American Cinderella

(Four Years Ago)

Troy made his way through the crowd of people as he made his way through the dining hall at the university. He scanned to see if he could find an empty seat for him to sit down. His eyes landed on an empty seat across from a girl who was busy reading a text book and scribbling down notes on what she had read. Troy usually liked to sit with people who he was friends and familiar with, for very good reason, but knew he was going to have to sit with this new student.

"Excuse me?" Troy asked getting the young woman's attention. "Is this seat taken?"

"No, help yourself."

"You're American." Troy stated detecting her accent.

"Yes, I am."

"Where did you live?"

"All over, my father is in the Air Force. I'm Gabriella Montez."

"Nice to meet you." Troy replied, thinking he didn't need to introduce himself.

"And you are?" Gabriella asked.

Troy was surprised. No matter how many women he'd met on a campus, they all knew he was the heir to the throne, after his father. The fact that this beautiful woman had no idea of his last name or title was very refreshing. He wanted Gabriella to get to know Troy the person before Troy the prince.

"I'm Troy. What does your father do in the air force?"

"Flies planes." Gabriella answered. "He is also an instructor for the recruits."

"Where's he at now?"

"He, my mom, and my brother live in Texas, at Randolph Air Force Base."

"When I graduate in the spring, I start my training at the Royal Military Academy."

"I bet your family's proud of you."

"My father, grandfather and my three uncles all attended the academy."

"That's quiet a legacy. What do your parents do?"

"My dad works for the government." Troy replied. "My mom died of cancer about six years ago."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"I still miss her, but it's gotten slightly easier, though." Troy stated. "So, what does your mom do?"

"My mom is a teacher, she is the one who inspired me to do the same."

"What brought you to Saint Matthews University?"

"I got a scholarship."

"Congratulations, that's quite an accomplishment. Your parents must be very proud."

"They are. My mom came and helped me move and get settled in. This is the longest and farthest I've been away. But, I've got my plane ticket for te evening after my last final." Gabriella said smiling.

"Do you have an evening class?" Troy suddenly asked her.

"No, I'm done until Monday morning."

"Have you gotten a chance to see the sights of Ronaldi yet?"

"Not very many, I don't have a car and don't know anyone with one."

"Well, you now know me." Troy said. "What do you say?"

"I don't know."

"Come on, it'll be fun."

"Let me go change me change into my tennis shoes."

"I'll meet you back here."

Gabriella got up and went up to her dorm room. Troy smiled as he watched her go. His eyes landed on members of his security. He hadn't want any bodyguards but his family had insistent. The compromise was that they would blend in with the student population. Troy got up and walked over to the head of the security team.

"I want you to keep your distance tonight." Troy instructed. "This girl doesn't know that I'm a prince and I don't want you all blowing it."

"We'll keep a distance, but you both will still be in our sights." Vincent Cross stated firmly.

"But you do not let her see you."

Fifteen minutes later, Troy led Gabriella to his car. As they were walking, Gabriella noticed that people were were subtly staring at her. The first thing she did once she got into the car was to make sure there was nothing on her face.

"What's wrong?" Troy asked.

"I feel like a lot of people were staring at me and I was seeing if I had anything on my face." Gabriella explained. "But there is nothing."

"Maybe it's because you're so beautiful." Troy commented making Gabriella blush. "So are you ready to begin your VIP tour of Ronaldi?"

"Yes, I am."

"Great."

For the next two hours, Troy gave Gabriella a tour of the capital city of Ronaldi. He gave her the history and interesting tidbits of certain landmarks and even got her into some places that were off limits to the public.

"How did you get access to this area?" Gabriella asked as they wandered around a closed museum.

"I have many connections." Troy said. "What did you think of the museum?"

"It's incredible. When we were stationed in Virginia, we used to go to DC and go to the Smithsonian and I just wanted to stay a week and make sure I didn't miss a thing."

"Well, we don't have as many museums as Washington DC, but we enjoy the ones we have."

"What's in here?" Gabriella asked as they entered a darkened room.

"The Crown Jewels." Troy answered as the lights inside the large glass case lit up.

Gabriella gasped. She had never see so many gems in her life. Troy took her hand and led her closer to get a better look at the jewels.

"The two largest crowns are what the king and queen wear at every single Parliament opening and are the ones they are given at their coronation."

"So both the husband and the wife are crowned?"

"If the heir is a son, he and his wife become king and queen. But if the heir is a daughter, then she is the only one crowned.

"Sort of like the English monarchy."

"Yes."

"What are the smaller tiaras?"

"They mostly belong to the Princess of Kellia, she is the one who becomes the queen."

"When I was a little girl, I used to dream about becoming a princess, but then I stopped realizing that no prince would ever fall in love with a girl like me."

"Why would you say that?"

"For starters, I don't live in a country where there is one. Secondly, I'm only a commoner and I don't feel like I'm beautiful enough."

"Well, times are changing. Most royals are now able to marry for love and it doesn't have to be a citizen of their country." Troy stated. "And I don't know what happened to make you think otherwise, but I think you are extremely beautiful."

"Thank you."

"I only speak the truth."

"How do you know so much about royals?"

"I'm a royal insider."

Forty minutes later, the couple was walking around a park. Gabriella had her arm looped through Troy's. The only light they had were the street lamps. Right now, their tour was over and they were getting to know one another, minus Troy's royal secret.

"I have one older sister, my father and my stepmother." Troy explained. "I actually have a good relationship with her."

"What does your father do?" Gabriella asked.

"He works for the government."

"Are you going to follow in his footsteps?"

"It is expected of me, but I want to as well." Troy replied. "So, what was your life like in the United States?"

"Well, I went to school and I had a summer job. On the weekends, I hung out with my friends and Sunday I went to church with my family and we went out to lunch afterwards." Gabriella explained. "My grandparents fly down at Thanksgiving and stay until New Year's. I think the holidays are my favorite time of year."

"Too bad you won't be able to spend Christmas here, it's gorgeous here when everything is lit up." Troy commented. "Do you have mistletoe in America?"

"We do."

"Well, here it is considered good luck if a guy proposes to his girlfriend underneath one."

"In America, all we do is kiss under it."

"We do that too."

They stopped walking as they laughed. Troy leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to Gabriella's lips before slowly pulling away. The young woman smiled shyly and buried her face in his chest. Troy chuckled and settled his chin on top of her head.

"Can I take you out to dinner tomorrow night?"

"I'd love that." Gabriella said smiling up at him.

Later, Troy parked his car back on campus. He opened the door for Gabriella and took her hand. They walked in the direction of Gabriella's girl dorm. Due to it being after hours, Troy wasn't allowed inside.

"Thank you for tonight." Gabriella said. "I had a wonderful time."

"Good and now, how about your tour guide's tip?"

"Of course." Gabriella agreed pulling Troy in for a quick kiss. "Good night, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Night, Gabriella."

Troy watched as she walked into the dorm. Gabriella gave him one last smile before she closed the door behind her. Troy smiled brightly as he walked down the stone steps toward his own dorm building. Vincent met him and they walked together.

"I take it everything went well?"

"Do you believe in love at first sight, Vin?"

"I don't know." Vincent answered. "Why do you ask?"

"I think I just experienced it tonight." Troy stated happily.