The shadow

The shadow-3

Chapter Nine

Max had found another guard for me that night. It made me feel sad. Did he feel guilty for trying to kiss me before? And to make up for it, he was avoiding me?  

I hoped not. I didn't want to lose Max as a friend. Even if I couldn't have him.

The next morning when I entered the kitchen, Billie was already there, like yesterday. When I entered she announced, "You and I are visiting the high school today. You're making a speech." She smiled because she knew i hated speeches.  

"When did you know this?" I asked.  

"Yesterday."  

"And why didn't you tell me yesterday so I could prepare more of a speech?"  

"Because I'm getting you back for pinching me."  

"Oh you're mean!"  

"I know." She smiled.  

I downed my breakfast fast and went back upstairs to get into something more suitable. After that I sat down at the desk in my room and tried to write a speech. That was when I realised, I had NO idea what the speech was to be about!  

So I stormed back downstairs to the kitchen to find Billie still sitting there, but with a tub of chocolate spread in front of her, and a spoon.  

"What is this speech supposed to be about?" I asked her.  

"I was waiting till you figured out that you didn't know." She took another spoon of chocolate spread. When she had eaten that she said, "The speech is to be about how important education is, and yadi yada."  

"Okay." I turned to leave, but at the door I said to Billie, "You know, if you eat too much of that and you're going to get fat!"  

"I know, but it tastes so good!"  

I laughed and went back to my room.

At ten Billie and I left the castle and walked to the school. We were offered to get a ride, but I refused. Billie groaned at that, but I told her she needed to burn off all that chocolate she just ate.

My speech was at ten thirty, and I felt SO nervous. Finally, once I was introduced I went to the microphone, and looked down at my paper.  

"My name is Danielle Newton. As you all know, when I was young I was taken to Earth to live there, in hope that I'd be safe from the Shadow as I grew up. Then eventually, they came to fetch me and brought me back to Platasia. But on Earth, I attended high school, where I met my friends. It was hard having to leave them; I had to negotiate to bring Billie." I gestured to Billie, standing off to the side. "I was an A grade student, I never got into any fights, I didn't stay out late and I always did what my guardians told me. And honestly, that was boring!" They all laughed. "So many times my friends had told me to rebel from the rules. Countless times they invited me to parties. But I never went. I'm not going to stand here and tell you that you should be like me, and always be responsible, because, hey, I know that's boring. You're teens, you need to live! But it's also important to make sure you don't go too far, that you take things seriously when it comes to school. Balance it out. Because if you don't get a proper education, and proper jobs, you're not going to get far. Thank you." They applauded me.  

"Thank you for coming to speak to us today, Princess. I'm sure the students have some questions they'd like to ask you if you don't mind answering them. And your friend too," said the principal.  

"Billie and I would be happy to answer some questions," I said.  

Billie and I stood at the microphone and students began to raise their hands. I nodded to the girl in the front row with the frizzy blond hair.  

"What job did you want to have at high school, princess?" she asked.  

"It was hard trying to pick one. But I really wanted to be an English teacher. I never thought I'd end up the princess of Platasia!"  

Billie pointed to the guy on the very left in the third row.  

"What did you want to be, Billie?" he asked.  

"I wanted to work at Adeline Records in America. My favourite band owns that shop. If I didn't make it doing that, I was going to be a music teacher," Billie said.  

Next was a boy up the back. "Was the princess the only one out of your friends that didn't go out to parties?"  

"Yes, she was the only one. She's such a goodie too shoes," Billie answered.  

I poked my tongue out at her.  

I pointed to a girl in the middle. "Did you have a boyfriend?" she asked.  

I stared down for a moment then looked her in the eyes and said, "No, I didn't have a boyfriend."  

I looked around the room, thinking of who to answer next. And hand of someone up the back shot up. I picked them.  

"Do you fancy someone?" It was Max's voice.  

"I might," I answered, blushing.  

Hands of many girls shot up, probably wanting to get the gossip, my eyes locked on Max's.