Royals

Chapter 36: rachel

The music, the lights. Everything at this sweet sixteenth birthday was amazing. My aunt and everyone else who helped made it amazing. So amazing that I basically rambled on about it to almost everybody at the party. So much that they sort of thought of me as the odd thirteen year old cousin.
Of course after everyone left me because I was odd, I had no one to talk to. Especially my cousins. I couldn't talk to them because they were all busy.
Collin was hanging with some girl named Sophie. Anna and Izze had to talk to other kings and queens.
Even, Kayla, Nora, Sarah or Sean were no where to be found. I felt so alone and slowly, the amazing party turned into the boring party.

I bumped into something hard, or well somewhat hard. Slowly I backed up and was met by two emerald green eyes.
A boy a little taller than me and probably a year older had those emerald green eyes. His skin was tan and looked so smooth while his hair was dark brown and sort of had waves. Overall he was really cute.
"Sorry I didn't see you there. I was kind of trying to block out everyone..." He mumbled.
I spaced out for a second and blinked before shaking my head at my foolishness. "It's alright and honestly I'm trying to, too."
He smiled at me and stuck out his hand. "I'm Kade."
I returned his smile and gesture, "Rachel. Adrianna, Collin and Isabella's cousin."
"Ah I see. What kingdom?" Kade asks me.
I shook my head and he raised a perfect eyebrow. "I'm not royal."
"Is one of your parents not royal?" He asks. I nod and he nods also before continuing. "Are they here with you?"
I felt myself pale a little. "Uh no. They um died."
His cheeks flamed up. Showing very clearly even with his slightly dark skin. "I'm so sorry Rachel."
My name coming out of his mouth was incredible. Quickly my cheeks heated up at my thought.
I looked around for a moment. The conversation had drastically stopped and it became awkward.
He cleared his throat making me look at him. "Do you wanna hang in the garden. There is a garden here right?"
I nod and smile. Feeling less weird. "Of course, right this way."
We both walked side by side to the garden. It felt like I'd known Kade for so long. Like we were best friends seeing each other again after years of being apart.
He was so easy to talk to and I was grateful to have made a new friend.

~*~

   "Who were you talking to yesterday?" Isabella asked me.
    I grabbed the last present before answering her, "Oh um Kade."
    "Kade as in green eyes, dark brown hair, tanned skin?" Izze asked me in a rush. I looked at her skeptically before nodding. "Oh I see! That's my father's best friend's son."

    "Oh." Is all I say as silence takes over as we walk inside into the dining area.
     "Is that all of them?" Collin asks as he walks in with Sophie. They're hands are intertwined and somehow it makes me wonder.

   Is this all for show? I shake my head mentally at my silly thoughts. There should be no reason to question my cousin. I trusted him, just maybe not Sophie yet.
     Adrianna whom I only noticed at this moment was separating presents. At the mention of Sophie's name her head shot up. She glared at her, burning holes in the back of her head that I seemed to only notice.
      I brush my way over to her and sit down. "Why are you shooting daggers at Sophie?"
     "Cause' I am..." She mumbled.
   "Why's that?" I ask Adrianna.
    "It's nothing..." She mutters before excusing herself.
    I watch as my cousin saunters off out of the dining room. Isabella was the only one who looked concerned, but didn't leave. I on the other hand followed, I was the one who left.
When I approached her room, I knocked quietly. "Go away please."
Slowly I peek in the room to see Adrianna at her couch looking out the window at the forest. I sit down and look out too.
"What." She mumbled.
"Why do you not like Sophie?" I ask again.
Adrianna sighs, "I just..something seems off."
"I kind of thought that too..." I say quietly.
"Whatever though, my brother is happy so I'll just deal with it." She mumbles again.
I sigh, thinking to myself, "What if.."
"No Rachel. That is it, end of topic."