"What shall I wear?" gasped Marjorie.
"I'll lend you a dress, Marjorie, here, take a look." Susan said.
Lucy glared at them both and Susan felt a stab of guilt at tricking Lucy in such a manner. It's for her own good, she told herself firmly. Once Lucy acquired a taste for these parties, she would be able to enjoy boarding school so much more. And Susan wouldn't feel guilty about leaving her behind every time. At first she had been glad that Lucy was finally going to boarding school with her. She had missed her sister terribly last year, and had worried about her and it was wonderful to have her close by. Lucy was the best and most loyal person that Susan knew, but she was just...well, childish in certain matters. Of course, whenever one of Susan's friends called Lucy childish, Susan defended her. Like this morning.
"So, since we're all going away for the Winter Holidays, I'm having a Christmas party this week. You're invited, of course, so is Rose and Emily and Anne. A few other girls too." Agatha Samuels lowered her voice. "The headmistress will be gone that evening, so think of all the things we could do! You'll be there, won't you?"
"Of, course, I'll be there," Susan said. It was just like Agatha to have a Christmas party in the middle of November. It was a lovely idea though, just the thing for fun when the weather had been so dreary lately. Then a thought occurred to her.
"Have you invited any first year girls?"
Agatha's green eyes widened in surprise. "Of, course not. I mean they're sweet children but they really have no idea what to do or not to do or how to behave at a party…oh!" Agatha's hands flew to her mouth. "Well, I didn't mean Lucy, Su; I meant the rest of them."
"So, since you didn't mean Lucy, you are inviting her?" Susan asked.
"Well, no." Agatha sighed. "Susan, Lucy is a dear, but don't you think she's too young for such a party?"
"I don't think so." Susan answered mildly enough, but something in her tone made Agatha squirm.
"Please don't get mad, Su."
"Please, invite Lucy."
"Well…oh, all right. If, you insist." Agatha rolled her eyes.
"And Marjorie Preston."
"Susan, not Marjorie," Agatha gasped.
"You know, Lucy won't come without Marjorie."
"I was rather hoping for that," Agatha muttered.
Susan glared at her friend, then, folded her hands across her chest.
"If, Marjorie doesn't come, I won't come."
Of course, after that Agatha agreed to invite Marjorie.
"You can pass the invitation on to her." Agatha said with a sigh. "I don't want to be caught speaking with a first year student."
And then of course Susan hugged her friend and said thank you, all the while thinking that there were advantages to being popular. Susan was popular for several reasons. She had won three trophies in swimming last term. She had a grown-up manner that teachers adored and students admired. And Susan was pretty. That in itself was enough. Susan enjoyed being popular. She enjoyed the way the girls flocked around her in the dining hall and she enjoyed being invited to every party. She enjoyed the power she had over the other girls. When she spoke, the girls listened. When she gave advice, it was often followed. Of course, she tried not to abuse that power but tried to use her influence for good. Great power brought great responsibility. She had learned that in Narnia.
But that was over now. When Susan and her siblings came back from their first adventure in Narnia, Susan had hoped that they could return to Narnia someday and keep on ruling as kings and queens. That hope had sustained her that year. Whenever, things got difficult she'd tell herself: You are a queen. Act like a queen. Someday, you will be queen again. Their second visit to Narnia shattered that hope. It was a thousand years later and Narnia had a different ruler. She had not realized this at first. She was eager and excited to be back and she wanted to help Prince Caspian regain his rightful position, as King of Narnia. It was only afterwards, that she understood that she would never rule Narnia again. She would never be in Narnia again. It was only in this circle of schoolgirls, that she felt like she was something more than an ordinary 14-year old girl. Only among them did she feel like a queen.
For those who are wondering why the name of my story is Truth, that will be explained in the next chapter. Please review!