Island Rush (82 page)

“Is it so shocking that you deserve those things?” I asked, moving to him and raising a hand, brushing his hair back as I looked up into his eyes.  Resting my hand on his cheek, I smiled.  “You deserve to be happy Casey.”

“I was happy before, so happy.  I wouldn’t dare ask for more than you.  But a baby?”

I laughed with another nod, leaning up and connecting my lips with his as I kissed him, full of love and bliss at his reaction.  He kissed me back, smiling always, his arms folding around me and holding me close.   

Being with Casey already made me feel like the luckiest girl in the world.  But now… there were no words to describe the feeling of being pregnant.  To know Casey’s child is growing inside me, I couldn’t describe it.  Our love couldn’t be described because no words could express it.  It’s the same now. 

I couldn’t believe it.  We actually had it all.  All we ever wanted.  We talked about what we wanted in our futures when we were on the island.  Things were different than what we wished for.  Regardless, I couldn’t complain.

We didn’t have a decent house out in the country we talked about.  We had a house that was smaller than an average home.  There were woods in the back, but it was hardly out in the country.  Inside was crowded with unmatched furniture because it was what we could afford.  Yet, it was home and was comfortable. 

We didn’t get the freedom we wished for exactly.  Though reporters backed off, interviews still took place.  Now that we were married, we still received a ton of attention.  We had freedom, but we were the celebrities of this town.  We couldn’t go many places without someone recognizing us from the news stories.  Since we were married, we were constantly asked if our relationship started on the island.  Every time, we lied and said it didn’t.  Yet, we were happy with the freedom we had and the fact that there was no proof of our time together on the island. 

We didn’t exactly get the wedding we wanted.  We were married before I turned twenty-four on a beautiful beach in Florida.  We thought it was a fitting place for obvious reasons.  We wanted a quiet wedding, one that was private with only close family.  We had a long engagement, just enjoying the time and thriving in the atmosphere of it.  I didn’t have much family, so my aunt was the closest person in my family that came.  However, though Casey’s parents loved me and approved, some of his other family did not.  His cousins didn’t like the attention we were bringing to the family since we were together.  They sometimes gave me attitude over it. Some of his family didn’t come to the wedding because of it.  It devastated me but Casey stood his ground with them, and we got through it.  But it didn’t go without a few photographers sneaking in; our wedding was huge news. People loved that. It sparked more attention towards us.  Yet, it didn’t matter how our wedding went. The result was greater than anything a few stubborn family members and the media could do.

We didn’t have a lot of money.  We always knew money would be tight.  But after the honeymoon, it was worse than I expected.  Casey struggled to keep his job for a while after schools started to change how teachers were supposed to do their jobs. They were letting a lot of teachers go too, and it didn’t help that he had such a suspicious background with a former student.  He was stressed for a while.  They also cut teachers’ pay, which left Casey in a bad mood most days.  After the house and the wedding, we were already tight on money.  I was also attending college and that wasn’t cheap either.  The interviews gave us some money, but it didn’t help much.  We could have sued the airline but chose not to (it sounds stupid but without that crash, we wouldn’t be together today).  That is why we still were struggling with cash.  It would become worse with a baby on the way.  Yet, we managed and would continue to.  As long as we had each other and a healthy future, that was all that mattered.

And finally, we didn’t have all the kids we wanted.  We might never be able to have more kids.  It was hard just getting pregnant with one.  Having more might not happen as we wanted with the chances.  But one child or more, we would become parents and that was what counted.  Sure, we would want more and would try for more.  It might not happen, though.  Yet, as he told me, it doesn’t matter.  I had a feeling deep within me that said we could do it anyway.

We didn’t get to where we are now like we thought we would.  But the point was, we got here.  We were here and happy.  We made it and were set in bliss and a perfect life.  Because we faced so many problems, the times that were harder than we figured, it made it that much more perfect now.  We had each other, our love, and our lives to do what we wanted ahead of us.  And now, we finally were going to have a baby. 

Our lives were perfect.  Perfect.  And it was all because of the tragedy that took place so many years back.  A tragedy that resulted in us getting stranded on an island.  Because if that plane didn’t go down and we didn’t get stranded, Casey and I would have never gotten together.  We wouldn’t be living this life now.  A life filled with so much love and happiness. 

A life containing years of love we shared and years of experiences that got us here today.  And with him in my arms, with a new form of life growing between us, with a future open for anything, I knew our lives had much more to see. 

—The End—

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Chapter one

Anna

My principal sat in front of me counting to ten and pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to stay calm. I just stayed there picking at my nails, trying not to laugh at this whole situation. It’s really hard not to when the principal’s head is redder than a cherry blow pop.

“Miss Williams.” He started.

“Yes, Mr. Anderson?” I spoke like that dude from The Matrix. I’m always poking fun at his last name. He counted to ten again slowly.

“Care to explain why there is
a cow
on the second floor?!” He boomed.

Huh, I guess counting doesn’t work after all. I gave him an innocent look.

“Why sir! I’m appalled that you think I had anything to do with that prank!” I said in false shock, and might I add that the prank was awesome! He looked like he was going to have an aneurism!

“There’s a sign on each side, saying ‘
Anna Rules!
’” He yelled. I couldn’t stop the slight chuckle that escaped. He looked ready to kill.

“Aw! C’mon, Mr. A! It was funny and you know it! Besides, you’re lucky I decided against using an actual bull, so you’re welcome.” I shrugged.

“Get out!” He screamed. I stood up and saluted him.

“Yes sir! How long this time Cherry?” I asked him. Hmm, I like calling him that because it seems like any time I’m near him, his head turns to that color.

“Two weeks.” He spat out.

I smiled at him widely and sauntered out, but not before turning around and saying, “You might want to give that poor cow some hay.”

He looked ready to strangle me, so I booked it out of there, laughing. I saw Mrs. Henderson, the secretary of the office, on my way out. She chuckled at me.

“A cow Anna? Really?” She laughed, but kept it quiet as to not disturb the bear in his office. She was one of my favorite faculty members here. She was in her late fifties, and had a round face, but still as feisty as they come.

“Well, yeah! I couldn’t get a hold of an elephant on such a short notice.” I shrugged, joking. I grabbed my side bag from the chair, and headed out with a new kick in my step. I wanted to kill some time before 4th period was over so I can see my best friends Danny, who was my gay go to guy friend, and Missy, who was shy, but was good for a lookout, and gave amazing pep talks.

Bathroom it is!
Heading in there I fixed myself and combed through my soft colored red hair that goes down to my shoulder blades, and fixed a smudge under my hazel eyes. Today they’re greener in color, while other days, they could be a light brown.

“Dang, I got to get a tan.” I muttered to myself. I had pale white skin that Danny adored but I hated to no end. I did not want to look like some sparkly vampire thank you very much! The bell rang above me, and I walked outside my science class, waiting for my friends to come out for lunch. Danny was out first.

“Danny boy!” I yelled. He rolled his eyes at me, but smiled and picked me up, doing a spinning hug. I laughed as he put me down.

“I have to say Red, that cow thing turned out pretty genius.” He praised. We gave each other high fives, and just then Missy came out. I gave her a quick hug before we set off to leave.

“How’s your foot?” I asked, trying not to laugh. He huffed.

“That stupid cow! I know we blind folded it, but did it really have to step on me?” He complained, hobbling along. Missy and I laughed at him.

“Well, you shouldn’t have called her fat.” I shrugged and he gave me a flat look.

“She’s a cow. They’re supposed to be fat.” We all laughed as we saw animal control walk in. We all usually walk to my house after school. It takes about twenty minutes, and sucks if it’s raining.

We lived in northern Montana, and it was pretty here except for the dang snow in the winter. I hated the cold, but it was close to the end of the school year, and that means we’d all be adults living in the real world. I sighed as my sundress swished and my cowboy boots clacked against the sidewalk.

“What’s wrong Anna?” Missy asked. She never called me Red, for some reason. Maybe she thought it offends me? I looked into her pale blue eyes, as her long dark brown hair flew with the wind.

“We have three and a half months until we graduate! And I’m still not sure on what to do!” I complained while resting my head on Danny’s shoulder. He pats my cheek, and laughs.

“You could probably get into any college with your grades!” He smiled. I scrunched my nose.

“I don’t want to go to college! Hmm, maybe I’ll travel the world?” I suggested. That sounded pretty cool. Danny laughed lightly and brushed the stray blonde hair out of his deep brown eyes.

“That sounds like you.” He nodded to himself. Missy agreed, and I finally knew what I want to do, that made me grin but then it faded.

“Crap!” I exclaimed. They looked at me.

“What?” Missy asked, as I put a hand to my forehead.

“You need money to travel. And I doubt my middle income mom would want to pitch in.” I sighed. Not that I’d ask her anyways, she works too hard as it is. There goes that plan.

“Why don’t you ask your dad?” Danny suggested. I punched him in the arm and he winced.

“No! You know I’m not speaking to him!” I huffed. Missy gave me a sympathetic look, while hugging me from the side.

“He would give you the money you need.” He went on.

“He left my mom and me for some home wrecking teenager.” I spat. He sighed. “She was not a teenager but I see your point.” And dropped it.

I vowed not to talk to him again, and since he has made no attempt to contact me, I can only return the favor.

I hooked my arms on either side of my friends, and leave all that behind me.

“So, how long this time?” Missy asked.

“Two weeks.” I shrugged, laughing. Danny laughed too.

“Wow, he’s going soft!” He joked.

“Oh I know! I guess it’s better than the month long sentence he set for me.” I said with a smug smile. Danny started cracking up along with Missy.

“I totally forgot about that! Man that was good! I still, can’t believe you stole Anderson’s keys, locked yourself in his office, and sung Starstruck into his speaker system!” He smiled proudly at me. I shrugged.

“What can you do? I had that song stuck in my head, and had to get it out somehow!” I defended. Missy shook her head at me disapprovingly, but she was hiding a smile.

“And how was drawing mustaches and uni-brows on his family pictures part of getting a song out of your head?” She asked sarcastically. I gave her a sheepish smile.

“I was expressing my artistic side?” I offered. She shook her head, chuckling. After skipping to my house - yes, skipping - while we sang ‘we’re off to see the wizard’, we got inside my empty one storey house.

It was a soft yellow color with white trim, and a white picket fence. Cute, right? I’d rather have a gothic style house, just so I can sit on the porch and screech at the kids walking by about how to stay off my lawn. That would be fun.

I walked into the kitchen with my friends in tow, and we snacked on some delicious cookies that would make you want to do a happy dance. So that’s what I did.

“Oh, no, she’s at it again.” Danny rolled his eyes at me, but joins me after a moment. I knew I was incredibly random, but that’s just who I was. I started doing the running man, and Danny was doing the robot. Missy’s laughed at us, but otherwise didn’t join since she’s the sensible one of the group.

“Can’t touch this sucka!” I yelled to no one in particular and did the hammer dance. What cookies do to me.

We didn’t have much time before both Danny and Missy had to go. I gave them hugs and once they left I drummed the counter in boredom, not knowing what to do.

This suspension is going to suck.

If you enjoyed this sample then look for
One Night with the Prince