The journey

Chapter 1 LAYLA

This is where it starts...

"Our world is broken, and there is nothing you or I can do about it" our class teacher read aloud. "Oh no, dear god how is this not banned?" She said worriedly looking at the solder at the back of the class

He stomped to the front of the class "May I?" he said as she passed him the book. He walked slowly back to his porch at the back of the room. He seemed calm and unbothered as it is why it surprised us so much when he stood up and suddenly he threw the book out the window! We looked as the book fell into the river.

Let me catch you up. In Dirah There are 3 schools, River School (the best in my opinion), Sea Academy, and pond institution.

Oh and I am Layla, from Dirah River school and tomorrow is one of the most important days of my life.

There are a few important events that happen to someone my age-I'm twelve by the way-. Audience with the queen, The split, and well that it is don't have to worry about the rest for at least a year.

The bell rang in a familiar tune"Remember kids! Tomorrow, bright and early we are going to Quart City!" With that, I started to walk back home.

"Um hey! wait up!" said a little panting voice behind me.

"Oh, Sara, Hey..." Oh god, it's her.

"Yeah, um crazy day tomorrow right?" She jogged up to me, her dark brown hair in a ponytail with books in her hands.

" Um, yeah. Coconuts" I said unenthusiastically, oh ok I get it i should be nicer but in my defence, she is a but a load of work. And today I just want to go home and worry about tomorrow.

Sara giggled"coconuts"

I plastered on a fake smile " yeah, coconuts. Well I have to go get ready for tomorrow I need to be on my best behaviour, see you"

"Layla wait! We can do it together!" she shouted. She lowered her voice" Please? I really need to be ready and I don't know what to do."

She seemed so hopeless and alone" Sure, you can come over" I gave her a small smile and walked off.

The moment I walked through the living room door my mother started fussing over my clothes and my dad started giving me tips on how to behave when we have the audience with the queen tomorrow.

" Smile, never talk unless the queen asks you a question, always compliment her"

"I just got you the perfect dress, Well I took nana's dress and it should fit you perfectly"

" Try not to make eye contact, but if you do, don't look away"

" I can borrow you my red earring, no, it will clash with your dress ho-"

" Mom! Dad! i am fine. Sara is coming over and we will Study. Alright?"

"Yes, dear we are so proud of you." My mother reached out to my collar and I ducked away"mom!"

"Alright." she said retreating her hand.

I felt bad so I looked at my mom "I would love to use your earrings, can you do my hair tomorrow?" and then my dad asked, " want to help me with final rehearsals?"

"Yes, i would love to" he said and my mom ran off probably finding a "perfect earring"

I changed out of the navy blue uniform finally ditching those itchy scratchy clothes.

I heard a knock on the door and when i opened it, I saw sara in a light pink dress, it was weird to see her not in a dark blue t-shirt and a navy blue vest with white outlining. I have never seen her in a dress, well we have a dark blue skirt in our uniform but that was different.

She looked less small and less careless, really I knew nothing about her, I knew her since 3 well, we all know everyone in our school but I never really got to know her, she was in a corner, in that team where it was just the people who didn't get picked. I felt bad for her so I asked her to join me and now we are "besties" or whatever.

" So this is where you live" Sara walked in like she owned the place

" Well, yeah all the houses are the same" I pointed out

"Yeah but everyone's houses are different in a way," she said matter-of-factly

" Um yeah right sure, let's start"

We did nothing but study. At first, it was a little bumpy but I quickly got her on board. Sara seemed so careless like we were not preparing for one of the most important days of her life. It was a much bigger deal to me. My parents never talked about it but if I didn't become the queen's star, My parents will go back to Indus. They don't even have a chance to go to Armanis.

It was late and I was looking over every detail re-playing all the different scenarios. Tomorrow would just determine my fate, it would determine my whole family's future.

"Darling, you have to sleep," My mom said from her room by my fourth lap around my room. I flopped on my bed and wondered how I could ever fall asleep.