by K. Manna
“Maybe later,” Lottie said.
Bree leaned toward Sasha’s plate. “I will have a small taste, just one cherry. No more.”
“Wow. Oink!” Onnika declared, startling us all.
We all turned in Onnika’s direction to find her staring at Sasha and the plate of cherry pie in front of her.
Sasha licked the cherry sauce from her lips. “What did you say?”
“I said ‘oink’! You eat like a pig. If you keep eating like that, you’re going to look like one, too,” Onnika spat loudly.
Lottie looked at me and whispered, “What a rude b-otch.”
I nodded my head in agreement.
Well, Sasha wasn’t one to sit around and let people step all over her, so she backed her chair up with a loud screech and stood up sharply.
Sasha walked tall and proud to where Onnika was seated and hovered over her. “What was that?” she asked menacingly.
Onnika rolled her eyes. “For the third time, I said ‘oink’! You heard me. Now get away from me. You eat like a fat, messy pig.”
Sasha suddenly surprised us by grabbing Onnika’s hair with one fist and pulling Onnika’s head back violently. “I should break your pretty little face, but I’m not going to waste my time. You better keep your rude mouth shut from now on. Consider yourself warned.”
Onnika’s eyes welled with tears, but her pride wouldn’t let them fall. “Get your dirty hands off of me!”
“You started it, but I’m going to end it,” Sasha snapped.
The door swung open suddenly, and Sir Felix rushed in. “All right, party’s over. Sasha, please let go of Onnika’s hair. What is going on here?”
Onnika started to say something in a whiny voice, but Sasha cut her off. “I was minding my own business, eating my tasty pie, when she had the nerve to say—or yell is more like it—that I eat like a pig. She’s yelling out oink like a little kid …”
Onnika interrupted, “Sir Felix, seriously, you should see how much she eats. Pretty soon there will be no food left with the way Sasha scarfs it down.”
“Now, now, Onnika. You should mind your own business,” said Sir Felix. “A rude mouth will only get you into trouble. And the reason that Sasha is eating so much is because she is expending a great deal of energy preparing for the Royals Rise. It is natural for the body to require more food when using extensive amounts of energy. Haven’t all of you been eating more?”
Sir Felix looked around. Everyone at the table agreed, all except one.
“I haven’t. I eat one plate and one plate only,” Onnika replied.
Sir Felix looked down at Onnika seated in her chair. “Why is that, my dear?”
“I don’t eat more than one plate of food at a meal, ever. I don’t want to gain weight,” Onnika said.
“Are you not hungry still?” Sir Felix asked. “Because you should be with all of the energy you have been using.”
Onnika looked down at her plate. “Well, yeah. I guess so. But I would rather be hungry than fat.”
“My dear, if you’re hungry, your body is trying to tell you something,” Sir Felix explained. “You need to remember that this is natural. Your body will require more food if you plan on winning the Royals Rise. The more energy you have to use, the better you will do. Food is your friend and will strengthen you. It is not an enemy to be avoided.”
Onnika sat silently staring at her lap.
Sir Felix scanned the other faces in the room and asked, “Does everyone understand the importance of this matter?”
This time everyone nodded, including Onnika.
“Good. And do not worry about requesting more food because there is plenty of it. The palace could feed half of Alacor with all the food we have stored. Carry on.” Sir Felix started to leave, but stopped abruptly and turned back to face the room. “Bridgeet, please bring Onnika a second plate, anything of your choosing. She is a little behind and has catching up to do.”
Bridgeet nodded. “Yes, Sir Felix.”
I was sure that both Bridgeet and Keendra had witnessed the exchange between Sasha and Onnika. Surely, they noticed Onnika’s rude and careless attitude. A big part of me hoped that Bridgeet would have the guts to serve Onnika a giant plate of liver and onions, and to stay and watch to make sure she ate every last bite.
“Lottie, are you sure you wanna go? I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable. Gage and Anton said they would go with you into the woods to practice if you want to.” I stood in the closet doorway.
“I’ll be fine. I want to be with you and the girls. When we get near the cliffs, I’ll just wait farther back by the trees or something.” Lottie took a magazine out of her nightstand drawer. “Keendra lent me this magazine to look at. Here, look at these hot pics of Jelik Farr. It will keep me plenty busy just looking at him. He’s my boyfriend, but he doesn’t know it yet.”
I took a peek at a picture. “Yeah, he’s pretty hot, definitely hotter than the salsa that I dipped my chips in last night.”
Lottie laughed at me.
“All right, I have enough water bottles for all of us. Are you ready?” I asked, zipping my backpack.
“Yup, I’m good to go. I didn’t bother bringing any bandages since we have you and Bree with us,” Lottie added with a smile.
I gave her a high-five. “You got that right, girl. We won’t be needing those anymore.”
Sasha, Bree, and Elise were already waiting outside for us. Too bad for Onnika, but she wasn’t invited to go on our girls-only hike to the cliffs. She would have to stay back and hang out by herself or with the boys, which she would probably rather have done anyway. I think Elise felt a little bad not inviting her roommate. But after what happened between Onnika and Sasha, nobody was about to take any chances. Plus, no one wanted her there, except maybe Elise.
Sir Felix estimated that it would take us forty-five minutes to reach the cliffs. It was mostly uphill. At the very least, the cliffs would be easy to find; it’s not like we could miss them. Sir Felix told us to be back no later than ten at night and reminded us that there were cameras set up all over the island, so they could find us at any time or place. I felt excited to be with just the girls, on an adventure of our own.
As we walked, Sasha turned to Elise and asked, “How do you stand rooming with Onnika? That girl bugs me so bad. She is so lucky that I didn’t pull her pretty blonde hair out of her head today.”
Elise shrugged her shoulders. “I know she can have a bad attitude and be really rude, but Onnika isn’t always like that. When we’re alone in our room, she acts totally different. I honestly think it’s all for show.”
Elise sounded a little naïve and too forgiving. We glanced at each other and then back at Elise.
“So you’re saying she’s just being fake?” I asked.
“Yeah, I guess. Not that it’s right or anything, but it seems like she’s trying to be like her older sister. She always talks about her sister and how perfect she is. I think Onnika feels like her parents favor her sister. She won’t admit it, but I think it really bothers her,” Elise explained.
Sasha shook her head. “Well, I still don’t feel bad for her. There is no excuse for acting that way. I don’t care how bad a person feels or how bad they are treated.”
Blah, blah, blah …
They continued to ramble on about their opinions of Onnika, trying to prove points and whatnot. Lottie and I were getting tired of hearing it. We kept looking at each other, rolling our eyes and silently mimicking them. Before we knew it, we were far ahead of everyone. We were far too busy having fun to wait for them.
Lottie started to sing loudly and play air guitar. “Hey, Ma and Pa, get outta my way! Oh, you say no, well this is what I got to say—”
“You got the song wrong. It goes,” I sang, “Hey, Ma and Pa, what did you say? Oh, you said no, well I’m going anyway.”
&nbs
p; From behind us, Bree joined in, continuing the song where I left off. “My rocker boyfriend wants me at his show. So you’re gonna have to live with it ’cause I’m gonna go! Whoa, I love that song!”
Lottie looked at me. “No, I’m pretty sure I sang it right.”
I shook my head, looking back at Bree. “No, you didn’t. Hey, Bree, how does the first part of the song go?”
Bree climbed up on top of a huge rock and sang from above us. “Hey, Ma and Pa, what did you say? Oh, you said no, well I’m going anyway!”
I looked at Lottie. “See, I told you.”
“Whatever. My lyrics sound just as good,” Lottie said.
Sasha laughed. “Ha-ha. Doesn’t that rock Bree is standing on look like a big boot?”
I turned and looked at the rock. “Yeah, actually it does.”
“I see it, too,” Lottie said.
Sasha climbed up the boot-shaped rock. “Okay, all of you turn the other way. Lottie, plug your ears so you can’t hear us. Don’t think I forgot about you and those ears.”
We turned around while Lottie plugged her ears with her fingers. Sasha whispered softly behind us. A couple seconds later, I heard a little squeak come from Bree’s mouth.
“All right, you can turn around,” Sasha said loudly.
Sasha stood atop the rock with a huge smile stretched across her face. Her arms were reaching far out in front of her, holding onto Bree’s ankles. Bree hung over the rock’s edge, upside down, with a bright-red face.
With eyes squeezed together tightly, Bree said, “You better not drop me, Sasha, or I will beat you.”
“Honey, you couldn’t beat me up even if you tried. Anyway, if I did happen to drop you, you could heal yourself right up,” Sasha said, still holding Bree upside down like she weighed nothing.
Bree huffed, “If you drop me, it will be on my head. I can’t heal myself if I am knocked the hell out.”
Sasha shushed her. “Then Go-Go will come to the rescue.”
“You two are crazy!” Lottie yelled.
“I wish we had a camera.” I shrugged.
Sasha pretended she was losing her grip, causing Bree to scream out. “Okay, that’s it! Put me down!”
Sasha laughed and slowly hauled Bree back atop the rock. Bree quickly sat up, grabbing her compact that she had set aside, and fixed her hair in the mirror.
Elise ran ahead, yelling. “Come on, you crazies! I could have already been to the cliffs by now!”
“Sorry, Elise, but we will never be as fast as you.” I pulled a bottle of water out of my bag and tossed it to her. “Here. Run ahead, we’ll catch up, eventually.”
Elise ran off so fast that she was out of sight within seconds. I offered everyone a bottle of water, and we sat for a few minutes enjoying the natural beauty of the landscape. When everyone was ready, we linked arms, started singing, and continued on our little adventure.
When we finally reached the cliffs, Lottie wasted no time plopping herself down under the nearest shade tree. She made herself comfortable and took out her magazine to ogle her paper boyfriend. We found Elise kneeling near the edge of the cliff using a rock to scrape each of our names into the rocky ground. When she finished her work, Bree read it out loud.
“Elise, Go-Go, Lottie, Bree, and Sasha live here.” Bree looked over at me. “Well, at least we all wish to live here. Too bad only one of us can win.”
“I know, doesn’t it suck? Just so you know, I will be really happy for you if you win, but I will be even happier if I win.” I smiled at my fellow healer.
Everyone laughed.
While Lottie stayed under her tree with her magazine, the four of us sat in a circle on top of the high cliffs, chatting about our families and how much we missed them now and would miss them even more if we won and could never see them again. But everyone agreed that it would be worth it to live at the palace as royalty; after all, it was what we were all here for. But a part of me wasn’t sure. I loved my home and my own bed. Even though my family acted weird and annoying sometimes, I would never want to change it.
If I do win, would this really be the life that I want? Would I choose royalty over my family and friends? Could I give up this life of luxury for my simple, ordinary life? Am I the only one who has doubts?
The conversation turned into talk of how wonderful being rich and famous would be. Sasha brought up her boyfriend and guys in general. That set off a discussion of crushes, but I only listened. I didn’t say a word about my own. I had never before talked about my feelings for Eli, and I wasn’t ready to start now. Plus, these were girls that I had really only just met. And what did it matter, anyway?
I might never see Eli again. Oh, how horrible that sounds. I want to see him.
My hand clenched the jade stone that I always kept in my pocket, reminding me even more of Eli.
“So, Go-Go, do you have a boyfriend?” Sasha asked.
I shook my head. “Nope.”
“Well, then who is your crush?” Elise asked with a knowing smile.
“I don’t have one,” I lied. “Not even a paper one.”
Lottie, still sitting with her magazine, called out, “I heard that.”
“Whatever. Everyone has one. Come on. Tell us,” Elise pressed.
I lied some more. “Really, I don’t.”
Then Bree chimed in. “Go-Go, are you not telling us something?” She rubbed her shoulder against mine teasingly, and whispered, “Don’t be shy if you have a girl crush. My friend Oliver is gay and proud. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
“I don’t have a boy crush or a girl crush. And even if I did like chicks, I wouldn’t have a crush on you. You’re not my type,” I teased, slapping Bree’s arm.
Bree made a pouty face. “You’re mean. What, you don’t think I’m hot?”
“Yes, of course, I think you’re hot. Don’t we all?” I asked Sasha and Elise.
They both agreed.
“Well, she doesn’t hold a candle to Jelik, my hot man-crush,” said Lottie, closing her magazine with a sigh. “Come on, daydreaming time is over. It’s getting late.”
She was right. The sun was already setting, and I figured we should be making our way back soon. Even if we did have more time, I was glad for the opportunity to change the subject.
Bree stood up, looking out over the cliff where the ocean glistened against the setting sun. The sky had streaks of orange, pink, and purple that reflected off of the rippling waves.
The ocean reached out so far that it was all that we could see. No boats motored across the water. No airplanes flew high in the sky. No other people were around, only us.
Bree grabbed my hand and Elise’s hand on the other side of her. I grabbed Sasha’s hand with my free hand. We stood side by side, hands linked together like a chain.
“Wouldn’t it be awesome if we all jumped off this cliff right now?” Bree said.
“It would be awesome, but there is no way to get back up unless we swim halfway around the island,” Elise pointed out.
I shook my head. “No, not a good idea. It’s getting late, and we have to get back. Lottie’s waiting for us, too.”
“Okay, let’s just pretend then,” Bree said, stepping forward.
With hands linked, we all stepped closer to the cliff’s edge, raising our hands above our heads. I closed my eyes and imagined soaring through the sky, as the wind blew softly against my face.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
“Please step away from the edge. I repeat, please step away from the edge.” An alarm sounded suddenly, and a man’s voice boomed from a hidden speaker.
What the hell!
We all jumped. “Let’s get the heck outta here!” I shouted, grabbing my bag off the ground and hurrying toward Lottie.
“I told you the edge was dangerous,” said Lottie.
“They
said that they have cameras all over this island, so we know that’s no lie,” Sasha said, rushing from behind me.
Four spooked chicks ran toward the tree where Lottie stood waiting. Elise, of course, reached Lottie first. She ran so flippin’ fast. It was amazing to watch. And to think that my little bro could do the same amazed me even more. Dim lights now lit the walking paths that would lead back to the palace.
“Well, I guess we won’t be jumping off any cliffs,” Bree laughed, a little out of breath.
Yeah, she’s got that right.
The palace was close now, I could feel it. Stars twinkled in the night sky. Bongo music played softly in the distance. My nerves had finally calmed down since the freakishly loud alarm scare.
Lottie walked in front of us and then suddenly stopped.
“What?” I asked.
“Shh.” Lottie looked into the dark woods and scanned in every direction. “Did you hear that?”
“I think I heard a bat fly by,” Elise whispered.
Lottie put her finger to her lips. “Shh.” She continued to look around. “Someone or something is out there.”
I looked into the black forest that surrounded us but saw nothing out of the ordinary. To tell the truth, I didn’t see much of anything in the darkness, and the dim lights lining the path didn’t help much. Lottie closed her eyes and turned her head in different directions as she focused on the noise she had heard coming from the woods.
Bree grabbed my arm with ice-cold fingers. “Let’s go. I’m freaked out.”
“It’s probably a little rabbit or something. Come on, you guys. Bree’s right. Let’s go. We have to get back anyway,” I whispered in the darkness.
Annoyed, Lottie whispered back. “Okay, then go. I can’t concentrate with you two talking. This is good for me; I want to test myself and figure it out.”
Bree tugged me forward, and we quickly left the others behind. I felt a little bad just leaving them, but Lottie had insisted and Sasha and Elise were with her. It wasn’t long before we began to see the lights of the palace peeking through the trees. The closer we came to the palace, the louder the bongo music became and the brighter the lights grew. I’m not sure if it was Lottie’s mysterious sounds or if Bree was actually afraid of the dark, but she seemed noticeably relieved to see the palace, but then …