I opened my front door quietly even though no one was home. Staying with my usual routine, I headed towards the kitchen to get food. However, before I could get there, someone grabbed my wrist and yanked me to the living room. A hand covered my mouth when I started to scream, the encounter with the raven still fresh in my memory. Hastily turning around to see who it was, I was relieved to see it was only Tasha. She was grinning at me. Flustered from the surprise, I exclaimed, "What the hell Tasha! Why are you home?"
Tasha rolled her eyes and just smiled bigger. "Jenna," she said, "I have some super exciting and amazing news."
I stood there and raised my eyebrows silently urging her to go on as my heart started to calm down. "You know how every year there's the Royal Banquet for the four countries? And every year the four royal families meet at King Richard's palace in Ignia to celebrate peace and prosperity? And that each royal family brings 100 guests of honor to go with them? And the guests of honor are from the most remarkable families? And that-"
I cut her off, "Yes, Tasha. I know about the annual Royal Banquet. I don't need to be lectured. Everybody knows about it. It's when the royalty take their wealthiest guests to show off," I said with scorn. "Can I go eat now?"
"Jenna! Do not disrespect the royal families. They do not choose their guests based solely on money." She countered.
I huffed. "Oh, really-"
She interrupted me, "Yes, really. And you're living proof!"
"Me?" I questioned.
"Yes you, silly. You! You are invited to go as one of Aqae's 100 guests of honor this year!" She exclaimed, beaming with pride.
I stayed silent praying that I heard wrong. "What?" I asked in disbelief.
"I know!" Tasha squealed. "Isn't it just so exciting!" She mistook my speechlessness for a good thing.
"No!" I yelled. "How?" I started pacing. I was shocked, but in a horror kind of way. There was no way that I was going. I had a grudge against the royal families. I liked and respected them, but I have held onto my grudge for seven years. You see, my dad worked for them and he died in an accident protecting them. If they knew how to take care of themselves, my dad would be alive. But they don't, and he's not. Plus, only the snobbiest, richest, and most obnoxious people went to the Royal Banquet.
"Jenna! What are you talking about? Of course you're going. This is the highest honor. And how? I'm not exactly sure, but I think it's because you were recognized as such a fantastic athlete. Isn't this just wonderful? Everyone will meet at Aqae's central palace in two days, so go pack. The school is already excusing you from your missed days in the program. Oh! I was also informed that once we reach King Nicolas' palace, they would take you in one of their limousines to go to Ignia. Oh, I wish I could go with you!"
Tasha squealed on and on about how great this was. I stared at her in shock. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I didn't want to go and pretend that I was someone I'm not. Unfortunately, no matter how much I didn't want to go, there was no way that I could get out of it. The king and queen invited me out of millions of willing girls. When I turned eighteen last spring, I became eligible.
The Royal Banquet was always in June, right after the school year ended. The royal families each bring 50 girls and 50 guys with them. That was a total of 400 guests. The celebration was huge. Only people who were eighteen years old were eligible of being selected. Once a person turned nineteen, they could never get chosen. I never understood this policy, but I guess the Royals only wanted young and upcoming people.
Since I couldn't afford specially made dresses, I would be given dresses to wear. Tasha said that Queen Rosaline had made special arrangements for me, which meant that I was extremely special. Somehow, I didn't feel special. I kept thinking about the odds of me being picked. It wasn't very high. There were millions of girls living in Aqae, and only 50 were chosen. It wasn't typical for people who weren't extremely wealthy or well known to get selected. I had an uneasy feeling about everything.
The rest of the night went by in a blur of Tasha telling me what I would need to know, and me reluctantly going along with it. By the time we were done packing, it was dinnertime and I finally got to eat. Afterwards, I decided to call Sara. The phone was answered on the first ring.
"Hello?"
"Hey Sara," I say.
"O.M.G. Jen! I can so not believe you get to go! I am like, so jealous of you right now!" She screamed into the phone.
I sighed. Tasha must've already told her. "Uh, yeah...thanks...I guess... I was actually calling to tell you right now, but..."
"Tasha told me this afternoon! This is so exciting!" she yelled.
When I didn't respond, Sara asked, "why aren't you excited? This is the experience of a lifetime. What's up?"
"How can I be happy when I have to drive for days to go to this feast or whatever and be surrounded by snobby, rich kids? They're probably going to be all proper and shit. It'll be so uncomfortable, Sara. Why me? What in the world did I do to deserve this?" I responded.
There was a pause, and then Sara said "I think you're judging them too fast. Who knows what they'll be like? And just because they're rich doesn't make them snobby."
"I...you know I didn't mean that." I said as guilt filled me. She was talking about herself, since her parents are very wealthy. Plus, she didn't know about my dad. I always said my dislike for them was due to their snobby, obnoxious, I'm-better-than-you attitudes.
"I know. But come on Jenna! This will be a crazy experience that you'll have bragging rights on for the rest of your life! Just try to have fun, okay, and give them a chance. You say that you hate them, but you've never even met them. It's not fair to judge people when they've never done anything wrong. So just try."
I sighed dramatically. "You're the worst, you know that?"
"Shut up, I'm right and you love me! I gotta go, text me later."
"Of course. See ya," I hung up and shook my head, smiling. I hated when she was the reasonable one.
YOU ARE READING
Extra-Ordinary
Teen Fiction"As he scanned the crowd, I saw his eyes. His eyes were a striking brown that demanded submission. I felt myself gasp; he was staring straight at me. My heart started beating erratically and everything else seemed to disappear." Jenna Whitson is an...
