Annika the Fifth

Chapter Nineteen

Noah and I stood up when the carriage stopped. I was trying to form words in my head of what I was going to say. Maybe I could say Alfred accidentally left me here. But that would be putting the blame on him and that wasn't right. Unfortunately, Noah's parents and Lady Mary were already walking toward us. They all started talking at once. Lady Mary kept asking me where I was, Noah's dad asked him why he went off to his fencing bout, and Noah's mom kept saying how disappointed she was in him. In all, it sounded like a bunch of adults scolding us. The carriage ride back wasn't silent either because Lady Mary started scolding Alfred (who was driving the carriage) about how he should have made sure I was in the carriage. "I thought she had an after-school activity!" Alfred said helplessly

"Why would she have an after-school activity during the future queen's parade?" Lady Mary snarled.

I felt bad that I got Alfred in trouble, it was hardly even his fault. Noah turned to me and I looked the other way. Why was it at the moment he wanted to say something? The adults were already mad. I thought looking away would give him a hint but the only hint it gave him was to talk. "Anne?" he said.

Since the adults kept occasionally scolding Alfred, they didn't notice. I still didn't want to take any chances. "Not now, Noah," I said through my teeth

"I didn't mean for us to get in trouble," Noah persisted, not even trying to keep his voice down, "I--"

I hushed him. What was he even talking about? Was he just finding an excuse to talk or what? Just when I was starting to think he wasn't that bad, he was proving me wrong again.

"Sorry," Noah whispered and I rolled my eyes.

I figured acting distant wouldn't make him shut up so I decided to play into his little pity party. "Fine, fine," I said, "It's okay, really,"

Noah smiled. "So we're still friends?"

My eyes widened. Friends? Great, now he thought we were friends. Why would he want to be friends knowing that almost all the adults we knew would hate it and wouldn't even allow it? I didn't want to be friends with him, he's weird and immature. "We aren't friends," I huffed.

Noah gasped which made me wince. I glanced at the adults and they were now rambling about something else. "What?" Noah asked, "Why?"

"What do you mean 'why'?" I said, "We weren't ever friends,"

I began to feel sorry when I saw the look on his face. I think I was being a bit too harsh. But we were already at the palace and Lady Mary was dragging me out of the carriage before I could blink. "Take them home," Lady Mary told Alfred, "As an apology,"

Before Alfred could say anything, Lady Mary yanked me away. "And you," Lady Mary hissed at me, "Are going to owe Maya a big apology,"

You know how I hated apologizing when being asked? Well, now I hated it even more since Lady Mary was asking me to apologize to Maya. Probably the only person I hate more than anything. Maya was in the parlor and when she saw me her eyes immediately filled up with rage. I could tell Maya's parents were trying to comfort her too and when they saw me, they had the same look as Maya. I noted that Maya looked really similar to her parents. But as if that was important now. "Annika would like to say something," Lady Mary said quickly

"I do?" I asked even though I knew she wanted me to apologize.

Lady Mary practically disjointed my shoulders just to turn me to them. She kept holding onto them tightly, her sharp nails digging into my skin. If I wasn't going to apologize now, I think she might just impale me with her claws. "Now, Annika," Lady Mary said, "What do you have to say?"

"Um..." I said, "I'm sorry, Maya for not coming to your parade,"

I nearly jumped when Lady Mary didn't let go of my shoulders but gripped on tighter. I think she was trying her very hardest to hold in her anger. I rather her just yell at me. "Not just that," Lady Mary said, "For giving Noah the idea to go to his little match,"

My eyes widened. What? Did she really think I forced him to go fencing? Why would I want to do that? But of course this was Lady Mary we were talking about. She didn't care what she thought I did, she just wanted to make me miserable.

"But I didn't--" I began but I realized telling the truth wouldn't get me anywhere, just having holes in my shoulders. "I...I'm sorry for making Noah not come to your parade," I said, biting at my lip.

Lady Mary finally let go, giving me this evil and nasty smile. "That wasn't so hard," she told me, knowing what she was doing, "Wasn't it?"

I slowly shook my head. My eyes began to water but I blinked back the tears. I hated being weak in front of all these people. And all of them are who I hated most. "I'm glad you have the dignity to apologize," Maya said, getting up from the couch, "But it still isn't enough to reverse the damage,"

"Of course," Maya's mom said, her parents standing up with her, "I know Annika is very regretful of what she's done,"

"I hope there will be a way you can make it up to our daughter," Maya's dad said, "Since you know what they say, 'actions speak louder than words',"

I gritted my teeth, they were acting like I was the bad one. Maya was now just the innocent victim who had two people out of the whole kingdom not show up to her parade. How pathetic. But right now I was the pathetic one and I hated it very much. I'm pretty sure her father was waiting for a response but I wasn't going to give him one. Or any of them for that matter. So I ran off, not paying attention to where. I just wanted to get away.

***

Lady Mary is mean and I hate her but unfortunately she has to stay in the story. Anyways, do you like my book so far? I am glad it is doing well, it inspires me to write more. Also because I think it is very interesting. I wasn't planning on putting another part today but here I am. I haven't done a fun fact so here's a Fun Fact: When I wanted to make this book the plot was totally different. I wanted to make it a princess preparatory school where the main character (a villager) goes to after finding out that she is a princess. But I didn't stick with it. Anyway, thanks for reading!