Betrothed

Chapter 1: Way Back When

I am just an average girl, at least, that's what I thought. You're probably thinking, Um, Melissa, how can you THINK you were an average girl? Well, it all started one strange day...
-BEDROOM DAYTIME-
"Sweetie?" My mom asks as she enters the room. I am on my bed reading my favorite novel, The Hunger Games, I hate being interrupted in the middle of a novel.
     "Yes?" I ask impatiently.
     "I received a letter from the King and Queen themselves, and it's addressed to you!" my Mom says, pulling out a fancy envelope.
     "Yeah, okay then," I reply simply. My Mom has always been quite the tease, and I always fall for it. "I know it's just another joke."
     "Melissa, I promise you that it is not a joke," Mom says, sounding like she means it.
     "Ugh, fine," I say getting up and taking the very fancy envelope from her hands. I have to admit, she did a very good job on this one, it almost seems real! Let's see... Melissa... Of.... Umm okay? Let's see the return address. OH GOSH!! It's actually to the palace! Maybe this isn't actually a prank after all!
     "Well? Are you going to open it?" My Mom asks impatiently.
     I roll my eyes, Mom has never been to patient either.
     "Yes, Mom, I'm opening it. I'm just trying to figure out whether this is a fake or not," I say while carefully opening the precious envelope.
     "No need to be careful, you'll be throwing it away later anyways," Mom says. Unlike me, Mom is not picky, she doesn't care about messes. Another thing; neither her nor my dad look anything like me! I begin to wonder how I'm even related to them.         Apparently I was a miracle baby. My Mother and Father have always told me they always had trouble having kids, but then I literally "came along" and I was just a little miracle to them.
     Anyways, I have finished opening the letter, I read what it says aloud, "Melissa of California, you are officially invited to join us to a lunch to meet, we look forward to meeting you! Signed King Orion and Queen Melissa," I am in complete shock. First of all, the Queen has the same first name as I do?!? Second of all, why me of all people chosen to meet with the Kind and Queen?
     "Oh my..." Mom says in shock, she seems a little upset too.
     "Are you upset?" I ask, giving her a quizzical look.
     "Umm, n...n..no-" Mother says, seeming to rub tears away. I am very confused. "When is this Lunch taking place?" Mother asks when she's done.
     ""Umm, I don't know, let me see," I quickly glance back at the paper looking for a date of importance. "In 3 days," I answer when I've found the date.
     "Okay..." Mom says after shedding a single tear. What is wrong with her? Did I do something wrong? Mom takes a deep breath.
     "Mom," I cross my arms, "what's going on? Is there something you're not telling me?" She starts tearing up again, this time she lets it out.
    "I was afraid this would happen," she goes over to my bed, takes a seat, and invites me over. "Come here, Mel, I'll tell you the story." I plop down onto my bed, curious to know what she is talking about.
     "Does this have anything to do with why I look nothing like you and Dad?" I can't help it, I'm curious.
     "Unfortunately, yes," Mom answers.        "Your father and I were on a date one night, we were on our way home when we heard a soft cry from an alleyway, so we went to invest. We followed the cry, and sure enough there was a little infant - you. We asked where your parents were and you told us everything, and I mean Everything." I'm confused of course, I don't remember any of this! "You told us your name, so ever since you've been Melissa," Mom continues. She takes a deep breath, then says," Mel, you are the daughter of King Orion and Queen Melissa."