You can't run forever

Chapter 7 - I just want to go home

The ferrari was waiting patiently outside for me. Johnson got out of the front to open the door for me but much to his surprise, I was already sitting inside. "Milady! are you alright?" He asked opening the door to talk to me because I wouldn't slide down the window. "Yes Johnson" I said slamming the door in his face. He got into the front seat muttering " These royals... always in a mood". "Who are you referring to?" I questioned. "Aye, when I used to drive your sister around, she was always grumpy like you" said Johnson, his eyes on the road. "Well I'm not my sister!" I snarled. Johnson jumped a little but resumed driving.

 I looked out the window for most of the trip, somehow we ended up going through Derenea one of the poorer villages. "Johnson by law you can not take me wherever you like, I must go where I wish to" I informed him, suddenly coming alert. "I know the rules, princess, I've been driving for 25 years, I just decided to take a different route that's all, and visit a few people" said Johnson matter of factly. "I don't think you can do that" I warned. "Aye and who you gonna tell?" smirked Johnson stopping in a little alleyway. "I...I" I stuttered for the first time in my life, this was unfair! Johnson was getting paid for taking me everywhere, the servant's and common folk were rebelling, I.. I could have Johnson arrested for this... but I won't. "You're a good, kind person, princess, you don't need to act so stern sometimes" Said Johnson getting out the car and locking it. "Hey!" I said beating on the window, "I'm still inside!".

 "That's a good thing princess, it means no one can kidnap you and the car is safe with someone in it, don't worry you will still be able to hear people and talk to them" reassured Johnson going to hug a old lady in a red tattered jumper. "Billy!" She cried hugging the man tight to her "You've finally returned after 25 years!" She touched his face. "Not for long Ma, I have to get back to work soon" He gestured to the car with me inside. The old lady just gaped at me. "Is that the future queen! my, my, you've had a couple of promotions Billy!" said the old lady turning to gape at him some more. "Come in! Sara has been missing you since the day you left! and the kids have grown!" She led 'Billy' inside, he turned around and unlocked the car so I could come out. I came out quicker than lightning, it was so boring just being in the car for less than 3 minutes. A hoard of little girls came rushing towards me. Oh no. I'm terrible with little kids. 

"Pwincess! pwincess! can I try on your tiara!" moaned one, boldly tugging at my sleeve, Helplessly I gave it to her and she ran away with it and half the crowd. "Can I tell you a secret! one just for princesses!" whispered one, shyly. I tried not to drop her as she beckoned for me to pick her up so I wouldn't have to get my skirt dirty bending down. "You're pretty" She giggled into my ear as she ran away. After being ambushed by little kids wanting my autograph I finally got away shouting "watch my coronation on TV!". "We don't have those, they're too expensive" muttered one kid. I paused for a second, "get the little girl who ran off with my tiara to give you it, and you can sell it back to me and buy a Television" I said walking into Johnson's mum's house.

 I didn't need to knock the door was already ajar, with a crying lady hugging Johnson standing in the doorway "Where have you been all these years! I know you've been sending me money for the kids but not once in 25 years have you visited, I know you're allowed leave, even working in that fancy castle!" cried Johnson's wife Sara, harder. A young lady grabbed me by the arm and led me down a hallway, she smiled kindly at me, she had blonde curly hair and was smaller then me. "Oh hi!" I said sweetly trying to make conversation, I didn't have any real friends. She just smiled back, "Why don't you just talk!" I said frustratedly, wondering why she didn't bother trying to talk to the princess, most people would jump at this opportunity. She just looked at me sadly, and to my horror, tears started coming out of her eye. "Oh no! please don't cry I don't mean any harm or offense!" I said trying to make up for what I had done. "She can't talk" said a boy sitting on a armchair, sourly, glaring at me. "Oh is she a mute?" I asked. "Yes! is that not obvious! can you just shut up now and sit down?" he said gesturing to the armchair on his left. Shocked I sat. "Haven't meet someone who can make Cassandra be quiet for more than a millisecond before, you must be a fine man indeed!" chuckled Johnson smiling fondly at his son as he walked in.

 "I'm only 24 dad, I have a long way ahead of me" Said the boy standing up to pull out a chair for his dad and bumping his head on the roof in the process. "Well you shouldn't talk to the princess like that" Said Sara holding a tray of homemade biscuits and lemonade. "Sorry this is all we had, the lemonade is fresh from this morning when Katy made it" She apologized pointing out the blonde girl in the corner of the room. " How else are you supposed to get it through her thick, pampered head, then?" asked the boy. "Toby" warned his grandmother, He immediately shut up. Toby shook his dark brown fringe and glared at me with his green eyes. "How old is Katy?" I asked politely, thinking she would be around 12 to 15. "Uhh.. nearly 27" replied her grandmother looking downwards. "Oh! I thought she was a lot younger then that since she has a younger face" I apologised going red. "It's ok, lots of people think that, and since she hasn't married yet, well, we would like to keep it that way" said Sara. "Princess Cassandra, my eldest grandson Greg who just turned 30 is getting married in a few months, it would be wonderful if you could grace his wedding with your presence" said Johnson's mother smiling at me fondly. "I will try and fit it into my schedule" I said politely. "We have to go now, but I promise to return in two weeks to help make preparations for Greg's wedding, and I will be there for the wedding itself" said Johnson getting up to go. The family rose to see us to the car and so did more than half the village. 

The car trip back to the palace was quiet and peaceful, for once there was no fighting and no drama. Johnson cleared his throat "since Katy has problems talking and hearing, it has been difficult finding a match for her, fortunately she looks younger than she actually is so no one knows, we would like to keep it this way, for the privacy of our family"he said sternly. "Of course" I replied. When we reached the palace my younger brother was outside talking to a dark haired youth. "The first rule here is: no talking to the royalty unless they permit you to speak, the second is: do not travel past the 2nd floor, the third:....." he droned on in a boring tone. Great a new servant, Millicent's replacement I guess, I was going to make it my duty to give this new servant the most difficult tasks possible. I walked onto the first floor using the elevator to intentionally skip the ground floor where the servants stayed and the cook's kitchen was. "Sweetheart it's 2:34! where have you been? you've missed lunch!" said my disapproving mother making clicking sounds. "I decided to see my people, unlike other royalty who haven't been outside of the palace in two years" I answered. "It's a choice sweetheart, the common people don't mind at all, I bet you they probably prefer a visit from an actual queen to a soon to be queen!" said my mother walking off. One thing I knew was I would be a much better queen than her. I walked into the empty smaller dining room, because it was just me who was eating. I ordered something I would usually not, instead of spicy tomato and tangy crab soup I ordered a whole ham and cheese hawaiian pizza, with extra cheese because I was feeling stressed.

Half an hour later, someone walked into the hall from far away, as they came closer they became more familiar and I recognised them as the new male servant. I decided as soon as he placed the dish in front of me and and was already halfway walking back, I would yell out that I wanted something else as well. Now the male servant was less than 5 metres away from me. I realised he was really good looking and decided to pester him about it instead. Wait he was really good looking, maybe he was a former male model? He placed the dish in front of me and grinned nervously. "Your highness" he said in a strange accent, as he smirked and turned away. I let him because I was frozen in place. "YOU!" I yelled outraged. "Me?" he questioned looking weirdly at me. "OMG, I HAVE SEEN YOU BEFORE!" I screamed. "Oh no you have?" he asked trying to back away slowly. "So you haven't seen me before?" I said puzzled, maybe he was a lookalike. He shrugged his broad shoulders and I recognised him as the guy on the road. "Only in a dream" He said turning away, shrugging it off. I felt extremely dizzy and fell of the high stool I was sitting on, only to have him run to catch me, again. "I got you" he said matter of factly as he tried to carry me. Again? I thought as my world faded to pitch black.