Chapter Nine : She Left the Kingdom and Her Family Without a Princess

Kali and Mike pondered through the woods. They didn't even know where they were going. Mike starred at Kali. He didn't know if what he was doing was right. Kali had a kingdom to run and other responsibilities. He didn't think that she was thinking her decision thoroughly. He loved her and wanted nothing more than to be with her but was it right for her to run away when she has so much ahead of her. He knew she'd be a great Queen someday. Him a King though? He never even imagined that. He didn't believe he was worth anything, but Kali saw so much in him that she would sacrifice all she had for him. He didn't want to lose her at all. He grabbed her hand and turned her toward him.

"What's wrong?" Kali asked.

The words wouldn't come out of Mike's mouth. He couldn't tell her he couldn't be with her. He didn't want to let her go. He just bent down and hugged her tight. She hugged him back.

"I don't wanna lose you." Mike whispered.

"I don't either, that's why I ran away."

"You have so much ahead of you though and I have nothing to give you."

"You have your love. That's all I need. That's all I ever needed."

Kali kissed his cheek and smiled. They looked ahead and saw a bright light through the woods.

"Is that a fire?" Mike asked.

"I think. Let's check it out." Kali grabbed Mike's hand and ran for it. They walked up the trail and saw crowds of people and a bright fire. Mike looked around and saw Kali's group of friends. Olivia ran up to them.

"Kali! Bomb! Where the hell have you guys been!" Olivia yelled.

"Oh, around I suppose." Kali said.

"Well, glad you made it to the party." Olivia said.

Olivia started walking up to their friends and Kali and Mike followed. Kali and Mike sat on a log, tired from walking and running from the castle.

"You know the sirens were going off at the castle?" Olivia said.

"Yea, but I don't care."

"What do you mean?"

"I ran away and I am not going back."

A girl walked up to them. She was wearing a cowgirl hat and cowgirl jeans.

"Why not?" She said and smiled.

"Because, they are trying to run my life and I can't take it anymore. I just want to be with him and they are telling me I can't." Kali replied.

"That's Sara, she's the one that sings all the music for us because Alexis lost her iPod!" Olivia shouted so Alexis would hear it.

"I didn't lose it! You did!" Alexis yelled back.

"Alright, yea I lost it because I have my own iPhone and I'd rather use yours right?"

"Probably."

"Shut your mouth, bitch." Olivia said.

"Well, back to the subject, you guys remind me a lot of a couple I knew back when I was a little girl." Sara said.

"Really?" Kali asked.

"Yea, I wrote a song about it. Wanna hear?" Sara asked.

"Sure." Kali shrugged.

"Alright. Now I want everyone to dance!" Sara yelled.

(Music starts.)

She was in the backyard - they say it was a little past nine
When her prince pulled up - a white pickup truck
Her folks shoulda seen it comin' - it was only just a matter of time
Plenty old enough - and you can't stop love
She stuck a note on the screen door - "sorry but I got to go"
That was all she wrote - her mama's heart was broke
That was all she wrote - so the story goes

Now her daddy's in the kitchen - starin' out the window
Scratchin' and a rackin' his brains
How could 18 years just up and walk away
Our little pony-tailed girl grown up to be a woman
Now she's gone in the blink of an eye
She left the suds in the bucket
And the clothes hangin' out on the line

Sara bent down towards Kali and Mike as they smiled. Alexis was up by the fire dancing.

Now don't you wonder what the preacher's gonna preach about Sunday morn
Nothin' quite like this has happened here before
Well he must have been a looker - smooth talkin' son of a gun

Sara winked at Mike and he looked at Kali and smiled.

For such a grounded girl - to just up and run

Sara bent down towards Kali and pulled her up by the hand.

Course you can't fence time - and you can't stop love

She pulled up Mike and shoved them together.

Now all the biddy's in the beauty shop gossip goin' non-stop
Sippin' on pink lemonade
How could 18 years just up and walk away
Our little pony-tailed girl grown up to be a woman
Now she's gone in the blink of an eye
She left the suds in the bucket
And the clothes hangin' out on the line

Everyone at the party started dancing around the fire, drinks in hand. Kali and Mike started spinning in circles, smiling at each other.

"Yee haw!" Sara yelled.

She's got her pretty little bare feet hangin' out the window
And they're headin' up to Vegas tonight
How could 18 years just up and walk away
Our little pony-tailed girl grown up to be a woman
Now she's gone in the blink of an eye
She left the suds in the bucket
And the clothes hangin' out on the line

(Music ends.)

Kali tripped over a stick and Mike quickly grabbed her hands and pulled her up into him. She smiled.

"Thanks for catching me." Kali said.

"I told you I would catch you." Mike smiled and blushed.

Sara smiled and walked towards them.

"You guys are a cute couple. Always follow your heart."

In a second, cop sirens were heard.

"Oh no, not again!" Olivia yelled.

"Everyone go now!" Alexis yelled.

Mike and Kali jumped up over a bush and hid behind it, keeping quiet. Everyone ran, scattering all around. The cops pulled up. A cop stepped out of the car and halted everyone.

"Has anyone seen the princess? She's missing and no one can find her. I'm not going to bust everyone for drinking tonight, we have more to worry about. Her parents are very worried."

Mike thought for a moment. As much as he wanted to be with Kali, could he just do that and run away and have no problems? No, he couldn't. Their whole life would be them hiding and running from everyone. He didn't want that for Kali. That's not the life she was meant to live. She had everything ahead of her and he had nothing and he knew it. Kali grabbed his hand about to run farther back into the woods.

"Let's go." Kali said.

"Wait." Mike said and grabbed her hand.

"Kali, I love you so much."

"I love you too but we have to get out of here."

"No, Kali. You need to go back."

"What? No I'm not."

"You have to. You have everything to look forward to and I have nothing. You better off without me."

"Don't say that! Your so much more of a person than you think! I don't know why no one can see that but me!"

"Because everyone is right! I'm not everything you think I am."

"Mike, I know you were a convict but I don't see that in you! I see a kind hearted man that would do anything for me."

"I would do anything for you, I always will but you don't need me. You deserve so much better."

"So what are you saying?" Kali asked.

"Go back home and I promise unless you're in trouble I'll never come into your life again. I'll always be here to protect you, I made that promise and I won't break it."

"No, I need you now and forever!"

"You don't though, you're only saying that because you love me which I still can't even believe that a girl like you would love a guy like me. You need to go home, you're better off."

"I can't believe your saying this!" Kali yelled with tears in her eyes.

"Please don't cry, I don't want to see you pain." Mike went to give her a hug and she pulled away.

"Don't!"

Kali ran towards the back of the woods and didn't look back.

"Kali!" Mike yelled. In a second she was gone into the darkness. He stood there with his head down and tears in his eyes.