FTRS Short Story

The Dreaded Day II

Gilly's P.O.V.

I shuffle out of the room, the skirt of the gown flowing around me. This is weird, I do not wear gowns - unless it's a disguise then I will (begrudgingly) wear them. And as if this isn't embarrassing enough, there will be photos of this dreaded day and the entire kingdom would see it. I'm going to die.

I slow my pace down, allowing the others to walk in front of me. 

"Hey, Thief," Jax calls out, joining me at the back, "How are you feeling?"

"Terrible," I reply curtly, "I'm about to enter my nightmare,"

"Come on, it can't be that bad!" 

"Umm, me in a gown, wearing heels, in front of hundreds of people and cameras - not to mention reporters - not that bad? Oh no, it's gonna be terrible," I say as I follow everyone out of FTRS. Wait, what? Out of FTRS

"Isn't the ball being held inside?" I ask.

Kayla nods in reply, "It is,"

"Then... why are we going outside?"

"Oh, the ball isn't taking place here, it's somewhere else," Kayla explains

I open my mouth to ask where but Jocelyn cuts in, "Any more questions and I'll stuff a sock in your mouth,"

I roll my eyes at her but don't say anything else. 

We make our way onto the yard where two overly fancy-looking carriages are waiting. I groan inwardly, why did they have to go so over the top? 

Our group splits into two, one in each carriage. AG, Ollie, and Maxine in one, and me, Jocelyn, Jax, and Kayla in the other.

"I'm excited," Kayla states cheerily.

"I'm not," I grumble, "Hopefully all the reporters are too busy with Jax and forget me,"

"Hey!" Jax yelps, "Why me?"

"You're royalty, they're gonna obsess over you anyway,"

"She's right about that," Jocelyn states - the one time Jocelyn and I agreed on something without arguing.

I zone out of the rest of the conversation. Staring out the carriage window, I can already see the foreboding doom ahead of me.

The aforementioned 'doom' took the form of an overly fancy-looking palace, with sparkling white walls and crazily intricate designs. Honestly, I think the appearance is a little over-the-top. They might as well have just stuck a sign outside that read 'WE'RE RICH'.

Kayla's eyes widen and - well, sparkle as she catches sight of the monstrosity. 

"It's beautiful!" She exclaims.

"Beautifully painful to look at," I mutter, earning an eye roll from her.

The carriage rolls to a stop and the door opens, a... I honestly have no idea what you call them, those people who have nothing better to do other open carriage doors for snobby royals. A man who does that for a living stands outside. He holds his hand out for Kayla and helps her down the steps, then does the same for Jocelyn. 

"I'm not doing that," I state quietly to Jax, he laughs in response and gets up to exit as well. He reaches the ground and turns around, holding his hand out. 

I shoot him a weird look.

"What?" Jax protests, "Better me than a stranger right?"

He has a point. Sighing, I drag myself up from the seat and move towards the doorway, taking his hand before stepping out.