Dree walked into the library now that there was a free period between the classes. She looked around for a brief moment before making a beeline toward the back corner of the room.

"Thea," She informed as she walked around the corner and looked at the light brown-haired girl who sat in a cushy chair with her legs tucked up under her and her heels on the floor. "You left your phone behind." She extended the phone to her friend.

Thea jerked her head towards Dree who loomed over her. 'Someone found it but how? I hid it well!' She thought to herself, putting a surprised expression on her face as she picked up her purse and rummaged through it. "How could I have lost my phone? Thank you, Dree." She lied, taking the phone. 

Dree truthfully didn't believe Thea but she did have no reason to doubt her. "It was strange because it was under the teacher's desk. I'm surprised I noticed it."

"Dree, are you implying I did it on purpose?" Thea asked coldly, forcing a smile and narrowing her eyes at her friend as she set her phone on the armrest.

Dree crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the bookshelf behind her. "Are you denying the fact I'm implying you did it on purpose?" She countered with her cold tone, raising her eyebrows in contrast to Thea's expression.

Thea rolled her eyes and shook her head. "What reason would I have? Please Dree, enlighten me." She sarcastically asked, feigning sweetness in her voice as she gave the redhead a challenging look.

"I'm not sure," Dree clenched her jaw and dug her nails into her arm. "Maybe you should tell me?" She replied with a question of her very own. 'She's avoiding my questions. She's most certainly hiding something.' She thought, waiting for Thea to reply.

Thea inhaled deeply and let it out slowly, trying to keep calm. "Don't read too much into it. I simply lost it. It probably slipped out of my bag and got kicked under there. Who knows? I'm just glad you found it." She passively replied, wishing nothing more for her to leave. 

Dree's hunch that Thea was lying was still waving a big red flag around the air. "It's a good thing I found it. If a scholarship winner had found it, the chances of them stealing it and selling it wouldn't be shocking." She said, placing a hand on her cheek.

Thea frowned at Dree's words. 'There she is again with her untrust of everyone. I doubt they'd do that, especially Sidney with her situation - wait, why am I defending them?' She shook her head, pushing those thoughts away. "Yes, I suppose it is. Thank you, Dree so very much for finding my phone."

Dree could pick up a hint of condescension in her voice. "It's not a problem. Just be more careful." She warned, pushing off the bookshelf and pivoting on her heels. "Oh, and you've got an unknown number that has been calling you. You might want to see what they want." She called over her shoulder.

Thea picked up her phone and turned it on. Dree had been telling the truth, she had 16 missed video chats and 10 missed calls from an unknown, and there were no texts that she knew of. 

"I wonder who it is?" She tapped the screen, video-calling the unknown back.

"Thea! My darling stepdaughter!" Joy's perky voice exclaimed as the video call connected. "I tried to call you multiple times but you never answered. I was beginning to think you were avoiding me." She pouted with a frown as she removed her big black sunglasses. 

Thea quickly pulled out her headphones and plugged them into her phone, putting the side with the microphone in her ear. "Joy, I have been in my classes which is why I haven't heard your calls. I also put it on silent during school hours because it is supposed to remain in my locker or room." She whispered, flashing a smile.

Joy picked up some drink that Thea couldn't make up and took a sip from it. "Oh, that's right. Marshall said this was your last year before becoming Crown Princess. I completely forgot." She set down the drink and leaned back in her beach chair. 

Thea didn't believe in a moment that Joy had simply forgotten of course she hardly knew the woman. "Where are you? You seem to be at a beach?" She asked, letting curiosity get the better of her.

Joy let out a sigh as she turned the phone around and panned around the scene in front of her. "I'm at the Cotillion Hotel's pool. I did a lot of shopping and needed some relaxation." She turned the phone back around.

Thea simply nodded, her eyes glancing around her proximity. "So, why did you call me? Never in my existence on this earth have you called me before, why?" She asked, being clear and precise.

Joy was taken aback by Thea's tone. She seemed skeptical despite being clear and precise. "Can't I try and get to know my stepdaughter who I never met due to your mother?" She commented in a snarky tone.

"I mean, you can. If you want to, that is. I won't stop you but I won't go spending time together behind my mom's back. You know that right?" Thea asked, narrowing her eyes a little bit and opening them back normally.

Joy almost laughed. 'So, she wants to tell Katherine about this. Classic.' She thought, shaking her head lightly. "By all means, tell your mom. I have no problem with her knowing. It won't be any time soon. I will be leaving Senoia in a few days."

"I am beginning to think that Joy doesn't want to spend time with me, but only to get in my good graces when I become Crown Princess.' She thought to herself, pressing her lips into a thin line. "I figured." 

Joy didn't know what else to say but she had to keep rolling the small talk ball. "I heard Marshall plans on teaching at your academy. I'm sure your mother isn't too pleased to have found out. She's already found out, hasn't she? Marshall mentioned he spoke to her today."

There it was. There it was. Thea knew it was only a matter of time before she brought that up. "Yes, he has already gotten the all-clear from Headmistress Devona and Headmaster Alexander. She is dealing with it, I don't think there will be any issues over it." 

Joy figured Thea would reply that was. "That's good. I'd hate for your image to be marred with it being so close to you becoming ruler of Senoia."

Thea sighed, pushing her hair behind her ear. "My mother has cared a great deal about my image, believe me." She flatly said, recalling her mother's words after the scholarship winners' names were announced.

"That's good. It's very good you have people who care that much. I never had that." A twinge of disdain could be picked up in Joy's voice as she spoke.

'I don't think that's exactly what I would say is good, considering no one cares but Mia about my true feelings.' Thea thought to herself as she rested her elbow on the armrest and then rested her cheek in her hand. "How did you meet my father?"

Joy perked up. Had no one told her how she had? Oh, this was going to be good. "I used to work as a maid at the palace when you were born. I was there when the panic of the late Queen, King, and Princess had gone missing."

Thea furrowed her brows as she pondered on those words. "You worked at the castle? I know Mom says you and Dad cheated, but is that true?" She asked suddenly. 

Joy didn't hesitate to reply to Thea. "Oh of course not. I had no intention of stealing Marshall from Katherine. He didn't even know I existed until after the divorce when I was helping him move his things out." She replied clearly and precisely about what had happened. 

Thea was torn since this was different from what her father and her mother had said. "Oh," She simply said, nodding her head slowly. "I did not know that side of the story."

Joy figured she hadn’t since neither of her parents spoke much about the past. "Well, now you know." She condescendingly replied, picking her drink up again. "What is it you learn at your academy?"

Thea furrowed her brows, wondering if she wanted to truly know it or was just trying to keep the conversation rolling. "As nobles and royals we put our skills and lessons we've learned about aiding our kingdom to the test or learn things we didn't know before."

Joy never really was into the whole academy thing. "How is that different from every other academy?" She asked passively, taking a sip from her drink and pulling it away, and holding it in her hand.

Thea didn't hesitate to reply to her question. "Well, The Royal Charm Academy is an elite academy where at graduation we officially become whatever title our parents have and are legally able to help our kingdom. Whereas other academies teach academics to say nobility and royalty as we grow up." 

Joy seemed to have not heard Thea as she spoke since she was talking to someone else. She turned back to the screen. "That's interesting." She passively replied. "Thea, sweetie, I have to go. I'll try and find some time when we can spend the weekend together. Mwah. Bye." She blew a kiss before the video call disconnected. 

Thea harshly pulled her headphones out of her phone and messed it up, throwing them in her purse. "Ugh!" She huffed, tossing her phone in her purse as well. 

She pulled her legs up to her chest and rested her head on her knees. 'Does nobody but Mia care about what I have to say? Not even my parents care enough about what I say, let alone my feelings.'

Sidney peaked around the corner, a few books in her hand. She had only caught the last few back-and-forths between Thea and Joy. 'I don't realize Thea had it so hard.' She thought as she pulled her head back.

She hesitated on what she ought to do. She didn't want Thea to think she was eavesdropping but she did want to find out what was wrong even though Thea didn't like her. 'Goodness, I'm at a crossroad.'

Thea stood up and grabbed her purse as she hurriedly walked down the aisle. She rounded the corner and her body collided with Sidney's, sending them both stumbling back. "Watch it!" She yelped, brushing off her skirt.

Sidney dropped the books in her hand, one landing on her foot. "Ouch," She gritted her teeth as she rested her arm on the bookshelf and held her foot up. "I'm sorry but you collided with me."

Thea realized it was Sidney and frowned, crossing her arms. "Were you eavesdropping on me, weren't you?" She accused Sidney, her voice growing a little higher than her typical voice. 

Sidney set her foot down and knelt, picking up her books and holding them in her arm. "I wasn't eavesdropping. I was looking for economy books." She replied, standing up and rushing her bangs out of her face.

Thea didn't buy it but she was in no mood to converse with a scholarship winner. "Well, the economy books are on the other side of the library." She shortly pointed out, brushing past Sidney, deliberately hiding her shoulder.

Sidney turned her body around and watched Thea walk away. "That was weird." She mumbled under her breath as she made her way to where Thea had suggested she go.

Thea walked out of the library doors and down the hall. She glanced at her watch and saw she had at least fifteen more minutes before she had to get to her music class. "Where is Mia?" She asked herself, looking up and down the hallway.

She made her way to the cafeteria and entered the desolate room. She pushed open the door and there was Mia, eating cookie dough batter straight from a mixing bowl. "Mia. Use a spoon, not your fingers. That's unsanitary."

Mia looked up at her friend as she was just putting a small ball of cookie down into her mouth. "Thea," She muffled as she quickly chewed it as fast as she could and swallowed it. "Where were you?"

Thea had no reason to lie to Mia, so she straightforwardly told her. "I was in the library. I wanted some peace and quiet but Dree came up to me telling me she found my phone which I deliberately hid to avoid unwanted calls. Then Joy calls me, never getting a chance to ask how she got my number in the first place. After she hangs up I bump into Sidney who I think was spying on me, but I'm not sure." She rambled on.

Mia listened to her as she casually ate her cookie dough. "That sounds tough," She flatly said. "Why did Joy call you? She's never called you nor shown any interest in you before now. Do you think it has something to do with becoming Crown Princess at the end of the school year?"

Thea nodded, jumping up on the counter. "Why else? She certainly didn't call to talk about me. She wanted to know how Mom was going to deal with Dad working here. I knew what she was implying but I was not going to give that to her." She replied, flipping her hair to her back.

Mia felt bad, inwardly she did. Thea seemed to never catch a break, so she wants to give her some good news. "I saw Darius Roe a bit ago." She informed, knowing fully well that would perk Thea up.

Thea perked right up at the mention of that name. "Huh, you did, did you? I wonder why he hasn't come to speak to me. You think he would since we're so close but maybe he's got some personal issues. I know for sure his parents have been putting all this pressure on him to take over their jobs."

Mia thankfully didn't have that luxury. "His parents manage the kingdom's land? How hard can that be? If anything I would have it hard since I will be taking over the kingdom's finances and economics." She pulled out a spoon and scooped out some cookie dough, offering it to Thea.

Thea shrugged her shoulders with a sigh as she took the spoon from Thea. "I don't know. Who knows what goes on in parents' heads? It seems they make it their mission to make their kids' lives as miserable as possible." She grumbled, taking a bit out of the cookie dough.

Mia didn't know what that was like so she couldn't exactly comment on it per se. "I'm sure Darius will come around. Maybe you'll get a chance when we have our dance class. I'm sure you'll get paired." She knew that might make Thea feel better.

Thea sucked on a chocolate chip in her mouth and tilted her head back and forth. "You're right. I shouldn't approach him until then. I don't want to seem pushy. That is the last thing he needs." 

Mia nodded as she walked over to the sink and washed her hands. "I'm surprised you don't have any classes together. I figured your mom would have made that happen since it's clear to everyone how good you two are together." She shook off her hands and dried them on bamboo paper towels.

Thea scooped some more cookie dough and nibbled on it. "If you mean our parents think we'd make a good couple, then yeah. I mean, we're just friends. I'm not gonna lie though, he's kinda fine and I may or may not be crushing. I doubt he feels that way about me despite what our parents want." She huffed, sticking the spoon in her mouth.

It wasn't any surprise to Mia that Thea had a crush on Darius. "You'll be spending a lot more time together once we graduate." She pointed out, walking back over to the counter.

"I'm going to try to find as much time as I can this year. Fingers crossed." Thea said, crossing her fingers on her free hand.

Mia picked up the now-empty bowl and took it over to the sink and started to wash it. "Besides me, Darius is the only other person who knows you on a personal level, if you know what I mean." She glanced back at Thea.

Thea crossed her arm over her chest and sighed. "We were children then. In the past few years, we haven't been that close, mostly due to my mother and her making me sit in on her Regent duties." She shuddered at the memory. 

Mia recalled Thea complaining about how her mother quizzed her after each thing. "At least you got more free time than anyone else since you practically know all this by heart. So, tests won't be insufferable." She said, drying the mixing bowl.

Thea walked over and handed her spoon to Mia to wash. "I suppose you're right. But, if Mom finds out I'm taking time to myself instead of refreshing my memory of what I've learned. I will never hear the end of it." She groaned, crossing her arms.

Mia washed the spoon and dried it, putting it back into the drawer. "You'll be fine." She said, patting her shoulder. "We should go to our next class or make our way there since it's across the academy." She said, walking towards the door.

Thea followed after Mia, shuffling her feet. "I don't see the need for music class but it isn't that hard." She nonchalantly huffed, pushing open the cafeteria doors. "I just hope the rest of the day goes smoothly, don't you?" She inquired of her friend.

Mia nodded her head. 

Although neither of them knew what the future held, she was sure that there was bound to be something

〰❦〰❦〰❦〰❦〰❦〰❦〰

A/N:
I'm slowly working on these chapters and my other books. It's been a rollercoaster of emotions and being busy. So bare with me. 

Also thank you to those who have been adding this book to your library and reading it even though I've been editing it.

Chapter Talk: 
I really want to expand on Thea and her personal life. There will be more interactions with Joy and certainly more with Mia. I'm excited with how this round of editing is going.

Thanks for reading!