Chapter 17: Chapter 17

Laura pov

After a good meal for lunch, Katherine and princess Anne took me to the garden to have some girl time with me.

I was hoping that Sandra would come but she stated that she was not in the mood and recently busy.

And now I find myself in a garden with my beautiful princess...oh, and yeah Katherine.

"You know I wish gnomes existed," Anne shrieked with her British accent and I just smiled.

"What are gnomes?" Katherine asked confused.

"They are cute little, short bearded males. They act as the guardians of mines," I explained.

"They are bearded, so how exactly are they cute and how do you know this, have you seen them before?" Katherine asked puzzled.

"Nope, just from the dictionary," I shrugged.

"They are extinct, Kate," said Anne.

"So how did they know that gnomes existed, I mean it was long ago that maybe it was seen and by that time the internet wasn't made. The people who may have seen it probably died off so how was it know."

"Maybe they told stories and I know that you're gonna ask about the pictures, maybe they sketched it in a family book or something and when the internet came it just improved the image and followed the descriptions written down," Anne said and I applauded her..

"Okay yeah," Katherine rolled her eyes.

"And, you know, the most amazing thing about them is that they barf out a rainbow and it flows like a river and as it flows, it never loses its rainbowic colour or should I say colours," She giggled.

"Oh, I wish it was rainbowing a rainbow," Katherine laughed and I arched my brow.

"Maybe a rainbow trout will do," Anne said and they both laughed while I looked at them puzzled.

What's so funny anyway.

Oh well, we'll never know.

"Maybe–"

"okay, I think that's enough," I said.

"Sorry," They both uttered.

"Oh, what a day, I need to get some rest maybe a siesta will do," Anne yawned.

"Yeah okay I think you're right, we should go take a nap," Katherine declared as they stood up.

"Wait, hold your horses. Both you brought me here to know more about me and for it to know more about you so where are you going," I said.

"We are now tired after laughing our hearts out so now we gotta leave. I am sorry maybe we can do this laughter, it's good to have my beauty sleep," Anne said.

"Just one question please," I pleaded and she sighed and said, "Okay just one," She folded her arms.

"Okay, please sit," I ushered and they obeyed, not without a sigh.

"Okay Anne, why are you staying here, I mean, aren't you suppose to be in the castle behind safe walls," I asked.

"I am afraid to say that it's none of your business, I don't even know you that much," she said and it strucked me but I just remained calm.

"I am sorry," I said lowly.

She sighed and said, "I am engaged to Luke so I came here to be with him, and I am the one to be sorry I am just sleepy, and cranky, " She chucked and we all giggled.

"Hmm, you really love him that much to come out of your well protected walls into a busy dangerous path," I smiled.

"Yeah, love that's why i did it," She said awkwardly.

"What, don't tell me that you don't–"

"I am really sleepy I gotta go," She sprang up and walked away.

"Sorry about that, she's still getting used to this environment and the new people," Katherine said and I nodded and muttered an, "Okay."

"I'll be leaving now," She smiled and she walked walked away.

I felt a little bit shaken but that didn't hold me back from exploring the majestic castle.

The house did look like a castle, I'm sure Anne wouldn't be home sick in due time.

I strolled round the house, well, not inside the house but outside and I was fascinated by my findings, but the one that fascinated above all was, the big pool.

The ray of the sun reflected into it and it made it look blue, the blue was beautiful.

If I had a pool like this, I won't even think of going to the beach. Around it were beach chairs and maybe a few sunblocks laying on a table.

A lot towels displayed in a fancy, big wardrobe looking thing, don't judge me I don't know what it was but it looked too huge to be a wardrobe.

A bit far from the wardrobe like thingy was a stock of swim wears in that same type of wardrobe like thingy... Don't judge me, I'm not a know it all.

I continued my admiration but suddenly stopped when I started hearing sounds from the pool.

I leaned closer with the fear of what might be in there.

Maybe a dead animal or something..

"Wanna join!" I heard and I flinched and landed on my butt and I whimpered in pain.

"Corry about that," Came the voice, chuckling.

I stood up and cleaned my butt and I started stroking it softly when I felt a bit of pain.

"What is wrong with you, you scared me to death," I angrily glared.

"I didn't do anything and how come you didn't notice me when you arrived," He asked but I kept shut as I pet my butt.

"Maybe, you were just lost admiring the whole place," He answered himself but shocking he was correct.

"Okay, will you stand there staring at me all day or will you join me," She proposed and I smiled.

I jumped over to the swim wears and took a white one.

My colour...

But where will I change.

"The dressing room is on your left," Luke said and I nodded.

It was just as if he read my mind.

In minutes, I walked out with my clothes in one hand and I layed in on one of the beach chairs.

Just then I hopped happily ready to run into the water but suddenly stopped when I remembered that I can't swim.

"Come in already," Luke said impatiently.

"I can't swim," I pouted.

"Come in, I'll teach you."

"Won't I drown?"

"Aren't I here to save you," He smirked and I rolled my eyes.

"Just come in," He ordered and I slowly took steps towards the pool.

Before I could muster courage for me to jump in he dragged me in.

I felt as the water splashed on my body partly from the pull but the rest from Luke.

I admit I was scared.

I mean, it's my first time I ought to be scared right.

"What was that for?"

"You wasted a lot of time so I just had to help you," He laughed.

"I just met you today and you are already been.. I don't even know what to call you and besides aren't you engaged with princess Anne so you better watch the way you behave when you are with me," I frowned.

"Okay for starters I am just making new friends and she won't care less," He shrugged.

"Okay what's up, you both are acting like you don't love each other," I asked.

"Cause we don't, our marriage is just a contract or so signed by my dad and the queen to help in orphanage in some other ways, my dad and the queen are very close and they could have just made an agreement without involving me but I am sure it was my dad's idea," He said.

"Why do you say that?" I asked.

"Never mind that," He said.

"Maybe, the queen wanted her daughter to get married to a responsible person and your dad wanted you to get married to a girl from a humble background or so," I explained.

"Yeah I guess, but he could have ask first. It doesn't matter anyway, I'll just follow his plans," He said.

"Okay but do you think that Princess Anne likes someone," I said.

"I don't really know," He said.

"Oh, what about you?" I asked.

"I did but not anymore, I have to get rid of my feelings if I want the marriage to work," He said.

"And how is that going?" I asked.

"Not working at all, except for she has been avoiding me, she's trying all her best to get over me but I can't get over her," He said with his hands moving in the water.

"It's not like we dated or anything, but I just started loving Sandra since we were little," He said and I froze.

"Wait, did you say Sandra?" I asked surprised.

"Yeah, she's the one I can't get over I guess, and she's gonna leave soon and that's why you're here to take over after she teaches you skills," He said as he dripped his head into the water and brought it out in some seconds.

"Oh look at you now aren't you swimming," He said and I gasped and he suddenly laughed.

"The pool isn't deep," said.

He's a little bit like Gabriel.

Why does he always come into my mind.

What the heck is wrong with me.

"it doesn't matter," I rolled my eyes.

We spent the rest of the afternoon around the pool each of us on a beach chair talking about ourselves.

Soon night came and after dinner we all went to sleep and I kept smiling on how my day went, the first day in this big mansion, castle and home.

It was just great. I thought as my eyes gently closed and I drifted to sleep..

*.

The alarm buzzed in my ear and I rolled and laid my hand on the alarm and it stopped its annoying buzzing.

I looked at the time and it was still five in the morning.

I don't remember setting up the alarm, it must be Sandra's doing.

I quickly got up and brushed my teeth, took my bath and all the rests.

I quickly rushed down stairs and surprisingly saw Sandra in the kitchen cooking.

"Why aren't you wearing your uniform?" She asked.

"I thought I won't be going to school," I said.

"Mr Howard said that you will, now please go and get dressed, breakfast will be ready in a few minutes," She smiled.

"Good morning by the way," I said and she smiled as I walked towards the stairs.

After the change of clothes and also a change of hairstyle we had breakfast, Sandra dished out my lunch and I hopped my way out of the house.

Immediately I stepped out, the driver opened the door for me and I was quiet surprised.

"Good morning, sir," I said as I stepped into the car.

"Good morning Laura, and please call me Fred," He said and I nodded as he got into the driver's seat and turned on the engine.

I can't believe that Mr Howard would agree to this, he's so nice and caring.

Luke and Katherine are so lucky.

I looked around the car and rested my each of my arms on an arm rest in the car.

I slided it back a little and held on to the arm rest and before I knew it, it opened and a lot of sweets and snacks were in it, in both of them.

I think this is heaven.

"Take anything you want," Fred said as if he read my mind.

I stuffed some snacks and sweets into my back pack, I'll give them to Nelly, Emma and Harper.

Soon the car came to a stop at the entrance of the school and I stepped down and thanked Fred for the awesome drive.

I felt like a dozen of eyes following me as I walked into the school, probably because the car.

The feeling of their eyes suddenly stopped as I got to the hall way and made it to my class.

I think I'm going to be an art student, to study law.

Partly because of what Gabriel said but I don't want to talk about him.

I walked into my new classroom and fortunately, the class was scanty and I skillfully choose a seat close to the window.

It's too early for the girls to arrive now.

And it's boring being along.

I'll save seats for them.

"Laura," I heard and I turned swiftly and saw Gabriel smiling at me as he came closer.

Oh no!

Why can't I get a break from him.