Stolen Youth

Chapter 3

*Nathan POV*

Plopping down on my bed, I start getting annoyed by all the noise around me. Everyone is in disarray over the party tomorrow night. It's always a big deal-for mom. My sister and I never really had the same enthusiasm for our birthday as she did. Maybe because it had become repetitive. Every year it was an extravagant party full of our parents friends. Socialites and insufferable politicians. There was almost never anyone our age. But this year was different now mom was adding orphans. Some sort of philanthropic act. Nothing like adding a bunch of children to a 21st birthday party. Sometimes I don't understand why we can't invite people our own age. My sister and I have never made friends because we have never been allowed out of this place. I, of course, have snuck out on several occasions.

That gave me the best idea, I was gunna sneak out today while everyone is distracted with party plans. I get up and grab the beige canvas backpack off the chair at my desk. I pick a sweater off the floor smell it (not that bad), throw it in the backpack and put it over my shoulder.

I peek out my door and when I'm sure it's all clear I head down the hallway to the back staircase that leads into the kitchen. Before I reach the staircase I hear voices coming up the stairs.

"Why did she have to invite orphans? Seems cruel." I duck into a doorway and wait for them to pass. Two of my mothers personal guards. I almost never heard them talk. They scared me. They all had this strange obsession with protecting my mom. I chose to stay clear of them.

After they pass, I descend the stairs peeking into the kitchen. The only person there was Marge. She is standing at the counter placing a freshly baked batch of buns down. I walk up behind her poke her side.

"Jesus Christ!!" She turns and glares at me startled and clutching her chest like she was having a heart attack. "You're gunna kill me one day".

"I'm sorry. Mind?" I point to the buns.

"Go ahead. So how long do I have to cover for you today?" She asks grabbing a cloth for me to wrap a couple buns in to shove into my backpack.

"I'll be back before dinner. Hopefully no one will notice I'm gone"

"You better be back. Your mom is in a mood."

I laugh as I kiss her on the cheek and head to the back door. It leads out into a small vegetable garden that Marge keeps herself. She says it's safer if she knows where she's getting things. I think she's just over cautious.

I head down a path towards the edge of the woods that seperate the hill our house is built on and the town. Once I'm in the woods I slow down my pace. I feel safe in these woods. Almost no one roams them.

I make my way through the woods til I get to the edge of town. Before I step out of my sanctuary I grab my sweater from my backpack. Put it on and pull the hood over my head. Hopefully this will be enough to keep eyes off me. I decide to head towards the market. I found a short cut down a side street a few escapes into town ago. The market doesn't seem as busy as usual. I over hear whispering about the royal party as I walk past different booths.

I wander around looking at all the vendors, buying a couple baked goods and shoving them in my backpack. I lock eyes with a woman at a vegetable stand and before she has a chance to recognize me I take off in a speed walk down the street.

I look behind me hoping no one noticed. When I think no one followed me or is paying any attention I slow down and pull off my hood. I am only about 2 blocks from the woods. Then bam-a girl turns the corner and runs into me. She falls backward and I reach out my hand for her to take. But she doesn't. She looks up at me with a scrunched face blinded by the sun. Her brown curly hair falling over her eyes a little. I'm mesmerized by her dark blue eyes.

"Are you okay?" I ask still holding out my hand for her only to still have it go untouched.

The girl in front of me gets up and start dusting herself off. "Yes I'm sorry. We were just.." the small girl to her side looks at her and then me.

I hear the sound of shoes skidding on pavement, I look up and see a group of boys running around the corner. When they see me they start walking the other way looking over their shoulder at me. The big one kicks a rock with a huff.

"Friends of yours?" I ask with a c*cked brow.

"Not exactly. I'm sorry Your highness. We have to get home."

Well I guess the cats out of the bag. I'm surprised she seems so uninterested in me. It's refreshing.

"I'm not a Prince. Don't call me your highness." I yell after her hoping she'll turn around and give me one last look at her beautiful face. She turns and a flash of red comes across her cheeks. She is gorgeous. Curves in all the right places. She isn't a skinny girl. To me she is perfect. Too bad I'd never get a chance to fester any sort of relationship with her. The odds of me ever getting to have any sort of relationship is low.

I turn and head back towards the woods as it is already starting to get late in the afternoon. I wander through the woods coming to the tree line. I look up and notice three of my mothers guards in the garden. I hide behind a tree and hope they didn't notice me. They are just standing there talking. I decide I'm gunna try to sneak in through my window instead.

I walk around the side of the house into the back courtyard. There is a trellis with ivy that allows me to climb right up into my window. I quickly scale it and throw my backpack through my open window while I basically fall in after it.

"You are so busted." s**t.