Here's another story from an older student who was in grade 10 at the time. Found this story particularly intriguing because she used the third person point of view and gave us the story from the perspective of each of the two main characters. I think she did a wonderful job. Feel free to give your opinion and make comments. Forty four short stories along with descriptive and persuasive writing pieces and two poems are featured in Punchinella Volume 2. Grab a copy from Amazon and enjoy!
The Stranger
Kerrizena Allen - Grade 10 January 21, 2014
“You cannot continue like this Jacob. You have responsibilities. The throne cannot pass to you - an irresponsible, womanizing bachelor. You cannot continue flitting from flower to flower, son. You must settle for one and build a future for yourself; a future for Italy.”
Jake rolled his eyes but did not move, out of respect and love for his mother. She was right of course but he was not ready to commit himself to drinking nectar from only one cup. Nevertheless the palace staff got busy and soon, his social calendar was booked solid as his parents sought to expose him to Italian society in the hope that he would finally find a bride and settle down.
As he beheld the slender, fragile beauty in a silvery green gown standing in the middle of the ballroom he softly whispered thanks to his parents for every ounce of pressure they had exerted to get him to leave the palace grounds that evening. She had fair, flawless skin, a mane of vibrant Titan hair and spellbinding eyes as green as her gown. They shone through her flirtatious mask.
“No names… no life story,” she said in a hoarse, sexy English accent - sharp enough to strip paint but just sweet enough to attract him like a bee to honey. “Really, I don’t want to know,” she said as the handsome frame in front of her tried to introduce himself. “After tonight I won’t see you again, so what’s the point?” she added, shrugging her delicate shoulders.
Jake Montessori had never been treated that way before. Women had always wanted to ensnare a ‘catch’ like him and ‘tame’ his wild spirit. Never once had he been presented with the idea of a one night stand or a short fling. He was the one who was always pushing for females to agree that the time they spent together should be brief, but the beautiful creature in front of him captured his attention and left no room for thinking of any time shorter than eternity. He wanted more from her. He wanted to hold onto her and never let go. Catching up with his wild thoughts, he forced himself to focus on the present. A little shaken by the direction in which his thoughts had strayed, he paid keen attention to her; watching her as a predator would do his prey. Gazing as she sipped her champagne, he became hypnotized by her every move, the very breath she took, the rise and fall of her chest. Everyone, everything in the room faded when his brown eyes met and locked with her emerald stare.
Kara Golding had never been prone to impulsive acts, but after her broken engagement with fiancé, Chad Morgan, she was forced to take her honeymoon trip, solo. By the third drink she felt very confident, standing in the middle of the dance floor, offering herself to the very handsome, dark haired Italian before her. Though they had not previously met, she felt strangely, uninhibited. Moving closer to him and standing on the tip of her toes, she kissed him. A hush went through the crowd but she was too focused on the man in front of her to notice.
“It’s time for us to go,” she said, stepping backwards.
“What is it that you want to do that can’t be done here?” he asked, trying to see how far she was willing to go. Shrugging, she walked from him, leaving him with the choice of staying or following her.
Glancing back, the smile fell from her face as she saw that he had not followed. Disappointed, she started to walk in the direction of the villa she had rented. The kiss they had shared still lingered on her lips. She reached trembling fingers to touch them. Butterflies invaded her stomach and her knees felt so weak she had to lean on the side of the building to keep from falling on her face.
“So, you played Cinderella for a night and lost your heart to a complete stranger who doesn’t even know your name nor you, his!” her subconscious raged at her. Feeling sick to her stomach, due mainly to her brazen and shameful behaviour which she blamed on her half drunken state, she hailed a taxi and gave the driver directions to her temporary home.
If he had been a dog, the leash she held could not have been shorter, but he had hesitated for a second, just a short, fleeting second. Then, rushing out unto the lonely sidewalk, Jake looked up and down for the beautiful goddess in the silvery green gown.
“Prince Jacob!” shouted John, his chief of security. “What is the matter?”
Ignoring the question, Jake scanned the area for his Cinderella, half expecting to see a pumpkin or even some mice scampering along the sidewalk. Where had she gone? If only she had waited. If only he had not hesitated. His face crumbled as reality swooped in. His Cinderella was gone and he had no glass slipper. Depression settled in as he walked back to join the party like a boy whose favourite truck had been taken from him.
“I will never forget you,” he whispered fiercely as he planted a smile on his face so he wouldn’t upset his mother or the guests with his bad mood. He knew however, that his life would never be the same after that night.