Everybody loved Sarah. Social climber chicks would try and befriend her to raise their own status. Many jocks asked her out to be their girlfriend, and she had secret admirers plenty.

Despite her popularity, not many could call themselves Sarah"s friends. True friends. Sarah treated everyone with respect, but kept most people at a distance. The few friends Sarah had were all loyal, discreet, and most importantly, each had shining qualities of their own.

A quiet girl with amazing clarinet skills in the school band. The tomboy basketball player who aimed to go pro. A boy whiz in the math team. Even a slacker dude, who dreamed to be the next GOAT writer. And Sarah herself.

High school was ending, and each friend knew they would drift apart. Sure, they would keep in touch, but every one of them had their own dreams to pursue, their own path to take. And walk toward their destination- greatness!

Sarah kept her word and applied to the best university in the old country, in the Old World. She was admitted. Obviously.

She marveled at the marks of history, the ancient buildings and walls, the glory of times past. The university commanded reverence, and Sarah knew, she belonged here.

She decided to study finance. Sarah understood that money was a power. And influence. She will not be chained to employment. Sarah didn"t have the temperment for it, She knew she had it in her to be a BOSS. And she was going to manifest her potential to the fullest.

Money was simply a means to that end.

Then, at a party near the south coast, he saw her. Prince Roy, the next in line to be King. He was charming, well spoken, and haughty to a level befitting of his status. Of royalty. And Sarah caught his eye.

He approached her, and Sarah recognized him, sure. She greeted him politely, and chatted with him for a polite fifteen mintues with polite small talk. Then, she bid adieu, and was about to walk away.

Roy stopped her. "Miss, you are intriguing to me. Follow me to my castle for the night."

Sarah rolled her eyes, in his face, and said, firmly, with a smile, "Leave me alone, Prince."

Then, she walked away to the bar.

Roy felt amused. Playing hard to get, he thought.

Well, he thought wrong.

Prince Roy would badger her in cla.s.s, present her with flowers, courting her for about a month. Sarah remained politely aloof. It dawned on Roy that she really wasn"t interested in him, and he was mad.

One evening, Roy asked her, "Do you really not want to be my Princess?"

Sarah smiled, and replied, "I strive for more than to be your doll, Prince."

Roy denied it, "You will be my Queen."

Sarah shook her head, and the smile disappeared from her lips.

"I have my life to live on my terms. I have too much to take, and too much to give, to play royalty. If I am to build my future, it will be my own."

Roy sneered, "So you"ll never let a man in your life?"

Sarah smirked, "My man will be his own man, and also mine."

"Leave me alone, Prince."

"I have a life to live."