Page 2 of From Princess to Queen

A knock at my door drags me from my thoughts, and my heart skips a beat. It’s him.

“Yeah?” My heart sinks when my brother walks into the room. “Where have you been? You promised you would be here tonight!” I snap, glaring at him. He runs his hands through his hair and sighs.

“Something came up, and we couldn’t make it, sorry.”

“What happened? Are you both okay?” I look behind him to see if Daniel is there, but the hallway is empty and silent.

“I need to talk to you about something,” Oliver says sombrely.

“Why have I got a feeling I won’t like this?” I ask as he walks further into the room. Oliver sits on the bed next to me. He places something beside him and takes my hand.

“Daniel’s been called back to his fathers. He left an hour ago.”

“How long for?” I ask, hoping it’s not as long as last time. He was gone for two months, and it was the longest summer of my life.

“Gabby, I don’t think he’ll be coming back, not for a long time, at least.”

I stare at my brother, unable to process what he’s saying. Daniel would never leave, not without saying goodbye to me first. There must be some mistake.

“He made me promise to give you this.” Oliver places an envelope and a small gift box in my hand. “He’s sorry he missed the party and won’t be here when you graduate next month. He had no choice but to leave as quickly as possible.”

I look down at the gift and envelope whilst trying to process everything. I feel my brother kiss my head as he stands up.

“I’ll leave you alone. But if you need me, just come into my room, okay?”

I nod, unable to tear my eyes away from the gift in my hand. I hear the bedroom door being opened and my brother sighing.

“I’m sorry this didn’t go how you planned, Gabby. If it’s any consolation, so is he.” With that, he closes the door, and I’m left alone. I place the box on my bed and slowly open the envelope. Inside is a card and a short message.

Princess,

I wish I could give this to you myself and wish you a happy 18thbirthday, but family responsibilities have to come first.

I don’t know when I’ll be back or if I ever will. But I want you to know that you deserve the world handed to you on a golden platter. I hope you realise just how amazing you are and never forget it.

Remember what I told you. You deserve someone who treats you like a Princess until they make you their Queen; never settle for less.

All my love, always

Your Danny

Xxx

I place the card on the bed and pick up the box before slowly opening it. Inside is the most beautiful necklace I have ever seen. The charm is a beautiful cut amethyst, my favourite stone. It is fit for a Princess. I run my fingers over it before pulling it from the box and placing it around my neck. I lift the charm to my mouth and kiss it softly as a tear streaks down my cheek. Closing the box lid, I place it with the card on my chest of drawers.

I curl up on the bed and pull my pink teddy towards me. The same one Daniel won for me when I was twelve at the summer fair. I hold on to it tightly as the tears flow and fear I’ve lost my Prince forever.

Chapter One

Five years later

I sit back in the driver-side seat, the tinted windows up, even though it’s a warm late summer evening. I watch the flat above the little bookshop, needing just one glimpse of her to take some of the constant feelings of longing away, if only for a short while. A light switches on in the front window, and I bolt upright, trying desperately to see her. That’s when she appears, the light behind her making her look like the angel I know she is.

Everything about this woman is pure, from her long blonde hair to her smooth, flawless sun-kissed skin. My heart beats faster as she looks out of the window whilst talking on the phone. She looks straight at the car, and I panic for a moment that she can see me, but then she turns her attention to something else down the street. She continues to look around before closing the curtains and disappearing from view.

I sit and wait momentarily, wanting to be sure she won’t return. But after the light goes off, I know she’s heading to bed for the night.

Climbing out of the car, I quickly head for the alleyway at the side of the building. The steps leading to her front door help hide me from nosy passers-by. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been seen down here, butshehas never caught me.

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