Jacquie+Bali

Tribute to Smiley: Part Three (By: Jacqueline Balish) When he talks to me, my heart goes into shock. My pulse starts racing automatically. Why? Could it be his pristine Hair? Or is it his egregious Girlfriend; too sarcastic and mean to truly be his; To end this relationship, I am determined.

When he runs and plays his after school sports, he plays with determination. Those who mock him are shocked; they're sarcastic remarks are always automatically stopped; those snide comments, each like a slap in the face, egregious. His form with which he plays is always pristine and perfect.

Time stops when he flips his hair in that way which is pristine. Why must he be so determined; to love that egregious girl that he calls his soul-mate? I bet she is just as in shock as I am when he automatically smiles when he sees her. What makes me mad is he chooses to ignore the fact that everything she says is sarcastic.

In the "V" show, at times, the humor was sarcastic. But I realized that his hair looked just as pristine; Slicked back with gel. When he came out in that poofy shirt, I automatically Laughed out loud. Determined Not to be too loud, I stifled my shock. His presence on stage made everyone else look egregious.

When he left the stage, the show went on egregiously. After the show, my friend made a sarcastic comment that his shirt was too short. In shock, I stormed away, about to cry, thinking," You looked pristine to me, sweetheart." Determined, to not look foolish, I stopped my tears automatically.

So, why, do you ask I love him so much? Well it's because just his presence automatically Makes me happy when my life seems too egregious to bear. He boosts my determination to be able to endure all the sarcastic gossip of high school. It's the way his pristine personality shines through the gorgeous looks that put me into shock.

Makes Us Stronger (By: Jacqueline Balish, Chapter One: //The Shallow Girls.//

"No. No way! Yes!!" I was practically screaming into my cell phone when Ophelia called me last night. It was the news I had been waiting for. It was the biggest gossip ever to happen in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. "I can’t believe it Ophie! I've been waiting for this for months!" I laughed and laid down on my bed. `"Well start believing it Cap because Aaron Schaefer and Bridget Suriski are officially over!" said one of my best friends, Ophelia Macrachiel. "Aaron dumped her last Friday at the ice cream parlor down on 2nd street. Bridget cried for the whole weekend. You should have seen her at school today! Her eyes were all red and swollen and she was wear sweats and a long sleeve shirt. Actually," she paused. "It was one of his football shirts. Hmmm…. I can't believe she kept his clothes." "Well, maybe she was trying to tell him something without actually talking to--." My phone beeped. I glanced at the screen. It was April. "Hey, Ophie, April's on the other line. Let me join the calls." "Okay. I'll be here." She said. I switched to the other line. "Hello?" "Hey Ophie. Did you hear yet?" She asked. "About Aaron and Bridget? Yeah I heard. It's pretty exciting, huh?" I exclaimed. "Okay, wait. Ophie is on the other line. Let me join the calls. Stay on." I joined the calls. "Okay, April?" "Here." "Ophie?" "Yeah." "M'kay. So, did anyone happen to get a glance at Jenna's outfit today? Oh my god. What the hell is she thinking?" April asked. "Well, April. She is going out with one of the hottest, sweetest, most caring guys in the school. No…the whole world. So it really doesn't matter, right?" I said followed by a huge sigh. "Hey. I thought you're over that. It's been what? Almost six months?" Ophelia said, tenderness in her voice. "Well, yeah. But," I paused. "I don't know. I guess I still have some feeling for Jason. I mean, we were going out for almost a year." I babbled. "I don't know. Maybe I still have feelings for him." Suddenly, after a brief awkward silence, I laughed so loud I heard April drop her phone. See, when Jason and I were going out it was like nothing could separate us. But after a while, I saw myself hanging out with him instead of my girls. Ophie, April and I would make plans to make a movie day, girls only, but then Jason would call me at the last minute to tell me he had a surprise picnic set up or tickets to a movie. I couldn't say no. I was afraid if I did Jason would get mad. This pissed Ophelia and April off, but especially Ophelia. Ophelia really doesn't like to be ignored. So when someone close to her gets something that makes them ice her out a little, Ophelia tends to blow the whole thing out of proportion. She can get very mad very easily. As her friends, April and I know when to leave her alone and let her cool off. "Okay, well I got to go. Mr. Black is the worst Creative Writing teacher ever. He gives the stupidest homework. Get this, tonight we have to think of something that inspires us. But it can't be a living thing! How messed up is that? Does he think we get our inspiration from rocks or something? I wish I had Ms. Davenport like you, Ape. I hear she's cruise!" I giggled. "Yeah I've got to go too, my mom is cooking tonight. Which probably means I better raid the refrigerator for something to eat later tonight." Ophelia whispered into her phone. "Ha! I wish. She is just about the worst teacher I have this semester. I hate her. That little whore." April cracked up at the joke, backed up by me laughing. "Okay, well I've got to go to dinner with my grandparents! Talk to you later." she said. All three of us hung up at the same time and the line went dead.

Chapter two: //The Rocks in our Lives...our Men.// Yes. Finally. 10:30. I can relax. This was what was going though my mind as I turned to the last number in my locker lock and opened the latch. I was in the middle of putting my calculus textbook on the bottom of my locker when two hands covered my eyes. I dropped my textbook on the ground and suddenly it was bright again. The hands were off my eyes. Then I heard an, "OW!" I spun around to see what had just happened and standing in front of me was my boyfriend, Christopher Fox. My hands were automatically drawn to my mouth like a puppeteer directing his puppet. "Oh God! Chris! I'm so sorry!" I rushed to his side and hugged him tightly. He picked up my book for me and set it on the shelf of my locker, exactly where it was supposed to go grinning. That is one major difference between Jason and Chris. Jason was too self absorbed to be a good, or even okay boyfriend. And he is a football jock with a two-ton head. Chris, on the other hand is funny, gentle and such a sweet heart. After a while of being with Jason, I began to see the differences between them, so I dumped him. "Thanks." I sighed, with a smile. "No problem. But if I need to get surgery on my toe, you're paying." Chris joked with a grin. I gave him a kiss right as April and Matt walked up behind me. Chris took his arm of my back to slap Matt's hand. "Ah! What's up, dude?" Matt snickered. "Not much, cruisa. What about you?" Matt was captain of the football team. So, naturally, he was the first to get annoyed when Jason was always around him because of me. He knew what a jerk Jason was…from the very beginning. April and Matt both love sports, water polo and swimming, to be exact. In fact, they had so much in common, no one was surprised when they started going out. It was more like, "Well, it's about time." More often than not, I feel like I can trust April with more than I can trust Ophelia. It's just the way Ophelia acts sometimes makes me feel like if I tell her something she will tell everyone if it means gain for her. Anyway, April knows Chris really well because of he and I dating and also because all of us, Me, April, Chris and Matt, have been at the same school since first grade. We have a lot of natural chemistry between us. So, as you can see, we all know all there is to know about each other. We have pretty much written each other's life stories. Even when Ophelia moved from Paris to Pennsylvania in 5th grade, we stayed tightly knit. Chris and Matt play soccer together and, like April and I, have been besties since the good old diaper days. "You comin' to practice today? We gotta practice if we want to even dream about beating Ephrata High." Matt nagged, punching Chris on the arm. "Well, that depends," Chris said, taking a breath. "It depends if Capri has to go home right after school." He said, grabbing my wrist and puling me into an embrace. "Baby. I'm starting to feel guilty." I replied, resting my hands on his chest. "I've let you miss too many practices. I mean, we're seniors. You only have a few months left of soccer then it's over. You're going to practice today." "Oh my God. I almost forgot. You guys want to go to Aaron Schaefer's end-of-the-season football party tonight? His parents are out of town on a business trip so he's got the whole place to himself. I hear it's going to be sweet." Matt said, putting his arm around April's shoulders. "Call Ophelia and we'll call Colt. Tell 'em the plan." "Well, this works out perfectly. You guys go to practice then go to Matt's house and get ready. Then you guys can pick us up." April said, smiling. "Mean while, us girl's are gonna go shopping. I need a new outfit if this is as good as Matt says it will be." I said, grinning a slightly evil smile. "Oh yeah?" Chris said, smiling. "With what money?" I reached into his pocket, grabbed his wallet and took out his credit card. "Yours, of course." April said, doing the same thing to Matt's wallet. Chris made a lunge for the valuable piece of plastic in my hand but I snatched it away and tucked it under my bra strap. Chris grinned sarcastically. "Do you really think putting it there is going to stop me from getting it back?" I opened my mouth in fake disgust and ready to protest when the principal of the school, Mr. Frank Matlack, walked by, glaring at us. Mr. Matlack seemed to hate everyone at the school. But especially second semester seniors.

Chapter three: //The Problems in Our Lives// By 4: 30, Ophelia, April and I were at the mall and had bought our outfits already. "Do you really think we should have used their credit cards to buy our outfits?" April gulped with a worried look on her face. "Hey, we are doing this for them, right?" Ophelia said, laughing. "We want them to be able to say, "Yep. That's my girl. Isn't she so damn fine?!" The three of us started laughing hysterically. By 5:00, we were back at my house. The guys were picking us up at about seven, so we had some time. We were all getting ready when my cell phone rang at about 6:30. "Hello?" I said, smiling because I knew the number so well, I knew exactly who it was. "Bonjour, Madam. You're carriage ees on za vay to peeck you and your lovely friends up for za ball." Sounded a man's voice with a very phony French accent. "Well Merci, sir." I took the phone away from my mouth and yelled, "April, Ophie, the guys are coming!" I put the phone back to my ear and said, "Okay Colt, we'll see you soon." "Okay." Colt said, disappointed, the fake accent gone. "Bye." The line went dead and I hung up, tossing my phone into my purse. Then I put the rest of my makeup on. "You guys ready? They're comin' soon." I yelled, putting some tissues in my purse along with some lip-gloss. "Yeah. We're done. Let's go down stairs." April said. "Wow Cap, you look so cute!" I was wearing a white tank top and a pair of dark denim jeans. "Aw, thanks April. You look really good too. Matt will love it." I said, hugging her. She was wearing a gold top with some sequence and a short jeans skirt. We all went down stairs and watched T.V. while we waited for the guys to come.

Chapter four: By the time we got to the party, it was 7:30. But that was okay. If you were popular, it was okay to show up at a party right when in starts or even later. Only nerds and geeks get to a party early, if they were lucky enough to get invited, that is. When we got there, the first thing I saw was the 3 huge kegs of beer on the counter, the 5 coolers on beer on ice and the red cups everywhere. I come from a Mormon family and I've always been taught never to drink. It took me a minute to get used to the setting. I took a deep breath and automatically felt a large, warm hand on the small of my back. I knew whom it was without even having to turn around. It was the same hand I held everyday while walking to classes or watching a movie on the weekends. Chris's hands were something I would always remember, no matter how our relationship ended up. "Do you want something to drink?" He whispered in my ear. I smiled and whispered back, "A Pepsi, please." "Coming right up." With that, the warmth on my back was gone leaving me standing in the cold alone. I found a couch that was not occupied and sat down. I was just finishing putting on more lip-gloss when someone sat down next to me. "You want one?" said this guy that I had seen before but never ever thought I would ever talk to. What was his name? Jordan? George? No…it was Jordan. I looked at him, confused, then I realized what he was offering me. In his hands he was holding two beers. One was half drunk and the other was filled to the top and pristine. "No thanks, I don't drink." I gave him a slight smile and turned away trying to make him leave. "Oh, C'mon. You don't drink?" "No. I don't drink. I just told you that." I repeated, getting angry. I still wasn't looking at him. If I made eye contact with him that would be telling him it was okay to be talking to me. "You've never drunk? Just one? Just one little sip. It's good. I think you'll like it." He cooed, smiling revealing yellowish, ugly, gross looking teeth. He tried to hand me the beer. I pushed his hand away, spilling some of the amber colored beer onto Jordan's dark blue shirt causing a huge even darker circle on this shirt. This got him pissed. "Oh, I'm sorry." I gasped, grabbing a tissue from my purse and trying to help him dab the general wetness out of his shirt. "What the fuck!?" he screamed. "What the hell did you do that for? If I go home with this frickin' shirt on my parents are gonna know I've been drinkin'! What the hell Capri!" With that, he slapped me in the face causing me to stumble backwards. What happened next is all a blur, now that I look back on it. I remember seeing Chris come out of the crowd super pissed off, I could tell and punching Jordan in the jaw…loud enough for me to hear. I heard him yell, "What the hell, you jackass! Don't you dare ever put your filthy hands on my girl again!" Jordan went flying backward into the coffee table, smashing the glass into a million pieces. I put my hand to my cheek. It was hot. I grabbed my mirror and assessed the damage… nothing too bad just a very very red cheek. Suddenly, I got mad. I tired to lunge toward Jordan only to be restrained by Colt and Matt, who had come out of nowhere. "Chris! Chris!! C'mon. It's not worth it. Just let it go! I'm fine!" I said, tears rolling down my face. I'm not sure if it was from the pain of my cheek or because of how scared I was. By now, there was a circle of onlookers, some rooting for Chris because of his social status, others rooting for Jordan just because they know there was no way he was going to win. Jordan had gotten up and jumped on Chris, which sent Chris flying backwards into the wall. Jordan had his hands around Chris's neck and was trying to choke him. Colt and Matt looked at each other for a split second, let go of me and rushed to help Chris. Jordan got some good punches in on Chris. His nose was bleeding and he had already what looked like a bruise on his lower jaw. Suddenly, I broke away from my haven between my best friends and marched right into the middle of the war. I wedged my way between Chris, Matt, Colt and Jordan and broke them apart. "Chris! You've made your point. Enough is enough. I'm sick of this. Stop now!" I turned to face Jordan. "Get the hell away from me and my boyfriend and my friends." I turned away and buried my face in Chris's chest and sobbed. Chris led me away and out to the car after flicking Jordan off one more time. I looked up once we were standing next to the car. Blood was everywhere; on Chris's face, my tank top and his shirt. I got all the tissues I had in my purse and tried to stop the bleeding. After a few seconds, the tissues were completely red and slightly sticky with Chris's blood. "Chris. We need to get you home." "What? Are you crazy? It's just a nose bleed." He defended, putting his hand to his nose. "Besides, the party was just getting good." "Chris. It isn't stopping. Please, just to be certain. I don't want anything to happen to you." I smiled my most encouraging smile and he smiled back. "Well, even though I think you are blowing this way out of proportion, I'll go. It's my fault anyway. I'm going out with the most worried girl in the world." He laughed surprisingly loud and I even managed a giggle. After we had all gotten into the car, Chris and I in cuddling in the back seat and the rest of the gang in the front most part of the car with Colt driving, we sped down the freeway, a little faster than usual. "Hey, Colt, slow down, dude." Matt gasped, taking a breather from making out with April. "Yeah, cruisa. Slow down. We're in no rush." Chris joked smiling because he knew it would annoy me. I smiled and he smiled back then kissed me smack dab on the lips. I grinned and bit his ear gently. "We are in a rush. Ophelia is the only one in the car who isn't getting any affection. And, as a result, neither am I!" He said, taking Ophelia's hand and turning to grin at Matt and Chris. All of a sudden, Chris and I broke apart, horror on our faces. April and Matt stopped kissing because we all heard it. The sound of a horn, a very loud horn. Colt had veered into the incoming traffic when he turned around to grin at the boys. And now we were about to be smashed into a tiny little cube and there was nothing we could do about it. I heard Ophelia scream, Chris yell something and that's all I took in before everything went black.
 * I made my way to where April and Ophelia were huddling together, watching the scene before them unfold in horror. I was immediately pulled into a hug, April wiping my tears and Ophelia pulling my hair back and tying it into a low ponytail. I don't know why, I knew Chris and Matt and Colt could take that guy out in a second but I was crying uncontrollably, sobs and gasps. I couldn't breath. Now that it was three against one there was no question who would win and no one was brave enough to go in a help Jordan out. Everyone watching knew they wouldn't come out with their faces in proper position. If you want to fight the three biggest jocks in the school, you better have some good protection or a death will.

Chapter five: //The Change in our Lives//

I don't know how long after the crash I woke up. It could have been hours, it could have been weeks, but I woke up in the hospital wearing one of those ugly white hospital gowns. Tubes and needles were all over me. Now I know I was out cold. I thought to myself. I am a needle phobic, I cry if a needle gets anywhere near me. I tried to sit up but my body ached like a mother and my head was pounding. I looked around the room, looking for a familiar face. I didn’t see any. I sank back into my bed, slightly disappointed that no one was here with me, not even Chris. There was a remote that was connected to my bed. So I pushed the button that called a nurse in. I wanted answers about what had happened that night. When she appeared at the door, she looked at me; her eyes wide open and dropped the tray she was holding. She rushed to my bed and let out an exasperated gasp. "Oh my God, Capri. I can't believe it. You're awake. We thought…" she stood up and took a step back. "How long have you been awake?" she asked, her hand coming to her mouth. "I just woke up like, five minutes ago." I assured, smiling but confused as to why she was so surprised I woke up. "Oh," she took a huge breath, "So you don't know then?" she asked, reaching for the T.V. remote and turning the T.V. on. I got a sudden feeling, like I fell off a cliff and my stomach stayed up on the ledge or to put it simply, like my heart was ripped out. "Know…what?" was all I could squeeze out. The nurse suddenly got really solemn as she switched the channel to the 5 o'clock news. The first think I saw made my heart skip a beat. It was a car completely totaled, smashed between a 18-wheeler and the freeway divider. To my horror, I realized it was Chris's car. "Oh my God." I whispered, tears making my vision blurry. I quickly wiped them away so I could see whatever else the T.V. had. Ambulances and fire trucks and police men where everywhere. "What happened? Where is everyone." I suddenly got mad. I bolted upright, grabbing the nurse's wrist. "Where's Chris?!" I demanded. "What happened to Chris?" The nurse looked at me and a tear fell down her cheek. "I didn't want to be the one to have to tell you this." The nurse began, looking away. I automatically sank back down in my bed, preparing myself for the news. "Darling," she said, turning back to look at me. "Chris, was your boyfriend?" "Yeah. What happened to him? Tell me, now." I said tears already forming on my eyes. "Capri, your boyfriend, Chris. He was--," she took a deep breath. "He was killed in the accident. I'm so sorry." I didn't even hear anything after those horrible words. Chris, I thought to myself. Dead. No…he can't be dead. I like, just talked to him. I was sitting right next to him. Why not me…why him? I snapped back to reality. "Chris…" I whispered. I suddenly saw every moment Chris and I had spent together flash before my eyes. The time he and I went ice-skating on the frozen pond during Christmas break of sophomore year. And when he tripped over a bump in the ice while he was holding my hand. He fell, then I fell, but I landed on top of him and we both cracked up laughing. Or the time he and I went to Chuck E. Cheeses and hid in the ball pool until little kids came in then we jumped out and scared them. Ah, good times. I thought to myself. "I guess you want to see him one more time." the nurse said. I nodded, starting to sob and I limped down the hallway to his room. I was bracing myself for the worst; blood and I was counting on not even recognizing my boyfriend. It seemed like a huge accident; I overheard two of the front desk ladies talking about it. "I don't think I can do this." I sobbed into my hands as the nurse and I neared the doorframe of his room, I turned away, painfully, only to be pushed back by the nurse's gentle arm. "I think you should, you'll regret it forever if you don't." she argued, giving me her most encouraging smile. Hey, I thought, I used to be the one who gave all the encouraging smiles. I nodded, understanding what she meant, and took a deep breath. I walked weakly into the hospital room, quietly, as if I didn't want to be too loud incase it woke him up. He isn't sleeping this time, Capri. I walked around the ugly green striped curtain that was hanging in front of Chris's bed and what I saw shocked me. I was preparing myself to see a bloody mess but this was so much better. Not in a good better kind way but in a happier, good way. Get it? Yeah, so what I saw was Chris, sitting on the bed, his torso wrapped up in bandages but fully awake, grinning from ear to ear and alive. I couldn't breath. All I could do was smile and smile and run to him. I pretended like I was going to hug him and when he opened his arms to hug me, I punched him in the shoulder. "What the hell, Chris! You're fine!" I exclaimed, tears of joy streaming down my cheeks. Oh my goodness. He isn't dead. The nurse smiled and Chris kissed me on the lips like he actually was dying and it was his last time to ever kiss me. "Wait. So you planned this? Both of you planed it." I accused. For once, I was at a lost for words. Chris grinned, "Yep, the whole thing. When I came in, I was pretty banged up but I got better before you did. Don't blame the nurse it was all my idea. She was just playing along." He admitted, smiling even bigger, if that was possible. "Well, Chris. I think you're all good. You can leave, if you'd like. But Capri, I'm going to ask you to stay here one more night, just to be sure." The nurse said, smiling but seemed uncomfortable breaking up the moment. "Yeah. Sure, I'll do whatever." I said. Grinning, I help Chris to his feet and he walked me back to my room. I climbed back into the bed and covered my legs with the blanket. Chris walked across the room and sat down in the chair. I can't say that I was surprised that he was going to stay but it was a very kind, loving gesture. "You have a great guy here Capri. Don't let him slip away." The nurse said, walking to the door and shutting it behind her.

Chapter six: //Our New Lives//

The doctors made me stay in the hospital one more night to make sure I was all good, and then they let us, Chris and I, leave. As we were walking out he doors of the hospital, it seemed to hit us at the same moment: how lucky we were to be alive. And, the fact that we no longer had a car to drive home it. We both smiled and I called us a cab. "Do you know how much I love you?" Chris murmured, as he slid into the cab after me. "No, I don't. How much?" I said, joking of course but I wanted to see what he would say. He didn't say anything. All he did was lean over and kiss me…hard. After we broke apart, I smiled. Then he whispered, "Well, take that and multiply it by one million. And I still love you more." I lunged at him and wrapped my arms around him as if he were some cloud that I was trying to hold onto and I was determined to never let go. I felt myself grin. It seemed like a miracle. Everything that happened that night only made us stronger.

Jacqueline Balish My Epic Poem: The Princess' Journey.

As the sun rose, rays piercing the ink black sky, Alexa of Lingerton, the sparkling eyed beauty, lay asleep in her bed, lavished with blankets, wrinkled and scattered among the bed fit for a king. As time passed by, the sparkling eyed beauty stirred, waking from her deep sleep. After washing her long, flowing hair, with water warm as the summer noon, and dressing herself with clothes of satins and velvets, she made her way down to the Great Hall, where a bevy of servants patiently waited.

"Good morning darling" King Cornelius, the jolly king, exclaimed caressing his sparkling eyed beauty of a daughter. 'How is my child this amazing day, the hottest day in July?'

"My father, I am wonderful. And how are you?" the calm princess replied, like a baby sheep, just aroused from deep sleep; like a comet, slowly floating, making its way through the sky.

"As wonderful as a hare, enjoying the day in the wood, deep and green. Thank-you for asking, my darling girl. I know this is sudden, but I have a request of you, my dear. Go to town and fetch the royal scrolls that the city gates keeper holds in his possession. Get those and return with haste back here and give them to me. I need them immediately. Hurry, Alexa, like a bird flying south for the winter. Hurry!"

Alexa of Lingerton departed at once on her journey to town. Once she arrived, She was greeted by many, many people who all shouted, "Princess Alexa, our sparkling eyed beauty! How longs it's been since we have seen You scurry around our humble town of Lingerton!" She tried to be as polite as she could, Smiling and making general conversation, gradually making her way to the Gates keepers' cottage.

Once she reached the gates keepers house, as small and quaint as a trolls' shed In the middle of a deep wood. She knocked on the brown door. "Yes, my dear?" Was the reply from a short and stout little man, no taller than her waist. "My father, King Cornelius of Lingerton sent me to collect the royal scrolls. He told me that you would indeed know what I am talking about. I am to take it back to him with haste. So if you please, bestow the royal scrolls on me so I can be on my way?" The gates keeper evaluated the situation and turned back into his house, rummaging around. He returned with three scrolls, neatly rolled and tied with one thin piece of tanned string.

"Take them and leave, quickly, this is not where you wish to be, princess." The gates keeper warned, his face sober. She took the scrolls from his arms and turned without a thank-you and started back through the wood. The whole way back to the town, she had a feeling that she was being watched and followed. About ten minutes later, a shadow crossed her path, as quick as a cheetah, spying its prey. She stopped, dropping the scrolls at her feet. They fell with a thud to the ground and started to roll down the hill she was standing on top of.

She didn't even realize it until it was too late, she was on her back, watching a boy sprint past her and grab the scrolls. Suddenly, he tripped and Alexa stood up, running to the man, laying on the ground. She kicked him in the side and spoke harsh and demanding words, "Tell me who you are, stranger, and tell me what you wish with the royal scrolls that my father, King Cornelius of Lingerton, has requested me to retrieve? Speak, boy, tell me who you are!"

Sputtering and choking, gasping for breath, the mysterious man sat up, clutching his side, trying to ease the sharp pain of the blow, running out of his side and through his body. "My name is Benjamin. But you may call me Ben, if you wish. I am just a boy trying to survive. I have no family, no friends. I lead a life of stealing and robbery, just to live. Who are you, stranger, if I may ask?"

"You don't know who I am, boy, Benjamin? I am Princess Alexa of Lingerton. My father, the king, as I've said before, has requested that I retrieve the three scrolls for him and bring them back to him. You will come back to the castle with me. I demand it of you. After you tried to steal the scrolls, whatever is on them, valuable or not, who knows who else will try. You will be my escort and once we get back, safe and sound, I will give you food and drink and a place to rest the night." The boy named Benjamin looked hesitant, but nodded and started walking after picking up the scrolls.

After traveling in the wood for an hour, Alexa whispered, "Benjamin, why Have we not reached the town yet? I am getting worried. Oh and what About my father, how worried he must be. I promised I would be home More that 2 hours ago. How could you get us lost! Without you, I would be Back at the castle." She turned away and sat down on the grass, tears Falling down her face. She started sobbing, oceans pouring from her Eyes. "It is getting dark soon, Princess. We shall set up a camp for tonight. Traveling in the dark shall no doubt only get us more off track. That Is a risk I am not willing to take. I made a promise to myself that I would keep you safe and I am a man of my word and I will never let anything happen to you. I will make a fire to keep us warn through the chilly night. You collect the wood now, while there is still light for us to see. Then you will go collect berries and we will eat. Go quickly!"

Alexa pouted, she was not used to being bossed around, especially from an insignificant pauper. She stomped away, leaving her footprint in the dirt, the only proof that she was ever there. She began gathering twigs and tree bark and little red and blue berries.

As the sun said its final goodbyes and sunk into the horizon, she returned to the camp quickly, fear of getting lost by herself, striking her heart with every step she took. She dumped the wood on the fire pit Ben had dug out of the green grass and sat down, waiting for him to start the fire. "It is freezing, Benjamin. Hurry and make the fire." Ben looked up from what he was doing with a look of disgust on his face. "Oh, right away, your royal highness. I live to serve you." He spat out and sat down, striking a sharp rock against another smooth rock. Soon, a spark flew to the pile of wood, and the pile slowly made itself into a small and humble fire.

After a few moments of silence, only crickets and the woods night-life to be heard, Alexa whispered, "I am terribly sorry if I upset you Benjamin. I am not used to doing such things for myself. Back home, I have servants and slaves, waiting to fulfill my every command. I will try to be a better help to you, for all you are doing for me." Alexa said, staring at the ground, unable to meet her eyes with his. "Even though, it is your fault that we are so lost." The sparkling eyed beauty said, laughing. At this, the quick running pauper looked up from the fire and smiled his gorgeous smile, teeth shining white as the pearl necklace she was wearing, every single brown strand tossing in the slightest breeze laugh lines and dimples appearing on his perfectly tanned face.

"You know, Benjamin, they say laugh lines on your face is a sign of a good life. Even if it does not seem that way right now." Alexa said, her smile faint, just barely showing her teeth. A sudden realization came to Alexa's mind: I love him. No, I can't it isn't possible. I've only known him for less than 6 hours, and he is a pauper, a nothing. As the heated debate raged on through her head, Alexa, the flowing haired mortal quickly got up to her feet and retreated 10 feet from the fire. "I'm sorry, Benjamin, but I am very tired. I think I will go to bed now and rest for the remainder Of our journey tomorrow. Good night."

"Well, good night Princess Alexa. Sleep well." The quick running Pauper said, turning back to to gaze into the burning fire, as red as Alexa's cheeks. "Oh and, Benjamin! Thank-you, again." She said, so quietly, it could have been mistaken for a whisper in the wind. With that, she turned and laid down on the grass, drifting into a deep sleep. When she woke in the morning, the fire was out and Ben was kneeling by her side, staring into her eyes. "Good morning," he whispered.

Cheeks burning up with a deep blush the color of the reddest rose, Alexa sprang up and gathered the scrolls in her arms, then took off walking, rather quickly, not bothering to see if he was following her or not. Seconds later, she heard a yell from behind her. "Princess Alexa, wait! You must wait! GET DOWN!" She whirled around, just in time to see a man pointing an arrow at her, loaded in a bow. He lets the arrow go as Ben sprinted and tackled her to the ground, saving her life. As the man realized his arrow missed, her turned and started to run, running as fast as a deer running from a hunter. As they both panted and gasp for breath, Ben rolled off of her, realizing the awkwardness of the situation. "Who was that, and why did they try to kill us?" Ben demanded. "And I would know, why? Do you think I would want that man, or anyone, for that matter, to take the scrolls? After all we've done to keep them safe?" Alexa shouted, pushing Ben away from her. She picked herself off the ground and started walking again. Not noticeable to Ben, but slower, just to be sure he would be right there behind her this time.

After traveling the rest of the day, they finally reach the town of Lingerton. The sparkling eyed princess began to run toward the castle, Ben, the quick Running pauper, following her trail to the castle. As soon as they reached The gates of the castle, Princess Alexa burst into tears of joy. "I can't Believe I made it home. I feel like so long since I've seen my royal home! Benjamin, please follow me to the king." The princess sniffled out, embarrassed of her unruly emotions.

"Father! She said, sprinting like she never sprinted before as soon as her eyes met her fathers'. "You can't imagine how glad I am to see you, feel you here in my presence. I missed you so much, jolly king of Lingerton. I missed you so."

"I was growing so worried, my daughter. What took you so long? It was just to town and back. You've been go for almost three Days! I sent parties of my finest soldiers and men out to look for you—who is this?" the king asked, stunned, and motioned to the dirty man, standing in nothing but rags, "I am Benjamin of Kirnge, your highness. A pleasure like no other to stand in at the feet of the most noble ruler this town has ever seen!" The king merely waved his acknowledgment. "Andrea, darling, be A dear and show my guest to the shower and guest bedroom where he may Change and bathe." Alexa said to her right hand maid. Andrea bowed and Took Ben by the hand, leading him up the spiral staircase.

Minutes later, Ben joined Alexa in the library, where she was skimming A book on Medieval Knights. "I guess I will be leave now." Ben spoke, quite awkwardly. "It was a pleasure to escort you home, Princess Alexa." As he turned to leave, Alexa said abruptly, "Benjamin, you were such a great help to me on my journey. I would be honored if you stayed a little While. We can get to know each other, instead of remembering me as the stranger you helped find her home, remember me as Alexa, your friend." Alexa spoke, choosing her words carefully.

"Very well, your highness. I am in no place to displease you." The quick running pauper, Benjamin of Kringe said, back still turned, as a smile broke onto his lovely face once more. He turned to her and walked back, extending his hand, a gesture of unspoken thanks.