The next morning Alana met Gary before classes started.
"Hey Alan, I heard you met my cousin Theresa." The big boy grinned. "She had some interesting things to say about you."
Alana cringed. "Such as…?"
"She likes you. Says you're smart. She doesn't usually say that about boys. When she met Raoul she called him brawn without brain." He chuckled. "He grew on her though."
"She thought I seemed smart?" Alana asked.
Gary nodded. "Stay on her good side. She's notorious for getting pages she doesn't like in trouble."
"Really? She didn't seem that way to me."
"Oh, she really is good at it. But no worries. She likes you, particularly your eyes."
"Oh?"
"That's Theresa for you. The first thing she notices about someone is their eyes, and she's never seen violet eyes before."
"I see." Alana wasn't sure what to say. "I guess I'm pretty lucky to have the princess take special interest in me."
Gary just smiled.
The next weeks Alana saw little of Theresa. She didn't really notice; she was having troubles with Ralon of Malven.
One night in the stables, Ralon cornered her and beat her down. When he left, a girl stepped out of the darkness.
"Alan, are you okay?" Theresa asked, concerned.
"Fine." That was a definite lie. Alana hurt all over, but her pride hurt the worst. Theresa tried to help her up but Alana pulled away.
"What are you going to say happened?" Theresa asked quietly.
"That I fell down. That's what happened. That's what you saw."
"I didn't see anything if that's what you wish."
The next day Ralon was punished for offending the princess.
"I told you bad things happen to pages she doesn't like." Gary said to Alana. "And save it-we all know what happened."
"I fell." Alana said firmly. "The princess can dislike anyone she wants."
From that day on, Alana saw more of Theresa. And, like Jonathan and his friends, when Ralon picked on Alana, Theresa punished him. But Alana wanted to beat Ralon on her own someday. And that day came one day, outside.
"Ralon on Malven has beggars and thieves for ancestors." Excuse me, George. George was Alana's friend, King of the Rogue. He had been training her for this day. Everything continued from there.
Halfway through the fight, Alana heard cheers. Determined not to lose focus, she ignored them. When Ralon was on the ground crying, she turned to see Theresa cheering.
"Alan that was amazing!" She ran over. "Is that what they teach you boys?" She asked, eager for information.
She looked happy, but her brother did not.
"Theresa, come here."
The two of them were speaking quietly, but Alana heard every word.
"You shouldn't be out here with the boys."
"Aww…I just want to see what you learn."
"That shouldn't concern you, sister."
"Jon…" She stared at her brother with watery eyes.
He sighed. "Fine, spend some time with us then."
"Really?"
"Yes. I'd rather have you spend time with respectable boys than boys such as Ralon."
After that, Theresa spent much of her free time with the boys. Alana liked having a female companion, even if she was pretending to be male herself. Life at the palace was pleasant, for a time…
To my wonderful reviewers…
LaVieEnRose22…ummm…NO MORE PREDICTIONS FROM YOU! Lol, looks like I might have to change up my story line a bit…am I that predictable?
HyperKathryne…No worries. Theresa won't fall in love with Alana. I'm not big on girl on girl action.