Well heres the really long awaited chapter, sorry! LOL
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I woke up to the squawks of the roosters. Ella, who was still snoring loudly, had half of her body off the stack and half on. I rolled my eyes and pushed the rest of her off. She fell to the ground with a loud thud, but kept on snoring away. I chuckled and kicked the blankets off of me and walked to the windows. The chilly winter air hit my face and I shivered. I looked outside and saw three silhouettes near the pig dens.
I threw on my cloak, and slipped into my winter boots that my grandmother had sewn for me. Then I rushed outside.
As I got near I realized that the taller two people included my father and Gazzy. The third person had their back to me, but I could tell it was girl by the way her dark curly hair reached her waist. Gazzy saw me approaching and smiled, he whispered something to the woman and she whirled around quickly.
Nudge's caramel skinned face broke off into a blinding smile as she saw me quickening my pace.
"Nudge!" I squealed while tackling her.
Nudge's arms circled around my waist and held us both in place before we toppled over into the pig den. My arms locked themselves around her neck and I buried my face in her shoulder.
"Max! You've grown so tall!" she stated.
It was true. I hit my growth spurt when I hit 14, and over the next four years I grew at least an inch. Now at the age of 18, I was nearly 5 '10. I almost towered over her, but she still had 2 good inches over me. I never saw her anymore because her master had always kept her locked up in that cottage doing endless chores. This was probably the first time Nudge has been outside in the last 4 years!
We separated and I smirked at her. "You've grown so old!" I laughed poking her forehead.
She huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "26 is not old." She said squinting at me. "besides if its anyone you should badger about age, its Garland here." She smirked.
Gazzy's eyebrow shot up. "I'm only one year older than you, doof." He said.
"Careful son." Father said placing a hand on his shoulder. "A woman's scorn is a deadly weapon."
"You would know wouldn't you father?" I laughed. Nudge and Gazzy joined in and father gave a cheeky smile.
"Well, I'll leave you to it then." He said bowing at Nudge. She curtsied back and we watched as father made his retreat to the cottage.
"So Max. Found any suitable husbands yet?" Nudge giggled.
I turned back and stuck my tongue out at her.
"Woah! Hold the carriage! Max is way too young to be looking for a husband," Gazzy butted in.
His voice was still a little weird from his fever. Nudge rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.
"Max is beautiful. She deserves a husband and soon!" Nudge said.
"Uhm. Excuse me! Max is right here!" I said pointing at myself.
Gazzy ignored me and looked at his girlfriend. "You are beautiful and haven't got a husband." He pointed out.
The air just suddenly got awkward with me here. I rolled my eyes, wished Nudge a farewell and went back into the cottage. I opened the door and quickly closed it behind me, and then shook my boots free of snow and then walked to the kitchen window.
Mother and father were in the backyard, father stood behind mother who was taking down clothes from the lines. He snakes his arms around her waist and laid his chin on her shoulder. I smiled softly and turned away, heading to the washroom.
I love my parents, I really do. But sometimes….their affection could remind me over and over again on how lonely I am. I've only ever had three friends in my entire life, and I've never really spoken to any boys here in the village.
I looked in the mirror. My thin blond hair was straight and fell down my back all the way past my butt. It was thin, blonde and boring. I wish I could have curly hair like Ella. My eyes were a shade of light brown, probably one of my only features I take pride in. My skin was pale and cold and my lips were pink.
My breasts weren't even that developed yet. My stomach was thin and the gowns I wore hugged my body tightly. Ella said it was to show off the wonderful figure she said I had, when really all it does is make it harder to breathe. If I had the choice, I would wear tights and one of father's cotton shirts. It looks so much more comfortable than the gowns mother made us wear.
I had no chores today, and the blizzards had stopped. I might as well go and see how Darius and JJ are doing. Oh and then pay a little visit to Angel on the way.
I went back up to my room and took off my cloak and sleeping gown. Ella was still snoring away. I opened the trunk at the foot of the 'bed' and pulled out my favorite green gown. It went all the way to my ankles, and it was long sleeved. From my shoulders down the sleeves, it was strictly white, while the entire body was a lovely shade of green.
It was plain but warm, one of the reasons why it was my favorite. After slipping back on my cloak, I grabbed a basket from the kitchen table and went to the living room where mother and father had moved.
"Momma, Poppa I'll be in town today. Is there anything you needed from the markets?" I asked.
"No darling. But check if your brothers need anything." Father said.
I looked out at the window where I had last seen Nudge and Gazzy, only to look away quickly. They were kissing passionately as the sun rose, and I didn't want to intrude.
"I know Gazzy won't need anything…" I muttered under my breath.
I turned and walked to the room Iggy and Gazzy shared. I knocked on the door and waited patiently. Then my shirtless brother opened the door groggily. When he saw me, his eyes widened and he quickly shielded his room from my sight. I rolled my eyes.
"Honestly Iggy. Put a shirt on before you catch a cold!" I scolded.
Iggy paled and nodded mutely. My brows furrowed in confusion. "Uhh…are you okay?" I asked.
"Ye- yes." He said pressing his body tighter to the edge of the door.
"What are you trying to hide?" I asked squinting at him.
"Nothing." He said. The door side was digging into his side.
"Huh. Ok then. I'm going into town today. Do you need anything?" I asked.
"No." he said nervously.
"Have it your way." I said. I turned around and knew he was watching until I left the hallway entirely to shut the door.
Being the little sister I am, I quickly turned around and charged the door, barging it open. Iggy fell backwards and landed on his bottom, and my basket fell on his head. I quickly scanned the room for what he was hiding before he got up, and I nearly had a heart attack.
"What is she-"
My scream was cut off from Iggy's palm. My widened eyes were focused on the lump in his bed. His eyes pleaded mine to be quiet. I turned around, closed to the door and whirled on him, crossing my arms over my chest.
"Iggy. Why is Kate in your bed?" I snarled.
Kate was Iggy's girlfriend. Her whole name was Katherine, but I liked to call her Kate. She was at least a year younger than him, I believe she was 29. She was sleeping, and I was relieved to see that her gown was still fully on.
"We didn't do anything! I swear it!" Iggy said looking at me desperately.
I frowned and furrowed my brow. "Does mother and father know?" I asked.
"Of course not! And I would like to keep it that way!" he said.
I smiled as a sudden thought occurred to me. "Of course brother. I will most definitely keep your secret to myself," I said.
He breathed a sigh of relief and handed me my basket. "Thank you Max. You are the best sister-"
"Of course… it's gonna cost you." I smirked.
Iggy glared at me. "Why did I suspect that was coming?" he asked.
I shrugged and readjusted my cloak. "Because you know me dear brother. When the time comes to collect my payment, I shall. But for now…farewell." I said bowing.
I knew leaving him like that would disturb him throughout the entire day. One of my goals was completed.
On my way out the door, I stopped once more to say bye to mother and father.
"Be back by sundown!" mother called after me.
"Yes'm." I called back.
I skipped around the patches of snow, kicking and jumping in the clean and clear air. The basket I had secured on my right elbow, bounced on my hip. Now that the storm had blown over, the market had opened up again.
The village of Enclin didn't even that much to sell. The only type of items that were sold were herbs and medicine that we made ourselves at home. Or if you had some antique things you bought from traders before the walls had been built and you were in desperate need of money, you could sell those too.
I first went to Annabeth's booth, I call her Anne. She sold flowers that she picked herself in the outskirts of town. Unlike some other women her age, Anne was not afraid of the beast, so as you could assume, our families were close.
"Good morning Anne." I smiled walking up to her.
She smiled at me and came around her little table to engulf me in a hug.
"Beautiful and smiling as always Max." she said turning back to the table. "So how is your family?" she asked sitting down.
"They're swell. Mother and father are both doing good…Iggy is his usual idiot self. Ella's activities remain the same, although Gazzy had caught a fever at the beginning of the season." I said setting my basket down.
"Oh that's awful!" Anne said sadly. She studied me for a moment before turning around and digging behind in her drawers.
"What are you looking for?" I asked.
She mumbled to herself for a few seconds and then placed two bundles on top of the table. The first bundle had tall grains of grass with white dandelions on the heads, and the second was a weird bunch of grass with yellow spots.
"Uhm..Anne…what is this?" I asked.
She wrapped the two bundles in a cloth she fetched from one of her drawers. "Break this down into Gazzy's soup. It should get rid of that awful fever he has. Wouldn't want him to get sick at this time of the year." She handed me the bundles and I thankfully took them and tucked them in the basket.
"Thank you, Anne. How much will the plant be?" I asked pulling out my pouch.
"No charge. It's on the house." She smiled.
I smiled thankfully and let the pouch drop to its original position, which was tied around my waist.
"Thank you for the herbs, but I actually came here to buy some roses. I'm visiting Angel today." I told her.
Anne had gone to work clipping some of the thorns of the rose bunch she grabbed.
"How is the darling?" she asked concentrating on her work.
"She's rather well actually. Her birthday will be in Spring, I can hardly wait!" I said.
"Oh what valuable information. When you see the darling send her my greeting will you dear?" She asked.
"Of course," I said.
As soon as Anne had completed her task, I placed the roses in my basket and reached for the pouch.
"No charge." Anne said again.
I frowned. "Anne. Times are too hard for you to be giving me discounts all the time." I said.
I dug in my pouch and pulled out three silver pieces.
"Max. Even if you paid me, this would be over the amount," Anne protested.
"I insist." I curtsied. "Well if you don't mind, I must be on my way. Have a good day Anne."
"You as well Max." she said. She clutched the three pieces in her hand, and I whirled around.
I walked out of the markets and headed to the church. There was a small brick wall surrounding it just to keep the small animals we had here in the village, although it was pretty useless seeing as though they could still enter through the main entrance.
I stood outside of the walls, and leaned against them. "Now if I were JJ, where would I be?" I asked myself.
After a few moments of question, I smirked at my realization and took off towards the school house. As I suspected, JJ was in the library, surrounded by several mountains of stacked books. She had a thick one open in her lap, and her eyes wildly scanned the pages.
She still looked the same she did before winter begun. Short brunette hair, blue ocean eyes and a small heart shaped face that fit well with her short but elegant body.
"Only you could come to school and read when there was no school," I smiled setting the basket on a table.
JJ looked up, startled from the intrusion but screamed in delight none-the-less. She got up from her position on the floor and ran at me with open arms. I laughed and buried my face in her hair, and allowed myself to feel comforted by her presence.
"Where have you been all winter? I haven't seen you in weeks!" she shouted squeezing me tighter.
I just smiled softly and hugged her to me tighter. I missed my best friend. I missed her warmth, her smile and her laughter.
"I've been caught up with the chores around the house." I said pulling away after a while.
JJ rolled her eyes and pulled me down to the floor with her. I sat slowly and carefully, reminding myself I was in a dress.
"Honestly Max, you know I have respect for your family but they treat you like a slave." She said shaking her head.
I shrugged. "So it may seem." I said.
JJ sighed. "Well while you've been across town sweeping porches and feeding pigs, gossips been stirring up around here." She said excitingly.
I readjusted my sitting position and looked down at the book she was reading. "What kind of gossip?" I asked.
"We're getting visitors." She said.
My head snapped up. Did I hear her right? "Wait- what? Repeat yourself." I said.
"We. Are. Getting. Visitors!" she squealed.
"People are coming here? What? Why didn't I know about this?" I said surprisingly.
"Because you've been locked up all month!" JJ yelled back at me with as much energy.
"Ok. Calm. Down." I said breathing.
As soon as I over came my shock, I looked back at my best friend. "Who's coming?" I asked.
"We don't know who specifically, but the messenger eagle had the palace emblem on it!" she squealed.
"A palace emblem?" I said standing up.
"I know! What if it's a knight here to slay the beast?" she gasped standing up next to me. "What if he's in need of a wife? Oh I hear the palace knights are the most handsome men!" she squealed with excitement.
I however saw the topic in an entirely different light. Where JJ saw it as a romantic opportunity, I saw it as an opportunity to get out of this village. I could sneak out of the walls while the carriages were coming in. The plan was full proof!
"MAX!" JJ screamed.
I looked back at her, startled. "What?" I asked.
"You just spaced out on me, that's all. So how's the family?" she asked.
"Same ol Same ol. Gazzy caught a fever. Yours?" I asked.
"Swell. Send Gazzy my regards." She said.
"Thank you, I will. Hey, where's Darius?" I asked her.
She frowned and threw a book lazily on the floor. "Spending the day at the Maine's. He still believes that Lissa would get romantically interested if he were to be her mule." She said grumpily.
I knew about JJ's crush on Darius. She denied it often and I don't think she's accepted it yet. I'll allow her to figure it out on her own.
"Eh, who needs Darius huh? It'll just be you and me." I smiled.
Her frown lifted, but you could still sense the jealousy. "Actually if you don't mind, I wished to see Angel before we did anything else. Is that alright with you?" I asked.
"Of course! I haven't seen Angel in a long time! Let's get going!" she said smiling.
She picked up my basket and threw it on her left elbow, while hooking her right arm through my left. Ignoring the looks we got, we skipped merrily through the snow, our cloaks floating behind us, not a care in the world.
I hope ya'll liked it. PLEASE REVIEW AND GIVE ME ADVICE ALRIGHT?
-Shift