In Time We Trust

Chapter 2

My body jolts awake as I nervously glance at my alarm clock. The time blinking slowly, red block numbers displaying 3:45am across the faceless screen. I sigh in relief as the worry of sleeping in passes through me. If that happened, surely I would be told about it in more ways than one from Heather. The memory of the last time I overslept washes over me as I grimace and shudder in slight terror, that was a bad day.

           Throwing my head back onto my pillow and repositioning the blankets over my now still body, I hum contently but fail to fall back into a deep slumber. Today was supposed to be a busy day. We had run out of groceries during the night, as my step sisters and their friends had basically devoured what we had. Since Heather had come home late, I knew better than to wake her up. I had been down that road before and I was not willing to relive it. That was not a pleasant morning.
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           I lay in my bed staring at the ceiling, something that I have been doing ever since I woke up hours ago. I couldn't fall back to sleep no matter how hard I tried, and considering that the rest of the household had a busy night, I was still the only one awake. Gathering up enough energy, I push myself to get out of bed and pull on my normal clothing that Heather makes me wear. It makes me remember the time when I could choose my own clothes, when I had nice things to wear... but that was a long time ago.

          Whatever I had before was given to Holly and Samantha, it was something they teased me about constantly. Taking my wallet off of my dresser, I quickly pace towards my bedroom door and down the stairs, going over what I need to pick up at the market in my head. I quickly write a note to Heather informing her of where I am gone just in case she wakes up during my absence, throwing it on the table as I bound out the door, making my way towards the market happily.
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The sun is shining brightly overhead, rays of light beaming down upon the earth, warming even the coldest of places. A smile works it's way across my face, my blue eyes sparkling happily as I watch the children playing together in the square. Little bundles of energy bouncing around all over the place as parents cradle their babies in their arms, skimming curious eyes over each stand.

My eyes wander over the selection of items as I go over the list of things I need in my head. Grabbing each item respectfully, I watch as the old man behind the counter smiles in greeting. His old hazel eyes gleaming with life, but I can see that the years have taken their toll on him. Behind the eyes of each person, is a story waiting to be told.

Some stories are hard to read, like those of my stepmother, and others are easy.. like the old mans in front of me. "Good day Miss" he grins up at me, his face displaying lines of age and wisdom. "Good Day" I smile back warmly, picking up what I need and handing him the money. Old, shaky hands reach out to take my offerings, and with a slight bow, I say bye and continue on my way.

"Ahhhhhh!" Screams of the local women catch my ears, my alarmed eyes shooting in their direction. Nothing happens in this town. Curiously I begin to walk over to the crowd of screaming girls, a ton of heads crowded around one thing in a circular shape. A figure is barely visible through the tangle of bodies, my eyes squinting as I try to figure out who the one being trapped by the mass of people is.

I hear the figure grunt in what seems to be annoyance, watching as it pushes through the barrier that had enveloped it, exposing it to my vision and the rest of the world. A young man who appears to be around my age, perhaps a little older, shoves his hands in his pockets lazily. My gaze lingers on his well built body, muscles rippling through his plaid dress shirt which flows delicately over his dark skinny jeans.

His jet black hair falling over his forehead flawlessly, slightly covering his left eye. His cold emerald eyes staring emotionlessly at the cage that had trapped him only moments before. My body shivers slightly as his eyes drift away from the girls and over at me. Cold emerald orbs gazing at me as if they are trying to look through my soul, his lips pulling up into a somewhat menacing smirk which shows prominently across his handsome face.

           I feel my face heat up as I bow my head, attempting to keep my now rosy cheeks out of his gaze. There was no guessing who this mystery man was, everybody knew him. I guess that's what happens when one is royalty, basically everybody knows you even though you don't show yourself often. At least that is the case with the prince of our homeland. Prince Noah barely ever shows himself, and even when he does, he is usually never alone.

         My head shoots up at the sound of footsteps coming towards me. There, standing in front of me, is the prince himself. The man who had been smirking so scarily at me just moments before. Prince Noah Williams, next in line behind his father, King Richard. He stares down at me with piercing, cold green eyes, yet I feel a sense of comfort wash over me. Why? I have no idea.

            "Hey there." Says Noah with a smirk, staring directly into my deep blue eyes. It was then that I realized, emerald green orbs gazing cockily into blue, that my life was about to get a lot more interesting.