The Crown

The Journey - Chapter 3

        I wake up to the annoying beep of my alsrm clock. I subconsciously groan and hit the snooze, putting a pillow over my head. As the events of last night come flooding back into my memory, i yawn, remembering the hours i sat on my bed just staring at the wall, drifting in between reality and dreams.

        I finally muster the will power it takes to crawl out of bed, get dressed, and haul butt down to the breakfast table.

        As soon as i reach the kitchen, i am bombarded by four, smelly, teenage boys. "CLaire! Claire! did you know you were selected?" "Are you gonna fall in loveee?", stupid questions like that. I shoot them a glare and they quiet down a bit. I sigh and poor a pound of syrup onto my one, soggy pancake. By the time everyone has a plate of breakfast in front of them, everyone is staring at me.

        "what?!", i say, coming out a bit ruder than i intended. they all instantly look down at their plates and stuff their faces. Its my dad who speaks up first, "I, um..', he clears his throat. "i think i speak for all of us when i say that we are very...", he looks around. "Curious, as to how you feel about, um.. beng selected.", he finishes in a high voice. i roll my eyes. "Other than being forced to have to claw my way through a gaggle of 34 other girls just to get to a pretty boy prince and a political role i wish to have nothing to do with, than yeah, im fine.", i finish off with a bright smile than continue eating.

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        As my royal escort to the plane waits outside, i quickly jam the last of my belongings into a small bag. i take a deep breath and almost walk out the door before i remember something. i peer into the framed photo on my bedside of my mother and older sister, both of whom had passed away. i stare into their faces before snapping back into reality. i take another large sigh and stuff the photo into my bag.

        The cold doorknob twists as i push against it. I take the long walk to the front door, never once glancing in another direction. I nod to the escort, allowing him to wait in the car as i say my farewells to my family. I give quick, stiff hugs to each of my brothers. I then turn and give a huge hug to my dad. We stand there for a long time, until i start to breakaway. "Claire.", he starts to say, just before i walk outside."just always remember, ill be here, and so will your mother.", he says with a large smile. I wipe a small tear from my eye and quickly walk to the car. 

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        Few words are passed on the car ride to the square. We shared a pleasent "How are you?" but nothing more. My mouth widens at the sight of almost everybody in the province as we drive up. I get out to accept the speech from the mayor. "we are gathered here today to celebrate the selection of, um..", he falters. "Whats your name sweetheart?", he bends down and whispers in my ear. i mentally gag and reply, "Claire Brooks." He says my name and the crowd cheers. Im surprised that the crown cheered. for me?

        A few minutes after the speech, i hop back into the car and buckle up. I look out the window at the hundreds of people cheering for me. for me!? I lean back against the smooth leather of the seat cushion and before i know it, we arrive at the airport.

        i give a curt thank you to the driver and step outside. i grab my bag by the handle and look around. The entrance of the airport is framed by arching columns, giving it a rather intimidating look. Through the entrance, a ginormous terminal can be seen. I gulp and cross the terminal, looking down at the crumpled paper in my hand, giving me directions to the plane. I think i take a left here, or is it a right? i look around and finally spot a huge jet with the Illean crest on it.

        I jog over to it and look around for the other girls. i spot a small cluster of 3 girls standing near the entry of the jet. The first girl i notice is a petite girl with almond hair and light blue eyes. She wears glasses, light blue flats and a small purse. a two by the looks of it. The second girl i see really draws my attention. She holds her dirty blonde hair in two fishtail braids, her brown eyes glinting slightly. She holds a very small and simple bag, bouncing her leather clad feet on the floor. The last girl i glance towards glares at me while chipping off the cheap nail polish on her fingernails.  Her straight black hair is pulled to one side of her face, framing harsh hazel eyes. She wears worn in black boots, no name brand makeup is smothered all over her face. i tug at the ponytail on the side of my head, held in by an old clip of my mother's, for good luck. my feet itch in the red tennis shoes im wearing.

        As im tentatively walking towards the group, a steward pokes her perky head outside the jet's main door. "Hello girls, welcome to Illean airlines.", she smiles brightly. "If you will follow me into the cabin, you will find the seats ready for your arrival", she smiles again and gestures for us to follow. We all grudgingly walk inside the large airplane. I widen my eyes ad i step into the huge cabin, complete with curtains for the windows and free pastries on a trey near each chair.

        I  find an empty row of seats near the back, next to the window. I see the girl with glasses sit in the row across from me. The blonde chooses a seat near the front while the diva sits mostly in the middle, turning her nose up at the pastries. I shift focus back to the window as i hear the engines start.

        As i wake up from the short nap i took in the first hour or so of the flight, i am surprised to find the girl with glasses staring at me. "What? do i have drool on my face?", i ask, absentindedly rubbing around my mouth. "No, no its just...", she starts in a quiet voice then zones out. "Hold on a sec, where are my manners.", she finaly snaps to it. "Im Liana, you are?", she gives a tiny smile and adjusts her glasses. "...Claire.", i say tentatively. "nice to, um, nice to meet you Claire.", she says somewhat shyly. "same.", i nod at her. Liana and i talk for a while until i feel a pointy tap on my shoulder.

        "Hmm, you must be that boyish four i saw on tv", she smirks. i roll my eyes. "The nerdy two?", she laughs at Liana. "Just leave us alone.", i glare at her. "You gonna fight me?", she gives a mock scared expression. "Shes not worth it Claire.", Liana says in a squeeky voice. i let out the tension i was holding. "I know.", i say. i turn back to the diva. "Who are you?", i ask. "Renee's the name.", she flips her hair and sashays back to her seat. I roll my eyes at her retreating figure. "She shouldnt be talking, shes also a four.", Liana pipes up. "Yeah, well.", i shrug.

        The rest of the plane ride is pretty ordinary, me and Liana talking, the blonde - i think her name was Savannah - listening to music, and Renee applying a 100th coat of makeup. It seems like no time before we arrive at the palace.

        We all step out of the plane and arrive to a cheering crowd. Little kids line the street with posters and signs. i rub my arm, not usef to all the attention. i tuck a strand of hair behind my ear and continue walking down the street. a little girl with green eyes like me stops me. "win, for me, please?", she smiles up at me with her sad eyes. i nod and gulp. i hurry my pace and arrive at the gates of the palace.

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So sorry for not updating guys :( thanks for reading!