Chapter one

My name is Emma and I am twenty-one years old. My great grandfather passed away. I miss him every day. I am happy that I sat on the floor when I was younger just to listen to his war stories.

"Sigh."

I miss all of those days. Folk around town like to spread rumors as well and I have heard all of them. It breaks my heart to hear others talk badly about my family. Well I won't let them hurt me. I trust my great grandfather's stories. I mean he is the one in the war so why would he be lying to me right? I am really upset because ever since my great grandfathers passing the war has gotten worse by the day.

"Emma!"

"Yes mother dear?"

We have to all live with our families so that we can all stay connected just in case the war takes any of us which I pray it doesn't.

"Are you daydreaming again?" "Sigh." "Please come help me with chores there is a lot to do and I can't do it all by myself." "Everyone that was supposed to help me won't listen or they are outside where I can't find them but when I do they are going to have a lot of explaining to do."

Mother handed me the list that had to be done.

"Gasp."

I ripped the list in half and handed her one half.

Let's get this list done."

I might not want to do chores but I have a soft spot for helping people that need help. What I have learned from my great grandfather about the old days was that children or younger folk had to respect the older people and help them out whenever they could. He has taught me so much throughout my years. I really want to be just like him, maybe not the war part but everything else that he has taught me.

"Ahh!"

Mother grabbed my shoulder. I must have been day dreaming again.

"Thank you for helping me out with the chores." "It's too bad that the other younes didn't learn from their great grandfather about respect." "Sigh." "Well I am glad at least one of you learned from him." "Haha." "I loved walking in and seeing you sitting on the floor listening to your great grandfather as he told you many stories you were so interested in."

Tears filled my eyes. I miss him so much only if I could have stopped the cancer from spreading and killing him then maybe just maybe we would have had more time together. I could have learned more as well. I felt tears rolling down my face.

"Please excuse me mother, I would like to take a walk to clear my mind."

"Of course dear but please don't go too far."

"Yes mother I understand."

I kissed her on the cheek and walked out the door. Walking through town I can just see how this war has taken a toll on the town.

"Sigh."

I walked into the woods not watching where I am going with the amount of tears rolling down my face.

"Crash."

I wiped the tears quickly from my eyes and face.

"I am so sorry I didn't mean to crash into you, I wasn't watching where I was going."

I took a look at the man but he had a black mask over his head.

"I am fine!" "Just please next time look where you are going and this will never happen again!"

I have never seen this girl before and I have been sneaking around here for years to help my great grandfather get better. Of course it was hard and he still ended up passing away at the same time that his best friend did well.

"What is your name?"

She seems to be in a day dream land.

"Hey!"

I shook her a little bit.

"Sorry I have to get back home before my family starts to worry about me." "I am sorry, maybe next time we can talk more." "Who knows, maybe tomorrow we will meet here again."

I started to walk away out of the woods.

"Wait."

I ran and grabbed a hold of her shoulders.

"I am not from around here so please don't tell anyone about me please."

"What?" "What are you talking about?"

When I blinked he was gone. I shrugged off what he said. I got home with my mind spinning about that boy and what he had just recently just said to me before he disappeared.

"Emma, your home!"

"Yep I am back home."

Crystal ran into me and gave me a big hug.

"How are you doing Crystal?"

"I am doing really well." "Do you want to play a game with me?"

"Well…. "I would have to talk to the other half of myself to see what she thinks."

"What?"

"Oh no, the other half of myself is taking over me and I am turning into the tickle monster, run for your life or you might laugh yourself silly."

"Ahhh." "Haha."

"I have caught you now, ready to be tickled."

Crystal started to laugh so hard that I started to laugh with her.

"No more tickling me monster, I am laughing harder than silly."

"Emma!"

I looked up from where Crystal and myself were sitting on the floor recovering from laughing.

"Hello father."

"What in the world do you think you are doing?"

"Well you see I was just playing with Crystal."

I stopped talking when my father gave me a mad look.

"Come with me right now." "I need to have a few words with you."

"Emma?"

"I will be alright, it's not your fault." "You know what, how about you go find your princess stuff and when I get back we can play."

I watched as she ran fast to go get the stuff. I followed my father into his study room.

"I am very disappointed in you."

"About what father?"

"You had one job to do as you grew up and it was to become a proper lady but instead you decided to listen to those stupid stories all the time." "Now you still act like a little child." "How are you supposed to make it in life as a child?" "You have disgraced me." "I no longer have a daughter and I will no longer call you daughter of mine now leave my sight you disgrace."

"Father I may act like a child sometimes but at least those stories taught me to love, respect, cherish, and everything that people should do to help others out and if that is not lady enough."

"Never call me father again, you are a disgrace to this family and that is all you will ever be now, leave and never come back."

"Fine I will!"

I ran out of the room almost tripping over Crystal.

"I am so sorry sweetie I am afraid that princesses will have to wait for another time."

"Emma I know that it's hard for me to understand some things but I know what disgrace means and I don't think you are at all one."

"Thank you Crystal."

"No sweetie don't talk to Emma she is a bad influence."

Wow, even my own sister is against me. I can feel my blood boiling.

"That's fine I don't need any of you!"

I waved goodbye to Crystal before I slammed the door behind me.

***

I still want to know who that girl was from earlier today. She is all I have thought about today. I can't get her out of my head. It's funny I have been through this whole village and not once have I ever seen her. I found a tree to stay the night in. Maybe tomorrow that girl will come back, who knows. My great grandfather told me to never fall in love with anyone because who knows if that girl is a spy of some sort. But that girl just keeps spinning around in my head. Why did this happen?"

"Crack!"

I put my hood over my face. I wonder who is wandering the woods this late at night? The person came into view and I could tell it was a girl no it was the girl that crashed into me this morning. What is she doing out here all by herself this late at night?

I fell to my knees and cried. My family no longer wants me. I somehow turned my own family against me without trying.

Why is she crying? I don't like to see girls cry. I have to help her.

"You okay?"

"Ahh!" "Oh it's just you."

I wiped the tears quickly away.

"You're still here?" "Why?"

"What happened?" "Why are you sad?"

"It's nothing, I just fell and hurt myself." "Well I should be going."

I started to walk away.

"No you can't leave yet you still haven't told me your name."

"Emma." "Can I please go now?"

"It's nice to meet you Emma, my name is Maverick." "Please sit."

I sat down again.

"Please I have to leave this place and live somewhere else."

I put my hands over my lips. I hope he didn't hear me.

"Why?"

"Sigh." "I am a disgrace to my family." "I am scared to be alone."

Tears rolled down my face. Well I walked myself right into this. I put my head down on my knees. I wish he didn't see me like this.

"Is that why you were crying?" I have an idea why don't you come back home with me?" "My family would love to meet you."

"Cry." "How do you know they would love to see me?"

"My family just loves company." "So what do you say?"

I know she can't be from here if she was from here I would have seen her. I have been to the enemy's side more than once. I am surprised that I haven't been caught.

I wiped the tears away.

"I do have a question." "What did you mean earlier by don't telling anyone about you?"

"I didn't want my parents to find out where I was."

How can the boy see through the dark? I can't see anything.

"Ouch!"

I fell to the ground from tripping over a rock.

"Well that hurt."

I stood up but when I took a step I fell again. Tears rolled down my face. I wiped away the tears so that Maverick wouldn't know.

"Emma let me have a look."

"No, I am alright."

"You had a bad fall, please let me take a look."

I carefully held her leg. It's a bad sprain.

"Looks like I am going to have to carry you the rest of the way."

"What no, I can walk just fine."

I stood up and fell every step I took and every time I fell mud and woods would get on me.

"Sigh." "You're right."

I picked her up.

"We're not too far away so my arms won't get tired."

"I am sorry." "It's really hard to see in the dark."

"Yep and also stubbornness made you get all gross from the mud."

"Haha." "I know I get that stubbornness from my mother."

"Now I am sad."

"Why?"

"Because I can't see that beautiful smile of yours." "I bet that is amazing." "One day I will be able to see it and when I do I am going to take a mental picture and save it for the rest of my life."

"Haha." "thank you but you shouldn't remember anything about me."

"Why is that?"

"Because I really have to get out of town so that I won't have any people from my family spotting me and telling everyone as they point at me that I am a disgrace."

"Don't worry about others, I will be by your side."

"Why are you being so nice to me?"

"It's because I want to become your friend."

"Really?"

Wow no one has ever wanted to be my friend before.

"I would really like that."