my cold and suffocating room and glare at the guard in-charge of keeping an eye on me.

"Are you going to let me out," I ask the stoic man. He does not reply. "You're no fun, you know?" I placed my hand on my chest and felt the golden locket. I held on to it and sighed, "Mother, how did I get into this mess?"

I closed my eyes as I recall my simple life as a normal 17-year-old high school girl named Natalia Brightton.

It started as a normal day in Greston High. There was nothing special in my high school. Everything was similar to every other high school. There were the popular kids, the nerds, the jocks, the emos, the couples who never seem to get a room, and everyone else that fall in between the chaos. Like me.

I am Natalia Rosaline Brightton, the lone wolf of Greston High. A title that I've given myself and have gladly held. I do everything on my own. I walk alone, study alone, eat alone, and most importantly, succeed alone. I constantly remain in the top of my class but I was never placed in competions. Actually, I never wanted to join one.

Though I physically do things alone, I never felt truly alone. I held on to the locket on my chest and feel the shape of the detailed vine engravings on the small object. The locket was given by my mother a year before she passed due to a disease. A disease that the doctors have never seen; they couldn't do anything.

In times of hardships and dispairs, I would hold on to it and think that my mother was there for me as if she never left.

I make my way to my locker in order to get the books for my next class. The whole hall was cluttered with lingering students who seemed to have all the time in the world. As I begin to bring out my books, I hear two girls nearby suddenly giggling. "Oh my- shh shh- he's coming," one of them said in a whispering tone.

When I looked at their direction, I couldn't help but roll my eyes at who they were referring to. Walking down the hallway was no other than Joseph Alderis, a senior and one of the so-called "school hotties". He's accompanied by his usual gang of football players and his beautiful girlfriend, Candice Torrence. According to rumors, the longest time they've been together was a month. Every now and then, I would see them arguing in the hallways.

As they pass by me, I hear one of the boys make a howling sound, followed by laughter. The usual reaction I get from them since I was the lone wolf. "Dude, shut up," I hear Joseph say. I looked at him and see the small smirk on his face before looking ahead once again. I rolled my eyes and quickly gathered my things to leave.

As I was about to head to my classroom, I felt someone hit my shoulder, followed by sounds of objects hitting the tiled floor. I bent down to pick up the objects for the person. "I am truly sorry for that," I hear him say. I look up and see a familiar blonde man with glasses. "I wasn't watching where I was going," he said looking apologetic. Harold Wellings, senior. He's the student government's head and one of the schools favored students.

"Well you should look straight," I said as I hand him the papers that fell, "It's not good to have an unfocused leader."

He gave me a smirk, "Thank you. I shall keep that in mind." I turned my heels and continue to go to my first class. However, I couldn't help but notice something familiar about his smirk.

When I arrived in the classroom, I was greeted by the sight of a nearly empty room once again. There was still half an hour before the first bell so most wouldn't be in their rooms. Among the few students in the room was Vincent Xavier. He was in his usual spot near the window, playing his acoustic guitar. There were two girls watching intently nearby, but he didn't mind them. He just looked outside as he slowly plucks the strings, creating a sweet melody to echo around the room.

"That's a nice tune Vince," one of the girls said with a sweet smile. Vincent breathed out a sigh and shrugged, almost completely ignoring the compliment. I sat in my normal spot, the seat in front of Vincent. I see the girls looking at me and suddenly whispering to each other.

The tune from the guitar suddenly stopped and the room turned cold. I hear Vincent sigh, "You two aren't even from this class and you decide to suddenly gossip about the girl who is," he said. I looked behind me, glaring at his as our eyes meet. "I'm sorry," he whispered before standing up and leaving the room with his guitar leaning against his chair.

"Great job, Natalia. You scared him," one of the girls said, "C'mom let's get out." The two girls stood up and left the room, resulting for the room to have a single person in it. This wasn't the first time this has happened. I scolded Vincent before, telling him that I could handle myself. He responded with a shrug before leaving the room.

I wished the rest of the school day would go on as planned. I'd do anything and everything independently. It's better that way. No distractions, no worries, and no anchors. It's the rough ride that I accepted.

(Edited: 06-05-17)