The End wasn't actually the end, they just call it that. America kept on thriving, just a little different... ok a lot different. So why didn't they just call it The Change or something. I don't really know I was a baby when The End took place. 18 years later and here we are. Well I guess you want me to tell you what this "so called" End is. Ok well here I go.
18 years ago America hit "rock bottom" aka bankrupt. It's was almost comical how fast people started putting bids on us as soon as we declared bankruptcy. It was like we were some fancy painting at a art auction. China bought America for 20 million dollars. It's America were talking about so that's pretty pathetic. That's about 6 cents a person. Like I said pathetic.
Surprisingly China just let us do what we want. That didn't last long. 3 years later some kid came over and picked a random man and woman. And just like that America had it first rulers. At least they took the old congress people and made them into the emperors advisors. The emperor and empress married and had children. Now whatever you thinking stop because it's wrong. There no carriages, no castle, no balls, and gowns that were only wore on occasion. Now 16 years later.
My mother and father were some of the youngest people married because after The End no one but the emperor and empress got married. An announcement came over the TV the prince was looking for a wife and everyone of age was wanted in their town square was at 7:00 the next day. I was of age. I moaned and looked at my mother. I begged her with my eyes to not let me go. She smirked and turned away. Mother didn't show it but she was beaming.
"But Mom! Dad wouldn't have let me go!" I moaned.
"Sweetie your dad isn't here to tell you anymore!" she hissed. Mom got very upset when anyone mentioned my father. I moaned and stomped to my room. I knew I would never win so it was best to just shut up.
I laid down on my bed and placed earbuds in my ears. I listened to the same music I had heard about a million times. I closed my eyes and slowly I fell asleep listening to the song.
"Rhea. Rhea! RHEA!" Mom screamed from downstairs.
"Huh? Hmm... oh I'm awake" I cried ripping the earbuds out.
"Hurry!" she yelled. I looked at the clock.
"Mom it's only 6," I said walking into the kitchen, I have an hour and downtown is a 5 minute walk away."
She turned to look at me as I entered. "Oh dear please don't tell me you were even thinking about going without doing something with that," she sighed pointing at my face.
"Ouch Mom... ouch."
"Not that your not beautiful honey it's just that this is the prince we're talking about. So eat up dear, then get started curling your hair and i'll be up to help you."
"Ok," I said shoving pancake in my mouth. When I finished I went upstairs and plugged in my curling iron. Why did mom care so much it's not like he was ever going to pick me. It would be some rich kid. Not me. But I hated to see her upset so I did it anyways.
I heard her footsteps on the stairs minutes later. She came into my room with her makeup. "Mom really I hate makeup," I moaned.
"I know that Rhea, but i'm not going to put a lot. Just some to fix your eyebrows and cover up some acne."
"Mother!"
"I'm not going to lie to you dear, you have a couple pimples." She worked on my face for almost 15 minutes. She stepped back and smiled at me, "You look beautiful darling."
"Thanks mom."
She left the room and I quickly wiped off the bubblegum pink lipstick and covered up the vibrant eyeshadow with a nude color. I looked into the mirror and thought there was no way I was pretty enough to be queen. The only thing not boring about me were my jade green eyes.
I had bland brown hair and thin lips. I tried to imagine myself with a crown. Not a fake plastic one I dressed up with as a kid but a real one with real jewels.
"Rhea it's time to go," Mom called.
"Ok be down in a minute," I called back. I slipped on some sandals. I took the steps two at a time until I was in the kitchen with mom. She grabbed her car keys and we drove to downtown. Hundreds of girls were lined up, hopeful that they would be chosen. I was only here because I had to be.
The process was honestly simpler than I thought it would be. You sign in at a counter and when they call your name you follow them to a room. I was sitting on a cozy couch in a room with three other girls.
"What do they do here?" I asked a red haired girl beside me.
"They call your name and then your go through that door," she said pointing to a door opposite to the one I came in. I only stayed in that room for about ten minutes they called my name and took me to a room that was set up for photography. A sweet looking woman stood behind the counter.
"Just sit on the stool dear and i'm going to take your picture," she said gesturing to a wooden stool. I walked over and sat on it then smiled.
"Ok dear, 3-2-1." The camera flashed and took the picture. "Ok hun that's all I need just go through that door and a man will be there waiting for you." I did as she said and sure enough and man was sitting at the table.
"Don't be worried about this it's just a few basic question to learn a bit about you," he said sliding a sheet of paper and a pen to me.
I filled it out answering simple questions like my age and birthday, hair color, eye color, and other things like that. When I finished I handed it back to him.
"Ok thank you one person from each state will be chosen so we will notify you if you have been selected. Have a good day."
I exited through the other door and went outside to meet my mom. She asked me all about it and I explained it to her. She was amazed. When we got home I went to my room and started wiping off the make-up I sighed when I got it all off and pulled my hair into a messy bun. I sighed looking back at my reflection again. "Glad that's over with," I whispered to myself.
I realized I was starving, so I went back into the kitchen. Mom and I shared a nice meal then she went to watch the news and I went
upstairs to get ready for bed. An entire day of waiting wore me out. I fell asleep shortly after.
The next morning I woke up to my mom screaming my name again. I stomped down the stairs pretty angrily. "Is this going to become a common thing mom!" I cried out. She was holding a letter and shaking.
"It's for you from the royal family. Look! Look there's their seal!" Mom practically threw the letter at me excitement.
I grumbled as I opened it. " probably just says something like we appreciated your submission but you have been..." I stopped. In big bold letters at the top of the page said CONGRATULATIONS. I quickly read the letter.
Dear Rhea,
You have been chosen as the representative from your state. You will be needed today at your town courthouse at 11 o'clock. You will be taking a short test over common life skills. It will not be anything too complicated, just an assessment. The prince and his advisors will review these right after you submit them. You will know if you will become his wife before you leave today. See you there, and good luck.
Sincerely,
Thomas Logan (the princes advisor)
Mom took the letter, scanned it, and screamed. "11 is in two hours go get changed!" I couldn't say anything I was too shocked for words. I just read the letter again.
"H-how, how did they pick me?" I asked.
"I don't know dear but isn't this amazing. Your a Genius you'll get the best grade on this test certainly."
I was a straight A student, but still a test really. I went upstairs and changed into something nice then went back downstairs.
"Come on Rhea eat a good breakfast your going to need it today." she pushed a plate of pancakes at me and I ate them. I was so confused I looked at the clock and saw that 11 was only 30 minutes. How did time pass so quickly?
" well you don't want to be late Rhea so we should hurry up and go." I didn't argue I just got in the car with her. She drove me there and i walked into City Hall the mayor was standing there smiling.
"We're very proud of you Rhea." He then led me into a room that was very small and only had a desk in it. as soon as I sat down a voice came out of a small box sitting on the desk.
" well since everyone's here early can go ahead and start the test. as you can see there's a small sheet in front of you we would like you to answer each question as truthfully as possible you will have one hour to complete this test after that they will be reviewed and within 30 minutes you should be able to go home. and one of you will be crowned our future empress." I looked at the test it had 35 questions on it.
" and your time starts now." I answered all the questions and before I knew it times was up.
" thank you so much ladies," the voice said, "if you would give us just a few minutes we will be back with you shortly." A man walked into the room and collected my test. Then he left me there all alone. The test wasn't really test it was more of figuring out my personality. honestly there is no way you could do good or bad. only thing was I figured most girls would lie terribly on this test just to make it seem like they were a better person. I didn't lie one bit I told him the truth as truthfully as I could and hope that maybe they wouldn't pick me.
It wasn't 10 minutes before the voice came back over the little box.
"OK ladies we have made a decision that was an obvious winner this just by their first answer alone."
My heart was pounding and I didn't know why. I didn't really care how this turned out.
" and the winner is..." he took a pause for dramatic effect, "Rhea Delaney."
A/N
Hey it's Emily! Thanks for reading this by the way it means a lot to me, I have the second chapter completed and the third is in progress. This is kind of a test I guess. If this gets enough reads and people want the second chapter I will post it, so I you want that just let me know ok. Thanks!
~Love Em~
