[CLOSED FOR SUBMISSIONS] Stronger than You 2017

Part 21: The Princess

Written by: BetweenProjects

Once upon a time, there was a young princess. She was full of adventure and in love with the idea of travelling to a different country. As soon as she was old enough, she packed her bags, got on a plane and left everything behind to start a new life, away from the bullies who all through school had told her she was worthless. The princess was ready to transform into her own butterfly and prove the bullies wrong.

The first year was amazing. For the first time of her life the Princess felt she could be herself. There were of course moments of self doubt. Like when her two housemates started hooking up and told her to leave the house so they could be alone. But she had friends and even went on a few dates.

The second year proved serendipitous. The princess moved to a different house, with different people. One of the girls was dating a local guy and at a party, the two lovebirds set the princess up with one of his friends, a self employed Prince.

The prince was a tall, muscular, good looking guy with long hair and a charming smile. Of course the princess fell... Straight into his bed... Where his mother found them the next morning when she woke her son up reminding him to go to work.

Of course he left for work, leaving the poor princess with his mother and sister, facing a spectacular breakfast of shame in yesterday's party outfit and messy hair due to lack of hairbrush.

That should have been the first hint that not all was well in the kingdom.

The prince returned from his work later and drove the princess back to her student house where he asked the key question: "What happens now? do you... like... wanna go out?".

And just like that, the princess had a boyfriend.

It was all smooth sailing for about four months. She got along with his family. He took her out to restaurants and picked her up in his fancy chariot after her work as a waitress was over in the evenings. and sometimes he would even drive up to the Institute where she studied to drive her home. Every time the Prince would say it was to keep her safe.

At the time, the princess thought it was cute how he would suggest a romantic evening together whenever she said she was going out with her friends. She didn't even notice how gradually, her evenings out with friends went from a couple of nights a week down the pub, to maybe once every two weeks and later it would be every two months. She was too much in love to care about losing her friends. The Prince thought they were all pretentious anyway.

Four months after the fateful party, the prince came one friday evening to visit the princess at her student house. The other residents were out for the weekend and the princess had cooked a nice meal and was looking forward to a nice, romantic weekend. They ate the meal and a few hours later they were in her bed, doing what people in love tend to do.

The prince barely managed to "empty his wild oats" before his phone rang from somewhere in his jeans. Buck naked he stood up, answered the phone and started getting dressed, leaving the princess all alone, confused and naked on the bed. She heard his end of the conversation.

"Yeah mate. Just finished (delivered with a dirty grin) Not bad, not bad at all! I'll be right there!" he said and hung up. A minute later he had dressed and was on his way out. "I'm going down the pub. The guys are going to the racing track to watch the cars tomorrow...." he announced and was gone.

The princess was shell shocked, hurt and alone.

The next evening he rang and the princess had the sense to break up with him, being told she was stupid and would never find another man again.