Twin Paths

By Global Nomad

Chapter Two

Annabelle’s POV

The driver pulls up in front of a grand house in Smithsburg, a port town on the eastern coast. I step out of the carriage and into the arms of my good friend Sara.

“Oh Belle it’s so wonderful to see you again!”

“And it’s so good to see you too, Sara.” I say as I hug her back. One of her servants has come out with her to take my things in so I leave him to it and follow Sara into the house. The inside of the house is truly magnificent with paintings and tapestries. My family is not poor, but our house is small and plain compared to this one.

“Was the trip okay?” she asked me as she leads me up the grand staircase to the room which I was rather anxious to see.

“Oh it was nothing special.” I answered as we topped the stairs, which seemed more like a small mountain to me.

“Well I’ve missed you terribly since you left the finishing school. When I received you letters about you wanting to go to university my heart leapt for joy because it was then that I knew that I could help you. I always remembered how you were so smart.” She led me by the arm down a large hallway that ran both left and right, we went to the right.

“Oh but if it weren’t for you I would have never gotten those books that made me believe that I was ready to do this.” We came to stop in front of a door on the left and she opened the door and showed me inside.

The room was so beautiful, and just as magnificent as the rest of the house. It was much larger that my rooms back home was, and most certainly more decorated.

“My rooms are right next door so that if you need anything at night you can come and fetch me. We can discuss the plans after you’ve been settled in. As soon as Carl gets up here with your things I’ll help you unpack.” Sara said as she sat down on a nearby chair. I went to go test out the edge of the bed.

“Tell me Sara, when does the school year start back up again?”

“Tracy says the classes start at the end of the month.” Tracy is Sara’s elder brother; I believe he’s twenty as Sara is only a year younger than I am. Sometimes she strikes me as being the type that would be like my sister but she seems to adore me and she is really sweet.

Good then we have about three more weeks to get ready.” Suddenly we were interrupted by a deep voice that came from the doorway.

“Three weeks to get ready for what?” it asked. I jumped up to see a tall man come in carrying one of my trunks. Behind him came the servant carrying my other bags. The man who had spoken put my trunk down at the end of the bed and stretched up tall. He was what Clara would have considered to be absolutely gorgeous, and for a moment I almost agreed with her.

He has Sara’s deep brown hair and dark brown eyes. He a finely chiseled face that stood a foot above my own.

“Belle, this is Tracy. Tracy this my friend Annabelle, the one I told you about.” Sara introduced us. I was rather shocked since we had agreed that no one else would see me until I was a man. I extended my hands to him anyways.

“Miss Annabelle.” He said taking my hand. He bowed over it and brushed his lips over my finger.

“Mister Teller.” I said back.

“Please just call me Tracy. Now tell me something Annabelle. What exactly do you have in this trunk? Books? It was awful heavy.” I blushed because the trunk really did have books in it, actually half the trunk was filled with books. Tracy stepped back laughing.

“Belle I know we agreed not to tell any one, but Tracy has agreed to help us.” Sarah confessed. Well this certainly explains a few things. I was a bit annoyed at Sara for not having asked me first though, no matter how helpful she was trying to be.

“Oh okay then.” I stuttered wondering what would happen now.

“Don’t worry Miss Annabelle, I won’ tell. Actually I’d rather like to see how you will do at the university. And don’t be mad at Sara, I found out before she told me.” Tracy told me.

“Thank you sir.”

“It’s not problem, and it’s Tracy remember? Well I’d better get going, I’m meeting some fellows in town for a drink. See you two later. Oh and remember to be ready for father, he arrives tomorrow afternoon.”

“Yes Tracy I know.” Sara rolled her eyes as though he had been telling that to her for a while. “See you at dinner.”

Tracy left followed by the servant and closed the door behind him.

“Sara!” I rushed at her as soon as the coast was clear. “I thought we agreed not to tell anyone!”

“I know and I’m really sorry. Tracy’s friends were over and he asked me to borrow something. I was mad and told him to get it himself. And he found your letters in my drawer. Then he asked me about them and said that if I didn’t let him help he’d tell Papa! But he can help I promise!” now she seemed in hysterics trying to get me to like the idea.

“Tracy can help you, he attends the university and he’s taking most of the classes you want to take. He can help cover for you when you’re around the other guys.” As much as I appreciated the thought, from both of them, I was still a bit annoyed. But the more I thought about it the less I was annoyed about it.

“Are you sure he won’t tell? Are you sure he won’t do anything?” I asked Sara once she had stopped to breathe.

“Very sure. He even gave you some of his old clothes to wear until he can take you to get new ones. That way you’ll have something to wear when father gets home. He said he’ll take you to get your own as soon as possible.” I was almost instantly grateful for Tracy’s involvement in this plan.

“I’ll have to thank him. Where are the clothes? Let me try them out tonight so that I can be a bit more ready before your father gets here.”

~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~

A/N: Wow one review I feel so loved! And since there was only one reviewer the reviewee has time to give you a special note and honor! Take this wise one’s example and follow in the footsteps of the wise.

okinawablossom0288 : so you’re ready to know huh? Well I think it’s pretty clear that they don’t seem to get along in their goals so hopefully I can bring it out more. I’m going to try and get both sides of the story as much as possible to. Thanks for reviewing and if I do something that has nothing to do with the story line you thought tell me and what you think about it.