Dark Rose [#Wattys2016]

One**Chloe

COME ON, COME ON. Why can't I figure out this problem? I'm always good at Calculus. But this specific problem I couldn't figure out. Mrs. Aubrey was going to call the time in five minutes.

I didn't mean it but my pencil tapped on the desk out of frustration and concentration.

"Three minutes." Mrs. Aubrey called.

Wonderful. That means I had at least two to figure it out. What is the variable? My scrap sheet was filled with scribbles of what was now nonsense. I inwardly groaned out of frustration.

The clock continued to tick loudly as if taunting me. Each second closer to the test being over, each a second closer to determine the grade of the semester. I rubbed my sweaty palms on my uniform skirt and tugged on my red collared shirt.

It was the final test of the Second Semester and if I didn't ace it, my grade was going to stay an A minus until later. I couldn't take that home to my parents. They were strict and always reminded me that my grade depended on my life career. My parents expected me to go to Harvard; if not then I'd have to take care of myself.

"Time's up. Make sure your name is on them and the date. Ensure that your I's are dotted and your T's are crossed." Mrs. Aubrey instructed and stood up to stand at the first row of desks in the classroom.

I whimpered inside. Why? I didn't even dot the paper on the problem. Hesitantly, I handed her the paper and when it left my hand I wanted to cry. I know I shouldn't make a big deal about it, but you haven't met my parents.

Constantly judging those who didn't go to Harvard of Stanford, in fact they didn't meet anyone else who didn't make at least four hundred thousand dollars in a year. Yeah, I'm one of the rich kids in Labette high.

The school was named after the first King of Labette, King John Labette. The name is derived from the ancient tale that is still told today. In French it's called, "La belle et La Bete", which meant "Beauty and the Beast".

I walked outside of the classroom and met my good friend, Morgan.

"Hey, Chloe." She said happily.

"Hi." I replied. "Why so chipper?" I asked as I unlocked my combination locker.

"Well, I overheard something in the principal's office." She smiled wide. I laughed and shook my head. She didn't really "overhear" she eavesdropped.

"So?" I shrugged, stacking my books back in the locker.

"Principal Akkins said that he talked to the King-"

"Wait, King Adam?" I interrupted in surprise. She nodded. "Why?"

"Because, we're going on a field trip. To his castle." She practically jumped in the spot and bobbed her head excitedly. "He sounded so excited to be actually talking to the King."

"Wow." I breathed. "That's different." The problem was that I really didn't want to see his kingdom. There was something there, like a vibe that radiated off the area, something morbid for lack of better word.

"That's exciting. But look, I don't know for sure, I just heard. He might announce it tomorrow." Morgan pushed a stray lock of black hair with a streak of pink away from her face.

Okay. So there was a chance we weren't going. If we were my mother and father would be generally happy that I was going. It would be a chance to expand my mind and learn how to "place a helping hand in the King's land" as my mother said and then she laughed like it was funny. They were about as boring as staring at a bleach white wall and when you talked to them the feeling was mutual.