The League

Chapter 1

"Okay, I'm up, I'm up!" I'm exhausted and my friends tugging me out of bed doesn't help. I've shared this room with Seraphina Floresca and Everleigh Ramone for the past 4 years. Today will be my last day waking up in this- today is the last day. "Oh no..."

8:30. The clock reads 8:30. "I'm gonna be late." I groan and rush to my clothes that are laying on my vanity table.

"Uhm... Duh. That's what we've been telling you for the past thirty minutes and you keep laying there." Seraphina pesters me. She's right.

"Fine, whatever. Help me get dressed please." I huff at the two girls. They're fully dressed and look ten times better than I will.

Seraphina grins. "See, she can admit she's wrong." The two girls laugh at my expense.

"Haha. Very funny." I roll my eyes and tug my dress to adjust it. They get to work on my hair while I apply my lotion, primer, and foundations. "I can't believe you two didn't pull me out of that bed sooner. We have about ten minutes left and I still have a lot to do. Just throw my hair in an up do. It's simple enough."

After a few more minutes, my make up is done and my friends are waiting by the door. I slip my shoes on before I follow them.

"Thank God my stuff was already set out. I wouldn't even be ready now if it weren't." I grumble, sliding my cap and gown on. The purple color looks good against my brown hair and medium-dark skin tone.

"Glad to know you're finally ready." Seraphina rolls her eyes.

"Right? I thought we were gonna miss walking." Everleigh giggles as we make our way through the door.

"It's your fault for not pulling me out of bed. I'd have been perfectly fine with you literally dragging me by my legs to give me more time." I accuse them and they share a look, raising their eyebrows at my words.

"Sure you would have." Everleigh's voice drips with sarcasm. They bust out laughing as we approach the ceremony.

"Ladies! It's about time!" Our professor scolds us. She pushes us toward our seats, separating me and my friends according to alphabetical order. Seraphina is only a few chairs down from me, but my nerves still go haywire without my friend's immediate support as the ceremony begins.

"Ladies and gentlemen, today we are gathered to celebrate the next generation as they graduate and take on the role of our new doctors, engineers, scientists, environmentalists, and future parents of a new generation." The crowd cheers and I seem to notice them for the first time. This isn't helping my nerves at all.

"Without further ado, I'm proud to present the class president, Judson Stentz, and the class vice president, Alani Anders." Our chancellor steps back, clapping, as the two make their way to the stage. Alani steps to the side while Judson gives his speech, going on about how it's been a good few years, etc. Alani gives a speech nearly the same and after what feels like hours go by, they make their way back to their seats.

"Now, we will give out diplomas." Our chancellor begins naming off about a thousand names and we each get our turn to walk across the stage. I force my smile as I cross, praying I don't trip. When it's over, I'm disappointed. I thought it would be more thrilling, but you literally just walk across a stage, the same as everyone else, and grab a small book-like object, shake a few people's hands, and go back to your seat.

"Now, I know this is usually where the ceremony ends, but this ceremony is an exception." The chancellor pauses and the crowd begins to mumble and gasp. This wasn't part of the practice...

"I can tell by the way you responded that you know what is about to happen." She's speaking to the adults in the audience. "This year, fifteen young men will get a chance to participate in the League, along with 30 young ladies."

The League? She can't be serious. I look down at Seraphina and her expression matches mine. When I search the rest of the graduates' faces, they seem just as puzzled, if not more for some of them. None of us knew. I always assumed that everyone knew when the League was going to take place.

"I'm going to call out the names of the participants right now. You will come up and get your letter and remain standing on the stage." Her tone sounds off, commanding even, and just like that, we were sitting through more names.