The Race

"Dylan! We need to talk. Now. " I spat at him. He looked up at me and smirked. "Well of course my love." He purred. I took a sharp inhale through my nose and was about to lunge for the jackass when I felt Reyna's hand on my wrist. I eased my body and let Reyna take over.

"Listen up dick," she pointed at Dylan. "You will go outside and talk about this with Anatasia. That is an order from the princess." She smiled triumphantly and steered me out of the lunch room with Dylan having no choice but to obey and follow.

I looked over at Reyna and scowled. "I had him y'know?" She laughed and shook her head. "Yea you're right Rey. Another heartbreak. Thanks for saving me from a suspension." I admitted. "Anytime Ana. But quit entangling yourself with these guys." I nodded silently because I knew exactly what she was talking about.

Every guy that I meet cheats or leaves. Dylan, has cheated on me. I've had a total of 5 boyfriends in the last 3 years. Most move while others just cheat. They never have a good explanation for leaving or cheating on me. I'll ask why they moved away and they make up the same excuse, "This is working out. I met somebody better." I vowed myself if Dylan didn't work out, I was done with dating.

We had finally made our way outside of the school. I looked at Dylan who held his ground and stared me in the eyes. "Why did you cheat on me?" I asked folding my arms. Dylan looked away from my face and muttered, "I met somebody better." Those were the words I was hoping never to hear again. I turned around so he wouldn't see me cry. I looked at Reyna seething. I grabbed her hand and let the tears come. Reyna looked at Dylan. "Get the fuck out of here. Don't look back. This didn't happen." With that she turned to me and smiled.

"I'm thinking a horror movie with 2 tubs of strawberry icecream and a haircut." She tilted her head examining my hair. I smiled at her and wiped my face. "I think I need a new look too." We smiled at each other and linked our arms and made our way to Rey's luxury Kia. We laughed and sang our hearts out the whole way to the castle. Our home.

Soon I forgot about Dylan while we were having fun looking at new hairstyles in Rey's room. We decided to cut my waist length hair to my shoulders with curtain bangs. I smiled at my new haircut. I loved it. "Now how about we go sliding down the halls in our socks?" Rey suggested with a glint of mischief in her eyes. I took my flip flops off and but on my pair of socks I have in my bag of extra clothes. "It is go time my friend." We giggled and opened the doors looking at the newly waxed floors. "Perfect." We said is union.

We laughed at each other while we started to slide up and down the hallway. Neither of us were paying attention until I bumped into someone sending both of us to the floor. I heard Rey cackling and I sat up glaring at her. "Oh so funny Reyna." I scoffed and got up helping whoever I had bumped into.

I looked at the one and only Prince Nikolas. I smiled and helped him up apologizing. "Sorry about that Nik. We saw the floor and had to." Reyna said still laughing. Nik waved her off and smiled at his twin. "May I join?" He asked and Reyna and I looked at each other. "Nope." We said in union, whilst popping the "p". He gasped and pretended to be hurt. "I, Prince Nikolas, demand you allow me to join."

Reyna and I shrugged it off and went back to sliding across the floors. We ended up in the ballroom. The biggest space of waxed floor you will ever see. Nik ended up joining us anyway and was acting a bit strange but we brushed it off as he had hit his head with mine when we fell.

Once we were done being 2 again, we in the kitchen eating the freshly baked cookies. "I love snickerdoodles so freaking much." I said as I shoved another in my mouth. Nik and Rey laughed at me when they saw me reach for the whole plate. "Slow your roll Ana. You'll need it. " Nik said with a smile. I scrunched up my brow and was about to ask what he meant when he said, "I need you guys to go to the throne room in 15. And look decent." With that he walked away leaving us to wonder what he meant.

Reyna and I made our way to the throne room with our best clothes on. Reyna was in her royal blue floor length dress. I was wearing my white dress with puffy sleeves. We made it to the door and looked at each other. "You crown is crooked Rey." I said as I reached for it. "Fix it. Fix it." She repeated over and over. I laughed and straightened it out. "Perfect. What about me?" I asked her. "Beautiful. Ready to do this?" She asked. I smiled. "Always." We took a deep breath- nd walked into the throne room with our brightest smiles on our face.

As we walked in we were welcomed by 15 other girls in darling gowns which made me appear under dressed. Reyna made her way to her seat as I stood with the other girls, hoping I was to stand here. Queen Annette stood up and welcomed us with her gracious smile. I smiled brightly at her as I had always seen her as my second mother.

"Welcome!" Her voice bo omed. "I thank you all for coming to this momentous occasion. There are 15 girls amongst yourselves and yet none of you know why we have summoned you here. We have summoned you all because our son, Prince Nikolas, is soon to be King. And what is a King without his gracious Queen? For 1 of you, will become the next Queen of Sorian Kingdom!" She exclaimed. My heart started to pound in my chest as I looked to Reyna for an explanation. She looked as puzzled as I did and I began to panic. Feeling trapped, I ran for the door out of the throne room, and was thankful when nobody tried to stop me. All except 1. Nikolas.

I ran and ran until I couldn't anymore. I ended up at my hiding spot in the kitchen. My comfort place. I sat there controlling my breathing as I ran my hands through my freshly cut hair. "How did this happen?" I whispered to myself. I sat against the wall and pressed my hands into my eyes to block everything out. I heard fast footsteps in the corridor and panicked. I scrambled for the cupboard to hide behind and wait this out but I was caught.

"Ana? Is that you?" A soft voice asked. I had never been greeted with such a kind voice so I poked my head out and looked at the voice. Nikolas. I cursed at myself for giving myself up so easily and looked at the floor, avoiding his gaze. He sat in the floor in front of me and sighed. "I'm sorry. I didn't know that you would run out like that." I stubbornly continued to look at the floor and scoffed. "I just heard that I could potentially be the next Queen of Sorain. Wouldn't you freak out too?" I fiddled with the hem of my sleeve and kept my eyes anywhere put his. He tried to get me to look at him and eventually gave up and explained himself.

"My mother said it was time to find myself a suitor. She gave me the task of finding 5 that I wanted to 'compete' for my hand. I chose 4 girls with one spot still open. I debated it at first and then said screw it. I chose you because I want you..." my eyes widened and looked at him. "... to be with me. I just chose 4 random girls but the only one I'm hoping will fight is you." He smiled at me and I looked away from him yet again and stood up.

"I'm sorry but I decline your offer N- Prince Nikolas." With that I did a curtsey and left the room. I could hear him telling me to wait and stop but I continued to walk to my room in the palace. Nik didn't know what he wanted. He didn't know that everyone I get close to romantically leaves me. It's a pattern and I know if I get feelings for Nikolas, he will leave me alone like all of the others.

Something wet crept down my face. I wiped it away to reveal that I had been crying. Frustrated, I wiped my eyes and closed the door to my room. I took off my dress and dressed myself in my comfy sweatpants with a white baggy shirt. I flopped on my bed and screamed in my pillow. I thought of all the heartbreaks I have endured and cried softly. My life was a mess that I wanted to stop.

A soft knock on my door made my thoughts come to a stop. "Go away Nikolas!" I shouted and then the knock came again and again. "Whoever is behind this door is going to get a massive beating." I muttered. I opened the door to see a servant. I knew her from around the palace. Her name was Alice. "Oh... hey Alice. What's up?" I wiped my puffy eyes again and tried my best to smile. Alice gave me a sympathetic smile and handed me a new yellow dress. "There is a dinner you are to attend at 7:30 PM. Your presence is required. Shall I help you prepare miss?" I groaned and nodded. "Ima need help with my face. Reyna usually does it for me." Alice smiled and ushered me in the room getting me prepared.

After 30 minutes, my hair, face, and dress look fantastic. Alice directed me to the dinning hall. I took a deep breath and thanked Alice again. Instead of saying anything she gave a 2 thumbs up and walked away. I chuckled and held my head high and opened the doors to the dining hall and put on my best smile yet. All of the heads turned to see who was coming. I smiled at the girls and took my seat next to Reyna and looked toward the head of the table and smirked. Nikolas was smiling and I felt like I had accomplished my goal when I saw the other girls glare.

Reyna leaned over and whispered, "I thought you weren't competing Ana." I laughed softly and looked again at Nik. "I thought that too. I'm just playing the game sweetheart. Nobody plays me anymore."