Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Hit Me Baby One More Time

"Yes, I would like to," I couldn't believe I was hearing this from my mouth, especially as I didn't really like Prince Nicolas because of his opinions during and after the annual auditions. He was happy, but still looked slightly surprised, I could tell by his short shrug of the shoulders. "Thanks, I'm always so lonely as an only child with a golden spoon in my mouth, it's hard to get rid of the prejudices," he sighed a little and leaned against the wall. After a short silence, he cleared his throat: "Belle, I have to admit, even if we don't end up together, I'm still glad I met you." "I'll be honest, that sounds very cheesy," I said, raising an eyebrow. I wouldn't stop speaking my mind just because we were in a casting situation here. "Did I speak up again, that happens a lot, please strike that from the record," he bit his lip awkwardly, quickly realising he had gone too far at our stage. I smiled and pretended to note it down and then cross it out, just as he had once done to me: "Yes, my prince." "I guess I'll never get used to hearing that from your mouth," he confessed to me. I grinned briefly: "Well, some things will never change." "You're a crafty one, Miss Woodstock, but since we're friends now, I'll keep calling you Belle. My first order of business is to ask you, is there anything I can do for you?" I didn't have to think and answered immediately: "May I write a letter to my family, I need to know if they are well, lacking nothing. They assured me that the world would not end when I was gone, but we Woodstocks would never admit to a problem. With my application, I just left them out in the cold." As if I expected it from a prince, he said I could use the phone. Of course, if I were rich or if we owned one, I would have called them long ago. I had to roll my eyes. I was in a different reality now, I had to get used to that. Yes, I could if they had a phone line, believe me, I had thought of that too. I thought everyone had a phone line these days? Our networking of the country started 500 years ago." "Only those who can afford it. Not every four or three is entitled to have one," I said seriously. But you won the lottery with your family and you can enjoy all the benefits of a three. I live in an outlying district and we have six mouths to feed, so we can't afford a connection, Nicolas. Just because we won, nothing has changed, except that we see less blood on the streets. We are the outsiders of this society. We're not even allowed to wear what fits." Why didn't he understand that? Because he's superficial, and just because he's been nice to you so far Belle, doesn't mean he understands you, that he knows what's going on behind that dream facade, I answered my question. I've upset you, I'm sorry. I guess I'm making a lot of faces at you." I glanced at one of the paintings, at this perfect family, then crossed my arms in front of my chest: "You know, if you knew just a little bit about the world behind the walls, you wouldn't embarrass yourself in front of everyone. Not in front of me, not in front of the press." I got angry, angry that he didn't want to see that people were suffering, that nothing knew about the harsh world I faced every day. I left without saying goodbye, a friendship would never blossom between him and me, it was just a spark that faded into the embers. He closed his eyes to reality. Out of grief that I could do nothing for my family again. I had expected him to follow me, my naïve heart. I kicked the pillar in the corridor, it was one of the few corridors that still had parts from the old days. Flower vases with bouquets, statues from Greece. Pain ran through me immediately, anger surfaced at how stupid I had been to kick marble. A mighty rock and a naïve belief in goodness. I braced myself against the pillar. Anger and despair mixed and rose in tears. I wanted to go home, this place was a nightmare, I wanted to wake up. No, I would not cry, I would not sink into self-pity, there was no need for me too, I am a strong, independent woman. I took a deep breath and wiped my tears away with the back of my hand.