Riveria's POV

I flew through all my lessons that were before lunch. I really have no idea whatsoever what the teachers said, it's like I was on autopilot mode.

I'll ask Emeliene and Kwazi if they took down any notes.

You are probably wondering who the hell are Emeliene and Kwazi.

Emeliene my best friend slash the princess of Erevia, Emeliene Lorita Erevia, and Kwazi is a princess from the Kingdom of Emivory, Kwazi Frieda Emivory. We are cousins, she is the daughter of my uncle, King Tarik, who is my mother's older brother.

Kwazi and I are close, but Emeliene and I are closer.

I put all my books into my crimson locker and reluctantly walked to the cafeteria not keen on being around other people, especially a crowd of this magnitude, also considering the fact that this crowd consists of gossip craving hormonal teenagers.

I just don't feel like myself, like one wrong move around me and I'll snap. I'm on edge.

I guess the realization that I'll probably get married soon to some stuck up prince I barely even know just dawned on me now.

I enter the cafeteria and buy a beef burger and French fries. As soon as I had my food on my tray, I made a beeline for the door- to get out of the cafeteria and go to the library.

But all my hopes of peace in library away from the general public quickly crumbled as soon as I heard Emeliene shout my name from across the cafeteria.

"Hey, Riv, wait for me!", she jogged up towards me.

I was so close. All I needed to do was reach for the handle for the cafeteria door.

I just wanted to be alone...even away from her... but maybe some company will do me some good. Maybe, she will be able to cheer me up- like she always does.

By the time she made it in front of me, all eyes were on us. Some were pretending to mind their own business while other stared shamelessly, but I knew that they were all listening and paying carefully attention to what happens next trying to get their dose of much wanted gossip.

"Hey Riv, are you okay? I know what day it is today...", she said in a soft voice.

She averted her eyes from me for a second to glance around the room.

"Let's continue this conversation somewhere else...somewhere quieter...away from these hungry vultures."

We left the cafeteria, and she took out her phone to do something.

We eventually got to the calm library, and we sat down in a more secluded area of the grand library. We sat down facing each other.

I unwrapped my burger and took a small bite out of it and silently asked if she wanted some fries. She silently motioned 'no' indicating she was fine.

We sat in silence each waiting for the other to talk and reinitiate the conversation from earlier.

I put my burger down and sighed, "I know you are concerned about me. I am fine. I am strong and you know it.", I said as I muster all the strength in me to project a smile, though it didn't reach my eyes.

She sucked in a long  and said, "Of course I am worried about you Riv. Trust me I know just how strong you are but I just can't help but think what if you marry someone who doesn't respect you and you end up having a dysfunctional relationship similar to the one my parents have and you never end up happy, with a person whom you will love and who will also reciprocate that feeling?", she ended nearly breathless and with a look of distress etched onto her features.

I stood up suddenly and took a seat next to her and gave her a side hug, trying to relay comfort to her.

"Calm down Em, now you are definitely over exaggerating.", I told her with a chuckle as a desperate attempt to clear the air, which failed tremendously.

"Riveria, I am being dead serious.", she deadpanned.

Oh no, my full name. She is serious.

I sighed for the umpteenth time today.

"I know. I have thought of that, of course I have, I have thought of numerous scenarios of when I get married."

My eyes suddenly glazed over with tears, but I slightly shook my head and closed my eyes and squeezed them tight to prevent any tears from falling.

I squeezed them tighter.... tighter.... tighter... I couldn't do it. As if a dam wall was breached, tears started to fall, one then two, three, then way too many to count. They began to fall rapidly.

I turned away from Em and tried to hold back a sob.

"Riv, it fine, let it out. It is fine to cry and be vulnerable with me. Let it out, let it all out.", she said pulling me closer to her and rubbing soothing circles on my back."

I cried and let it out. All the pent-up anger and frustration. All my anxiety and they constant pressure of being the perfect princess and taking on many roles and responsibilities. I cried and let it all out...

.........

"Thank you to everyone who took time to attend this meeting. Let us begin the weekly Student Council Representatives meeting. Our agenda for today is as follows:

•Recap of our last meeting
•Issues that came up since our last meeting
•Resolution of the issues
•Progress of the fundraising drive by the Primary and Pre-school sector for their respective concerts.
•Announcing of school and external competitions.

And finally,

•Posting the notice by Mr. Selah, the drama teacher, about the upcoming high school play."

I announced as I glanced around the room and registered familiar faces like Serai Evans, Justin Brook, and Nandi Quaid who are all nobles. The Student Representative council is made of Royals and nobles.

The rest of the meeting goes as accordingly. The next thing I know I am dismissing everyone.

"Much appreciated everyone, meeting adjourned.", I said as pushed out my chair and stood up at the head of the table in  front of everyone.

Everyone soon filed out the room, while softly chatting to one another.

Serai, Justin, Mika'eel, Nandi and Brooklynn stayed behind. I raised a brow silently asking them why they are still here.

They all just broke into a wide grin and embraced me in a tight warm hug.

"Hey, guys, what is wrong. What happened?", I inquired with genuine confusion. But I didn't complain, I loved this, the hug, it's so warm and comforting.

At last, we pulled away from each other. The room was engulfed in comfortable silence.

"We stayed to wish you happy birthday. I can't speak for everyone, but I know that you have impacted my life in such a positive way, because of you I realised my true self and I'm working on my confidence. Thank you so much, Riveria, you are like the older sister I never had and for that I will always be forever grateful.", Brooklynn said as she broke the silence and held back tears of joy.

I smiled at her- at all of them, a genuine smile. My heart swelled at her words.

I immediately pulled her in for another brief hug and whispered, "No, Thank you.."

"And what about us?", asked Justin while pouting with his arms open ready for a hug.

We all burst into laughter.

"Way to ruin the moment Justin.", mumbled Serai as he nudged him, not so painfully, on the ribs.

"Ouch.", was what she got in return from him as we all continued laughing. He rubbed his torso while he huffed and mutter something under his breath which just fuel our laughter. 

We ended up sitting there for a while and talked about random stuff, we aren't that close but there are still my friends and they are especially amusing.

We were currently laughing at something humourous Justin just said then all of a sudden, I remembered something.

I stopped laughing instantly and looked straight at Mika'eel. I had a look of great seriousness.

Everyone stopped laughing as well and turned to look at me perplexed. I'm sure they are thinking I'm bipolar.

"Raza told me to tell you this because he hasn't you seen in a while...", I clear my throat and continue. "And I quote, 'I know you have been avoiding me brother, I just want to tell you that revenge is sweet, just like my chocolates...' And unquote."

I relayed the message using the same facial expressions and tone of the sender, Raza, Mika'eel's younger brother.

I found out that he stole from his secret stash of sweets and chocolates. If there is anything Raza and I have in common is our love for chocolate. I was the one who introduced him to a secret stash after I found out about his love for this heavenly treat. I feel his pain.

Everyone else was still processing everything I just said. After a brief moment they suddenly burst out laughing.

I looked at them with a raised brow asking myself why? What is so funny?

They sensed this and tried to stop laughing and explained to me the reason of their sudden outburst of laughter.

"You...Hehe... looked so...Hehe... serious while saying that... but you were just talking about chocolate!", Mika'eel said in-between laughter. He was basically dying of laughter as he wheezed.

I gasped offended, "Just chocolate, how dare you. Such an insult to my precious chocolate." I say dramatically as I put a hand on my chest.

They just burst out its laughter again and I just sat there and huffed then crossed my arms and pouted which propelled their laughter even more.

"Jerks." I mumbled but eventually joined them anyway.

........ 

I went to my car and waited for Nakia to finish up with after school sports. She had netball practice today, which was great for me because we had our weekly Friday meeting after school today too meaning she didn't have to wait for me, also considering my extended stay with the others a few minutes ago.

I took out my midnight black smartphone and started scrolling on my social media, I then noticed that I have several messages from people wishing me happy birthday.

I scrolled through all of them sending replies and I noticed that Emeliene's message is the earliest at 00:00, of course, typically Emeliene, I thought as I chuckled lowly.

I checked the time, 15:30, she should be here right about....

I watched as the school double doors swung wipe open revealing Nakia and her two other energetic friends.

She waved bye to them as they parted ways, and she ran towards my car.

She unloaded her bags onto the backseat and opened the door to the passenger seat and fastened her seat belts.

She blew out a breath and sighed relaxing onto the leather seat.

She turned to me and said, "Hi, Riv, feels nice to relax again I almost forgot what that felt like."

She moaned and I rolled my eyes.

"Dramatic much." I mumbled.

I turned on the ignition and the beast of a car roared to life.

"How was school?", I asked.

I put the gear on drive.

"Good." she shrugged.

"And happy birthday big sis. I love you.", she said as she struggled against the seatbelt and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

I smiled, "Thanks, Lil sis."

And of we went back home, to get ready for my birthday ball.... more like my auction.

_________________

A/N:

Hello everyone, 👋. Thank you sticking around.

I tried to give Nakia some attention. I haven't forgotten about her necklace.
(Actually, I did for a while, but I didn't say that 😂)

I don't plan on give her this much attention going forward though.

I'll try and give Riveria time with the rest of her family.

M.L
Cyberslayer15
Peace out ✌️