Chapter 8

Bethany

I am sooooo jealous of Jennifer and Samantha right now. They may not realize it but they have the most perfect guys ever! I wish I could get guys as easily as they do.

After Jennifer asked the Duke of Mabry to escort her to the ball, Phillip put on his big boy panties and asked Samantha to go with him. She, of course, said yes. They are now happily together, which Sam said she never saw coming. She thought they would hate each other forever. It's funny how life works out sometimes.

The king and queen (AKA dad and mom) are now trying to fix me and Asha up with a prince, as Samantha and Jennifer have already got one. Mom has invited every eligible prince to stay at the castle - and the ball isn't for another week. I can't even go outside my room without getting attacked by old, gross royals who want to "catch" a princess. These pervs even try to get Samantha and Jennifer - and they're practically married! The only time no one bothers us is when we have a high-ranking noble with us: such as Phillip, Andrew, Matt, and especially dad.

Matt and I were sitting on the balcony outside of my bedroom. It looked down upon the garden, luckily no crazy royals were out and about.

"Matt, will you walk with me to the library?" I hadn't gone to the library for a week or two, and life was getting boring. "I really don't feel like getting mauled by the hungry carnivores on the prowl."

"Sorry, Bethany. I would, but I have a meeting with your father in five minutes. I better get going." Matt left, leaving me alone. I couldn't stand the boredom anymore so I decided to go to the library by myself.

I was walking down the hallway and spotted the perviest man in the castle. The Earl of Farx. He's eighty-three, and has greasy hair. His fingernails are all different lengths and yellow. When he first arrived here, Samantha wouldn't even go out of her room. Everytime she would venture out, he'd chase her down and stare at her butt. Poor girl.

I really didn't want to be ogled at so I ducked behind a suit of armor. I wasn't covered very well and I tried to scoot back farther. Creak. There was apparently a trap-door behind me, because the wall suddenly moved me to the library. I also wasn't alone. Samantha and Phillip were in the same corner I was in. What do to? I didn't want to get caught by the Earl of Farx, but I didn't want to intrude on the two lovebirds. I don't know who'd be more embarrassed if they knew I could see them right now. I decided to stay put; hopefully, no one would see me.

Phillip was whispering sweet-nothings into Sammie's ear. Well, I suppose he thought he was whispering, but I could hear every word. I blocked them all out until I heard the words "Marry me." It's a good thing Samantha gasped at the same moment I did, or I'd have been caught.

"When?" Sam asked.

"Let's do it as soon as possible. I don't want to wait any longer! I can't wait any longer," Phillip told her. Honestly, I thought, these two are worse than a cheesy paper-back romance. It's sickening.

"But, Phillip, my parents. They don't want me to marry right now!" Sam said.

Whoa, when did that happen? I thought they'd be happy to have us all married off as soon as possible.

"But why, Samantha?"

Samantha started to explain. "They are hoping this marriage law will be reversed, and won't allow us to be married until the last day we have the choice too. Dad doesn't want us to marry against our wills. He won't believe we're in love, since we used to hate each other."

Anything else they said I missed, because I accidently leaned on the lever and moved the trap-door again. I put my ear up against the wall, straining to hear Samantha and Phillip's gross-out love chat.

I could barely hear what they were saying. "Sam, let's run away and elope!"

Elope? Oh my lanta, how'd they manage that? I don't think they're that sneaky. Samantha can barely walk in a straight line without knocking something or someone over.

"How?" Sam asked.

"We'll sneak out the kitchen at midnight. I'll meet you there. Make sure you-" that was as I had a chance to hear, because the Earl of Farx had found me.

"Princess Bethany, what a surprise," he told me, not looking at my face.

"Yes, it's such a pleasant surprise," I sarcatically said. "Well, I promised to meet my father right now, and he'd be worried if I didn't show up, you know how he is. Very protective of his daughters."

"Yes, yes, we wouldn't want the king to worry, now would we? Go along, dear," he said in a scared voice.

As soon as he turned the corner, I put my ear to the wall. Dang it! They must have moved, I can't hear anything.

(This is the part of the conversation Bethany missed out on.)

"Sam, let's run away and elope!" Phillip told her.

"How, Phil?" Sam asked.

"Sneak out through the kitchen at midnight. I'll meet you there and make sure you wear your red cloak. That way I'll now it's you."

"Okay, Phillip. I'll do it."

The rest of the day I spent freaking out about what would happen if Samantha and Phillip would happen to go through with the elopement. Mom and Dad would flip and send search parties out looking for them, and would probably throw Phil in prison for "kidnapping the princess" or something else like that. I had to stop them! I had to!

Matt and I spent the remainder of time together that evening. He asked what was bothering me. I told him I wasn't feeling well, but I could tell he didn't buy it. I went upstairs to my room at eight, complaining of a headache. I had four hours left to plan breaking up Samantha and Phillip. This wasn't going to be pretty.

The grandfather clock in my bedroom chimed eleven forty-five. It was time for me to head downstairs. I quietly opened my door and put on the red cloak Mom gave me for Christmas last year. Samantha has one exactly like it, only a different shade of red.

I walked through the hallways, which are eerily silent at this time of night. Long shadows were cast by the suits or armor in the entrance of the castle. In the moonlight they looked real, ready to attack. I hurried my walk to the kitchen.

When I got to the kitchen, I grabbed a cookie and sat by the large brick fireplace. It was kinda cold in there, so I put my hood up on my cloak. It felt like I waited forever, but finally I detected movement in the corner of my eye.

"Phillip?" I whispered. I smelled a match being lit, then was pulled up to my feet.

"Sam," it was Phillip and he thought I was my sister! "Let's go, darling. Come on, my horse is out back."

I was in too much shock to say much of anything until after Phillip has hoisted me on his horse and we had been riding in the woods for about 15 minutes.

"Phillip?" I said.

"Sammie, please be quiet. Someone might hear us," Phil said.

"Umm...that's the problem. I'm not Sammie," I whispered.

He suddenly stopped the horse and turned around. "Oh, lord," he breathed. "You're...you're Beth..."

"Yes, I am Beth. And I would appreciate it if you'd get me off this horse." Horses and I have never got along. Never ever.

"Beth, I have to go get your sister. She probably thinks I bailed on her. Can I leave you with one of my friends while I get her? No offence, but you'll only slow me down."

"Umm...ok, I suppose so..." Phillip turned the horse towards the left, and off we went.

We arrived five minutes later at a small log cabin, surrounded by trees. Phil jumped off the horse. "Stay put, Bethany." He didn't have to worry. I wasn't about to get down from his beast of a horse. I can't even get on horses. Phil knocked on the door; finally, someone answered.

"Whaddya want Phil?" yawned the big, muscular man standing in the doorway.

"I'm in a bit of trouble and I need you to help me out." Phillip pulled on the reins, bringing me into view.

The voice sounded shocked now. "Phillip? Who is this? Please tell me you haven't done anything illegal."

"Well, this is Princess Bethany. I accidentally brought her with me instead of her sister and I was wondering if you could keep Bethany here until I get Sam..." Phillip trailed off. This was the first time I'd seen him not in control of the situation. It would have been humorous if I wasn't in the middle of nowhere with my sister's fiancee and his hermit friend.

"Phil, Phil, Phil. You really need to quit getting into trouble. But I'll take care of this princess. How long until you're back?" he asked, sounding more awake.

"A week or two," he replied.

"That long?" the man asked.

Phillip explained," Sammie and I are going to elope."

I decided to speak up. "Phillip? How are my parent's not going to know you didn't just kidnap us? Care to explain that one?"

"Bethany, I'll write a note to them. I won't tell them where we are, but they'll know you're in safe hands. I'd trust Nick with my life." Phillip sounded sincere. If he trusted this Nick I'd trust him too.

"Ok, could you get me down off this horse? You know how much I hate them-" I was gently pulled off the horse. "Thanks-" I looked up and instead of seeing my sister's fiancee, I saw the hottest guy ever. He had brown hair and eyes. He was also shirtless...

This was going to be interesting...

AN: Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-dah, my, oh, my I FINISHED THE LONGEST CHAPTER YET! That should hopefully get alot of reviews...hehehe. Sorry for the long wait, but I've been pretty dang busy. Tennis and band every day...I have to wake up at 5:30...no fun at all.

Well, incase you are wondering, Nick looks like Nick off of CSI:Crime Scene Investigation (my favorite show ever!). Bethany is in love with him...as am I. She's the lucky one in this story though...hmmm...Well, please review, and as always if you have any complaints, comments, ideas, or just want to talk: PLEASE REVIEW!

Pinkey the Brain