Stolen Youth

Chapter 5

*Anna POV*

I'm awoken by the thud of Mary jumping on my bed.

"Get up, get up. We have to get ready." Mary squeals causing me to flinch.

"What time is it?" I sit up rubbing my eyes.

"Almost 9 o'clock."

"Mary, we have plenty of time before we have to go."

"Anna come on." She whines at me and I can't be mad when she gives me those big brown eyes.

I push the covers off and grab a change of clothes before heading for the bathroom. After changing, brushing my hair and teeth, and going to the bathroom, I head downstairs to find all the girls around the table eating breakfast. I grab a bowl from the stack in the center of the table and pour myself some cereal while listening to the girl's chatter.

"Do you think we'll see the Prince?"

"Duh, it's his party."

"I wonder why they didn't invite people their own age?" I was starting to lose track of who was talking.

"Maybe they don't have any friends." A few laughs escapes the girls.

"Girls that's enough" Ms Frey finally speaks up and everyone goes back to eating. "It's an honour to be invited and you will behave yourselves. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Ms Frey." A couple of the girls say.

" Okay finish up and then you guys need to go pack for the sleepover."

After I finish my bowl of cereal I get up and head upstairs. I find Mary going through her clothes throwing a crazy mix of clothing into her backpack. I walk up and start taking stuff back out.

"I don't think you need 5 pairs of shorts Mary."

She laughs. I help her gather up a casual outfit, her best dress for the party and a set of pajamas, along with some underwear and socks.

"Now go brush your teeth than pack up your toothbrush and hairbrush."

"Ugh fine." She hops off the bed and stomps her feet to the bathroom.

I start gathering my stuff as well before Mary comes out of the bathroom.

"Ready to go?" I ask, grabbing our bracelet invites from the side table and handing her hers. I slip mine over my hand onto my wrist.

We grab our bags and head out into the hallway where we are met by other girls gathering their stuff and heading downstairs. As we all see each other we start getting giddy from the excitement of it all.

We all head downstairs and start shuffling into the classroom across the hall from the dining room. Joy is standing in the middle of the room waiting for us.

"Now girls, remember to be on your best behaviour today. Mind your manners and be polite. Everyone have their bracelets?" Joy's voice carrying over all of us.

We all seemingly in unison hold up our wrists showing our bracelets. Then there is a knock on the door that is answered by Ms Frey, who had been standing behind us.

A man wearing a palace uniform comes into the room. "Hello ladies. I am here to take you to the palace. Follow me please."

We all follow him out the front doors, where there is 5 horse drawn carriages out front. We all gasp in sight of them. They are beautiful. White with gold accents, they would make Cinderella jealous. He motions for us to get in them. Mary and I head to the last one with another girl, Emmy. We climb in and take our seats. After what seems like forever the carriages start moving. I look out the window and see Joy and Ms Frey waving at us. We all wave back with glee and enthusiasm.

The carriages takes us through town where people are all coming out to wave at us and cheer like it's some sort of parade. The ride up to the palace seems like it takes forever but also no time at all. I chalk that up to nerves. Once we arrive at the castle gates I poke my head out the window and gawk up at the building that I've seen from afar so many times but only now can see how grand it is.

One by one the carriages pull up to the front door and the girls shuffle out. As our carriage pulls up Emmy steps out first, then Mary and then I look down at the steps making sure I don't fall on my face. As I step onto the gravel driveway I look up and notice the Prince walking out of the front door. He was still so handsome. He's tucking his shirt into his pants. Then he looks up at me, our eyes meet and my cheeks flush bright red. I see a smile creep onto his face before I quickly turn away from the embarrassment.

The queen, king and princess were already standing by the entrance waiting for us to arrive. All the girls stand in a row in front of them.

"Welcome ladies. We are so thrilled to have you here." The queen has a very commanding voice for someone so feminine and delicate looking.

"I am Larissa, this is my husband Damon" she motions towards her husband standing to her right.

"These are our children, Eden and Nathan." She motions to her left to the twins. Eden gives a dainty wave that is perfect for a princess and Nathan just nods then stares right at me. His eyes piercing. I blush and lower my gaze to the ground and sort of shuffle some dirt around out of anxiety.

"Now, while we wait for the boys to arrive, let me show you to your rooms for tonight." She beckons us with her hand and we all follow with haste. As we walk in the front doors we are struck by the fragrance of flowers and vanilla. The foyer is beautiful and everything I thought it'd be. We follow her up the stairs, which are so white I'm afraid my mere presence will dirty them.

"After the boys show up we will have a late lunch in the garden" As we come to the hallway she starts calling girls names and ushering them into rooms until only me and Mary are left. Mary is shown her room and smiles as she enters. Then my room is the last door on the left.

I open the door and I swear I'd died and gone to heaven. A four poster bed, with soft white linens, sits in the middle of the room with a white vanity sitting under a picturesque window. There's two doors along the one wall. One leads to a walk in closet and the other to a bathroom.

I look out the window and see it looks out onto the front yard and driveway. I open the window to let some air in as it's a nice day. I drop my bag and jump on the bed landing on my back. I gaze up at the ceiling and think 'a girl could get used to this'. I hear a quiet knock at the door and see Mary standing there.

"Did you see our rooms? They're amazing." She jumps on the bed next to me and we both laugh. As I lay there staring at the ceiling we hear the sound of carriages pulling up outside. The boys from town must have finally arrived.

We get up and look out the window and see them getting the same treatment we did. We decide to quickly wash our hands and faces before heading down to lunch in the garden.

We leave my room and turn down the hallway. As we round the corner I come face to face with someone I was hoping to avoid for risk of embarrassing myself.

"It's nice to see you again. Maybe I'll get your name this time?" Nathan says with a smirk.

"It's Annabeth or Anna. And this is Mary." I motion to Mary.

"Nice to meet you both. Would you mind if I escort you to lunch?" He raises his elbow motioning for Mary to take a hold of it.

"Yes please" Mary giggles.

He leads Mary down the hall while sneaking glances back at me, giving me a smirk each time. Why does he keep looking at me? And why is he so gorgeous?

We make it to the garden and see several round tables set up with sandwiches and finger foods filling the middle of each of the tables. We walk over to a table which has no one at it and he pulls a chair out for Mary and she takes a seat, smiling widely at him. As I go to take my seat he rushes over and grabs it for me. I sit down as he pushes it in.

"Thank you" I say with a slight smile.

"You're welcome." He pulls the chair out from beside me and takes a seat. Great, this was gunna be a long lunch of me trying not to embarrass myself.

A few girls quickly fill up the empty seats at our table. We eat and make annoying small talk with the other girls.

"So, how old are you?" Nathan startled me out of a daydream.

"Oh, um, I just turned 18." I answer covering my mouth with my hand, hiding the fact I still have some food in my mouth.

"Oh that's great. When was your birthday?" He takes a bite out of a cucumber sandwich.

"It is actually today."

"No way. I guess that's one thing we have in common." He smirks at me. He seems to make my heart flutter. Some annoying school girl crush. I have never been one to get distracted by a boy but he was very distracting.

After everyone seems to have eaten their fill the queen gets up and taps her glass to get everyone's attention.

"Welcome everyone, to the twins birthday celebration. As everyone knows there will be a ball tonight and we couldn't be more excited. Then tomorrow morning there will be a breakfast." I look around at everyone listening intently. At one of the tables I notice Brick, the bully, sitting with a couple of other boys. I guess his orphanage was the other lucky pick.

"Now I think we could all use a rest and time to get ready before our big night. All of you will find a present left in your room. See you all tonight." Her husband and daughter both get up and start heading out. Nathan stands up beside me then leans down and whispers in my ear "Save me a dance tonight."

He heads out with his family before all of us slowly start heading up to ours rooms to get ready.

Once I get to my room I notice on the bed lay a brown paper wrapped package just like the original invite package, just, bigger. On the package a tag with 'Open Me' written in beautiful cursive.