Annika the Fifth

Chapter Eight

Shocked was definitely a word for it. I gasped much to my embarrassment. It didn't sound like Maya told him but I couldn't be so sure. "Who told you?" I asked in a hushed voice.

Instead of answering, he smiled triumphantly and said, "Ha! I knew it!"

I couldn't help but glare. So he just guessed? If I'd known I would have denied it as soon as I could. Noah shrugged at me. "It's obvious," he said

"How exactly?" I asked

"I don't know, you just look like a commoner," Noah said

"So I look...common?" I asked.

Noah squinted his eyes at me again before answering. "And clueless,"

I crossed my arms. He wasn't like the Maya kind of rude. He wasn't even rude at all, just a boy.

"Clueless?" I said, "And what does that make you?"

He puts his hands up defensively. "I didn't mean that in a bad way. It's just that you don't...well..."

"Well what?" I pressed.

He scratched the back of his head, trying to find his words. "Hm...well..."

"There. Maybe next time don't speak before thinking," I said.

Noah pointed at me. "You know who you're talking to right? I'm going to be the future king,"

He said that in almost a teasing way but I was still very much unamused. What did he expect me to do? Kiss his feet? The more I spend time with royals and nobility the more I realize they are not special at all. Noah frowned, seeing my expression. "What?" he asked, "I could even be marrying you one day. Although I highly doubt you'll be queen,"

I scoffed and rolled my eyes. "Thanks, I guess,"

Suddenly a loud bell sounded, the one at the front of the school, which meant class was over. Noah hopped out of his seat. "Oh, it's recess," he said, "Well anyway, see you, Annie,"

Before I could correct him, he rushed out of the door along with almost everybody else. I huffed, looking at his things still on my desk. "See you"? I don't plan on talking to him ever again after that.

Addie, Saige, and I were sitting under a tree, watching the boys play soccer. Addie sighed, watching Noah. "Lucky," she mumbled

"Hm?" I asked

"You're lucky Noah helped you," Addie said longingly, "He really seemed to like you,"

I raised my eyebrows. "You were watching?"

Addie just helplessly shrugged.

I shook my head. "No way, he doesn't like me at all. Especially since he knows I'm a 'commoner',"

Saige looked surprised and I just nodded. I guess she couldn't tell the difference like Noah could. Addie sighed. "That doesn't mean anything," she said, "Everybody knows boys act like that towards a girl because they like them,"

"Act like what?" Saige asked, raising her eyebrow

"You know," Addie replied with a shrug, "They joke a lot and act sort of immature,"

"Well," Saige said huffily, "That's no way for a future king to act,"

I looked at Noah. I couldn't imagine him liking me. Maybe he'd like a girl like Maya since he's with her all the time. Actually, more like Maya's with him all the time. I turned to Addie. "If you like him you should talk to him," I suggested.

Addie stared at me wide-eyed and Saige looked at me like I was crazy. Maybe I was crazy.

"Are you kidding?" Addie asked, "I can't just go up and talk to him,"