Queen Of His Heart

Chapter 3

It is currently 11pm and I have school tomorrow, but I was determined to get this out before then. Apologies if there are some spelling mistakes, I'm to tired to proof read! 

Whoever suggested the idea of orientation was truly evil. Forcing two groups of kids, that are destined to hate each other, into a room and told to be civil seemed like a casualty waiting to happen. So as Julianna stood in the doorway of the room, looking fed up with the situation she was in, a small snicker left her lips at the heated glares being thrown around the room.

She stepped onto the walkway in the centre of the room and made her way to the benches on the Evers side. There were no formal labels to indicate seating, but Julianna knew that sitting remotely close to any of the girls seated on the benches would cause more problems than Julianna wanted to handle.

Her eyes raked the benches, praying for an open spot far enough away to not cause issues. The heels she wore clicked loudly on the floor and Julianna felt her ankle twist uncomfortably with each step. Heels were not an option in Gavaldon, the common dirt roads, potholes and mud mounds found in the village put off any ideas of fashionable but impractical footwear.

Her eyes frequently darted towards the other side of the hall, where the 'Nevers' had begun to situate themselves. They were all dressed in tattered dark coloured clothing, decorated in chains, ropes and other dramatic detailing to accentuate their wickedness. One caught her eye for a moment, and hissed towards her, before beginning to cackle when one of their friends leaned down and whispered something in their ear.

Julianna decided not to look over again and continued to try and find a seat. She wasn't given the best reception on the Evers side either, princesses huddled in their groups to gossip and whisper about her. Most likely about the run in she had earlier with the handful of girls at the entrance of the school.

"Jules!" Julianna stumbled backwards, with the force of the hug.

Delicate arms wrapped around her tightly, and Julianna wondered if the corset was truly the thing restricting her breathing. Just under her chin was a tangled mess of blond hair, twisted and cracked in mud and grime, the mound of blonde clumps bobbed up and down due to the spluttering weeps of the owner. Julianna patted the girl's head before pulling away. She suppressed an audible gasp at the smudged face of a panicked Sophie.

Her eyes flooded with tears that Sophie didn't let fall, her lips were trembling and her nose ran with snot. The pearl nightgown she was adorned in last they spoke had been replaced with a black woollen bag like dress that was barely reaching to her knees.

Julianna frowned deeply and brought Sophie into another hug. She buried her nose in the small girl's hair and whispered words of reassurance to her.

"It will all be okay Sophie, we are going to get this sorted out. Stop crying, please!"

A hand was placed on Sophie's shoulder and she was ripped away from the embrace. Julianna went to protest, but the snarling face of a wolf-like creature stopped her.

"Sit down!" The thing barked and dragged Sophie towards the benches on the Nevers side. Julianna stepped towards them, but a fairy grabbed her arm and yanked the girl towards the benches. Most spaces had filled up, and Julianna had to bear the uncomfortableness of being seated next to the group of girls from earlier.

The girl next to her was a part of the group, but seemed more timid than the others. She smiled a dopey smile towards Julianna and stuck her hand out.

"I'm Kiko, from before." Julianna smiled forcefully and gripped Kiko's hand.

"Julianna" was all she replied and turned towards the front, eyes scanning the crowd in search of Sophie again. This time she spotted her, and the two girls made discrete eye contact from across the room.