Sadie's POV
As Bradley and I walked down the beach, I knew today was the day. Bradley had been my best friend since we were toddlers, and we had been dating for the last six years. Bradley was my person and I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him, and based on rumors going around the island, today was going to be that day. The ocean breeze blew the warm spring air around us and the loud crashing sound of waves made our conversation private. Bradley had been awfully quiet while we walked, I suppose he was nervous.
When we reached the part of the beach that backed up to my family's hotel Bradley stopped walking. Bradley let out a deep sigh and turned to face me.
"Sadie," was all he said
"Yes?" I say my heart pounding with excitement
"You're my best friend and I do love you but…" He stops himself and my heart starts to sink "but for the last few months I've been feeling trapped."
"What?" I say heartbroken
"It feels like I'm stuck doing the same exact things that everyone on New Spring does. I don't want this, I want to break up and leave the island." He says but I have a hard time processing the words
"Please don't leave me, I can't see a future without you," I say
"I'm still your best friend, but I don't want to marry you," Bradley tells me
"Best friends don't hurt each other," I say wiping tears out of my eyes
"Sadie, I'm sorry," He says in a whispered tone "I'm so sorry, I can't stay. You should be enough but you aren't," he kisses me on my forehead and walks away.
I wipe my face one more time before heading up the path to the hotel. My sisters and mom are waiting for me at the top of the path.
"So?" my mom asks
"He broke up with me," I tell them
"Oh sweetie, I'm so sorry." My mom says pulling me into a hug
"What happened?" My sister Kendall asks
"Kendall!" My other sister Alexis says as she swats her
"Bradley is an idiot," Alexis says touching the back of my head
"Can you tell dad I can't work today; I need to clear my head," I say
"Of course sweetie," My mom says
"I'm going to go for a drive," I tell them
"Okay just be safe," My mom says as I walk away
I grab the car keys from my dad's office and speed away as quickly as I can.
I crank up the music on the radio to as loud as it goes as I turn on to the empty road. The rhythm of the music carries me across the island. I ended up on one of the back roads. When I'm a good eight miles off the main road my car makes a noise and I knew I was in trouble. I pull the car over and get out and sure enough, a nail was in the back tire causing it to deflate.
"Of course," I scream and kick the tire
I pop the car trunk and grab the spare tire from the back. I pull back the carpet of the trunk to get the car jack and as this day continues to go to shit the car jack is missing.
"Can anything go right today." I murmur to myself
And as if someone had heard me and wanted to give a break, a shiny black sports car comes down the road. I wave the driver down and as the car gets closer it slows down. A very attractive man around my age gets out of the car once it has stopped.
"Do you need some help?" He asks
"Do have a car jack?" I ask him
"Let me check," He says going to the back of his car opening his back trunk
He rummages around for a few seconds before pulling out a car jack.
"You're in luck," he says walking over to me "One car jack," he adds handing it over to me "Need a hand?"
"I would love that," I say
We get to work and in no time the new tire is on the car.
"Thank you so much, this day was already so bad I don't think I could have stood to make the hike back to the main road for help," I say
"I aim to please," He says leaning against my car "But why has this day been so bad?"
"Well the person I have been dating for the last six year decided to break up with me, and I honestly thought he was going to propose to me," I say leaning against the car too
"Well hey on a positive note, this will free you up to enter the Prince's Selection." He says
"Sorry I'm not into the whole Royalty thing, I'm not cut out for things like the Selection," I tell him and then pause to just look at him, it's then a realization comes to me "I'm sorry, I don't know why I'm telling a complete stranger any of this."
"It's easier to talk to a stranger." He says looking at his watch
"I'm sorry, am I keeping you from something?" I ask him nodding to his watch
"No, I just have to meet a friend, but he can wait." He says
"I don't want to keep you." I say "I'm Sadie, Sadie Gray by the way." I extend out my hand
"Trey Thomas," He says shaking my hand
"Nice to meet you, Trey." I say "And if you're going to stay on the Island for a couple of days I loved to get you a meal as a thank you."
"That not necessary, just glad I could help." He says heading back to his car "Bye Sadie,"
"Bye," I say as he gets in his car
Trey's POV
"Where have you been?" Is the first question I'm assaulted with when I enter Davenport house
"I just went for a drive," I tell my bodyguard James
"Your mother would kill me if she knew I let you go driving." He says
"Then I suppose neither of us will tell her then," I tell him
"Your Highness, I know your mother wanted you to have this little vacation before your Selection, but it's my job to keep you safe," James says with worry
"And you're doing a spectacular job." I tell him "Besides I was being a good Prince, I even helped a damsel in distress."
"Your Highness, it supposed to be a secret that you are here," James says
"Don't worry, she didn't have a clue who I was. She even referred to me as a stranger. It was actually refreshing." I say as I walk past him to the stairs
"Stay on the property for next few days, or we will go home early," James says warning me
"As you say," I tell him going upstairs
"I'm serious Nicholas." He calls up the stairs
"And I heard you," I call back to him
Hi everyone, I'm not sure if this will be an SYOC or not just. Let me know in the comments if you would be interested in submitting a character for Nicholas' Selection. There is going to be some build up before the Selection so there is time to decide if this will be an SYOC or not. This story obviously has influences from the Hallmark movie "Once Upon a Prince" its a super cheesy movie but it inspired me, the starts will be similar but will change when the Selection starts.
