Stuck-Up Parents

I wake up, alone, with the sunrise gleaming through my window; the warm glow makes me drift into a daydream of last night -specifically how relaxing it was to sleep in Nick's arms again after so long- his embrace being precisely what I needed to forget about the stress of the past week.

That exact thought had reminded me that I now had to sit through breakfast, with the most unintelligible people on the planet (you guessed it, my parents).

I get up, reluctantly, dreading the events of the upcoming morning. Don't get me wrong, I love my parents (in that normal, forced, family way), but they can be a little much, sometimes being a -tad- overdramatic about things you didn't think there was a reason to be dramatic about. It doesn't matter what you talk about with them, they seem to always find a way of blabbing on and on about 'suitors' and "I'd like you to get rid of that 'worker-boyfriend' of yours", Blah, blah, blah. They don't actually care what I have to say anymore -which is the worst thing about them- our King and Queen don't care about their people or their daughter.

It's actually terrifying.

However, I'm surprised that they haven't set me up for an arranged marriage yet with how much they talk about it. I know they want me to marry someone else, besides Nick, but there's better things to be talking about, like how their people are struggling to survive on the poor economy, and that they have the power to change it and allow the people to live in peace. But, it's all about profit with them, and so long as they're the ones on top of the huge gold pile- they couldn't care less about the rest of humanity.

I finish up in the bathroom and grab some clothes to throw on- I've already delayed myself enough and if I don't get there in good time, they're scold me about it. I go simple, with leggings and a cold-shouldered top, my parents say I should dress more formal when in the castle, but I could care less about any "advice" they give me anymore. I'm comfortable in these clothes, so why shouldn't I be allowed to wear them?

I walk through the halls to the dining room, thinking about the children I'm going to see today at the orphanage, and coming up with ways to make their lives better when I go visit them after whatever hell I'm about to face, which I doubt is going to be any worse than what my family have put them through.

Going to see the townspeople is my favourite thing to do nowadays. I love to see their faces light up when they see me, almost as if I'm a beacon of hope for them, in the desolate place they've had to call home.

"Hey Evie, how are you doing this morning?" I hate when she calls me that, it makes me feel like a child.

"I'm fine. Where's Nick? I haven't seen him today, is he with his dad? Maybe I should pay them a visit before I go to the orphanage."

"I don't know where -that one- is dear, but he did ask if he could be pardoned for today, stating that he has "something important" to do, but I hardly believe there could be anything more important than us royalty." She says it with a humorous tone, as if it were a joke she were telling that I was supposed to find amusing.

She's actually so conceited, it's unbearable. She speaks as if the staff's life purpose is to serve her and they don't have a life outside of her field of vision. I mentally roll my eyes at her and give a look at the staff as a way of apologising for her ignorance.

"They do have a life outside of this palace, Mother. Some of them have kids to care for, or family matters to attend to. We may be important to society, but that doesn't mean we control everything and everyone." I glare at her, as if it will somehow make my words stay in her brain for once.

My Father walks in halfway through me failing miserably to get my Mother to see that the royal staff are people too. He had a look on his face that showed that he was already done with what I was saying.

I seriously cannot wait until the day comes where they can't hide behind their royal status and they have to face every last bit of public backlash they deserve. I smile at the thought.

"Really Evie, you've got to let go of that boy it's not healthy" As per usual, the only thing they think is on my mind is Nick, as if I don't have the ability to be happy about anything else.

"I don't know why you're still with him. It's clear to us that he's just using you, everyone can see that. You really need to wake up and see the truth before you become a complete joke, and everyone will assume that we're a royal laughing stock."

It's incredible how quickly my dad can jump to conclusions, which is almost as fast as how he can bankrupt an entire family for his own benefit. I know for a fact that Nick would never do that, if only they could see past his uniform, they would realise that he's the most caring, passionate and funny goofball that I've ever met.

That's why I fell in love with him.

Five years ago, a fire broke out in one of the libraries near the school and some children got trapped when it collapsed, by the time the fire brigade came and got the children out, they were already gone. Nick was the person who made sure I was okay, and showed that he legitimately cared about me and my feelings... Unlike my family.

---flashback---

We were all gathered together in the family room, Nick was teaching me how to play the guitar due to the fact I'd been pestering him about it for months after seeing him play. He was waiting for his father to finish his work, so he finally had some free time on his hands.

"Like this?" I had placed my hands roughly where I thought I remembered him put them before.

"Haha... Not even close, Eve. Here, let me help." He places his hand over mine and guides them to where they actually need to be, while I consider the nickname he gave me.

"Eve?... I like that." I see him smile proudly, but he quickly returns to teaching me chords, as if I didn't notice.

My mother was reading a book by the fireplace when Dad strolled in with news.

"I've just been informed that one of the libraries just collapsed after it had caught on fire." Everyone stares at him, blankly, and in shock.

"Was anyone injured?" I prayed no one was hurt, because those libraries are far too close to the school for me to not be worried.

"Yes, some kids got trapped inside when it collapsed on top of them. They passed, soon after." He displayed no emotion at all. Not even a hint of empathy.

"Those kids died today, can't you show some compassion? What about the children's families?"

"I got someone to handle it, it's being taken care of." Waving his hands, dismissively.

"I've been trying to telling you to make them buildings safer, or at least build new ones, not so close to the school. I knew it was dangerous for the people who used those buildings, but you never listened-"

"Evelyn! Just leave it." He doesn't like me talking back to him, so he often attempts to use his anger and volume to silence me.

"Just leave it? No, I'm not going to leave it alone! If you would've just listened to me we could've prevented this, and those kids would still be alive, and with their families right now."

"There's nothing we can do now- the damage is done. We'll give our condolences to the families tomorrow."

"That's it? You're just gonna say you're sorry? If this happens again, what will you do then? Just hope that people accept your apology and forget about it?" I don't even wait for an answer, it's not like a good answer is going to be the thing that comes out of my father's mouth.

I decided that I was done with people today.

"I'm sorry Nick, but can we do this some other time? I'm suddenly not in the mood anymore."

"Of course, I believe my dad should be done by now anyway." I thank him and kiss him on the cheek before getting up to leave.

"I'm gonna go to my room, I'm suddenly tired. Don't disturb me." I don't want to keep arguing with them for any longer then I have to.

I ignore my father, who shouts after me. He'll just say blameful nonsense like 'It was their fault that they were there' or 'There was nothing we could've done'. Some of which I expect he'll be using in his speech tomorrow.

"Eve!... Eve wait!" I hear the sound of Nick panting behind me, because he never bothers to do any exercise, so I reluctantly start to slow down, so he can catch up.

"What do you want, Nick?" I was still annoyed with what my father had said, but hearing Nick's voice is slowly calming me down.

"I just want to make sure you're okay."

"I'm fine. I'm great, actually." The hint of sarcasm was dripping from my words.

"Eve, come on, I know you're not." He comes closer to me and makes sure I keep eye contact with him, as much as I try to escape it.

"I don't know why he's acting like this isn't a big deal, like we just lost some building and not some children's lives." My vision gets blurry, as my eyes tear up, rapidly, just thinking of my father trying to push the blame for his actions onto someone else.

"You do know it wasn't your fault that this happened, right?" I stay silent. Of course this is my fault, I didn't try hard enough. "Eve, their deaths are not on you."

"I couldn't get my parents to listen, if I tried, just that little bit harder, maybe I-"

"No, Stop it. It was not your fault. If you want someone to blame, then blame your parents for not realising how dangerous it was to leave those buildings up." Nick is one of the only other people who sees past my family's deceit, and I'm relieved that he's on my side about them.

"Thanks, Nick. sorry our session got cut short by the way."

"That doesn't matter, it just means I get to keep my hearing for a little while longer." I do have to admit, my playing was that awful. "Don't worry though, I'm sure you'll get better at it with more practice." He gives an encouraging smile, as we both hope that, one day, I might be able to play without damaging anyone's eardrums.

I look into his eyes and I swear I felt my heart stop beating.

---end of flashback---

"Evie?... Are you even listening to us dear?"

"What? Yeah, I'm listening, sorry." Not that they say anything different that's worth listening to.

"We were just talking about the ball we're hosting today, and who we should invite." I knew it was coming eventually; It's felt like only a week has past and they're already arranging for another one.

"Actually, I've got some things to do today, and I was hoping to do them before tonight."

"Of course, that's fine! As long as you're back in time for the ball." She says it as if it's a deal, but I would rather sleep outside than have to come back and be at a party, where I have to reject fifty guys in the same night.

"Don't worry, I wouldn't miss it for the world, I'll be back in no time!" There is no way I'm going to be back on time. Besides, I only said I would be there- I didn't say I would stay for long.

It was time to pay a visit to the orphanage... And I had the perfect idea of how I could help them.