CHAPTER ELEVEN
Monday, October 3
Apparently boredom does not 'become' a Princess. I have normal classes to do during the week, etiquette classes all morning on the weekends, and apparently because I have nothing better to do I'm going to start riding lessons. Seriously, riding? Did the people who apparently dictate every second of my life know nothing about me? I already know how to ride, it's going to be a complete waste of time to teach me something I already know.
"Good afternoon, your Highness." My riding instructor greeted, walking into the stables.
"Yeah." I muttered, I was standing over by one of the horses; a beautiful black stallion with a whhite diamond on his forehead.
"I see you've met Stardust." She was a woman in her early to mid twenties I'd guess, probably a former show rider or something. "A good thing considering you will be begining on Stardust today." I stroked Stardust's nose softly and he nuezzled against me. "We'll be starting with the basics-"
"I already know how to ride." I interrupted and she looked surprised.
"Yes, I was informed of your previous activities." By which I'm guessing she meant that she'd been told I'd been on a farm before when I was away at 'boarding school' or whatever the story was. "This, however, is the propper instruction. You will be learning to ride side-saddle."
"Stuck-up wannabe instructor say what?" My jaw dropped, unless I was using an actual side saddle that was so not going to happen.
"Perhaps we should begin with more menial equestrianism, hmm?" The instructor pursed her lips and I narrowed my eyes. She set down her bag and took off her coat, showing a full equestrian outfit, complete with braid. "My name is Elenor Perkson, you may call me Miss Perkson." I rolled my eyes and turned back to Stardust. "Excuse me, your Highness." I stepped away and crossed my arms as I let Miss Perkson open the stall that Stardust was in and lead him out into the open stable. I lifted myself up onto another door to another stall that had a brown and gray horse and I watched with boredom as Miss Perkson started to explain how to saddle up a horse.
"I guess they don't know everything about me." I mused to the horse next to me. "And you'd think this would be the trivial stuff." I added, watching, quite amused, at how Miss Perkson felt the need to narrate every single step of saddling up a horse. "Well, I saddle up my horse and I ride into the cit-ay, and I make a lot of noise, 'cause the girls, they are so pretty." I sung under my breath absently, stroking the brown horses nose softly. "Ridin' up and down broadway on my ole stud, Leroy... Save a horse, ride a cowboy." Miss Perkson looked up at me sharply and I rolled my eyes. Mrs Peterson my etiquette teacher would have a fit if she heard me say that. Mrs Peterson wasn't nearly as bad as Miss Caltone had been, she actually let me take breaks when I wanted, and didn't speak like she had a stick where it wasn't supposed to be.
"Your Highness." Miss Perkson looked flustered.
"Yes, Miss Perkson?" I smiled innocently and continued humming the song, it was quite catchy.
"Stardust is ready if you would wish to mount him." She said after a minute.
"You know the song says to ride a cowboy." I pointed out cheekily, jumping off the stall door and walking over to Stardust. For some reason as I said that I couldn't help but picture Shane in a cowboy hat and boots, which made me blush. I easily lifted myself up onto Stardusts saddle and smirked down at Miss Perkson.
"Straighten your posture." Miss Perkson instructed briskly and I sighed, did no-one in this country have a sense of humor? "We'll go once around the padock to see how much damage has been done." She said and I glared. Why couldn't people just believe me when I said I knew how to ride? This was a complete waste of time.
"Okay, Stardust, you heard her, let's go, Boy." I cooed, nudging Stardust gently into moving slowly and grabbing the reins. "Good boy." I praised as we trotted around the paddock at the back of the stables.
"Your posture needs work, your positioning is a little off, and your grip is a little tight. But, overall, you could be worse." Miss Perkson decided and I rolled my eyes again. That's what they all said; I could be worse, it'd have to do, not completely horrible. Honestly, these people weren't exactly confidence boosters. Miss Perkson walked away and I shook my head at her back before I started guiding Stardust through the padock again, speeding up to a slow canter. After about twenty minutes Miss Perkson came back out of the stable, riding the brown and grey beauty. I eased Stardust into a stop in the middle of the paddock and waited for Miss Perkson to bring the other horse over. "Your Highness, this is Forest Storm." I smiled and reached over to rub Forest Storms nose. "Now." Back to business. She tapped her riding stick to my back and I glared at her. "Back straight." Miss Perkson commanded and I kept glaring, but straightened out just so she'd leave me alone. "Centre yourself, you're slipping to the left." I childishly mimicked her silently, but obeyed, none-the-less. "Loosen your reins... Now ride." I started forward at a walk. Great, riding lessons over, what am I going to do every other day after school? "Up into a trot, now, your Highness." Miss Perkson commanded and I nudged Stardust faster.
"Good boy." I cooed, rubbing Stardusts neck gently.
"Back straight." Miss Perkson reminded.
Princess Miley
Tuesday, October 4
"Lord Hawthorne!" I stated, surprised. Lord Marcus Hawthorne was standing at my dorm room door twenty minutes after I got back from dinner and I was doing the last of my homework for today. Really, I went to class, I came back to my room, I did my homework, I went to dinner, I finished my homework, then I was bored out of my brain until I fell asleep. Could anyone have a more boring existance? The riding lesson yesterday had taken about three hours - most of which I spent riding away from Miss Perkson and ignoring her - before she declared that the lessons were pointless (either because I already knew it all or because I refused to listen wasn't sure).
"Your Highness!" Marcus bowed slightly and I couldn't help but glance behind him at Shane's door. Shane hadn't spoken to me yesterday or today again. I just couldn't understand that boy no matter how much I tried. He compliments me, ignores me, tells me to stay away, compliments me again, tells me to stay away again, kisses me, tells me to stay away, and ignores me again. I have never met anyone so confusing in my entire life. "I politely request a stroll on through the grounds and a talk before lights out?" He said and I flickered my eyes back to Shane's door. I don't know why, but I had the feeling that he was watching.
"Sure." I agreed before I even thought it and Marcus gave me a dazzling smile and offered me his arm. "Come on, guys." I beckoned boredly to two of the guards that insisted on stalking me. Not even Roxy was this bad. "So what did you want to talk about?" I questioned, I don't know why I was still upset that he was going to vote against Shane.
"Straight to the point." Marcus smirked a little, leading me outside. I wondered for a second how he knew his way around before I realised he must have come to this school as well. "You never responded, your Highness."
"Huh?" I asked, confused.
"My request to court you, you never responded. I know our last parting was on less than amicable terms, but that doesn't change that I do like you." Marcus allaborated and I nodded slowly.
"Why do you like me?" I questioned abruptly, stopping us and he looked confused. "I mean, you're eighteen, I'm fourteen, we've barely even talked. Why would you possibly like me?" It just didn't make sense to me. Was it because I'm the Princess? Was he using me like those leeches would use me when I was Hannah?
"Princess..." I shivvered when he said it, it was like how Shane said it, but it was still soft and sweet. "You're normal, I haven't met anyone as normal as you in these circles in my entire life. I may hide it well, but I don't exactly like those people." I scoffed at that he laughed a little as well. "You like Kelly Clarkson, you complain when you don't like something that's actually normal and not completely weird like place seatings or napkin patterns. You defend idiots who get arrested for terrorism and treason because that's who you are." Marcus listed and I blushed, he reached up and brushed a piece of hair away from my face. "I like you because you're normal, and sweet, and beautiful." I blushed darker and was suddenly happy that it was dark outside.
"Yes." I blurted out. "To-to the courting or dating or whatever it's called to these weird society people." Marcus smiled, an actual smile, that showed his pearly white teeth and made his eyes sparkle even in the darkness.
"Well, the weird society people call it courting." Marcus said, mocking me and I glared playfully at him. "But, what do you say we do a totally radical thing and date?"
"Radical." I agreed with a laugh.
"Well." Marcus mused, holding his arm out again and we started walking again. I don't know where we were going, but I hope Marcus had an idea. "Now that that's settled, I look forward to our next encounter, your Highness."
"Miley." I shook my head. Marcus was nice, and other than the whole voting against Shane thing I actually liked him. I guess it wouldn't be so bad if I was stuck with him for the rest of my life, he was at least nice and charming and handsome and sweet. "If we're going to be dating then I think you're allowed to call me Miley." It was weird, I'd had three conversations with Marcus and now we were dating with the possibility of... I didn't want to think of the possibilities of what would happen in the future. Of what had to happen within the year. Marcus could very well be the last person I ever dated. It was a scary, horrifying thought.
"Miley." Marcus tested it out and I liked the way it sounded coming from his lips. "Well, Miley, until the weekend?" Marcus bowed slightly and kissed the back of my hand.
"The weekend." I smiled and Marcus stood back up before leaning down and boldly kissing my cheek, making me blush again. We were somehow back at my room and I leaned back on my door and watched Marcus walk away, smiling.
"Princess?" I snapped my head over when I heard it and my heart stuttered.
"Shane!" He was standing at his doorway. Watching. Just watching.
"You-you're letting him court you?" Shane asked, his eyes dark and I frowned. He looked pained.
"Tell me why I shouldn't?" I challenged, a part of me - it scared me how big that part was - hoped he would. Shane stepped out of his doorway and he was right in front of me, blocking me back against my door and looking down at me with dark eyes. I felt my heart all but stop and start like a badly scratched CD. Shane reached up and brushed a piece of my hair away, just like Marcus did earlier, his fingers brushing over the place his lips had just been. I don't know how long we just stood there, staring at each other, but then someone cleared their throat and Shane sighed. He kissed my forehead gently before stepping back.
"He's good for you, Princess." Shane said, shooting me one last brooding look before he retreated back into his room and shut the door. I sighed sadly and stared at his door until one of the guards spoke up and said it was almost time for lights out.
Stupid Shane confusing me again. I shouldn't even feel this way about him, I was dating freaking Marcus. Marcus was a nice guy, he wasn't confusing, he was sweet, I actually liked him. I could like Marcus without being confused and feeling all twisty on the inside. I sighed and brushing my fingers over my forehead where I could still feel Shane's lips pressed as I slipped back into my room.
Marcus was the perfect Prince Charming. Shane was... I don't know what Shane was. But, I knew I couldn't stop thinking about him and it drove me insane.
The plot thickens!
And no-ones even tried to guess who Marcus is. I think I've made it pretty obvious by now, but no-ones even guessed yet. Sadsies.
I guess 5 out of 6 reviews isn't so bad. Let's try to get to 6 this time! Please?
It means the world to me when you guys review.
I'm just going to give up guessing and estimating on when I'll update next. Why don't I just say that I'll update as soon as the next chapter is finished? can you guys handle that?
I had a dream the other day that Joe Jonas was a cowboy, and he was outside doing some sort of manual labour that made him all hot and sweaty. It was kinda, sorta, maybe freaking hot. I've been obsessed with Cowboy Joe ever since. Sigh.
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Peace, Love, Cowboy Joe