Hi all

So it is time I filled in some spaces in the story...

This chapter doesn't contain the report. That will be the next one. Important announcement below...do watch out

here you go-the next chapter...

Chapter 10

Zoraya's POV:

It had been only a few days since we'd arrive at the palace, but it seemed like years. I had settled in well, but couldn't wait to go on a date with the prince. Some of the girls had already gone and the others were waiting anxiously. A maid entered the room, carrying a letter, and she stopped by me. I opened the letter to see a message from the prince. He was inviting me on a date. I told Lyssa and Adara about it and they urged me to get dressed quickly as it was a lunch date. As soon as I opened the door to my room, I saw Alex cleaning the room. When I told her about my date, she squealed and called the others. They rushed up with a long, strapless, burgundy dress and paired it with silver heels, gold chokers and a silver head band. Charlotte was applying a light red lipstick as a knock was heard. Alex quickly opened the door and curtsied. The prince had arrived.

"Ready to leave, Lady Zoraya?" he asked me, offering a hand.

"Indeed, Your Highness," I replied, taking it.

"Please call me Edward."

"Then you must call me Zora."

"Very well."

We walked down the hall and exited the building. Photographers started taking pictures, as soon as we entered the garden. After posing for pictures near a fountain, Edward dismissed them and we continued to walk.

"So, what do you do, Zora?"

"I'm a ballet dancer."

"Hmm, you must show me, some time."

"Sure. What about you?"

"Besides helping mom running the country, nothing much," he laughed and I joined him.

We reached a secluded spot and I saw a picnic basket already waiting for us. Gesturing for me to sit, he followed me.

"I heard you love apples, Zora," he started speaking and removed the cover.

I gasped at seeing a variation of apple meals. We started eating an apple pie and silence dawned over us.

"Well, what about your family?"

"My twin sister is a violinist, my elder brothers are hip-hop dancers, my dad is a Jazz saxophonist, my mom a Jazz singer, one of my younger sisters is a pianist, and the other one is a painter."

"Wow! How many siblings do you have?"

"Five."

"How do you manage with five siblings?"

"I just do."

"Why did you enter the Selection?"

'Well, my ballet friends were entering to see if any of us could get in, so I did, too. I did have to choose though, as I had just received a major role in ballet."

"Oh, well you can continue to practice here."

"Thank you."

"The time has flown, Zora. We must return now."

"Okay."

I got up and Edward followed. He dropped me at my door, kissed my hand and left for his room. I entered my room and was ambushed by my maids asking questions regarding my date. Satisfying their queries, I fell on the bed and went to sleep. They woke me up for dinner and gave me a long wine red dress with silver heels, earrings and headband. I walk down the hall and met Scarlet.

"How was your date, Zora?" she asked me.

"It was good," I replied and we walked to the dining hall in silence.

Sensing that someone was following us, I turned around to see two guards walking behind us.

"Wondering about the guards, Zora?" someone questioned me. I turned to see Bella walking our way.

"Yes," I replied.

"These guards are our body guards. They have to protect us," she explained.

"How do you know?"

"Rowe told me the other day. I asked her about them."

"Hmm, but how does she know?" Scarlet asked.

"The queen told me when she called me on the first day of lessons," Rowena joined us.

"Oh," I said and we arrived at the door.

The guards opened the doors and we walked in to see some of the girls already seated.

"Well, we know why Rowe skips etiquette lessons, but why do you do the same, Bella?" I asked.

"I know them well. Rosita informed the queen about this and she let me skip too," she replied.

Melina's POV:

I knew that sooner or later someone would ask me about my skipping etiquette lessons. So I wasn't surprised that Zora asked me today. We ate dinner in silence and then left to go to our rooms. A few moments later I heard a knock. Lisa was present and so she opened the door to reveal Prince Edward standing.

"Your Highness," I greeted him after Lisa left the room, curtsying.

"Please, Lady Melina, call me Edward," he responded.

"Then you should call me Bella, I don't like Melina at all."

"Very well."

Edward sat on one edge of the bed. He started to think about something and at times opened his mouth to say something. But, then he stopped and closed his mouth.

"What do you want to say Edward?" I asked when he had done this a multiple times.

"I was thinking of taking you to a date out of the palace," he replied, eyeing me for my reaction.

"I would love that. But where?"

"Where do you want to go?"

"Why don't we go to a school? I would love to help the teachers."

"Great idea. I will work on it and let you know, Bella."

"Okay."

"I should probably go now."

"Fine."

He left and I lay down on my bed, wondering what arrangements he would do. I didn't know when I fell asleep. I woke up to a light shining in my eyes. Katelyn had opened the curtains. She, Lisa and Johanna were working in the room. I quickly dressed up and went to breakfast. Time flew by and I was sitting in the Women's Room, when a maid entered and gave me a letter. Edward was taking me out to the Illéan National School tomorrow. I couldn't wait.

"What is this, Bella?" Jo asked.

"Edward has invited me to a date tomorrow," I reply.

"Oh, what are you doing?" Karma asked.

"Going to visit a school."

"Illéan National School?" Rowe asked.

"Yes, how did you know?"

"It is the best school and it is sponsored by the palace. Even I studied there," Rowe replied.

"Really!" Bell exclaimed. "I suppose the one in Calgary, right?"

"Yes. I suppose you studied from the one in Likely," Rowe answered.

"Yes, glad to know that there are others here who studied from there, too," Bell said.

"We should bind together," Jo said. "I studied from the branch in Angeles. You will be going to my campus, Bella."

"Glad to know."

After discussing about our schools, I found out that all of us studied from the same school. I was glad to hear that. Dinner was uneventful and I returned to my room, tired. The next day I woke up early, ready to leave for the school after breakfast. Reaching the foyer, I was startled to see that Rowe was also present. Not only that, she seemed to have cut her hair. I was about to call her, before Edward appeared and spoke to her. But what was going on? I was surprised to see that it was a guard who I had taken to be Rowe. He was casually dressed, so I didn't know that he was a guard. But he looked so much like Rowe. Wait, wasn't he the one who trailed Rowe the other day? My surprise must have showed on my face as I heard a laugh from the corner and saw Rowe coming from one side. She shook her head at me.

"Bella, it looks like you've seen a ghost," she commented.

"Who exactly is this guard?" I asked. By now, Edward had turned to see that I had arrived.

"My twin brother," Rowe laughed. "We do look alike."

My head spun as Rowe said this. I felt that someone was holding me and I turned to see Rowe holding me. She explained that her twin brother was a senior guard at the palace and it was he who had told her about the guards following us. I understood then why he looked like Rowe and why there were differences.

"Ready to leave, Bella?" Edward asked me as I stood on my own. Rowe had gone to talk to her twin.

"Yes," I replied.

"There will be guards around us at all times. However, inside the school building, they can't enter. It is a school policy, that can only be changed if there is an emergency. Hence, Officer Russell will be inside with us in casual clothes. That is the only way it is possible."

"Okay."

"Let's go then."

I followed Edward outside and we entered the limousine. Only Rowe's twin was sitting with us.

"Bella, this is Robin, or Officer Russell," Edward said, once the limo started moving. He acknowledged me.

"Edward, we will not be using titles inside," he said. "It will keep the anonymity around us."

"Indeed. Keep this in mind, Bella," Edward said and I nodded.

The rest of the ride went in silence. We soon reached the gates of the school and the limo stopped inside. Robin stepped out first and we followed him inside.

"Welcome, Your Highness, Lady Swan," a middle aged woman greeted us at the steps. "I am Kate, the principal of this campus."

We followed her inside. Many teachers greeted us. On a wall I saw Jo's picture. It was from the time when she had graduated. Edward recognized it too. Kate led us to a class, where many kids were waiting for us. She introduced us to the class and left. We sat with the children and started discussing many things.

"Edward, it's time to return," I heard Robin tell Edward.

I looked at the clock and saw it was nearly lunch time. The time had flown. We walked out of the class, saying goodbye and Kate bid us farewell at the door. We sat in the limo and it sped off. Looking out of the window, I saw we were nearing a bakery. The limo stopped and we stepped outside. I followed Edward inside and saw that the owner of the bakery, a man named John, led us to a seat.

"I heard you love strawberry tarts, so I arranged for this too," Edward explained as a plate full of strawberry tarts was placed at the table. "Grandma loves them too."

"Yes, Queen America does love them," I said. "Thanks, Edward."

We ate in silence. Before I knew it, the plate was empty.

"Well, tell me about your family," Edward asked.

"My parents are dead and I live with my stepfather."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"No need to be. Well, I also have four elder brothers, three elder sisters and one younger step sister. "

"Ouch. That's a lot of siblings."

"Yup. You might have heard about Lily."

"Lily Mayflower Swan?"

"Yes."

"Wow, are you her sister?"

"Indeed."

"Well, we must go now, I'm sure mother will be worried soon."

"Okay. We shouldn't not worry the Queen," I laughed and Edward joined.

"She'll not worry, Lady Swan," Robin joined us. "I have updated Rowe."

"Ah, she will then inform Queen Eadlyn?" I asked.

"Indeed. But it is time to leave."

"Very well," Edward replied.

We walked outside. Soon we were in the limo, heading towards the palace. Once there, Edward left me at my door, and I walked in, falling on the bed, exhausted. Moments later, my maids entered, asking about my day. They helped me settle in bed, promising to wake me up for dinner. I soon fell asleep.

All those who have submitted their characters, please suggest report outfits and date ideas...

Thanks Abi for Beta-ing

See you in next chap - the report

Rowena