Hey guys! It's Crystal and Kieran. We made a combined account for all our stories that we write together! :) This is our next collab: The third story in the Deandra Legacy Saga. There was Midnight, there was Dawn, and now there's Starcrossed!
This tells the story of Phil/Nela and James/Aurora's children, Josh and Frankie. And your original faves, Nela, Phil, Aurora, and James, did not go anywhere! They will still be starring in the story, full-fledged.
We hope you guys enjoy, and fall in love with Josh and Frankie, and the rest of our crew.
*takes a bow*
Btw, this is just a prologue to the actual story.
Enjoy the story, you guys.
3+ reviews for an update.
"And the princess did indeed grow in grace and beauty…"
Frankie watched him walk down the hallway like he owned it.
Just at the end of the hall, at the great big doors of the entrance, he turned, met her eyes, and smirked.
Then vanished.
Frankie looked down at the book she was reading, Cinderella. She wished the characters would come to life. She was really lonely sometimes. Sure, Frankie had friends. She was the sweetest girl in Deandra, almost anyone would agree. But they weren't close friends. The daughters of the maids and the stablemen and the dusters wouldn't be her best friend: they had their judgments and opinions that she was stuck up, though Frankie was as far from stuck up as it would go.
She had friends, but they weren't the kind of friends you could share deep, dark intimate secrets with.
Frankie yearned for a friend she could tell all her secrets to. Someone who wouldn't judge her, someone who loved her.
She returned to Deandra Palace's giant library and returned the book, then turned politely to the librarian.
"Mistress Marianne, the book was simply wonderful," she said with her trademark smile.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it, Princess Francesca," said Mistress Marianne, with an equally kind smile. "Would you like to borrow Rapunzel next?"
"Oh, but I've read that a million times." Frankie gazed at the shelves. "Any new ones in?"
"Let me check, dear." Mistress Marianne turned to her shelves. "By the way, how are your parents?"
Frankie's parents were the second-in-rule to King Phillip and Queen Nela: Princess Aurora and Prince James.
There could not be two sets of rulers of one kingdom, so Aurora and James had been given title of Prince and Princess, but there was no doubt that all four of them co-owned the kingdom together.
"My parents are fine." Frankie smiled.
"Your father's garden is really thriving well, I noticed," Mistress Marianne said, her back turned.
Frankie smiled. Her father's unhealthy obsession with plants was cute, and "highly and hilariously attractive," in the words of her mother. "Oh, yes. He loves his garden."
"And Princess Aurora is doing wonderfully communicating with the traders from Stallione, am I right? Her language skills are flawless."
Frankie dipped a nod. "Yes."
"Well, here's a new book," said Mistress Marianne. "I'm not sure you'd like it, though. It's not as…fairytale-ish as the classics you read, dear."
"Oh, I don't mind, really!" Frankie smiled.
"It's called Light and Shadow, dear. It's about the son of the god of light and the daughter of the goddess of darkness falling in love in secret. It's sort of like Romeo and Juliet. Opposites attract, that sort of thing."
"Oh, sounds nice!" Frankie smiled.
"It's poetry, dear." Mistress Marianne handed her the big volume. "I hope you don't mind reading some poetry, it's quite different from your fairytale classics."
"It's alright." Frankie smiled. "I'll return it as soon as I'm finished! Thanks so much, Mistress Marianne."
"Anytime, child!" Mistress Marianne smiled. "Now off with you. I have things to tend to."
Frankie dipped into a curtsy and hurried outside.
Suddenly, something bounced off the back of her head.
Frankie turned, clutching her book to her chest.
"Hey Princess Lonely! Where are your little librarian friends today?"
Frankie turned bright red as she spotted her bully, the earl's son. A strong, muscly boy named Tonner was hurling pebbles at her. And he was not alone.
"It's the princess who has no friends." Jared, another one of Tonner's friends, leaning against a tree and smirking.
"Leave me alone." Frankie headed for the gardens.
Someone blocked her path.
Someone tall.
Someone muscly.
Someone that smelled distinctly of apples and honeydew.
Frankie slowly let her eyes travel up to meet a chiseled jawline, piercing blue eyes, and pink lips stretched into a lazy smirk.
Josh.
More specifically, Prince Josh, son of King Phillip and Queen Nela.
Josh grinned and stepped forward threateningly.
Frankie stumbled backwards.
"She's scared!" Tonner howled with laughter, joined in my Jared.
Josh didn't laugh. He just smirked. "Scared, Princess?" he asked, raising one eyebrow.
Frankie's lower lip trembled; she bit it. "No."
"No?"
Frankie took another hesitant step back. "No."
"Lemme see that book." Josh snatched it out of her grasp.
"N-no!" Frankie reached for it. "It doesn't belong to me!"
"That should make it more fun when you return it in pieces, won't it?" Josh laughed now. He flipped through, and then turned to Tonner and Jared. "Poetry."
Furious tears spilled through Frankie's eyes, and she turned to stomp away.
"Gonna run to Mommy and Daddy? Your geyser librarian friends?" Josh demanded.
Frankie whirled around. "Leave me alone! I'm not a snitch, now go!"
"You are Miss Priss though." Josh laughed his mocking laugh again. "I bet you wouldn't do one thing that would ruin your perfect reputation, would you, Princess?"
Frankie whirled around. "Give me back my book."
"Okay." Josh held it just out of her reach. "Will you accept a dare?"
Frankie blinked. "A-a dare?"
Josh leaned forward. "Prove you're not so perfect. Tomorrow night, I dare you to leave the palace grounds and go down to Dark River. In the Enchanted Forest." He grinned. "And then…you'll get your poetry book back."
Frankie's eyes flashed. "What makes you think I trust you?"
Josh pressed his hand to his heart and smiled. "Prince's honor. If not, you have permission to tell Dad and he'll smack me and give me a speech about being a gentleman and blah blah blah." Josh grinned.
"She's too chicken, Josh, leave her!" Tonner yelled.
"Are you?" Josh asked. "Let her decide."
Frankie bit her lip.
"Josh, dude, she isn't gonna do it!" Jared called.
Tonner made a distinct chicken noise. "Bawk bawk! Frankie The Lonely Chicken Princess!"
Josh doubled over, unable to contain his laughter, and Frankie knew she was openly crying.
"Do the dare, get the book. Win win!" Josh waved the book tauntingly. "You earn my respect, you get the book."
Earning Josh's respect.
For some reason, that won Frankie over.
She narrowed her eyes. "Tomorrow night."
"Yep."
"I do this dare, I get my book back."
"Yep."
"In perfect condition."
He considered. "Yeah. Okay."
"And you'll respect me?"
"Definitely."
"Okay."
Josh grinned. "Really, Frankie?"
Her eyes flashed. "I can be bad."
He snorted. "If you say so, Miss Priss." He put out his hand for her to shake. "Deal?"
Frankie took Josh's hand, and shook. Her honor depended on this.
"Deal."
Oooh snap.
3+ reviews, and we'll see what happens, you guys.
Enjoy your week, beautifuls. Crystal and Kieran.
