One Step Forward and two Step Back

Chapter I

Adelia's POV

"Lia, honey, one day, there will come a knight who will love you more than any prince charming."

" But Momma, I don't wanna kni.. knight. I want a prince charming just like every other princess."

My mother laughs sweetly " Oh sweetheart! princes are for princesses, but you are a Queen who will rule the world with grace, bravery, and knowledge."

I m pretty sure after you heard what my mother said, you would have thought of me as a princess or royalty. Well, you couldn't have been more wrong about it. Adelia Josie Queen wasn't a princess, queen or any extraordinary girl. She was a floater.

Now you all must be thinking, "floater? what the heck was a floater?"

Well, a floater isn't a misfit or a popular kid. They are those kids who go with the flow and can fit with anyone. They don't have a status and are often forgotten by many.

Now, before I divulge any further on the unfair and depressing situation of being a floater I, need to pay attention to Mrs Nelly go on about Meiosis or, I m going to fail my monthly test.

" Meiosis is a method of Cell division....." Mrs N blabbed on. Oh, who am I kidding? I would rather listen to anything else right now. Don't get me wrong, I love Biology, but there's something very concerning on my mind right now.

My mind was in turmoil by the fact that I lost my mother's chain.No, it was not any random chain. It was the chain she gave to me before she passed away two years ago because of Cancer. I looked around my school during the morning, but I couldn't find it anywhere.

I was close to losing my mind and cry in the middle of the hallway. However, my best friend Natalie dragged me to class and promised to help me look for it after class.

"Good Morning, students! It's your Principal, Mrs Hall. I am very excited to announce a new program implemented by New Castle High's board. It's Ballroom dancing classes. As heirs of million-dollar companies and future leaders, it is a must that all of you know how to ballroom dance."

Everyone groaned on hearing the announcement.

"Since I know that most of you would think of such lessons as unnecessary or tedious, we will be having a competition for the best dance couple. The dance, will be graded and, it's worth 25 per cent of your final grade, so I would suggest that you all take it seriously. More information on the dance competition will be given by your class teachers. Thank you, and have a great day ahead."

"Mrs Nelly! is there any way we can avoid entering the competition?" Keith pleaded. He was a poor soul born with two left feet. " I m sorry, Keith but, the only way of avoiding the competition will be by kissing 25 per cent of your grade goodbye," said Mrs N.

"Now, if there aren't any more arguments and pleading, then listen to my instructions very carefully as I will not be repeating them! The competition will be held in November. It's May right now so, all of you have five months to learn and choreograph a ballroom dance routine for the competition. "

"The dance classes will be held every Wednesday and Thursday after school beginning tomorrow. Your partners are already chosen. I will email you the list after class. Is there any questions?" she asked.

Keith almost raised his hand to ask a question when the bell rang. "Well, if there are no questions, then your all dismissed for Lunch," she said with finality daring anyone to oppose her.

With that, all of us ran out of class fearing, a scolding if we stayed behind. I rushed to my locker to keep my books back when Natalie bounced her way to me, dragging Keith along with her. Natalie and Keith have been my best friends since middle school. They have always been there for me when times were difficult. They were present more in my life than my father. I will always be eternally grateful for having them in my life.

" C'mon Lia, hurry up! Let's scavenge the school for your mother's necklace." I looked at her and nodded. I held both of their hands and dragged them to the field, where I last remembered seeing it. Once we reached the field, we split up in a search for it.

I was walking near the basketball court when I found it. I sprinted towards it and kissed it as if my life depended on it. I quickly wore the necklace and ran in the direction where Natalie and Keith were searching, when I slammed into a hard wall.

When I looked up, I realised the hard wall was non-other than the school's proclaimed bad boy River Hezekiah Knight. I stared at him in awe.

He was probably the most handsome guy I had ever seen. He had chocolate brown eyes that made me crave chocolate but, there lay mystery and pain in his eyes. Something in me wanted to hug away his pain. I pushed that thought away when I heard him speak.

" Watch where you are going moron!" he hissed at me venomously. Appalled by his behaviour, I shot back saying" You could have done the same jerk!". With a huff, I walked away from him to my best friends.

"Natty! Keith! I found my chain!" I exclaimed. She jumped up and down and cheerfully said," Yay! I can finally eat now! I am famished after all this searching! C'mon, let's go to the cafeteria". She hauled Keith and me to the lunch line.

While we waited in line, Keith cried out, " Guys! the list is out. Go check your emails".

While I took out my phone, Natty squealed, "Oh my god! Oh my god! I got paired with Josiah! My wish came true! Thank you, Jesus!".

Josiah was Natty's crush since freshman year. He was a very kind-hearted person with an amazing sense of humour. His only drawback was being best friends with the Devil, River.

Keith groaned with annoyance " I got paired with Vivian". Vivian was the school's mean girl and my dear bully. She absolutely loved to make my life miserable by insulting my appearance. Her dream goal was to be the girlfriend of the River Knight and make every curvy girl's life miserable by showing off her "apparent" model body.

I gave Keith my deepest condolences as I proceeded to check on who I got paired with.

I gasped in horror when I saw the name beside mine.

I got paired with the devil.

River Hezekiah Knight.