Daddy Issues

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My entire world came crashing down.

My body went numb.

Everything around me started to spin.

I didn't know what to think.

I didn't know if what I heard was even true.

But it was Nurse Sophie we were talking about. The woman who knew my father and I ever since he was admitted to the hospital. She'd done a lot more than any other nurse would do, so I'd never doubt a single word she said. Now that she was sobbing heavily on the phone, I couldn't help myself.

The phone dramatically fell on the cold, hard ground with a loud thump. If this was shot in a movie, the shattering of glass would be shown in slow-motion. I started to lose control over my body as the words of a sobbing Nurse Sophie repeated in my mind.

"Your dad...is no more..."

I cannot describe the storm that was brewing inside of me. A storm that was paired with raging thunder and had the capability of destroying the entire Titania if let loose. Strong arms grabbed my shoulder and repeatedly shook me, but I felt nothing.

Like seriously, nothing!

"Charlie! Liz! Charlie, look at me! What happened?!" I vaguely recognized that voice to be Samuel's and perhaps he was the one shaking me. I stared at the distance, every single memory with my dad hit me like a cyclone and a pang of guilt surged through me when I realized that I hadn't left on good terms with dad the last time I met him.

To say, 'I was devastated' would be an understatement.

"Charlie?!"

I was too deep in my pit to hear the panicked voice of Samuel. To see how concerned and panicked his eyes were. It was like, a part of me just died and I couldn't take the emotions out of my system.

Emotions. Feelings. Attachment.

No wonder people said, "You feel it more during the person's absence."

Samuel, unable to get me to move, carried me bridal-style back to my room and set me down on the bed. Jamie kept pacing around, wondering what had happened to me while checking the cell phone that was on the floor a few minutes ago.

"I am sure it had something to do with the call." Jamie deduced, trying to get the cell phone to turn on.

"It must've been the call - Charlie? Talk to me, what happened?"

No response.

Just a blood-drained face.

And widened eyes.

"For Pete's sake, just turn on, already!" Jamie cursed, slapping the phone on his palm.

Samuel joked. "Is that what you tell ladies these days?"

Jamie shot him a deadly glare. "If this was not serious, I would have killed you now,"

Samuel dramatically clutched his heart, "Ouch, if that glare was a weapon- it could kill millions!"

Unable to sit still for a minute more, I rushed out of the room, leaving the boys to quarrel. I had to get to dad as soon as I could. Even if I wasn't around for his last breath, I had to be there- preparing for the funeral. Everything around me was a blur, I didn't care who was around or what was happening in my surroundings. All I knew, I had to see him one last time.

"Princess Francine!"

I heard someone yell after me, but that was the least of my problems. I dashed out of the palace and ran as fast as my legs could allow me. Soon, I found myself running through the streets and the commoners giving me weird looks and some of them were even clicking photos and possibly gossiping about 'why the future queen was running away?'

"Princess, stop!"

I didn't. I kept rushing. All that raced through my mind was, 'I have to be there to see my dad one last time.' After what felt like hours of running, my legs gave up and I realized how stupid I was to have run so far non-stop. I fell on my knees, catching my breath. My feet were burning as if it was lit on fire. Right now, I was in the middle of nowhere. The only sight I had was of sand surrounding me and I had no idea how I ended up here.

"God, where am I?" I muttered under my breath, frantically searching for any familiarity.

"Princess Francine!"

This time around, I paid attention to the voice calling me without fail. I turned around and saw Augustus Xavier panting to a stop in front of me. His jet-black hair all messed up - like he just woke up from the bed. He was wearing a white t-shirt, a black trench-coat, denim jeans paired with black boots.

"Xavier?"

He glared at me for a few seconds. It seemed like he was a pressure cooker, waiting to blow the whistle. His face turned deep red and if this was a cartoon - I would see steam blowing out of his ears.

"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?" His deep voice hit my eardrums like someone was pelting stones at me. At this point, anything and everything made me feel pathetic. He kept blabbering God knew what - all I saw, he was pacing in front of me, pinching the bridge of his nose. Everything he told me went straight through my head.

You couldn't save your daddy dearest, Charlie.

You're pathetic.

You're not a perfect daughter.

You couldn't keep your promise.

All these thoughts raced through my head as I sat in the sand - frozen. I felt like every part of me tore itself into pieces. My heart shattered into a million pieces and right now, I was nothing but just a zombie.

Dead from the inside.

Suddenly, I felt strong arms grab my shoulder, and my face was forcefully turned to confront Augustus. His icy-blue eyes scanned my face, searching for something. Finally, when he was satisfied with his findings, he ordered.

"I am taking you home,"

I stared at the distance, stating unconsciously. "No, I'm not going to that palace. My dad needs me."

Augustus argued. "He is in the castle, Princess. You need to be there."

"No, I wanna go home."

At this minute, I wasn't even bothered with my language or even who I was pretending to be. Who cared anyway if the cover was blown? The entire reason I agreed to do this was dad. Now that he was gone, why was I bothering to keep pretending? I knew that I had to go home by hook or by crook. Nothing mattered to me anymore other than just seeing him, one last time.

"I am taking you home, princess."

I took a few steps backward, shaking my head. Nope, Augustus wouldn't be taking me my home. Instead, he'd be taking me to the palace where I'd been for the past ten months. I had a feeling that the universe somehow understood how I felt right now. The storm, the thunder brewing inside of me, and the anger that the last time I ever talked to dad, we had a dispute.

I wanted the last times to be sweet and memorable.

The sky was covered with dark clouds in minutes and the rumbling of the thunder started. It was surprising how it was raining in the middle of the desert. And, just as soon as the downpour started, my eyes gave up. Augustus and I stood at arm's length, staring at each other and waiting for the other to make a move. The tears rolled down my cheek while the insides of me screamed and screamed - tearing itself apart. No matter how calm I looked from the outside, I was chaotic on the inside.

Calm, yet chaotic.

"Come on, Princess. Do not argue," He stepped forward, cautiously grabbing my elbow. I quickly jerked away and moved backward.

"Lemme stay here, Xavier. If I can't go home, I can at least stay here."

I had a feeling Augustus had no clue what I was talking about. It was like, one minute he found a sassy princess, and the next minute, he found a mess. He wasn't supposed to be dealing with me, here. He still had the option to go home, right?

"You can come home," He pleaded. "Please, allow me to escort you back to the castle. You shall fall sick if you stay here any longer."

His messy black curls fell on his forehead, covering it entirely. He wasn't even bothering to fix it. I mean, who would? But it was Augustus we were talking about- a Prince who cared about how he looked every second of the day, who was obsessed with himself. The same prince was standing in the rain because a stubborn tomboy wanted to be here.

"Leave me alone, Xavier," I said, harshly. "Go home if you're so concerned about falling sick,"

He snapped. "I am not concerned about myself!"

"Just leave me alone, Aug-" My voice cracked and I quickly turned my back so that he couldn't see me crying. Until now, he hadn't noticed that I was crying because of the rain. However, now that my voice cracked, I had to be careful with every word that I spoke.

"Is that crying I hear?"

I looked at the sky, the raindrops falling straight on my face as I tried to get my rushing tears inside the eyes again. It was a stupid move because I couldn't keep my eyes open.

"N-No,"

I expected a smirk.

I expected a taunt.

I expected a- 'Aww, is the Princess crying? Does the damsel in distress need the knight in shining armor?'

What I didn't expect was a comforting hand squeezing my shoulder.

"'Tis okay to cry, Princess. You do not have to hide it from me. Crying is what makes us human, does it not?"

---

"I was a small child when I lost my mother. I was always an introvert who loved reading books and had no friends, growing up. Father always told me that I was a Prince and I was superior to most of the children of my age group and that they were jealous of my post. My father instilled that pride in me from a young age. He always said, 'Emotions and feelings do not matter, all that matters is power and kingdoms.' I was never allowed to cry because my father told me it would make me weak. However, when I grew up, I realized that it, rather, made you stronger - giving you the strength to fight against your demons."

I chuckled.

"What is so funny?" He looked at me, confused.

I shook my head. "I don't know why I always meet people who have daddy issues."

"Daddy issues?" He repeated. "Have you met others with daddy issues?"

Sam, Francine, and now, Augustus.

"Samuel and I have daddy issues. Now, I know you have. So, welcome to the team 'Daddy Issues'."

It was a partial lie.

We were sitting on the sand, both of us keeping our knees close to our chests, chatting in the rain. I would admit - even if I hate it right now - Augustus wasn't as bad as I pegged him to be. If someone only watched Augustus from afar, they would think he was snobbish and was the rich-spoilt brat of the family. However, when one saw him closely, all he would see a small child who was told that 'crying made you weak'.

He laughed. Honestly, I never met anyone who had such contagious laughter.

"Is that what you call your sibling duo? 'Team Daddy Issues'?" He used air-quotations.

I did secretly call them that.

I'll admit.

"Not exactly, although I'd love that."

He stared into the distance, watching the rainfall. "I have never been someone to get drenched in the rain, let alone sit here with my to-be fiancée."

I flinched a little at the mention of fiancée. Little did he know, his 'fiancée' wasn't me but rather my doppelganger who was living my life right now. I felt bad for him because he was deprived of getting to know his actual fiancée, but Francine wanted both the crown and the freedom to be able to live for a while. Hence, the whole 'swapping' took place.

I gasped, ignoring the fiancée part. "You did not?! How have you lived, Your Highness?"

He shrugged. "Confined in castle walls, I believe."

My tears had dried by now and I made a self note to myself to sneak out at night after everyone slept. That way, I could go out without anyone knowing. Hopefully, I could be there for his funeral. Although I had Nicole to take care of most of the responsibilities, the only family, dad had left, was me.

"You have not lived at all, Your Highness."

He playfully smacked my arm, "Stop calling me that, 'tis too formal!"

I retorted. "Consider it payback for calling me a Princess."

He raised his eyebrow, the signature smirk forming on his face. "Oh, is that so?"

"Yes, it is, I believe."

"Then what shall I call you, Miss Sassy Pants?"

I laughed at his attempt on nicknames.

"You can call me Francine,"

He thought for a second.

"No, that is what everyone calls you by. You should have a name that only I shall call you by,"

I thought for a second, now.

What name could I give him to call me by other than my real name?

What was my second favorite name?

"You can call me..."