Brooklyn Noelle Brankovich

Chapter Five: "The day the princess was humbled"

As I stood in the shower, I let the water run down my skin. I put my loofa and exfoliating scrub down and sat.

I pressed my lips together and blinked so the droplets would roll off.

Flashbacks of being slapped, yelled at, and starved haunted me.

Mother would measure me and if I was too big - erm, "big" for a dancer according to her ridiculous standards, I mean - she would put me on a more strict diet and tell me how much of a disappointment I am. She's not so evil, however, she would tell me how much it pained her to punish me and promised she was only doing it so I could know perfection.

I sighed when someone knocked on the door. I'm assuming it was Mother rushing me to get out.

I stood and turned off the hot water before towel drying my whole body, except my hair.

Something came over me as I stood in the mirror. A sense of newfound strength and free will. I was desperate to be my own person, not wanting to let her affect my vacation. So, I didn't let her come in to do my hair. She claimed she's done it for me all these years to make me look presentable which is true, but I refused to let her straighten my hair and brush it into a sock bun at the back of my neck during this vacation.

When I left the bathroom in my robe, I noticed the suite was empty. They had gone to breakfast without me and left a note saying so. It read:

Going to breakfast. Don't wait up xx

"Oh, I won't," I scoffed aloud.

I opened the closet where my bags were and saw an outfit hanging. An outfit she picked out.

I groaned and threw a mini temper tantrum.

This woman is going to be the death of me. I just knew the outfit matched my parent's since it wasn't one I packed for myself.

I snatched the floral romper from the hanger and opened the door. A maid was pushing a cart by and I tossed the outfit in the trash. She just looked at me blankly and I smiled as best I could before going back and locking myself in the room to get dressed.

I pulled out clothes of my own and made an outfit: a white tube top and orange striped paper bag shorts with a pair of black thong Birkenstock's in the style Mayari. I put on an anklet and an islander-themed weaved bracket I also got from the gift shop. While I put on my favorite silver ring, I didn't bother putting on makeup or any accessories other than my favorite pair of diamond stud earrings.

Finally ready for the day, I grabbed my wristlet that contained cash, my debit/credit cards, and the room key. I didn't bother taking my phone since I was only going to breakfast and wanted to really live in the moment.

I promise I'm usually pretty humble, but if I could've used my father's bank account to get me to the front of the line, I would've.
Everyone disorderly shuffled down the buffet to fill their plates with whatever their hearts desired.

My eyes instantly lit up and mouth watered at the sight of the powdered French toast - a food I've missed for months!

I stacked two slices on my plate as well a couple strips of turkey bacon, a vegetarian omelette, a fresh croissant, and some steaming, crisp home fries.

When I passed the fruit trays, I thought to keep walking and not get any since I was on vacation. However, my guilty conscience presented itself in the form of my mother's nagging replaying in my head. I could hear her now, telling me to be healthy.

My top lip curled as it pained me to reach for some kiwi, green grapes, blueberries, and orange slices.

The last thing I needed was a drink and LOTS of sugary syrup!
On my way to the condiments, I saw my parents waving me over to their table.

Fuck me, this woman is everywhere. She can probably smell me!

I growled and cursed as I turned my back so she couldn't see me pouring the syrup over the entirety of my plate. It's not like I planned on actually sitting and eating with them.

That's when he appeared; the dark-haired boy from before. He looked better than the first two times we ran into each other. His lips were pink and surrounded by a shadow-y beard and mustache. He wore a black crew neck, socks with Vans, and a pair of shorts. I caught sight of his silver chain tucked in his shirt and the blue rubber band bracelet on his left wrist at the bottom of his arm.

Anyway, I totally got caught staring and freaked. He laughed and wet his lips before addressing me.

"You want some pancakes with that syrup," he joked out loud.

I went "SHIT!" The syrup was all over my fingers.

The guy offered napkins while I just sucked my sticky fingers.

"Oh," I let out, feeling dumb, "thanks."

"Someone's got a sweet tooth," he said and my eyes bulged.

What if she heard him, my inner thoughts became paranoid.

"Shhhh!" I silenced him.

Not wanting to risk her seeing me, I pulled the boy and myself into a supply closet around the corner.

"Why are we hiding?" he asked me in a whisper.

"Shut up," I enforced, kicking his shin before peeking through the crack. I returned after closing the door fully.

"Ow! The fuck is wrong with you," he winced.

"Sorry," I couldn't help but laugh as I explained, "it's just that my mother could've heard you. She has ears everywhere."

He looked at me like I was crazy. "Okay, but I don't know you and you kicked me in the shin."

"Well, if she hears you she'll kill me and I'll haunt you so we can get to know each other then," I sassed.

He faked a smile and stood tall over me. Intimidated, I the swallowed the lump in my throat and stepped backwards until I bumped into a shelf and knocked a pot on my head.

It went "thud" against my skull which left me a little lightheaded.

"Oh, shit," the guy laughed. He quickly helped me up and asked how many fingers he was holding up.

"Eighteen?" I guessed, a little woozy in the brain and legs.

He laughed again and said, "Close enough. We should get you back to Mommy, kid."

"I am not a kid," I objected, shaking my head as if that would cure me. I then added, "and please, no, she'll embarrass me to death."

He stopped and looked me once over. "What're you, like, sixteen? No, you're too tall for sixteen. Eighteen?"

I smacked my lips, offended. "I'm twenty-two, thank you."

"Could've fooled me," he shrugged.

We exited the closet once I saw that the coast was clear.

I looked to where my parents were sitting and saw that they were no longer there. Hallelujah.

Stepping back into daylight, I rubbed my head and noticed there was a little bump. I silently went "ouch" under my breath.

"I'm Noah," he finally introduced himself.

"Oh, now you tell me your name because you found out I'm legal?" I gave him a hard time. I folded my arms across my chest.

"Well, yeah. At least I made sure, first," he said back.

My eyes rolled. Annoyed with him, I started to walk away but not before I turned around to say what I had to say. "Thanks for hiding with me Noah, and sorry for kicking you," I shouted.

"Sorry about your head. What's your name," he yelled back, causing a scene.

"Don't have one," I boomed back before finally turning to walk properly and cut a corner.