Forgotten Royalty (Escaping The Throne) (3 page)
Read Forgotten Royalty (Escaping The Throne) Online
Authors: Tiffany Wood
It was 5 o’clock in the morning. I decided to get up and take a shower.
I wouldn’t be sleeping anymore this morning. I got dressed in my usual gothic
attire, put on my jewelry and makeup, and went to the kitchen for a bowl of
cereal.
When I heard Aunt Lynn coming out to the bathroom at 6, I laughed
because she looked in my room and almost passed out. This was the first day in
months that I was up when I was supposed to be up, let alone before her. She
looked to the kitchen as if she were afraid I had run away, but saw me sitting
there and went into the bathroom.
“You’re up early.”
“I guess you were right about all that ‘early to bed, early to rise’
stuff.” I faked a smile.
“You’re not wearing that to school are you?”
“Please don’t start that, I know girls that wear worse than this to
school.” I thought she was going to start arguing again but she didn’t.
“Okay, I just wish you would wear stuff a little more colorful. I guess
I can’t complain that you’re trying to hide yourself from the world; after all,
you are a drama queen.”
Wow! Did Aunt Lynn just agree with me on something? Write this down on
a calendar.
“I’m leaving. I already called Thai. He was almost as surprised as you
at how early I’m up. I’ll see you after school. Love you.” As I walked away I
could feel my aunt staring at me with pride.
On the ride to school, Thai wanted me to tell him everything and anything
that happened last night because he was convinced that whatever it was is why I
was up so early.
“It’s just a fluke. I didn’t feel good last night so I went to bed
early.” Well, part of that was true.
“If that’s all it takes to get you to school on time, I’ll call your
aunt and tell her to make you tofu burgers every night.”
We laughed. Thai new I usually didn’t eat my aunt’s cooking. He figured
that I must have eaten it last night and it didn’t agree with me. I wasn’t
going to tell him any different.
“So, how long are you grounded for this time?” He would ask.
“Two weeks, but if I keep this up, I may get an early release for good
behavior,” If only that were true. I notice something dangling from Thai’s
mirror. “Hey, you don’t usually have jewelry hanging from the mirror. Is that a
family crest?” I knew it was. We had been studying them in History but I
couldn’t find the one from my necklace.
“Yeah, I usually wear my ring on my finger, but it’s swollen today. I
never leave home without it, so I put it on that necklace and hung it up.”
I could show Thai my necklace, but I don’t want to ruin his moment. We
were only a few blocks from school now and I figured I could show him when he
picks me up later.
“So you’ll be out here on time today, no running in front of vehicles?”
He mock yells at me.
I looked at him incredulously, “I can’t believe you’re making fun of
me. Yes I’ll be here on time, no running out…watch out!”
There was that SUV again. Why do they keep trying to hit us?
“They get closer every time don’t they?” Thai didn’t think anything of
it, but I did.
As we pull up to the school, I thank Thai and tell him again that I
will see him after school. I glance at the parking lot and notice a familiar,
red, hot rod.
“Hey Sara,” Shaun called as he ran up to me. “You’re actually on time
for once.”
Let the razzing begin. “Yes, Shaun and you actually dressed yourself
this morning and managed to get your hair to stay down.” He had a horrible cow
lick that I had to fix between first and second period almost every morning.
“Alright, truce. I just meant it was nice to see you before first bell.
We may even be able to hold a normal conversation before class.” Shaun knew
when it wasn’t good to push my buttons. I was happy to see him though.
“Shall we go in?” I feign a British accent.
“Yes, I think we shall.” Shaun replies. We walk to our lockers and
everyone stares. “I guess I’m not the only one who was surprised by your early
arrival.” Shaun says sarcastically. “Take a picture; she may sign it for you
one day.” He yells at everyone so they quit staring.
“Thanks,” I whisper as I open my locker. There, staring back at me is
an envelope with my name written in Calligraphy on the front.
“I wonder who this could be from.” Shaun grabs it from my hand as fast
as he can. “Ooh, I bet it’s a love letter.” He laughs.
“Give it back Shaun. Please, I’m really not in the mood right now.”
He starts to hand it over. “Only if I can read it with you.”
Why does he have to play games with me? “How about I tell Anita that
you have a secret crush on her?”
He hands it over with a hurt look on his face. “You wouldn’t really
tell her, would you?”
I couldn’t answer that one until later. I opened the envelope and
looked inside. It was a student schedule, but it wasn’t mine. The name on it
was Damian Lykaios. Why would somebody give me their schedule?
Then I noticed that he had all of the same classes as me. I show Shaun
and he just looks at it dumbfounded.
“That is some seriously weird stuff.” Shaun shakes his head, “Do you
know him?”
I can’t help thinking I do. “Let’s just go to class.”
We walked into homeroom and I didn’t see anyone out of the ordinary. I
see the teacher looking at me oddly as I go to my regular seat. Shaun was the
only one who sat beside me in home room; no one else had the guts. In fact, no
one sat beside me in any of my classes except Shaun, Anita, and Lyla. And none
of them were in the same class as me at the same time. I always had at least
one open seat beside me. I wonder why I never noticed that before. “Class, we
have a new student. Damian, would you introduce yourself and tell us something
of interest.” I looked to the door just in time to see the boy from last night
walk in. He begins to speak, but I am lost in his eyes.
Shaun leans towards me, “Where did they find him at?”
Snap out of it Sara, “Who knows? Can we just get on with morning
announcements?”Mrs. Snyder looks my direction and points. I almost think she
heard me until I realize she has pointed Damian back to the empty seat beside
me. Could this day get any worse?
*****
Throughout the next few classes I sat back and watched Damian introduce
himself over and over again. He didn’t seem to mind telling the class who he
was, so why did he have a problem telling me yesterday?
In study hall before lunch, I always sat with Lyla. She would keep my
mind off of him. We were allowed to move our desks around so I wouldn’t even
have to be next to him.
“Did you see that new guy Damian?”
Not her too! “Yeah, I hear he’s really rude and keeps to himself.”
Maybe that would end the conversation.
“Really, I heard that he’s really nice and he’s already offered to
tutor any of us who need help in Trigonometry.” Why did he have to be so perfect
to everyone but me?
“Oh well. You know I don’t have that this semester so I won’t need his
services. Did Shaun tell you about the crow in the auditorium yesterday?”
She shook her head.
“Yeah, it swooped down and grabbed my hair. It yanked a good chunk out.
Fortunately, I had just finished my scene so I don’t have to relive that again.
It disturbed Mr. Hitero enough for him to postpone everyone else’s auditions
though.” That should change the subject.
“Did you say there are auditions today?” No, he is not talking to me.
Just ignore him and he’ll go away.
“Yeah, she did. They’re auditioning for the fall play.”
I could throttle her. “It’s nothing special. You wouldn’t be interested.”
Please don’t be interested.
“When are the auditions?”
NO! I shout mentally. Act nice Sara. “During lunch, are you coming by?”
“Yeah, I think I will.”
AAAAHHHH! I could pull out my hair. I really need to try to stay cool.
“I guess I’ll see you there.” I say through clenched teeth. Lyla looks at me
funny as Damian walks back to his desk. “What? He gives me the heebie-jeebies.”
As if on cue, Shaun comes running in right before the bell. “Sara, come
on. Let’s get down to the auditorium before everyone else. We’ll have the best
seats.”
“Did you grab my lunch from my locker?” Of course he did.
Shaun was the president of the Drama club, so he got to leave class
five minutes early for lunch so he could get his lunch and set up. “Yeah, let’s
go. I already cleared it with the teach.”
Shaun always seemed to be three steps ahead. He grabbed my arm and
pulled me out of class before I could even wave to Lyla.
We ran down the hall and into the auditorium. He already had a table
set up for us where we would be able to see the stage without anyone getting in
the way.
“Alright, Shaun, what’s the rush? You never drag me down here before
the bell.”
He smiled great big and looked around, “Okay, no one’s here. Mr. Hitero
said I could spill but only if we were alone.”
The suspense was killing me, “What?”
He turned around, “You, well, you kinda….got the part!”
We both jumped up and down. “Are you serious? I knew that he liked it,
but I figured he would at least hear the others audition before deciding.” I
actually got the lead role.
“He is still hearing the others so he can pick the understudy. He knows
no one will work as hard as you.”
OMG! I can’t believe it. “Did he pick any of the other parts yet?” Just
as I finished the sentence, the lights came on and everyone started coming in.
“No, and that’s all I have to say on the matter.”He smiled great big
and took his seat.
I walk to mine and go to pull it out when, “Allow me,” there was Damian
pulling my chair out for me. Was he trying to make up for being so rude
yesterday? I am not going to forgive him that easily. I sit down as if I were a
courtier and he were a servant, never meeting his gaze. He took the chair on
the other side of me.
“Thanks for inviting me to audition Shaun.” Damian whispers across me.
He didn’t. Oh I was gonna get him for that. “Oh, Shaun invited you.
Wasn’t that nice? Shaun, why didn’t you tell me that you invited Damian?” I was
trying not to sound to upset. In fact, I sounded rather intrigued. “I didn’t
know you had made friends with him. And Damian, why did you need me to tell you
when they were?”
“Oh, I forgot to tell you that we met in the parking lot this morning.
Actually, it was right before you got here.”
“So what did you two talk about this morning?”
They were about to answer when Mr. Hitero called for the first person
on the list. This would have to wait. I tried passing notes to Shaun while the
girls auditioned, but he wouldn’t answer my questions. The girls finished
rather quickly. It was the guys turn.
“First up for the leading male role is, Damian Lykaios. Come on up
here.” Mr. Hitero said.
“Oh, this should be good,” I whisper to Shaun.
“No, watch, he’s read the script already.”
What? There is no way that he has the entire script down. He couldn’t
have got it before this morning. I know I didn’t tell anyone at the library
about it.
“I’d like to rehearse scene 8 with the crow. And I don’t have a partner
lined up to help me with it.”
He wouldn’t. “Hey, that’s the scene that Sara did yesterday so well.
Why don’t you rehearse it with him? It’s good practice.”
If I said no, I would be the one who seemed rude. “I guess I could.
Give me a minute.” I can’t believe Shaun did this to me. I was so going to tell
Anita that he has a crush on her.
As I join Damian onstage, I feel like I’m being watched. I look over
the auditorium as I had yesterday, but there is no one there. It must be
because I am so irritated. I sit on the swing and start to pout to get that
just crying look, “Steve, I just want to be alone. I have to process all of
this. Why didn’t you just tell me?”
Damian looks at me with pleading eyes, “Isabella, please! I didn’t
think you would understand. I tried so many times to tell you.”
He takes my hands and I pull them away for real. His touch was like a
shock. I get up and start running across the stage. “Izzy, come back, please!
Let me explain.”
I hear him running after me, just like Shaun had the day before. Suddenly,
I’m afraid. I turn to scan the rafters, expecting to be attacked again at any
second. OOF! I hit the floor with Damian landing on top of me. I look up into
his eyes and neither of us moves.
“Bravo! Bravo! That was wonderful, although I think we can do without
the tackle next rehearsal.” Mr. Hitero is speaking, but I still can’t move.
Damian sits up off of me and takes my hand. I don’t pull it away this
time. “Are you okay? I didn’t mean to run you over.” He helps me up and I just
stare, “Sara?”
Breathe! “What? Oh, yeah. I’m alright. I guess I was just a little
dazed for a sec there.” What was I doing? I couldn’t stand Damian ten minutes
ago, and now he has me ogling over him like a lost puppy. I pull my hand away a
little slower this time so I don’t seem rude. I straighten the front of my
outfit and turn away. “Was that enough, Mr. Hitero?” I knew it was but I needed
to recover from that scene before anyone noticed what happened.
“Yes, Sara. That was more than enough for today. You may sit down.”
Good, I didn’t think I could stand next to him much longer. I walked as
fast as possible back to my seat, but Damian had jumped down off the stage and
already had my chair pulled out. “Thanks.”
He pushed my chair in after I was seated and we sat there quietly the
rest of the period.
As soon as the bell rang, I was out the auditorium doors. I ran down to
my locker to put my lunch bag away and I had decided that I was just going to
skip the rest of the day. I had Biology next and we were doing blood typing so
I’m sure I could get out of class by saying I felt sick. I sat down in my seat
and prepared my act. The scene was already set for us to do our labs. The bell
rang and I took a deep breath with my eyes closed. Visualize the part, be the
part. I open my eyes and there stands Damian.
