Chapter 14


    That’s Linda,” Susie said. “I knew her at the Academy. She’s always trying to form cliques. Anything to


    get


    ahead. Watch out for her… Oh, shoot, here shees.”


    Susie immediately wrapped her arms around her waist, as Linda made her way over to us.


    Linda didn’t look at me once, keeping her gaze on Susie like I wasn’t even there.


    fus


    a


    “Susie, some of us are making an alliance of sorts. We’ll look out for each other. You and I go way


    back,


    so of course, I’ll let you in.”


    “I don’t..” Susie worried her hands together. She clearly wasn’t interested, but… did her shyness keep


    her


    from saying no outright? “I’m not sure…”


    “I’ll count you in, Susie. You wouldn’t want to get left behind, would you? Having us on your side would


    be a benefit.”


    “I really don’t think…”


    “I’m doing you a favor,” Linda said.


    TE


    “I don’t think Susie is looking to pick sides,” I said. I’d had all I could take of Linda’s steamrolling. Susie


    clearly wasn’t interested, and Linda didn’t seem to care.


    For the first time sinceing over, Linda’s sharp gaze sliced to me. “I wasn’t talking to you.”


    “You weren’t talking to Susie either,” I said, “Since you weren’t listening to what she was saying.”


    “She’s shy. Sometimes I have to fill in the nks.”


    “No, I… Susie cleared her throat. “No thank


    you,


    Linda.”


    Linda re shot back at Susie. “What?”


    1 don’t want to be in your alliance,” Susie said, stronger.


    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Linda’s brow twitched. She smiled, but it was not friendly. “Suit yourself. But keep in mind, if you aren’t


    with us, you’re against us. I hope you know what you are up against.”


    She didn’t wait for a reply before storming away.


    walked with Susie in silence for a moment, before she said, “Thank you.


    didn’t have to thank me, but I nodded all the same.


    “I hate bullies,” I said, to exin.


    “Me too.” Another moment passed. “Maybe we don’t have to be rivals.”


    “Maybe we could be friends?” I asked her.


    She lowered her face, hiding her gentle smile. “I’d like that.”


    Later that day, our training ended early so that we could meet at the bottom of the stairwell to hear


    announcements from Nathan.


    “You first public appearance will take ce in three days,” Nathan said. He stood on a step to stand


    above us. His voice echoed through the chamber. 1


    Lena was at the base of the stairs. She offered a wide, kind smile to each of the candidates. When her


    gaze fell onto me, that smile immediately vanished.


    “You will stand in a line outside the front of the pce,” Nathan continued. “Camera crews will be


    brought in. As the cameras roll, you will wave to the public through the live broadcast. We will also


    allow


    a select few to stand on the grounds, forming a crowd for you.”


    The girls chittered with excitement. One girl pped her hands. Anotherughed.


    “The people are eager to meet you,dies. They want to ce faces to the names they know. Make


    sure


    to give them your best first impression.”


    I noticed a shift of moment at the top of the stair. There, leaning against the wall that headed toward the


    west wing, was Nichs. No one else had spotted him. He gazed down at us with a passive


    expression.


    He was too far away to be able to tell exactly where his attentionid, but my skin still broke out in


    goosebumps, just as it had three years ago, when I’d often caught him watching me from across the


    room


    “Well,dies,” Nathan said. “Are you ready to reveal yourselves to the entire kingdom?”


    The girls let loose a resounding cheer.


    1 stayed quiet, watching Nichs.


    Too soon, he kicked away from the wall and disappeared down the hall.