True Love's Cry

Chapter 4

In the morning, I go to find my dad. I am not surprised to find him in the living area. It is pretty early for me or the rest of the colony to be up. He looks up when I enter. When I see his face I immediately know something is wrong.

"Dad, is everything alright?" I ask, knowing the answer is no.

He responds, "Not really. We are back to stage zero."

Stage zero is a horrible place to be. That is our code that we are out of food, not that we get much anyways. Of course, we have lived on stage zero for months at one point. We will just have to live with it. I partly feel bad, because I have not brought back any food for the past couple of days.

I state, "That is not good. Hopefully it will not last more than a few days."

"Hopefully. However, we can not know how long this will last."

I nod. I then exit the tent. I decide to go to the alley today and watch everyone in the town, since I dare not enter the town unless I absolutely have to. Surprisingly, I arrive at the alley quickly. I run down the alley to the very edge where I can see into the town. Then I notice Nakayla walking by. She looks up at me and waves me over to her. I shake my head, but Nakayla walks over to me.

"Hey, Kierra. You should come walk with me through the town. It will be fun!"

I answer, "No thank you. I'll just stay right here."

"Oh no you don't. Stop hiding from the world, Kierra Marine. Stop caring about what other people think of you." Nakayla tells me.

I just give in to Nakayla. Somehow I know I will not win this argument. So, I step out of the alley and into the street. I face Nakayla who starts smiling.

"Besides, I see someone who might want to talk with you."

I turn to see what Nakayla is talking about. However, I do not really want to see anyone.

Nakayla says, "Don't play dumb either. The prince and Cole are heading this way. I hope you know that Cole is that guy you keep running into."

"Oh, Cole. Yeah I know who he is, but I do not want to be here if he is with the prince. Not everyone in the higher classes like us Nobudees." I respond.

Then before I know it they are right beside us. Great, I lost my chance to escape. I hate my life! I think to myself. It just doesn't help my situation that the prince is with him. Cole isn't much of the problem, it is the prince. Especially when the prince gives me a weird, disgusted look.

"What is that smelly Nobudee doing here?" The oh so famous prince says.

I reply, "Um...excuse me, I was here first before you and Cole showed up."

Cole speaks up saying, "Now hold on, Parker. You can't just come over here and start a fight with my friend Kierra."

The prince whose name is apparently Parker responds, "How can you be friends with that Dumpster Diver?"

"Nevermind Nakayla. I am leaving. Goodbye," I say walking towards the alley. I want to get back to my colony where that jerk can not make fun of me.

Cole grabs my arm and states, "Kierra, don't go. Parker did not mean it."

"What are you talking about? I meant what I said." The prince replies.

I say, "Let me go, Cole. I told you before that I could not deal with the meanness of the upper classes. The only reason I like you..." There is a split second of silence. "I mean..."

I yank my arm from his grasp and run all the way to my colony. I hear his footsteps as he follows me. I am almost back when he grabs my arm again. I turn around to face Cole and realize that I am pouring tears. He brings me close and hugs me tight.