Once Upon a Prince

Chapter One

~ Thirteen Years Later ~

Raylynn

"Raylynn!" My step-mother Helen, shouted from the top of the stairs of the basement, also known as my bedroom.

"What!" I shouted back.

I could hear her complaining to my father. "Charles, do you hear your child? She just screamed what at me!"

"Raylynn!" My father hollered.

Not speaking anymore, I raced up the stairs and presented myself to my father and stepmother's, dirty, dingy clothes and all. "Yes, father?"

"Raylynn, don't be rude to your mother." He looked me up and down while I nodded my consent. "What is going on with your hair and clothes? You're a mess, this is not how I raised you, what happened to the news clothes you were supposed to buy?"

He was right, I did look a mess. My hair was nappy and dirty, my light brown skin was scabbed and covered in dirt, the jeans and shirt I wore were hand-me downs from Meredith, the bigger of my two step-sisters. Even as thick as I was, her clothes were too big for me. They also had holes in them, that I had to sew closed with my less than decent skills, and they were currently dusty due to all the cleaning and labor I'd been doing all day.

I thought back to a week ago when my father gave me his black card to buy new clothes.

***

"Raylynn!" My father yelled from his study.

I ran to his study, excited to actually have him want to talk to me without Helen whispering in his ear. "Yes, father?"

"Here, take my card and go clothes shopping, I'm sick of seeing and hearing about how you walk around lookin' homeless. Your mother will be home soon, she can take you shopping with her, Maggie and Merry." He said.

I took the card, disappointed but didn't move to the door. I just kept my head down and looked at the door.

My father realized this and looked up from the screen of his computer. "Anything you wanna talk about?"

I shook my head, "No, father, just thinking about what to buy."

"Go crazy, I don't wanna see you in these baggy clothes when you get back." He expressed with a sigh, coming closer to stand in front of me. "You know I love you, Raylynn. I know I haven't shown it in a while but you know it's true, right?"

Tears formed in my eyes as I nodded. The little care I saw in his eyes touching my heart.

"Good, go get ready to go." He said softly.

I left his room and tried to find some of my clothes that Maggie hadn't gotten her hands on in my secret hiding spot in the basement. I changed and waited for Helen and the girls to arrive.

"Let's go!" Helen shouted.

I raced up the steps, excited to do something other than clean, and found Helen waiting with her hand out. I looked at her hand and then her face, a questioning look showing.

"Your father told me he gave you the black card, hand it over." Helen said.

"But-"

"Do I need to tell Charles you're being disrespectful?"

I shook my head and handed the card over. I knew it was too good to be true.

"It's not like you'll be using it anyway." My step-mother muttered.

Evil bitch. I thought.

We spent the afternoon shopping for clothes for Helen, Margret, and Meredith, I was lucky enough to get to hold the bags.