Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride

~

what she just said. A thousand thoughts raced through my mind, li

hought she was suggesting? Although,

st cartoonish level. "Trust me," she said, practically bouncing on the bench with excitement, "it's

ing amount of possibilities. From be-coming a royal farmer for the British food company to possi

pped the bombshell. "How about you come with me to London and work

right? My tray of thoughts clattered to the ground, and I shook my head as if

off her face and land on the pavement. "I said you could come with

it belongs to my stepmother. Since the staff that used to handle our vegetable garden left, she's been searching for someone. I think you'd do

st from my eyes. "Oh, God!! You're joking, right? No, or I must be

ischievous smile, "You just have to say the magic words and voilà..." She ma

undane existence for a fresh start in London sounded like a dream. But then a more practical thought hit me. "

were from all over the world. I'm sure she'd love to have someone with your background. Esp

k so? I mean, I can see it now: me in London, trading in my farm

y. It's true... and I promise, this isn't so

ve this place and do some real work, it'd be a dream comes true! But when are you leavi

oa, 'a month or two'? Mary, I'm o

y heart sank. This

hounding me to come back, and honestly, I'm on borrowed time. He threatened to fly down himself if I don't show up,

ly, my thoughts were spiraling. If she's leaving so soon, there's no way I'll be able to pull everythin

doubt in my eyes. "Mary?" she called, he

f my thoughts, feeling like I'd jus

on? You went a

han two weeks to get the papers ready

ng me a friendly pat on the back. "Don't even

t's all right; I don't wa

hievous. "Ha-ha-ha nonsense, Mary! You and I are best friends, remember

at her unwavering spirit. "It's comfortin

e things never do,"

curfew, the silly pranks, and those care-free afternoons we thought would never end. Before I

to get home before Mom starts wo

d start heading home," I sa

d around, and then looked at me. "Where's your phone? We n

've been trans-ported to another century. "Phone, you say? Ugh, don't even as

, right? How do you keep in contact with frien

"You should've asked if I had any friends to begin with.

to get why you need to be exposed to the outside world. Otherwise, y

ppress a laugh. "You're such a

"Oh great, you've picked up

pain in the ass. "I'm going this way," I said

ut hey, Mary-don't forget about what we talked about, okay?" She reminded me, as if I could eve

y laughter at her choice of words. Racha

made you tear up?" she

ce coming for his princess." I chuckled aga

Mary, your sense of irony is always the worst. But anyway, see you in

light. Turning on my heels, I started my walk home, my heart thumping wildly in my chest at the

ts will

to calm the flutter of nerves that threatened to spiral out of control.