a untold story [open]

[Emily!]

emily shelton
19 year old - female

Dark olive covered the slim build of Emily Shelton. One of her every day dress's she would wear. Her best dress was a soft orange with white trim, it had been her mothers. Her palm played with the neckless that hung around his neck. Taking in a breath she watched as the flowers weaved in the wind, this place was one of the few place's Emily could come to get away from things, she could just walk and walk and never get bored of it. Watch as the flowers bloom, and shine in the sun of spring. Reaching up to pull the band out from her hair, she ran her fingers though it, copper colored hair shone in the sun, it fell to the middle of her back, almost.

Thinking of the days she had a huge wardrob, dress's of every color, shoes that matched every outfit. She had someone to make her bed every morning, someone who had her breskfast waiting for her at a certin time. She went to balls every night and had young men asking for her hand. And yet all that changed within a day, the day she relized how her father made all his money, what his ships really where carring in his ships. Shaking her skull, maybe alittle to hard she continued to walk down the worn stone path.

Slipping off her sandals, she turned and started to walk towards the grass, her sandals and her wallet purse in her left palm. Shifting her weight from one foot to the other she stared into the morning, almost as if she could see her childhood lke a open book.

[Raina]

Raina Preston

The petite girl walked slowly down the path. Her bright blue eyes scanned the garden mischievously. She was very bored, and that was never a good thing. She always got herself into trouble. She wore boy clothing. Brown slacks, and a white shirt with suspenders, and a small brown cap. But she never minded, in fact she always dressed that way on purpose to make herself look like a boy. She even cut all of her beautiful blond hair off, and now she had a very short haircut.

She was beginning to feel warm, so she took off her cap, revealing short spiky blond hair. Since she cut it it always spiked up, which she thought it looked weird, but she kind of liked it. It made her look unique. She smiled to herself, and continued to walk, soon she found herself going into a skip. As she skipped she noticed a girl up ahead. She had taken off her shoes and was walking into the grass. Raina slowed, and watched the girl curiously. Wondering why a girl like her would be here by herself.

Casually Raina walked up to the girl, and looked at her. "Hey." she said to the girl, in the deep voice she always used when talking to people. She was used to using it now, and she thought she made a pretty convincing boy.

[Emily!]

Wrapping her arms around her waist she sighed, taking in a deep bretah she closed her eyes, it would appear she was in deep though but really she was just enjoying the peace she had before she would head back to her flat. Then to work. Then to her Flat. And so on, her life was pretty boring but it was good, not she was rich but she learned early in life that being life did not bring you happiness for sure. Shaking her head, she flickred her eyes open, Watching as the sun gew higher into the sky. Hearing footsteps behide her, she was about to turn around when she heard a "Hey!" It sounded like a man, great. Who needed males? She didn't thats for sure, they wheren't worth anything these days.

Turning around rather slowly and stiff she faced a male, or so it looked like, dresse din brown slacks, with a white top which looked like it could use a good wash, but she shouldn't be one to judge. Smiling softly, she answered, Hey! she said as she took a couple steps closer to him, he had spikie blonde hair, and bright blue eyes. Im Emily Shelton she said her voice soft and clear. Setting her sandals down she strighted and returned the smile thta had been removed from her features.

Most every had called her beautiful, she was pretty much a mirror of he rmother, so she was told. She had gone to so many balls she had lost count but now as she thought back, she relized her dad had been just showin' her off, he had never really cared for her or her feelings, just well just her beauty...

[Raina]

"Hey!"..."I'm Emily Shelton."

Raina grinned,"Oh a Shelton eh?" she said. She had heard of them. They had been very wealthy at the time. But of course the Depression took money away from everyone. Of course the money had just been sucked completely away from her. But she wasn't sore about it. If anything she actually enjoyed being poor. As strange as that sounded. She could do more things then she ever could have before. And she didn't have to get married to that Tristyn Scott anymore. And that was always a bonus.

"I'm...Preston Raina." She said with a grin. Proud that she had thought fast about her name. Of course to other people she was John Walter, or Steven Frank. She had about seven names she used all together. Because she never liked sticking with just one. And she loved thinking of new names when she met new people. But she had a feeling that one day it would bite her in the butt, but so would the discovery of her being a girl, so she didn't care.

"What is someone like you doing here all by your lonesome? In times like these the park isn't a safe place for the rich like you to be by themselves...Especially when your a girl and all." She asked, running a hand through her hair.

[Emily!]

Sending a level eyed glare towards him, she snorted. Im not like the "other" Shelton she said her tone holding a egde to it. She hadn't crossed anyhow who new of the Sheltons before, but then she guessed her fathers name had grown in the past four years she had been gone but still, could it have gotten all the way to England from France? More then Likely, Emily new for sure. Was her father looking for her, no way. if he was it wouldn't be for her safety that would be for sure, it would be so he could sell her beatuy off to the highest bidder more likely.

Nice to meet you Mr. Raina she said sweetly, trying to cover her annouance with him. She hated being accused of something, but then she may have taken the statement a differant way then he had meant it, she had seemed to be on the edge alot lately.

Listening to his next question, she wante dto burst out in laughter. She certinly wasn't rich, nor was she someone who couldn't take care of herself, even if she was female. First of All, Mr. Raina, just because Im female does not mean I can not take care of myself, and Second of all, I am not rich as you claim to say I am. My father may be but I accept nothing from him if he was to give me anything she said doubtfully, she new for sure if her father new where she was, he would never offer her money. if anything he would demand her to return home.

[Raina]

"First of All, Mr. Raina, just because Im female does not mean I can not take care of myself, and Second of all, I am not rich as you claim to say I am. My father may be but I accept nothing from him if he was to give me anything"

Raina burst into laughter at Emily's statement. If only she knew that she was a girl. Emily obviously knew nothing of what could happen on the streets and in dark alleys. Especially at night. Raina had the same thoughts as Emily to. That she could take care of herself. But she never expected that one night when a couple guys overpowered her and raped her. That happened the first year she lived on the street, since then she took better precautions, and began dressing herself as a boy. Other guys normally ignored her now, except for the few that beat her up for money.

"And Miss Shelton I'm very sorry about that but I didn't ask for a life story." Raina almost giggled, and she knew that if she had that would have blown her cover. Guys don't giggle. She looked down at her cap, and brushed it off before placing it back on her head. She looked to her side and noticed a tree. Feeling excited and energetic she ran to it, and climbed up the branch, and sat on it. She looked down at Emily, waiting for the outburst she knew was to come. But Raina didn't mind. She always thought that kind of thing was funny.

Of course thats probably why she didn't have any friends. She enjoyed making people angry to much.

[Emily!]

Emily shook her head, a small chuckle escaped her lips as she smiled at Preston. If he new her, he would know that that was not even close to her life story. She could spend days and days explaining every inch of her story, spilling every detail. Letting her fingers grasp at the truth she always told herself where lies. Lacing her fingers togather, she crossed her arms of her middle, and smiled. Her eyes hardened and her features seemed change...

Ah, Mr. Raina. Trust me that is not even close to my life story she said as she watched as he ran to the tree, what was he a monkey? Emily will never get the way of men. They where so confussing, doing things that no one would ever dream of, well female anyways. Like climbing trees for instance. Shaking her head she remembered when she was a child she was always dirter, never caring about being clean and proper. Those where the days where father actully hung out with her, the days they wheren't wealthy in every inch of her life but then it all changed within one night.

Shifting out of her memorys she returned her gaze to the "monkey" in the tree, she had a vision os him swinging from tree to tree and suddenly Emily wanted to burst into laughter, covering one palm over her mouth she smiled.

[Raina]

"Ah, Mr. Raina. Trust me that is not even close to my life story"

Raina grinned,"I think I know that Miss Shelton. If that had been your life story it would have been pretty boring." She slid backwards and let only her legs hold onto the branch. She looked at Emily upside down,"Wow you look so much better this way." she giggled.

Horror began to fill into her eyes. Did...did I just giggle? She asked herself in a panic. Calm down..she probably didn't even notice.. She had giggled in front of people before and they hadn't noticed. At least they didn't say anything about it. She forced herself to smile, praying that she hadn't noticed. From what she had learned about this girl from the short time of talking to her she seemed pretty sharp. Hopefully not to sharp.

She had never been discovered before, and she surely did not want to break her record. But she knew that now she must wait and see if she had been discovered.

[Emily!]

Eying him, she raised a eyebrow. Had he just giggled? Emily had never in her lifetime of meeting men, ever heard a man giggle. Looking up at Preston, she started to walk closer to him, so she could get a better look at him, eying him carefully. Those eyes, they where blue, so blue it stroke every cord of her body with suspicion.. Not many guys had eyes such as those blue ones of Preston. Shaking he head she was being crazy, but taking another look at him, it gave her a shiver down her spine, the more she looked at him the more it seemed he was female!

So... Mr. Raina, what do you enjoy doing? she asked, trying to lace each word she spoke with curiosity and not suspicion. It would ruin her act. Had Preston been acting all this time, acting like he was a boy but really he was a girl? it was so confusing, she had no idea how she would ask if her was a girl... it sounded purely wrong. But maybe if Preston is a girl, he or she had the right intention of doing it.. Maybe she had always wanted to be a boy so she decide to act like one?

Shaking her head, she smiled sweetly, and waited for her answering. hoping this would lead to how she would be able to figure out of this person was male or female. Half of her was hoping she was female, but then she wondered why in the world she would want to dress as a male?

[Raina]

"So... Mr. Raina, what do you enjoy doing?"

Raina watched with big eyes as she noticed Emily looking at her. She knows! I just know it! Her mind was beginning to panic. But she tried shaking it away. She flipped back up in a sitting position, and looked down at Emily. Her question was a safe one. And it probably wouldn't give anything away...she hoped.

"I enjoy gymnastics, reading, and drawing." She replied a matter-of-factly. She honestly didn't think her answer gave away anything. Lots of guys drew, and read. And even more liked to do flips, and all that jazz. "What do you enjoy?" she asked, thinking it would only be polite to ask the same question to Emily.

Raina slowly climbed down the tree, and removed her hat again in a bout of nervousness. She'd never felt this nervous before. But of course she'd never been in danger of being discovered before. She didn't know why it was such a big deal to her to be discovered. Maybe it was the fact that if someone discovered her then they'd think she was a lesbian. And she most certainly wasn't. She was engaged at one point in her life.

Still she didn't know why, and she wasn't a psycologist. So she couldn't give herself the answers. She began brushing her hat with her hand, feeling the texture. It began relaxing her a bit. She didn't look at Emily, because she knew her eyes probably revealed the truth.

[/size]

[Emily!]

She smiled weakly. She had her answer. Preston was a girl, she didn't come across to Emily as a Lesbian but then Emily hadn't thought Preston was a girl at all. Shaking her head she almost missed Preston answer, "I enjoy gymnastics, reading, and drawing." Smiling to herself mostly, she forcused on his face. Its feautres where rouch, like you would espect a males feautres to be, but then there was a edge Emily hadn't noticed before, maybe cause she hadn't been looking for it? Shurging away her worry she decided on to answer the question that She had asked Preston, and in return He had asked her.

Reading, Long Walks, and Work She said simply, she did like to work, working with her hands where one of the few things that got her mind of of her past, she hadn't forgiven her father for trading slaves, they had discussed that it was wrogn but yet he had gone behide her back as was doing such. Shaking her head with disgust she smiled again at Preston.

Shifting unconfitibly, she debated on whreather she should just come out and say it or if she should wait alittle longer and see if Preston will tell her, she wouldn't judge him or her.. She would love to get to know the real Preston, not the male Preston but the Female Preston or was her name Raina? Shrugging her thin shoulders she decided to ask another question. So, where did you grow up, Mr. Raina?

[Raina]

"So, where did you grow up, Mr. Raina?"

"I grew up here in London." She answered. She looked up, and then put her cap back on. "Miss Shelton there is something that I should tell you...Now I wouldn't normally ever reveal myself but I have this feeling that you already know.." She fiddled with her fingers a bit before going on and she looked down. "I'm a girl. And my name isn't really Preston Raina, its Raina Preston."

She looked at Emily in the eyes to see her reaction. And then with a sigh, and her actual voice she said,"I'm tired of this.." She admitted. "Pretending to be a boy I mean..but I really have no choice.." She didn't know why she added that, but she did. Maybe she wanted sympathy, she didn't know.

[Emily!]

[blockquote]Emily's features softened. She was glad she didn't have to ask if Raina was a girl because that would have been very awkward for herslef and for Raina. Shruging her shoulders, she smiled. I don't understand your reasons for doing it, but it must have been hard, I mean like hiding who you really are. I could never do that- act like I boy I mean she said shyly. She smiled, which lighted her eyes a fraction. Shifting her position, she leaned on her left foot. Her fingers lasped in between her palms. She was about to say soemthing more when Raina said something else. Which rose more questions on Emilys half.

Sometimes its more work to act like someone else; then to be who we are.. No matter why we act like someone else, whreather its for a good reason or not she said softly to Raina. She didn't think now was the right time to ask the questions that where burning on her tongue. Her eyes had grow alot softer then before- before Emily had known Pres- Raina was a girl.

Folding her arms acrossed her middle, she sighed. She did feel bad for Raina but when Emily had a emotion isnead of her, it rarely shown, if it ever did. Expect her anger, so some reason she could never hide her anger.. Her sadness, and happiness could be hidden ever so greatly but her anger, it was a lost cause to try to hide it. [/blockquote][/size]

[Raina]

"I don't understand your reasons for doing it, but it must have been hard, I mean like hiding who you really are. I could never do that- act like I boy I mean"

Raina blushed, and looked down at her feet. She took what Emily had said as a compliment. And Emily was right, not a whole lot of people could do what Raina did everyday. "Thanks!" She said, really meaning it. She knew that it was a weird thing to be grateful about, but it made her feel better having to do this everyday.

"Sometimes its more work to act like someone else; then to be who we are.. No matter why we act like someone else, whether its for a good reason or not"

Raina nodded in agreement with Emily's next statement, "Your right." She said, smiling weakly. She took off her hat again. It was a nervous habit of hers. Whenever she was nervous she always took her hat off and on a lot.

Right then Raina suddenly felt a bout of inspiration. She felt renewed, and felt that she could keep doing this for as long as she needed too. Of course she only felt like she couldn't keep this act up for about five minutes, but Raina was always the type to bounce back fast. That was what she loved about herself.