Royals

Diamond in the Flesh

I moved my book out of the way and scribbled out on my paper what an Annelid was. And as I moved my book back, a hand slammed on to the pages, causing me to jump and look up at Flora.

"I've done it!"

"Done what? Gone mental?" I shoved her hand away - forcing her to catch herself because she had her weight on her hand - and looked back at my book.

"No!" She slammed my book shut and I sighed, dropping my pencil and looking at her. She sat herself in front of me and grinned wide. I blinked twice at her, but she didn't move to tell me what she'd done.

"What have you done!? I'm trying to finish my homework!"

"I've found our dresses! Mine is gold and white, it's a sleek-"

"I'm not going to the fucking party, Flora. You can give it up now."

"You have to come. Everyone is going-even Lonely Liesa!"

"Does it look like I give a fuck if Liesa is going? I'm not. So you can drop it and go bug Tyler."

"If you don't go, they'll find you."

"What?"

"It's mandatory..." I scoffed.

"That's cute." She grinned at me. "It's cute that they think they can make me go to some stupid party when they don't know me nor will they make me." I shoved my papers into my binder and closed it quickly. I shoved the binder and book in to my bag and stood up, only to turn and slam into someone.

"You think you're not coming?" He gripped my arms and looked down at me. Looking up, I felt my blood run cold.

Louis's eye glared at me.

"I-..."

"She's coming! I swear! We're going to buy our dresses tonight, Prince-"

"Hush-I want her to say it." He released my arms and I stumbled back, into the chair I had been sitting in. "Are you going?"

"I-I-" I stuttered and couldn't form a word.

"Are you-?"

"Louis." He looked over, Princess Eleanor standing by the door.

"I better see you there, Aurelia. Because if I don't, you'll pay." My head nodded involuntarily and Louis turned to join his princess by the door of the library. As the door closed behind them, Flora grabbed my arm and yanked me closer. I withheld my urge to hit her and listened to her.

"You're going to the fucking ball whether you like it or not. They know your name and now they know you're not planning on going. You have to go!"

"Shh!" I shoved Flora's hand off me and left the library.

"Aure! You have to go!"

"Oh!? And what are they going to do to me if I don't, huh!?"

"Put you in jail? I don't know!" She cried. "But I'm not going to wait around to see what they're going to do!"

"They won't do shit!" I turned and stomped off towards my house. As I came to the door, I slowly unlocked it and entered quietly, trying not to wake my Mom or the dogs. I quickly traveled up to my room and dropped my books on my desk and fell onto my bed. I pulled my phone out and stared at the threatening texts that Tyler and Flora had sent me.

I didn't want to go and I wasn't going to go. Nothing they said would make me.

"Louis threatened her when we were at the library."

"I was at the library, you showed up as usual." I corrected Flora.

"Aure, I'm sure Flora went all out, but if Louis threatened you to come, you have to show up. Not stay, but show the fuck up."