Gravensnod (manxman)

Chapter One

Philo

A violent yawn took over my entire body while listening to the teacher go on and on. Before I could successfully pass out an elbow was being shoved into my rib. My eyes instantly opened and looked over at Louise who was giving me that knock it off look. I swear, she seemed so much older than only fifteen especially in this moment. Only being two years younger than me and she was already giving me such a typical 'mom' look. Too bad we didn't live a typical life.

"Pay attention," she whispered before looking back over to where our professor was explaining the history of this country for the millionth time. While Louise was actually interested in learning this bull crap, I preferred to look outside and daydream about the life I wish I had.

I listened to the professor drone on and on like god, does this guy ever stop talking? Why would we need to know who ruled the country in the 1800s, or about the wicked queen? This country was so weird that of course the woman to marry the first king had been basically an evil villain in a movie. But those films usually had a happy ending and unfortunately for everyone in this room, that wouldn't happen.

My eyes drifted around the dingy classroom and all the dingy people. We were basically misfits here, placed somewhere because no one else wanted us. At least, that's how it started way back in the day. When King Warington Roe Ortega founded this country, he could never have known what would happen so many years later. Warington had married Penelope who honestly sounded like a bitch. She was the one who founded the small island we were all living now-Île Oubliée- which conveniently means forgotten island. She thought it would be a great idea to clump all the orphans, disabled and mentally challenged people together. Because that sounds like a very moral idea, right?

Well bitch Penelope kept everyone like me here, not wanting us low lives to screw up her perfect little island. Karma eventually came back to bite her in the ass when she was murdered. Yippee! Oh... I mean boo hoo. Apparently on one ever found out who killed her, but I don't think people cared too much to look.

It had been a long time since Penelope screwed this country up yet surprisingly nothing had really changed. Île Oubliée was still here but now we had some hospitals and schools. (I believe this is where everyone oos and aas?) Anyway, it's still crap. Just because my parents died I was forced to live on an island and feel even more of an outcast.

Gravensnod was a small country located west of Switzerland and above Spain. Our whole country was basically in a circle around the huge castle centered in the middle. The current king and queen were living there, where so many other royals have lived before them. You could only get to the castle by boat or I guess you could swim, if you're stupid or something. But since I live on Île Oubliée everyone pretty much automatically assumes we're stupid. I know that modern day royals are trying to change things, but they're not trying hard enough.

As I yawned again I looked out the window and barely spotted the castle, it was a good distance away. Even though I thought royals and fancy schmancy were overrated, sometimes I found myself daydreaming about that life. The royal family was always so well put together and didn't have to wear clothes that had holes and were a couple sizes too big.

"Philo!"

I jumped in my seat and saw the professor glaring at me, including everyone else in the room. What made them so special? "What?"

He sighed before putting his fingers on his nose, Louise sighing next to me. "Is it too hard for you to pay attention?"

"Is it too hard for you to teach us something new and actually useful in life?"