A/N: Today (8/25) starts the revision portion of 24/7. For the rest of August I am picking stories out of the one’s I wrote in the first 24 days of August and revising them. Hope you enjoy!

Bethany jolted awake at the sound of the dragon’s roar. Her heart leaped. She hadn’t heard that sound in many years. Without hesitation, she rushed around the room and began gathering items she wanted to take with her, only to put them back down again. She didn’t want to get her hopes up. Locked alone in this tower since she was a child, Bethany’s greatest wish was to be saved. At first many suitors came to her rescue and were killed. The number of suitors began to dwindle, and then they stopped coming completely. Every day she would sit by the window and wait, praying someone would come. Years later her prayers had been answered.
Another roar escaped the dragon, and a crash quickly followed it. Bethany sat down, too nervous to do anything else. Several minutes passed before everything became completely silent. Suddenly tears sprang to Bethany’s eyes and slid down her cheeks. Burying her head in her hands, she couldn’t help but chastise herself for even thinking that everything would work out. She was surprised when she heard the door creak open. Turning, she saw a young boy step into the room, looking around. Bethany jumped up.
“How did you get up here?” she asked, too amazed to believe it.
“Stairs,” was the only reply she received as a way of explanation. “Come on, let’s go.”
“Wait, aren’t you going to kiss me?” The boy stopped and looked at her like she was insane.
“Why would I kiss you?”
“Cause you saved me. That’s how it works doesn’t it? The prince who saves the princess gets to kiss her and marry her and live happily ever after.”
The boy laughed. “You don’t want me to kiss or marry you.”
“Why not?”
“Because,” he seemed to be quickly looking for some kind of explanation. “I’m not a prince.”
“So? You are a boy aren’t you?”
“Well…” he trailed off.
Bethany tapped her foot. She wanted nothing more than to leave, and this boy was being complicated. “Well, are you gonna kiss me or not?”
Grimacing, the young boy came over and gave her a quick peck on the lips. “There, satisfied?” he asked after he wiped his lips.
“Could you be any more juvenile?” The boy turned to leave. “If you’re not going to kiss me properly, can you at least tell me your name?”
The boy stopped and turned so he was only half looking at her. “Ashley.” He mumbled the name so quietly, Bethany almost missed it.
“Ashley? Well that’s a strange name for a boy.”
“That’s because I’m… not a boy.” Removing the hat he was wearing, the boys hair fell well below his shoulders. Bethany stared.
“You’re.. a girl?” Ashley nodded. “But how did you get past the dragon?”
“The prince who was coming to save you was a close friend of mine. I loved him, but he wanted to save a princess, and I decided that I would help him. So I took this disguise and convinced him to let me come along. He had no idea it was really me. He died fighting the dragon.” Bethany didn’t know how to respond. The girl turned from her and began walking out the door. “Let’s go.” As Bethany followed her out the door, she couldn’t help but think, How am I going to explain this.