Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Take A Seat!

Madame Orangerinne came into the room and wished us all a good afternoon: "I would like to ask you all to attend classes again this afternoon, I hope you have all done your homework. We are about to start." All the girls stood up and panic rose up in me, but not the lampshade panic, but then I'm screwed up panic. I started biting my fingernails again, I hadn't known we should have done anything, but then again, then I could get kicked out if I just never did chores. I followed the crowd through the other exit and found myself in a classroom, which didn't exactly stir up fond memories of my school days. I think it would be overdue to mention that I loathed my school days. "Please all take your seats, the test will begin shortly," the madam placed a stack of papers at her desk. Looking around, there was actually everything a classroom needed. A digital board that could read out holograms as well as texts. Maps made of Gutenberg paper, which I could identify by the brand seal, and globes. A wild murmur ran through the hall, followed by groans and even tears. Ladies, ladies, don't panic, the questions are not that difficult, it's not how clever you are that counts, but whether you are suitable to be a princess," Madame Orangerinne tried to calm us down. The film crew will be filming the lessons again, but don't let them disturb you, pretend they're not there." This made everyone, including me, even more nervous. Even back then at presentations and performances, where I got nothing better than the role of an extra anyway, because of my background, I just wasn't able to handle attention, I loathed it. Everyone was looking for a seat at the very back, again and again, I have shoved away. That was worse than the first day at school. The only empty seat was the one by the camera, which was exactly what I wanted to avoid. Maybe Lulu would change places with me, she loved the limelight. I looked for her, she was sitting by the window on the far right. Okay Belle, eyes closed and through. "Lulu, would you trade places with me?" I whispered, leaning over her table. She cackled, no really, she cackled: "No, go away, why would I want to swap with you, a four." "Miss Woodstock, you're holding everyone up please take your seat!", Madame Orangerinne, had obviously had enough. Lulu smiled venomously. Witch," I hissed at my enemy as I turned to my fate. Good, now that all of you are seated," she glanced sternly at me, "I will give the test. She passed it on, and at the same moment I heard the cameraman call out: "Action!" Ignore the people around you Belle, even those who will be watching in the evening, they are not there. I got the test, it was also printed on Gutenberg paper, with the King's watermark.

Question 1: Who is the reigning ruler of Little England?

I wrote down Prince Nicolas Merh.

Question 2: How many boxes are there?

4 ( Ok, I was beginning to doubt that people thought we were intelligent )

Question 3: What colour eyes does the prince have?

Green (It looked like this test was created by a fan. Like one of those fan pages of Madame Pariese. Unfortunately I had one too, it was called #vote4Belle).

Question 4: What is the Prince's favourite drink?

(I don't know, I guessed what every snoot who thought anything of himself had) Mint water.

Question 5:What is your name?

Maybelle, Juliette Woodstock (If this test had been like this at school I would have got better grades, guaranteed. Oh no, I didn't develop a taste for answering stupid questions)

Question 6: What is the sum of 2+2?

4 (Yes, they doubted our intelligence or the test was written by a spectator, I couldn't explain it otherwise)

Question 7: How many words are there in Little England?

36 or 37 (I never really know, I was never interested in geography at school, or in all the subjects my headteacher taught).

Question 8: What would you do if you were in government?

(I could write badly to dissolve the boxes, especially as it wouldn't do any good) I think, make peace (That always worked)

Question 9: What book would you like to read?

(I was stumped on this one, the only books I knew were textbooks and children's books) I'm Counting the Stars, Little Bear. (My favourite children's book, an heirloom from my mum)

Question 10: What do you want from the casting?

That everyone survives (Sad but true, I wasn't sure)

Time is up, ladies, please pass your notes to the front." I finished at just the right moment. "Now, after such a hard day's work, I would like to give you a surprise, Prince Nicolas will join us." A door in the side opened and Nicolas stepped in, the girls squealing slightly. The camera swung in the Prince's direction, I turned around. He looked gu.... today, no Belle, no, he didn't look good. He looked normal, just like a prince, nothing special. Some girls nearly flew off their chairs, others burst into a crying fit. Still, others ran at the prince and were stopped by security. I buried my face in the table. This was so embarrassing and he seemed to like it too, maybe I should rethink my list. Nicolas sucked in the air, after an artificial pause he spoke to us: "Ladies, nice to see you again, I have an important announcement to make, that girl I am about to randomly select from the pile will spend time with me tonight on an exclusive date." Luckily it's totally unlikely to be me, I'm one of the first on the pile. No one takes from up or down. "To make things fair I'm going to shuffle the pile now," he put on his fake prince smile. Could he read my mind? He strode up to the desk, catching my glance briefly as he walked forward. I ignored him and looked at the wooden desk. Nicolas shuffled the pile, the rustling going on in about a minute, and pulled out a test: "The lucky winner is Maybelle Woodstock." Immediately a jolt went through me, I looked up in shock. Our eyes met. The corners of his mouth slid down at the same moment as mine. It was so clear, it was so clear, what did the world have against me, did it have to make it harder for me than it was.