Polly's high pitched scream echoed through our entire home, she hugged my waist while continuously saying thank you.
She hugged the dress with all her might after she had let go of me, her school would be having an elementary prom so she had bought tickets, yet she hasn't gotten a dress so I collaborated with Auntie and I brought this as a gift for her. She stared at the Tiara and the pair of shoes in awe.
We ate dinner and not long after Aunty and Uncle left while Marcus, Polly, and Joey sat in the game room. Aunt said my dearest cousins would sleepover while the grown-ups stepped out for a drink. Only Joey had his room here so it was a hundred percent that he would be staying here too. Marcus was the child Auntie and Uncle had adopted first, Marcus was the same age as I and he got adopted about thirteen years ago, his biological parents had died in a plane crash on their way back to Marcus. Never the less Marcus was a definition of handsome, he was lightskin and after a little bit of research we had figured out that he was half African- American and British, at first he wasn't part of the handsome club but 7 years ago he had the total glow-up. He was perfectly tall, had the perfect face even more perfect hair, his hair might have been my favorite part of him, his hair is long, curly, fluffy, and falls over his forehead slightly, his style too was amazing. His career was just perfect for him, he owned a restaurant that was known for dishes that Marcus had re-created with his crew. It was pretty famous so everyone had heard of his place, he was most especially the smartest amongst us all, he even has a Bachelors's degree, it is harder to admit that I was the second smartest in this family. Ouch, once again that hurt my pride for the millionth time.
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Polly kept apologizing trying to sugarcoat the fact that I was having an ice pack pressed to my forehead and caramel popcorn sticking to my entire body.
Let's rewind .....
15min before
We all sang to "Under the sea" from the little mermaid, Polly was seating behind me on Joey's lap while both I and Steph were leaning on Marcuse's shoulder, Polly kept shaking her butt on Joey's lap as she bobbed her head. It was very obvious that Joey was very uncomfortable right now due to Polly squirming.
An ear-piercing shrill echoed around the room as Polly jumped up her caramel popcorn falling on top of me, I flipped my head to her at the wrong time. Before I could react Polly's leather sandals had left a very ugly print on my forehead.
Joey cursed while he ran to the kitchen in search of what I assume an Icepack, yet I was disappointed tenfolds when he came back with a soda can that I had not so long ago placed in the fridge. He pressed the can to my print but seeing as it was as good as warm his attempts of help were very useless.
Polly ran again towards the kitchen this time coming back with the right thing.
....
And that is how we ended up here, the funny thing is that Polly claimed to have seen a cockroach crawling on the floor, but what is funnier is that I never any sort of cockroach anywhere. What is even more shocking is that Polly's aiming failed miserably even though she could kill one fly with a swift slap so I have concluded that she had done it intentionally.
I smiled my evil smirk and chased her around the floor and along the way she ran outside where my dearest cousins were all standing in a half-circle water balloons packed in bowls ready to be fired. I dodged Joeys first throw but after that I was soaked I took a balloon from Stephanie's bucket and fired it into her face, I took another balloon and fired it at my dear Marcus who was running for his dear life that I was about to distinguish with the balloon of water.
10 min later we all were spread across the lawn all lying down gazing upon the stars.
Polly who was lying down too close to me tapped my shoulder.
"Lolo?"
" Yes, bunny?"
She wrapped her arms around me.
"You are leaving again, right? I heard Daddy and Mommy, saying it is a dangerous person who is determined to kill anyone." I caressed her beautiful silky hair.
" You don't have to worry about me because you know I will come back with Gifts and so many presents for you like every time. Like always. " But being honest even I didn't know if I was coming back from this mission in one piece, it's a feeling that has been hunting me since I found out about this mission, but I couldn't afford to scare here not now, probably never even.
"How long are you going to be gone for?" According to my superiors, about 4 months to a year.
"Very shortly, shorter than my trip to Bon-"
"Don't die, okay?"
"Of course Honey, don't forget that when I come back we have to go on a trip wit our ugly family to Italy, we have to eat so much food as Dad promised so don't worry about it I will come back splendidly as beautiful as always to my favorite cousin." We had been whispering so the rest couldn't hear our whispers.
"When are you leaving?"
I pointed out my three fingers, "in three days so you have to see me off. Okay?"
She nodded and slowly dozed off her dozing turned into sleeping. "Happy Birthday honey."
I continued to stargaze when my ringing tone blared through my pocket. I fished out my phone as Princess Syndrome flashed across my screen.
I answered the phone my spirit very eager to hear my best friend's voice again, while at the same time rushing towards my bedroom Polly clinging to my bag. She laid quietly on my bed as I finally answered my phone.
"Your Highness."
"Not so lady-like Olivia's cherry voice ringed through my phone.
" I am officially calling to invite you to the royal castle to the annual ball celebrating the return of the Prince. Mr.Oscar will be there at 6 pm to pick you up. Please be ready and dressed for tomorrow's event, Another goal of tomorrow's event is to find a suitable Suitor to marry you since you-."
"Liv, I highly respect you like the Princess and all but you know I will be remaining single for a long time."
"Look Mom disguised this ball as welcoming for Ash in other to find you, someone, to marry. Mom can't bear seeing you single for eternity wasting your life away at work. It is an order from the Queen but you have the right to reject this offer."
I sighed out loud, at this point, I am sure the guilt would be eating me up by tomorrow. Just to suit me and the Queen who I respected as my Auntie I foolishly agreed to the offer I had received.
"By the way, Prince Asher would like to have a word with you."
There was rustling heard in the background as the phone was passed on.
"Lorrrrrryyyyy, my favorite human being on this earth."
"Asssshhhhhhh, how is my other favorite human being doing?"
"Hold on let's change to video call."
My best guy friend showed on the screen, I noticed his Wife was standing close to him. As always she wore a deep scowl on her face, her clear hatred focused on me, Ash didn't seem to notice what kind of daggers she was throwing at me. Since the first day we met she has despised me, I guessed that she loathed me for having such a close relationship with her Husband, despite knowing I wasn't interested in her Fiancee the slightest bit.
The Queen seemed to prefer me over Riley who was married to her only son. Countless times the Queen had referred to her as a wench who thought as every other woman as competition. One more reason for Riley to resent me as much as she currently did, there was never an opportunity she didn't take to show me how much she wanted me gone.
I hadn't made much effort to return the hatred seeing as I was not the slightest interested in angering the future Queen into beheading me, I knew the least she would do is stripping me of my title as Lady Anderson.
"Lory?" My head snapped to my phone as I simply blinked repeatedly at the royalties on my screen?
"Mom just told me she had the seamstress design a dress for you so you should be here by 5 pm to get dressed, by the way, the theme for the ball is fairytales, chosen by yours truly. As I said before Me. Oscar will pick you up. Oh please, I almost forgot to tell you to tell Polly Happy Birthday once again, I called already in the morning so just remind her that I said Happy Birthday, I don't need last year to repeat itself."
Last year Polly didn't speak with Olive for more than months because she called rather the next day to say Happy Birthday.
The door creaked open through the phone, in the background I saw Mrs. Klaus, Olive's maid, say something to
"Yes, Mrs. Klaus." Olive flipped her head to me once again.
"We have to go, we still have to make plans for tomorrow. Love you, bubble."
"Love you buhbye."
I dropped my phone on my nightstand as I began to sleep off.
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My alarm blared through my phone, I tried reaching for my phone instead my hand met with the cold floor, my eyes snapped open as I found myself laying on my room floor. I turned to my bed to see Polly sprawled out on my bed, her body splattered all around. Just when I was about to burst into a fit the door flung open, Dad stood there his eyes wide open and alarmed. He noticed Polly on the bed and slightly relaxed his stiff composure.
"Lorraine Anderson. Do you know what the time is? Let me tell you young Lady it is 9:45 and the last time I checked you have a meeting concerning your next mission at 10:30." After mentioning my appointment, I rushed towards the bathroom paying no attention to my father who was standing baffled at my door.
I took a quick shower and put on my uniform, while I was leaving I grabbed Stephanies key knowing she would hitch a ride with Dad on her way to the Agency, (Stephanie is an estate agent who worked at an average company as a Director.)
I switched on the radio and turned the channel to morning news feeling like my dad.
"-ovian Prince has arrived in the Royal palace last night, it was announced that he will be attending the royal ball which will also be welcoming back the royal prince. Prince Asher and his newly-wedded wife, princess Riley Clark-Cox have returned from their honeymoon from the beautiful city of Clora (my imaginary city in France). We have been notified that the general of the army, Mr, Timothy Anthony will be attending the ball like always we will be looking out for his daughter that hasn't been spotted by the media for the past 20 years. His other daughter Ms.Stephanie Anthony was last spotted at the Fundraising party 2 years ago. That was the Morning News on the Royal family, now moving on to the serial killer in Cambaro Mr.L..."
Just like at every ball the media will try and find out who exactly I am where I have been the past twenty years, it was very simple I had been hiding, when I turned 7 my mother died so did my Auntie and Uncle as in Stephanies biological parents. After the Accident 20 years ago that shook the whole country I haven't shown up in public due to being scoptophobia, having fear of cameras, although I have been over the fear of cameras I haven't been in public because it would disrupt my work. The scars that were left from the accident was what had always made me curious about what had happened twenty years ago, I wouldn't be able to recall those memories seeing as my brain had deleted all my memories from 2 months before and 10 months of my memory. Not wanting to make my father recall those terrible memories I have given up on finding out what happened that faithful afternoon. The only thing hunting till today that something just doesn't fit in with the story I was told. I was told that when Stephanie's family and mine were on our way home from the amusement park we were involved in a hit-and-run accident the hit was meant to kill both my parents but seeing as the drivers had calculated wrongly it was Stephanie's parents who had received the most fatal hits. Dad said that due to my mother's frail body later at the hospital when she was barely hanging on she was braindead. While Stephanie had gotten away with a few cuts and broken ribs, I was admitted to the hospital with injuries that mostly left scars and had left me with tons of needed surgeries, it took two major surgeries to be stable in every way possible. After surgery on my brain and surgery for organ damages( internal bleeding). It was the toughest time for our family.
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I pulled up at the parking lot of the headquarters, I saw a set of young soldiers running around the gates of the military base. I took a look around the base and once again admired the view I get from the base. HQ was about 1 hour away from the city but Dad wanted to be close by and the closest house was 30min away from here. My pace sped up when I noticed that I had about two minutes remaining to get to my meeting. HQ was bigger than any place in the whole of Queen City, equipped with the best technology in the entire city.
---
I stopped dead in my tracks when I was met with an oh so familiar face.
"This is Eric Thompson the Team Leader of the medical team, Team Gamma. He is going to be Lorrain vice leader of the medical team on this mission, he specializes in Neurosurgery " Bryan pointed at a man with bright Orange air maybe in his mid-thirties. He had glasses that made him look older than he probably was. He then pointed at the oh so familiar face I had been talking about.
More specifically the man who had helped me on the night I had been the most drunken ever since I was born. More specifically the man I had kissed so carelessly thinking I would never have to face again. Even more specifically the person I had embarrassed myself in front of.
" This is Damon Owens the team leader of team beta he is also the leader of this Mission. He is one of the best in this field." He glanced at everyone on my side, his eyes lingered on me for a few more seconds than needed, and continued with his glancing. It was obvious that he didn't seem to remember my face or he was plainly just talented at hiding emotions. I wasn't complaining about him ignoring me as a matter of fact I was quite satisfied if he didn't remember me, it saved me from all the embarrassment I would have had a face.
Bryan pointed at the last person, a boy. He had a playful look on his face that clearly showed that he was a tad funnier than the rest of us in the group. He is an African- American with very handsome facial structures, his build could be defined as healthy and athletic, you would notice directly that he also had the eyes of a true warrior.
"This is Michael O'Neill he is the Vice leader of this Mission." Once again he pointed at my side.
"This is Lorraine Anderson the Leader of the medical team, this is Christopher Hall leader of the Gamma team, this is Leader Maxwell Oswald. Now that we are done with the introductions let's get down to business. One, just like I have mentioned The people leading this mission are Damon Owens and Michael O'Neill. Two of the leaders of the medical team are Lorraine Anderson and Eric Thompson. Both team leadership groups will have to cooperate on this mission. The HQ's have decided to send 50 more soldiers with you making you a total of about 90. You must have finished this mission by mid-winter next year. Of course, if you catch the wanted criminals faster you might even be back by mid-spring next year. Okay. Any more questions?"
Maxwell raised his hand, Bryan gave him a short nod telling him to proceed.
"What about housing and Hospitals?"
"Well as for that you will get a free home with enough room for everyone to share with others, There will be extra army tents available for emergencies. About the Hospital there will be big Cargo Containers that will make a big enough hospital. Now the plane will be taking off at 4 pm tomorrow so everyone is at taking off at least 1 hour before takeoff. ANYBODY who misses this flight will be dismissed until the groups come back and 40% of your salary will be deducted. So in case you really need the money be early and don't mess up. Now that we are done. Any more questions?"
No one said anything.
"Good. You are all dismissed."