6:01

-one-

Elizabeth's Perspective:

   "How about Elizabeth does the pledge today?"

I smile towards Mr. Karlington, my principal.

   "ELIZ-A-BETH! ELIZ-A-BETH!" The student body chants.

I slightly blush and stand up from my seat in the auditorium. I swiftly slide out of my row in the back and walk to the stage with a hop in my step. I walk in front of the microphone and give a toothy smile. I look at everyone and then look down at my outfit and straighten out my light blue and white cheer uniform.

   "Hello everyone!" I chirp. "Welcome back to school after our one week break! I hope your vacation was good!" I smile and everyone claps. "Will everyone now stand for the pledge?" I smile.

Everyone stands and puts there heads down, listening to me speak into the mic.

I swiftly repeat the words I always say and smile to the crowd that have their heads bowed.

   "...and we have every right in the rule book..." I trail off until I hear a ringing in my ears. "AH!" I yelp.

I crouch down and cover my ears and look around to see no one else in pain.

The ringing in my ears doesn't stop and everyone slowly starts putting the head back up, seeing why I stopped so suddenly.

I slowly stand back up and pretend nothing is happening and try shaking my head discreetly to get rid of the noise.

Ugh, dad always does this...

"Sorry for my behavior, I-" I get cut off as my mind just goes blank and I start talking in monotone.

But I'm not talking my words... no no, that would be silly.

It's all my dad.

He has complete control over everyone, and here he is, toying with his own daughter.

Ugh.

"This is a message from Mr. Meyers.." I say, not even trying to shut my mouth, that hasn't worked before.

So just smile.

Smile, Elizabeth, smile!

   "There is a council emergency in town hall, school is dismissed. Leave." I finally get a grip and all my thoughts come back.

I hollow out my cheeks and sigh, finally getting rid of my god awful smile.

My dad controls the universe and I still had to go through 3 years of braces in middle school.

   "Well you all may leave, sorry for the inconvenience." I smile, turning my attention to the hundreds of kids watching me in the auditorium.

Everyone starts... clapping?

Why?

Who knows? Maybe has to do how they are all scared of me because of my dad.

I love the attention, don't get me wrong, but sometimes I wish people would like me for me, not for my dad.

I walk over to the principle and apologize, "My dad just gave me the message, I have to go and school is dismissed, I'm sorry I wish I could've known sooner." I slightly frown.

"It's okay, hun, the school probably won't miss anything anyways, this happens often." He assures, even though I know how often it happens.

I smile and turn and walk down the steps, off of the stage and towards Matthew, my boyfriend.

He's standing with all the football team because they walk in huddles and groups instead of talking to all of their girlfriends... but oh wait!! The only girl that actually cares is me, because the cheerleaders do the exact same thing, walking in their clique down the hall, so you can't even pass them.

I swear they walk in the horizontal line and you can't break through.

I catch up to him since he started leaving without me, but I don't mind.

I love Matthew, and the whole student body does.

Classic quarterback and head cheerleader are together.

But it's true love.

I walk up to him and clutch into his arm to show him my presence.

He looks down at me and smiles and puts his arm around my shoulders, pressing me against him loosely.

I look around the group of kids in their black and blue letterman jackets. I continue to move my eyes until they lock on the best girl I know:

Joslyn McAdams.

I smile at her and she gives me a little wave with the hand that's on her boyfriend, Carter's, bicep.

Our group continues to walk until we are out of the auditorium and we get to the hallways and slowly split apart from eachother.

Me and Matthew end up together when we turn our second right and I walk him to his locker.

I turn to him and smile as he puts in the combination code.

"I'm so happy I ended up with you." I tell him.

He gives me a quick, genuine smile, and I begin back away from him.

"I'll see you later." I wave.

"Bye." He says, not looking my way but smiling to himself.

Matthew is truly THE one.

I love him... I mean, even if it was my choice I'd love him.

Oh! I forgot to mention.

Everyone in this town has a lover, a mate, a partner, a spouse, whatever you want to call it.

But everyone is assigned one, and only one.

This gets rid of cheating and divorces and such, but some people really can't find it in them to love their assigned companion, so they just die alone.

It's sad to think about it, and barely any people steep to that level, but it happens.

That's what I think this meeting in town hall is about today.

It's been such a problem lately.

Dying alone... and then the horrendous cheating.

When cheating happens you get killed instantly.

It's a crazy crime, but it hasn't happened in decades.

I don't plan on that changing.

~

I HOPE YOU LIKED IT.

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