#WritcoStoryPrompt2 #ShortStory #Childhood #Siblings #Friendship #SliceOfLife

A wet leaf fell on her shoulder making her jump in fear. Startled she shifted from her hiding place behind the bush. She looked over her. No one.

Laura didn't want to stay here. That was all she knew. She wasn't treated bad - in fact, as a princess, she had all she could ever ask for. A lovely residence at the hillside. A river flowing through the abundance of evergreen and fruits. She didn't have anything to worry about. So, why did she still try to get away?

"Boo!" a voice suddenly sounded from above her. She yelled. "Shuu." whispered the voice, the owner popping his head from the leaves on the tree, hanging his body upside down, his legs and body hugging the thick tree branch. "It's me!"

"Laurence!" she replied, bewildered. "Don't just hide randomly!"

"Like you're not doing it yourself." her brother replied, grinning. He studied the ground, calculating to make a landing. Turning his body in the air like a cat, his boots touched on the ground neat and clean, the piles of leaves rising up from the impact. He then looked at her, a mischivious gleam in his eyes. "So tell me, sis, what were you trying to do?"

"If you're going to stop me, dream on."

He hanged his hand on the air. "Way no! Why should I risk myself getting caught with you?"

She looked at him, he stared back, then they both burst out laughing. The twins had been separated just a week ago, to stay at their respective residence; but, to them, it was an absurd idea from the very beginning. After staying together for 10 years, they were inseparable.

The person she was trying to get away for had sneaked into her doorstep while she had planned to sneak out of her to his. Why would he stop her when they both wanted to do the same thing?

"Let's go to the Lanymph River!" she exclaimed. "You save me the trouble of coming to get to you now that you're here."

Her crime-in-partner grinned. He led the way he came in from, secretly crawling out of the mansion. As the royal twins since birth, under the restrict of their family, they became expert at finding holes and sneaking out.

"Let's race to the river!" he said excitedly the moment they got out of the hole, leaves disheaved on their hair and clothes. They looked nothing like before they came out. "Whoever loses will have to abide by the winner's wish!"

"Deal!" she replied and immediately started running.

"Hey! I haven't said start!" he exclaimed indulgently as he hurried to catch her. She turned her head to stick out her tongue, only to be almost struck by a tree branch in front of her. He laughed as he sped ahead.

They reached the river at the same time. "I reached first!" he puffed, out of breath. "You can't possibly say we reach together!"

"Oh yes, but both of you actually did. Unbelievable, is it not?" a new voice loomed from the shadow. They both turned, alert. Their playfulness forgotten. "Way to ruin the mood." he continued as he strode out nonchalantly from behind a tree, a canvas sandwiched between his arm and body, and a brown bag slung over his shoulder.

It was Lysander. They both let down their guards. "What're you doing here?" Laurence asked, half happy, half worried. "Are you going to drag us back?"

The other laughed. He was the son of a duke, no older than thirteen; their playmate and bestfriend. That did not mean he would not drag them back. He was a person who stuck to rules. "I probably would have if it was only one of you, but I can't possibly handle the energy of both." The twins grinned at him. He walked toward them and continued, "I am actually here to paint a piece assigned by my art tutor. Don't tell me you two are here for the same reason?"

"Of course, but our homework is science." Laura replied smoothly. Second, the royal twins were expert in the art of coming up with excuses, if it was an art. "We were experimenting to see if we could race against the speed of light, right Laurence?" Her twin nodded eagerly.

"Right, you were." Lysander laughed. If he knew they were lying, which he definately did, he didn't show it. In fact, he seemed to want to help hid their break-the-rule act for them. "But your martial art teacher is going to be so angry for skipping his lesson again."

"How did you know it was his class now?"

"He told me yesterday, and of how difficult a student you were." Lysander replied, shrugged, and told him as if it was nothing. "He always complain about you when he comes to teach me."

"I'm screwed." He said, his face becoming pale.

Lysander laughed again. "It's fine. Didn't you manage to sneak out despite the trained guard? Means you must be pretty good now. I shall spare with you soon."

"Bring it on." Laurence replied confidently. He would never say no to a challenge.

"Someday." Lysander noted as he sat down on the grass. He set down his canvus and opened his bag, taking out brushes and palettes. After preparation, he started painting the scenery.

The twins went swimming in the river as he started his homework. In an blink of an eye, the set was almost setting. "Lysander, come join us!" Laura shouted from the river.

"Almost finished!" he yelled back. True to his word, after packing everything, he took off his clothes and jumped into the water.

The twins started splashing him water. "Didn't think you would really."

"Well, so sorry to disappoint you, Royal Highnesses."

They all burst out laughing. They were having so much fun playing about that they did not notice the footsteps approaching.

"Cornuts and cheese!" a man voice startled them. "Get your legs back on the ground this instant!"

Their heads snapped to the direction of the voice and their face coloured red. Quinn, Lysander's father, was flaming, glaring at his son. The intended person gulped. The twins puckered their lips, knowing they had get their friend into trouble.

There were a few guards behind Quinn, some looking amused. The twins sighed, they had been caught red handed. They got out of the water, the cold air wrapping their little bodies instantly, making them shiver. The adults walked towards them. "I'm so sorry, your highnesses. I didn't mean to shout at you earlier...I was just so surprise to see my son..." The Duke trailed, his sharp eyes following his son's every move. The older boy dragged himself out of the water reluctantly.

"He was painting just until a while ago." Laura told him, indignant at the adult misunderstanding her friend. "Besides, I was the one who told him to come join us."

Laurence coughed. "It is quite all right, Duke." He adjusted his tone. "Is father looking for us?"

"Looking?" He looked at the twins with wide eyes. "His majesty is turning the palace upside down looking for your highnesses! He thought something happened to you two again like-"

Laurence coughed again. Quinn looked away, stopping abrutly.

"Again? Like what?" Laura asked, confused. The atmosphere turned awkward, no one meeting anyone's eyes.

"I-It was just a slip of tongue." Quinn said quickly, slapping his own mouth. "This chattering mouth!"

Suddenly, Laurence was grabbing Laura's hand and pulling her towards the main palace. "Don't mind him. Let's go."

Laura struggled to keep up, then sighed. "We've landed ourselves into quite a bit of trouble, don't we?"

The brother turned back and gave her a sad smile. "Don't worry. I was the one who actually managed to sneak out and drag you out to play with me, got it?"

She gave him a look. "What're you saying? I would have managed to sneak out too if you hav-"

"Listen to me." He said, cutting her off. His face turned to face the front as his grip on her tightened. "It was my fault."

She sighed. She's not getting anyone into trouble because of her. Her brother's protectiveness was at its peak now, so she didn't say anything. She just decided to deny all that he said if front of their father. She was also at fault to begin with. What was with he and his sudden selflessness?

But she was happy. At least they both thought alike. And they had managed to sneak out against all odds and had a laidback afternoon. It was going to be a while again before they could enjoy this without worry. She could already see the homework piling up at her desks for skipping the lessons today.

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Writing by me.
All photo credit to artist at Pinterest.