She Thinks She Needs Me

Chapter One: Predicaments and Adventures

The bright morning sunlight cascaded warmly and brightly into the many large windows of the hefty castle. It was nearly 8 o'clock and the servants were already busy working around the rooms and halls; awakening people as they went. Haley James rolled over and yawned as she stretched in her massive bedchamber. Events of yesterday ran through her head as she mainly thought of her best friend, Victoria Scott. Victoria, the princess of the keep, was overjoyed when her parents told her that she could invite a guest for the summer. She had already chosen the lucky guest before her parents even asked her who it would be. Of course it was Haley James, the adventurous and beautiful. Being best friends since childhood, Haley always seemed to bring out the best in Victoria.

Haley, now sitting up in bed with her legs dangling over the right side, thought anxiously about what she wanted to do today. She sighed, stood, and began running across the room into the hall. Haley's beautiful auburn hair bobbed as she ran and her long, white nightgown trailed behind her. She burst into her best friend's room and began shaking her shoulders.

"Victoria! Vikki! Wake up!"

"Haley? Are you crazy? Whatever is the matter? Can you not see that I'm tired? Go away," responded Victoria, waving her arm in a sleepy manner toward the doorway; covering herself all the way up to her head. Haley tiptoed over to the window, drew the curtains, and uncovered Victoria completely.

"Come on!" Haley grabbed her hands and pulled her into a sitting position. "Wake up!" Continued Haley once more as she patted both of Victoria's cheeks with her hands.

"Alright! I'm up! Goodness. Can't a girl get some sleep around here?"

"Not with me here!" said Haley excitedly with a big smile on her face.

"Is it too late to change my mind about having you stay for the summer?" asked Victoria playfully.

"No way, Vikki. Now…get dressed! We're going outside."

Haley ran back into her room and changed into a pair of breeches and a flowing shirt that she had swiped from Victoria's brother's room earlier when he wasn't looking. Nathan Scott: the crowned prince of Kovia. Haley hadn't seen Nathan since he was a child and all that she could remember about him were the many fights he always managed to begin. Once Haley had dressed, she brushed her hair and stared at herself in the plush mirror in her washing room. Even though Haley thought that she wasn't the prettiest, she loved the way she looked in a man's clothes. She smiled to herself as she began running to Victoria's room ever so quickly. Her bare feet thudded against the floor as she entered.

Victoria was dressed in a simple blue dress and her hair was pulled back into a bun. Haley decided that she looked gorgeous and was about to tell her, but Victoria interrupted.

"Haley James! What are you wearing? You can't be wearing those!" Victoria's eyes were rather large as she eyed Haley's boy clothes.

"Vikki, we are just going outside…it's not like we're going anywhere important. Besides, some exploring would be very fun. You look beautiful, Vikki, but you can't have fun outside in that.."

"But where did you get those?"

"From your brother's room yesterday."

"Haley! He's going to be very angry when he goes looking for those."

"Your brother doesn't even remember me."

"Precisely. That's why he will be angry!" said Victoria rather loudly.

"Oh, Vikki. I don't care! Now are you wearing that? Because I'm ready to go."

Victoria sighed knowing that she would never get Haley to change her clothes. They both walked out onto the balcony and looked out at the beautiful landscape and forest on the estate. Haley saw a lake off in the distance, but could barely see it because a large tower was somewhat in her way. She stared at the tower while pondering where she could step to climb. Once the route was etched in her head, she began climbing slowly up.

"Haley! Get down from there right now! You're going to get stuck up there and I'm not coming up to get you."

"Oh, don't be silly. I will be just fine.. don't get your panties in a twist."

"Why are you climbing up there for anyway?"

"I wanna see the lake!" Haley hollered down at Victoria.

Victoria's stomach churned as she looked up at Haley climbing the tower. All she could think about was Haley plummeting head first onto the distant ground below.

"Haley…be careful…. please."

Haley climbed and climbed and she was filled with anticipation. Something about taking risks intoxicated her. After a few moments, Haley had reached the top and was sitting, embracing a gargoyle.

"Oh, it's so beautiful! Too bad you had to wear a dress today, Vikki, or you could have joined me."

"Ok, time to come down now. You are making me very nervous."

Haley began climbing down slowly and as she did, the shirt she was wearing got caught in a crevice and her foot slipped. She was dangling with just her hands to hold her up.

"Oh my gosh, Vikki! Help me!"

"Haley….oh, Haley! I just knew that something like this was going to happen." Vikki began mumbling to herself as she thought and thought about what she was going to do. She suddenly became very nervous as she yelled, "I'll be right back! Don't let go, Hales!"