Annika the Fifth

Chapter Six

The girl said her name was Saige and she was in Mrs. Bedford's class along with all of us. I've never heard of the name Saige before but it sounded nice.

"You're new here too?" Cora asked, "Well, Annika is new here too,"

Cora placed a hand on my shoulder and Saige smiled at me. For some reason, I felt uncomfortable, like she was staring into my soul. "Nice to meet you, Annika," she said warmly.

Cora, Addie, and Eliza introduced themselves and showed us to our classroom. It was much bigger than the school I used to go to. Then again, everything was bigger than what it used to be back in the village. While Cora and Eliza sat down Addie showed me and Saige where to sit. "Isn't it a coincidence?" Addie asked me while peering at Saige, "There's another new girl,"

I shrugged. I don't think I ever heard of two new students coming on the same day. At least I had a better chance of making more friends here. Addie suddenly looked towards the door and I looked up with her. "There's Noah," she said, her voice growing quiet. She was looking at the boy walking in with his friends. I assumed that was her crush. Okay, he was definitely her crush.

She turned to me with wide eyes. "Just think, if I turn out to be queen, I get to marry him,"

I blinked, not sure if I heard that correctly. "What?" I asked, "So if you're queen you get to choose whoever you'd like to marry?"

Addie shook her head. "Alexandra and him were supposed to marry each other when they were older but now that she's gone..."

So now does everybody think Alexandra's death is a way to get what they want? And I don't see the point in setting up marriages. Especially when we're all about fourteen. But Addie was smiling brightly so I guess she didn't see a problem in this. "Do you really think I'll be queen?" she asked me doubtfully.

She glanced at Maya talking to Noah and made a face. "I can't see anyone else being queen other than you," I said, "You're very nice,"

Addie smiled. "Thank you. I hope so,"

Suddenly there was a snap and Addie and I turned our heads to Saige. On her desk, there was a pencil broken in half. She turned to us and giggled meekly. "Oops," she said, "Silly me. I broke my pencil,"

I raised my eyebrow, "How did you--"

"I could get you another pencil if you'd like," Addie said.

Saige shook her head. "It's okay. I have a spare,"

Addie shrugged and turned back to me. I still thought it was odd that Saige broke a pencil in half but it should be something to overthink about. I took a look at the door and noticed a woman coming in, I assumed she was Mrs. Bedford. "Talk to you later," Addie said and went to her desk.

Mrs. Bedford looked nice. She had light brown hair streaked with gray and round glasses. The first thing she did was mention the new students. I felt nervous because I knew what was coming next. "Saige and Annika," Mrs. Bedford said, "Would you please introduce yourselves?"

I looked over at Saige who immediately stood up. "As you know my name is Saige," she said, "And my favorite color is green. My family moved here from the nearby kingdom of Eldoria,"

Great, now that she mentioned where she came from, I have to tell everybody where I come from. And all of these people are nobles or currently royals in my case. Maybe if I bring up an interesting fact about myself, people won't be wondering where I came from. Saige sat down and Mrs. Bedford smiled and clapped. "Very good, Saige," she said, "Annika, may we hear from you?"

I nodded and stood up. Everyone looked at me, well of course they did, they did the same thing with Saige. But I could practically feel Maya's piercing green eyes. "Um, I'm Annika," I said quietly so I don't think anybody heard me.