Three

As the day went on Ash found that she hadn’t missed much, and it took no time for Snow and Alan to get her caught up. The hardest part of the day was her physical education class, luckily due to it being Friday the coach allowed for everyone to choose their own activity giving Ash a chance to freely brush up on her gymnastics until she was too sore then switched to watching the other students duel each other, it was the most fun she’d had in weeks.

She looked down at her watch as she made her way out of the school’s main building. “Fun’s over, time to go home.”

She chuckled, not many people are sad to leave school. She found Alan and Snow standing in the courtyard outside.

“Okay it’s almost four o’ clock. Morgana will be home by five thirty at the latest. I need to go make sure the house is order, clean my face, then start dinner. So who’s taking me home?”

“Sorry babe, I need to stay behind for the swim team meeting and get my sisters home.” Alan said apologetically.

Ash turned to Snow. “And you?”

“I’m getting my weapons back from the forge today.” Snow said apologetically.

Alan and Snow watched sheepishly as Ash’s eye twitched. Finally she took a deep breath. “Then give me a scrunchy.” she demanded putting her hand out.

Snow reached into her bag and handed over a black scrunchy. Ash wrestled her hair into a ponytail and stretched her arms and legs.

“You aren’t seriously gonna run home, are you?” Snow asked.

“I don’t have money for a trolley and neither of you are leaving in the next,” Ash pulled out her watch. “,fifteen minutes, so I’m hoofing it.” She said tucking her necklace into her bra. “Love you, bye!”

Ash broke from her friends and sprinted down the road. Snow and Alan watched as she veered onto the sidewalk people making room for her as she ran past them.

And just like that she was gone.

“In heels.” Alan said shaking his head.

“I was going to tell her that she didn’t need to worry about all that.” Snow pouted.

Alan shrugged. “She’ll find out soon enough.”

*~**~*

Ash raced through the forest cutting past the designated trails. She knew the forest like the back of her hand. If she kept up a good pace, she could make it to her neighborhood in twenty-five minutes. She found a trail that led straight to her neighborhood and ran on it.

In her panicked state she barely had time to notice that there was a group of men on horseback coming towards her. The rider in the lead tried to stop his horse but instead Ash dived off the trail into a dried riverbed. She tumbled into the ditch landing on her back.

“Who rides horses anymore.” She asked herself in a daze.

“Miss! Miss are you okay?” a concerned voice asked.

Ash sat up hissing in pain as she rubbed her back. She turned around to see that a guy around her age dressed in a dark green shirt, black jeans and black riding boots was running towards her. As he got closer she took in his curly birthmarked brown hair styled in a mohawk and the thin gold circlet on his head marking him as Prince Charles De Lupa.

As he got closer she tried to stand but fell under her own weight pain shooting through her left foot. She tried to catch her breath as the Prince came to kneel next to her.

“I am so sorry, does anything hurt? Do you need a hospital? How many fingers am I holding up?” he asked frantically holding up his hands.

“Eight. I’m fine Your Highness.” She replied as her breath steadied.

He sighed in relief then chuckled. “Call me Charlie, and…oh my god you’re Aislinn Black!”

She chuckled. “You can call me Ash.”

Charlie reached out his hand and Ash took it letting him easily help her up. Losing her balance she fell forward into him lifting her injured leg. Realizing she faceplanted into the sturdy and broad chest of the future king she hopped backwards as best she could and put him at arm’s length.

“Sorry, my foot…um.”

“Here, let me help you.” Charlie scooped Ash up and held her bridal style like it was nothing.

“Your Highness, you don’t have to do this. I can walk.” Ash immediately protested clinging to him. She wasn’t used to being carried, and the fact that the tall, brawny and oh so handsome Crown Prince was now holding her was making her head spin. Maybe she had a concussion, that’s what she decided to tell herself.

Charlie adjusted her in his hold, but he seemed to have no real problem carrying her. He wasn’t even sweating. “It’s my fault you got hurt, and I’m more than happy to take you where you need to go.”

She thought about her situation. The Prince was willing to give her a ride home, which would be faster. She had a new injury that she would need to treat once she got there. She had already planned to wash her face, but now she was covered in dirt meaning she would need time to change…

“I guess I’m not really in a position to negotiate.” She said glancing at how the prince was carefully holding her.

“Sorry, but no.” He said with a laugh.

Ash took an exaggerated sigh. “Very well, if you insist.”

Charlie chuckled and started walking up to the trail picking up her backpack on the way. “May I ask why you were running in the middle of the woods? Shouldn’t an heiress slash model have a chauffeur?” he asked with a playfully quirked brow.

“Says the prince being a total stereotype by riding a horse through the woods.” She retorted trying to flex her foot only to grunt in pain.

Charlie laughed. “Fair point.”

Giving up Ash let herself be carried back to the group of horses and Charlie helped her onto his brown mare. She avoided making eye contact with the Prince’s entourage of the famously gorgeous palace guards.

On a black stallion next to the Prince’s brown mare was a young man with fierce black eyes, dark brown skin and short dreadlocked black hair. The adopted son of the De Lupa Family, Prince Vincent Merlo.

Sensing the tension Charlie looked up at his brother. “Vincent, you know it’s impolite to stare.” He teased.

“Apologies. I was just making sure you didn’t break the pretty model from one of Nitia’s most powerful families. Need I remind you that they could buy our country?” Vincent replied with a cheeky grin.

Charlie stood with his mouth agape.

Ash giggled. “I’m okay.” She stated feeling more at ease.

“I plan on taking her home.” Charlie explained.

“Are you injured?” Vincent asked concerned.

“I’ll be fine once I get home and ice my foot.”

“Well because it was clearly his fault, you are entitled to financial compensation. He makes a very good butler.” Vincent said with a grin.

Ash laughed. “None of that will be necessary.”

“And for that I thank you. You guys go ahead, I’ll catch up.” Charlie said getting on his horse behind Ash reaching around her waist for the reins. Ash could feel his warm abdomen on her back but determined to ignore it she gave the prince directions to her home.

“So, why the hurry to get home?”

“Well, I have a strict stepmother and I need to make sure that everything in the house is to her liking, then I’ll have to prepare dinner.” Ash explained.

“I see, but that sounds like a job for servants.” Charlie said.

“My stepmother doesn’t want to spend money on a live-in housekeeping staff.” She said with a shrug.

The prince had gone silent Ash looked up at him and saw that he was staring at her intently. “So, does she get mad if you don’t meet her standards?”

“Not as much as she used to.” She blurted.

She mentally slapped herself. Why did she say that? She should’ve said ‘no.’ The answer to every question was no. Why was she even bothering to tell him the truth? Maybe it was the prospect of someone as important as the prince caring about her. Honestly, why wouldn’t she lie, it’s not like he would actually care. She was surprised he even came out this far.

Prince Charles was rarely out in public, and when he was it was only in times of crisis. The last time he made an appearance was three years ago after a hurricane destroyed the west side of the main island and toppled some old buildings on the westward island, Gloriana. She remembered watching the news coverage of his speech, where he talked about what measures would be taken to rebuild. He spoke with so much passion and his plans were genius. Many agreed that he was more than ready to become king.

The horse stopped and Ash looked up at the large stucco villa. Charlie got off the horse and helped Ash down by gently holding her by the waist, she placed her hands on his shoulders for support.

She flexed her foot again feeling less pain than before. “Thanks for the lift Your Highness. I guess I owe you one.” She said with a small laugh.

Charlie smiled. “Glad I could be of service, are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’ll manage, thanks again.” Ash said limping to the front door.

Charlie got back on his mare and turned her around. “Until we meet again Aislinn Black.” He said before taking off back down the road.

Ash waved dumbfounded until he was out of sight. “Can this day get any weirder?”

She entered the house to find that the marble foyer was sparkling clean. She heard bustling in the kitchen and peeked in to see that her oven was on. The cleaners were out of their animal forms and now various people in white uniforms were bustling around. Ash looked around amazed.

A middle-aged woman with kind brown eyes and brown skin came up to her. “Your stepmother called, we let it go to voicemail, but it seemed she was expecting a chicken dinner so we went ahead and prepared a full meal for your family. I hope that’s okay.”

Ash brightened. “Thank you so much.”

The woman nodded with a smile. “We’re almost finished then we’ll scurry on out of here.”

“Oh thank you so much, Ms.-“

“Call me Polly.”

“Thank you Polly, I need to go clean up. Thank you again.” she hobbled to the stairway.

“Will you be alright?” Polly called noticing the injury.

Ash looked back at her with a smile. “Don’t worry I’ve got this.”

Once at the second floor she went to the the bathroom between her and Alexandra’s rooms catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her clothes were dirtied from the fall, and her make-up was running from her sweat.

“Better get rid of the evidence.”