Chapter Three: James

                                    

                                          

Chapter Three 
James
Father wants us down in the ballroom to greet our guests. I'm making my way down there when I see a nervous-looking Amber hurrying down the halls.
"Hey Amber, wait up!" I say as I run to catch up with her. She tries to mask the worry in her face but it doesn't work, I can see right through her. 
"What's up?" I ask. A guilty look quickly washes over her face. She doesn't reply. 
"Do you know something I don't?"  
"Let's just hurry, ok?" She replies. 
I roll my eyes as I follow after her. We see Sofia, and we all walk down together. My sisters and I stand in a line behind our parents with Amber in the middle. Trumpets start sounding as Baileywick announces the royal families. "The royal family of Whelshire." This is Hugo and Axel's kingdom. I see Sofia's jaw drop slightly before she fixes herself. "The royal family of Freezenberg." Hildegard and Astrid enter behind their parents. "The royal family of Corinthia." Clio and Christian. It only takes a second for me to correct myself. Just Clio. "The royal family of Tangu." Zandar comes in with his parents behind him. I wasn't expecting so many of our friends to be joining us for tonight's dinner. Father had told us this dinner was to discuss something urgent. I would have thought the children would have been left out of such topics; although, I suppose we aren't children anymore.  "The royal family of Zumeria."
 My stomach drops to the floor. My heart is racing. My eyes can't seem to look away when I see her. Vivian. I haven't seen her in a year and wow. She's still the same Vivian, but with longer, silky hair, a form-fitting dress that perfectly accentuates her waist, and dark eyelashes that gorgeously fan out over her bright green eyes. I could stand there all day and stare at her. I honestly would have if Amber hadn't snapped me out of it. 
I mindlessly follow my sisters, contemplating my life and how I have never seen her this way. Sofia and Vivian have been close friends forever, and that's how I've always seen her. My little sister's best friend. I had always thought she was sweet, though a little quiet. 
I'm rolling the thoughts around in my head when by some incredible luck, I am seated next to her. I can feel my throat getting dry. I start scouring my mind for something to say to her.