The Soot Princess [Hiatus]

57

Eevon

The two guys stood on either side of me hemming me in, while the coach walked off to put away equipment.

"Why don't you two go and help the coach? I can find the trainer on my own." I tried to convince them. The time was nearing five o'clock. "It doesn't really hurt that much." 

"Alright-"

"No," Jamaul cut him off. "Coach said to escort you and that is what we will do."

The other boy gave him a glare, rolled his eyes and said, "Come on, or do you need a human crutch?"

"I can walk, my legs aren't injured."

They led me back into the school to the PE facilities. We passed the weight rooms, the swimming pool and the basketball court. The office door was open and inside were four athletic trainers. They showed me to one of the benches, like at a doctors office. 

Jamaul whispered something to Boych and walked off. He returned with one of the trainers.

"So what's the problem?"

"Noth-"

"Her back," Boych cut me off. "She is bleeding."

"All right, turn around miss, and would you two boys step out?" They left me alone with the stranger.

"Can you take off your shirt so I can see where it is bleeding?" he asked.

Hesitantly, I lifted the back and put it over my head, so my back was exposed.

He took a sharp breath inward. "That was not what I was expecting." He saw the bandages wrapped around my torso. I could feel his eyes scanning the damage. This is why I didn't want to come.

I jumped when he put a hand on my shoulder. He sighed, "I am going to cut the old bandage off and put a new one on." He left for a minute and came back to set to work.

It was done wordlessly and for that I am grateful, but I heard conversations, I'm sure the athletic trainer did too. 

"What's with her? Trying out for an all male team. It will be obvious soon that she can't keep up."

"I don't know about that."

"What do you know? It looks like the two of you were getting cozy during the running."

"NO! But I know she is here on scholarship."

"How?"

"She has to be, she is an orphan... I saw her when I was walking by and she was juggling the ball like at practice, but she got up into the three hundreds!"

"What!"

"Yeah... and we talked. The only reason I was there was because my dad was talking about adopting someone my age from out of there. I had to see it to believe it." 

"Wow," I whispered. I can't believe it. Someone, even if it was someone who's first-impressions were not great wanted to adopt me. It's inconceivable.  Everyone who wanted to adopt me in the past would return me, but he actually discussed it and he has a family...

"Alright, I'm going to start wrapping you back up," the guy said.

"Okay," I replied.

He finished and I hopped off the table after putting my shirt back on.

He looked at me. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah."

"Are you sure that no one is trying to hurt you? Those wounds are not from playing soccer."

"Yeah, I'm fine," I gave the affirmative.

He wasn't convinced I could tell. He sighed again and we walked out of the curtained off area and the two boys were still waiting on me. 

"Alright, lets go." Boych was already half way out the door. 

"Ready?" Jamaul asked.

"Yes," I replied.

We passed the locker rooms and the boys grabbed their stuff and I, mine. If they hadn't beat me out into the hallway, I would have left on my own, but I found them waiting outside the girls' locker room.

"I though you would have left without me," I stated or rather wished.

"Nope, not a chance," Jamaul replied.

We left the building and the boys headed for their cars. I start to diverge my path from theirs.

"Aren't you coming?" Boych asked.

"No, I have a ride picking me up," I lied.

"'Kay, we'll see you at practice tomorrow?"

"Yes." I swept a piece of hair behind my ear as I waited in the pick-up zone until the boys left, then started on my way to the palace.

I didn't have too long before I got to the castle and found my way in through a servants' corridor, until I reached the main halls. I carried my schoolbag through the door of my room and plopped it in the nearest location. I popped a pill to ease the fire coming from my back. I stripped and wiped my body with a damp cloth, because I still cannot shower, because of the bandage. I was able to wash my hair and got ready for "dinner."

A knock came from the door, "Coming," I hollered, but it opened even so.

In walked Mason. I was pulling my damp hair into a ponytail when I saw him.

"Why are you here?" I asked.

"Because I own the place." Cocky like always.

"Technically, the King owns the palace and it doesn't excuse you walking in on me, royalty or not."

"Now I understand why I can not stand your presence and I understand why my little brother Char likes you. And, uh, by the way, all of this," he motioned with his hand in a wide arc, "Will be mine someday."

"And why are you actually here?" I ask.

"Very perceptive, good job. I am here because I have to be. Tonight, it is my job to make sure you are not late to our wonderful family dinner. One of the few mistakes I think Father has made in his life, but he is human. So, shall we get underway." He gestured to the door.

"Of course, I couldn't bear to be late," I said sarcastically.

"And you should watch your tone when you speak with me."

I rolled my eyes and opened the door, letting it fall carelessly behind me.

"Excuse me!"

I halted and turned around. The prince had a look of disgust on his face. "What?"

"Do you have no manners? You hold the door for your betters."

"Oh, you were my better, sorry I couldn't tell, because you barged into a lady's room and spoke so rudely to her. I thought you were one of the barbaric commoners you speak so fondly of," I replied in innocence.

"How dare you!" the prince raised his voice. "I am telling father." He started to storm off and leave me behind.

"So, that is how you deal with all of your problems? Pretty convenient, but what happens when he is not available to listen to your silly whines?"

"Do we not have a dinner to attend?" he avoided my question. I could tell that I had hit a nerve.

"Yes, we do have a dinner to attend. Please lead the way for the lowly one," I jested.

"Watch your tongue," but he did lead the way.

We arrived with a few minutes to spare. Mason exchanged a few words with Dean.

Just after I had taken my seat, we were forced to stand again to welcome Their Majesties. Everything was like the meal before, except the food. The food was different. I zoned out again to make the time fly better and started doing the Fibonacci sequence in my head to pass the time as I ate what was in front of me. Numbers at least don't annoy me.