True Love's Kiss: a Sleeping Beauty Retelling [On Hold]

C H A P T E R 2

C H A P T E R 2                    

            Once the house was quiet – so quiet you couldn’t even hear a mouse skit across the wooden floor – I slowly walked downstairs, making sure not to make the steps creak. I tip-toed down into the kitchen, where some flour dusted the floor from earlier today.

            Taking a piece of old mail from the counter, I scribbled a note in swirly, black ink:

            Dear Fauna, Flora, and Merryweather,

        I’ve decided to go spend time with Willow for a week. I know it’s such short notice, but I didn’t want you guys to worry about where I was. Sorry I couldn’t be there with you to celebrate my birthday.

                                                                        Love, Briar      

            I sealed it with a kiss and left it on the counter. I felt a tingly sensation throughout my body, Goosebumps dotted my pale arms.

            Willow was a make-believe friend – but my godmothers didn’t know that. In my room, I had written notes back and forth from her to “Willow” as if she were a real person, as if we had been best friends for years. But the truth is, I wasn’t going to visit Willow because Willow didn’t exist. What I was really doing was going to her birthplace, Terre Maudite, a place my godmothers never spoke about, one that was forbidden to leave their tongues.

            I had to admit, I felt terrible for lying to her godmothers. After all they’ve done for me, I couldn’t help but feel tremendously guilty about my actions. But then again, I had a perfectly good reason. I had wanted to find out more about myself, more about my parents. I had asked my godmothers on every birthday, but they had always shrugged it off as if it was nothing important, or simply pursed their lips and sent me away.

            I couldn’t take the secrets anymore – I had to find out what my life was all about, who I am, and even what I’m destined to become.

                                                            ♥          ♥         ♥

            I touched the cold doorknob lightly, as if it were made from glass, and twisted it quietly, making sure not to wake my godmothers. My duffle bag was on my right shoulder, over-packed with food, sixty-two dollars, and my cell phone. I hoped it would be enough to at least start me out. Maybe later, I could make money another way. Before I left, I swiped Flora’s car keys from the jar and shoved them into my jean pocket.

            Once I was safely out of the house, I ran down the road to where Flora’s car was. I unlocked the car door and jumped in, starting the car immediately once I was inside, not wanting to waste any time.

            “Goodbye,” I whispered under my breath as a single tear escaped my blue eye.

            I drove all around until I found myself in the next town over. The night was dark and thick with black. Stars scattered the sky like diamonds.

            Suddenly, the car stalled. I pulled over to the side of the exit, checking to see if I was out of traffic, before getting out and checking the car.

            When I opened the hood, thick clouds of black smoke filled my face. I coughed at the smell, eyes tearing up slightly. I had known that Flora’s car was run down, but not this run down.

            I continued to examine the Jeep, but found nothing wrong. Sighing, I realized I was out of gas. Looking down the road, I tried to spot a gas station. No such luck.

            “Shit,” I cursed.

            The night was cold and with every breath I spoke, a cloud of air came with it. I held my arms around my torso to keep myself warm.

            Up ahead, I could see headlights from a passing car.

            “Wait! Over here!” I called, waving my arms in the air frantically. The person saw me and stopped the car, pulling over to meet me.

            As he got out, I had to stop to catch my breath. He was tall – about six feet – with hair the color of burnt toast. His eyes stood out from everything else, being a deep green. He tousled his hair and headed in her direction.

            “So what seems to be the problem here? Ran out of gas?”

            “Actually, yes.” As I looked at him up close, I could get a better view. His eyes were the color of evergreen trees, the ones they sell on Fourth Street around Christmas time. He had a pale complexion, much like my own, and his lips were a light shade of pink, almost like bubblegum. Up close, he looked sort of… beautiful.

            I watched him examine the car, hoping the gas wasn’t the problem, considering there wasn’t a gas station for about two miles up the road. He checked the engine – twice – and after much searching, realized that the gas had been the problem. Not only that, but she had a flat.

            “Looks like you’ve got a flat, too.” He nodded.

            I bit my nails nervously, “Well, what should I do?”

            “I don’t know. Try hitch-hiking.” He shrugged his shoulders as if he could care less, as long as I was out of his hair.

            My mouth was agape, “You’re just gonna leave me on the road? I could get kidnapped!”

            “That’s usually what happens when a beautiful woman, like you, is out on the streets late at night.”

            I observed him as he smirked, tousling his hair once more. By the slight stubble on his cheeks, you could tell he was about 17 – 18 at most. Was he flirting with me? I blushed at the thought and decided to act a bit rebellious and brave.

            “Are you flirting with me? ‘Cause if you are, your attempt was weak.”

            The corner of his mouth turned upright.

            “Weak, huh? Coming from the one who’s been stranded here talking to a stranger without even trying to fix her own car.” He smirked once more, a slight blush rising on his cheeks. “You don’t expect me to do all the work, do you?”

            I could see in his eyes that he was joking around – just messing with me, and I liked it a lot. Not that I was going to let him know that.

            I tried my hardest, but I couldn’t help but chuckle slightly at his comments.

            “I’ll tell you what. I can give you a ride up the road and we can get some coffee. You in?” He asked, cocking an eyebrow.

            “Only if you agree to pay.”

            “So I’m your repair man and your slave? I don’t think I like these jobs very much…” He gave me a wink before opening the door to his green truck. “Hop in.”

            I felt quite rebellious. I had gotten into a car with a complete stranger – unless you consider him not by a 5 minute greeting – as well as ran away from home.

            I didn’t know what was changing in me, but I liked it. I loved feeling brave for once in my life, like nothing could stop me.

            Maybe this was a part of my journey. Maybe this is what I’ve been searching for.