Ever After . . .

Chapter 28

~America~

It was mediatory that everyone watched the special Report today. Maxon has announced that the girl from Carolina was ineligible for the competition. But since I had no class the hour the Report went live, I found a class to watch it in.

I knew Marissa and Lucas both had History this hour. It was on the other end of the hall, but I knew I should be with Marissa for this. I entered the room and the teacher greeted me.

"Ms Singer. I didn't expect to see you in here," the teacher was Miss Solon.

"I don't have a class this hour so I don't have a TV to watch it on. I knew my kids where in here this hour so I thought I'd slip in and watch," I say.

Marissa turns her head and smiles. Her head is a mop of bright red curls.

"Okay students, it's about to go live. You can move to where you can see. All at once everyone got up and moved. Lucas moved from the back of the room to the front to sit next to Marissa. I stay standing in the back. Miss Solon comes and stands next to me.

The TV comes on with the Illéan anthem. Gavril comes on and begins. He explains what happened, and then what's going to happen. Prince Nathan digs around in the bag of letters before emerging with one.

He steps closer to Gavril before opening the letter. I can tell he looks hesitant at first, then opens it. It's like slow motion. Then the words finally come out of his mouth.

"The wining girl from Carolina is," Nathan takes a breath while looking at the name of the winner. "Marissa Singer, a three."

The world stops. Marissa jumps from her seat, as the kids in the class cheer for her. Her red curls fly through the air. Nathan wraps her in a giant hug before swinging her around. He sets her down and she comes running up to me. I embrace her in a giant hug.

"I am so proud of you sweetie," I say quietly.

But aside from all of the celebration I see the screen. More importantly I hear it above everything else. A room of gasps. A wave of joy across Maxon's face, a wave of anger across Kriss's, Garvil's shocked reaction. Those people knew me, and still know who I am. I knew Maxon was in for it with his father. But I don't let it consume me.

The door bursts open, and a string of kids come running into the room. It's all of Marissa's closest friends. They surround her and start yelling. It's a joyous yell.

I begin to back out of the room. Miss Solon follows me.

"America, congratulations," she says embracing me.

"Thank you," I say.

"I know this may be hard. I know what happened last time."

"I know. They know too now. It was something I couldn't keep from them."

"Oh America. I'm sorry for what happened. Maybe this time will be different."

"I hope so."

The bell rings signaling the end of the class period. I make my way back to the music room. It was the last class of the day, which meant only an hour before I could leave.

The classroom filled up quick. It wasn't my largest class, but it was a big one. It was all seniors. Not many of them cared what just happened because some were ineligible to enter, but the ones who did congratulated me on Marissa's win. Like I had anything to do with it.

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The last hour went by quickly. The classroom empties, and Marissa walks in with her backpack on, Lucas wasn't too far behind her.

She squeals, and hugs me tight. She had the biggest smile on her face.

"I haven't been able to wipe this smile off of my face since it happened," she said pulling away from me.

I give her an equally large smile. "Let's get going. I want to get home," I say.

I pack my bag, turn off the lights, and we leave my room. We walk home. The sun was still bright in the sky, and the weather was about double it was last week. It was just perfect.

We come up on the house, and I begin to pull out the keys. Lucas takes my bag so I can unlock the house. Once it's open Marissa turns on the lights.

There in my kitchen stand May, my mom, and Gerad. They all yell out, "Surprise!"

I drop my bags, and Marissa's jaw drops. On the counter was a cake. I knew they couldn't afford it.

"What? How? May?" I say.

I know that May knows this house like the back of her hand. She also knows I keep my window unlocked. She must've gotten into my house through the window, and unlocked the house from the inside.

May has that look when she knows she's in trouble. "I may or may not've broke into your house via your usually unlocked window," she says innocently.

I sigh and roll my eyes playfully at her. She smiles. "You guys. You didn't have to buy a cake for Marissa."

"Oh yes we did. My granddaughter is soon to be the future Princess of Illéa. And she deserves this," my mother says walking up to Marissa. "How are you dear?"

"I'm honestly at a lost for words," Marissa said hugging my mother.

"Oh don't be sweetie."

"Hey. How come you never bought me a cake for my Selection?" I say playfully to my mother.

"Because I knew you all too well America. You would've said no to the cake like you are now, and your my daughter. It's a grandmother's job to spoil her grandkids."

I laugh. That was true. I would've said no, but that still didn't mean I didn't want one.

"Ugh. Enough chattering. Let's eat some cake," Gerad said from the back of the group.

"I'm with him," Lucas said. "Let's eat."

We move from my doorway to the kitchen. I pull out six plates from the cupboard, and a knife from the drawer, and we cut into the cake.