Picture is of pond in middle of garden maze.

The next day, I'm swarmed by the girls at breakfast.

"So, did you two kiss?" Brittany asks, a venomous edge to her tone.

"No! We just ate, talked, and snuggled up under the stars!" I protest.

She rolls her eyes, before going back to conversing with Angelica. 

"Was it romantic?" Another girl asks me.

"Very sweet and romantic," I tell her, blushing. "Ty-P-Prince Tyler isn't like how the media makes him out to be. He's very sweet and funny. I'm glad I was able to meet that side of him," I whisper honestly, knowing that if I were to raise my voice to a normal level, then Tyler would hear me from right next to me.

"Aww!" Quinn giggles, smiling and glancing at Tyler.

"How was your date with Prince Mason?" I ask her enthusiastically. 

"Very good. We went horseback riding. It was so fun!" She giggles.

I giggle too, feeling something in my heart. Is this what it feels like to belong? Like I'm not hiding in the shadows? Is this what it feels like to be a person to the world, not just a celebrity's twin? It feels... not like I expected. Good.

A plate of breakfast is set in front of me, making me jump slightly. I thank the waiter quietly, before looking down at the plate.

"Bacon! I love bacon!" Annabelle squeals from beside me.

"Bacon? I didn't get ba-" I start in confusion, before it dawns on me.

Tyler knows I'm vegetarian. He must've told the chefs I don't eat meat. That's so...sweet.

I turn around to Tyler, tapping his shoulder lightly.

"Thank you," I whisper.

"Of course. I want you to be comfortable and enjoy a full meal, not only parts," he says, squeezing my hand for a moment under the table.

I blush, before turning away. My plate holds a slice of french toast with powdered sugar, a croissant, a bowl of fresh strawberries and other berries, and a small bowl of almonds. I grin, beginning to eat my breakfast. 

"Is it good?" Tyler suddenly whispers.

"Y-yeah," I reply, feeling self-conscious.

Did I do something embarrassing? Oh no, I probably did! I have to remember that Tyler is a prince. As in, he's my superior in every way. And suddenly, that feeling I felt before begins to diminish, until it's non-existent.

I sink into my chair a bit, pulling my hair down to hide the side of my face, finishing my breakfast slowly now. More thoughts start appear in my mind, drowning me in their doubts and taunts. You'll only ever be a nobody. You'll never amount to anything. Why would the princes ever consider keeping you around?  They're probably just pitying you, or just keeping you around to keep Kia happy, like Brittany and Angelica said.

"Amber? Are you alright?" Someone's voice breaks through my thoughts.

I look up to find myself with just Prince Mason. Everyone else has left.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine," I murmur, looking down. 

He sits down in Tyler's chair on my left, turning to face me.

"Are you sure? Because you don't look fine."

"I'm fine, really."

I get up, looking away from the prince.

"I'm sorry, but I think I need some time alone. See you at lunch, Prince Mason," I mutter, before walking off, leaving the prince behind.

I'm pretty sure I just committed some sort of minor offense by leaving the prince so disrespectfully, but right now, I just want to be alone. Maybe then I won't feel like I can't belong anywhere.

(Time skip to a couple hours later)

Everyone went to the pool again, and when they asked me, I politely declined, saying I didn't like swimming. A few other girls decided not to as well, but I'm not sure where they are. 

I decide to stroll in the gardens, wanting to just be one with nature. I've always loved walking in nature. It calms me down and gives me lighter thoughts. 

My mind starts to drift, as I come across a nice pond. I sit down by it, laying down and closing my eyes to just drift off into my thoughts.

I guess I end up very lost in thought, because I almost don't hear people calling my name.

"Amber?! Ams, please! Don't be dead! I need you!" I hear an all-too-familiar voice scream, loud sobs filling the air.

Kia...

I sit up, rubbing my eyes. Getting up, I hear more people shouting my name, and I can make out Annabelle and Tyler's voices.

"Amber!" Summer screams.

What's going on? What did they mean by dead? 

I walk back down the path I came from, hearing their voices get closer and closer.

"W-what if... what if she got killed too? What if we never see her again?" Kiara sobs, making Annabelle let out a dry sob too.

"Hey, guys, I'm sure Amber is alright! Right?" Summer tries to urge, but she herself ends up sniffling.

I round a corner and find a group. Tyler and his brother are there, as well as Kiara, Annabelle, Summer, Quinn, and a few guards and my maids.

"Your Highnesses, it may be time to head inside. Your mother and father are most likely worried," a guard says.

"Just a few more minutes, please. We need to make sure she isn't lost or anything," Prince Mason says to them.

They nod, before walking over to the pathway entrance and standing guard. The garden itself is like a maze, each pathway covered over by trees ad moss. It's quite pretty, and the pond is most likely the center.

"Ams, please come out!" Kiara screams again.

"I'm right here," I whisper, walking up to them.

"Amber!" The girls scream, jumping on me and crushing me in a huge hug.

"We thought you were killed too!" Kiara sobs, squeezing me tighter.

My maids and friends start to cry now, blabbering on and on about how they thought I died or something.

"What are you guys talking about? Did someone else... die?" I ask, feeling tears well up in my eyes.

Kiara nods, tears still leaking down her face.

"Sarah Wilkes. She was in the palace because she didn't want to swim. She was found in her bed, her sheets stained with blood. The same message from before was on her wall, too," Tyler steps in, kneeling down in front of me.

The girls let go, and I'm crushed by yet another hug, but this one is from Tyler.

"We were all terrified you were killed too, but when we looked in the palace, you weren't anywhere. We thought you were taken or killed out here. Where were you?" Tyler whispers.

"At the pond. I didn't want to be around anyone."

He squeezes me again, before letting go.

"Come on. We need to tell my parents that you're alive," he says, before we all head off to the palace again.

And then there were 27. Lol, I'm worried this is going fast, but I'm trying not to rush it. If I do this right, this thing could really take off and be long, but I have to keep it interesting!

Comment, vote, and share plz!

-Mel