The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story

Chapter 0398

That night, the King and Queen finally made an appearance at the night’s formal dinner. They greeted Bridget like a doting set of parents would, hugging her and kissing her cheek. Nicholas and Julian were right there with them.

The rest of us candidates were already inside the dining room waiting and forced to watch.

“God, I’m going to be sick,” Tiffany said. She put her elbows on the table and dropped her head into her hands.

Veronica awkwardly patted her shoulder.

Bridget and the royal family entered the dining room like some kind of royal parade. The King and Queen took their usual seats. Nicholas and Julian stayed standing as they counted the chairs. None of us candidates had made room for Bridget to sit down.

It seemed that was to be decided now.

“Where should I sit?” Bridget asked with innocent wide eyes. There were plenty of empty seats at the table. She could just as easily take one as her own.

She batted her eyelashes at Nicholas and Julian.

Both men moved at once. They personally asked each girl to move down one seat. When Julian came to me, he didn’t even have the nerve to look apologetic.

“Please move, Piper,” Julian said.

“But Julian…”

“No time for arguments,” he said. “Everyone’s hungry.”

It felt strange getting the brush off from him. I wanted to snap back and maybe wake him from whatever witchcraft might have ensnared him, but with so many people and cameras watching, I didn’t dare call him out here and now.

Later, I vowed in my head, as I begrudgingly rose from my chair. With all the girls shifted; the only open seat now was on the other side of the table, which meant I would have to watch this terrible show of Nicholas and Julian falling all over themselves to keep Bridget’s attention.

My jealousy buzzed under the surface of my skin. Nicholas hadn’t looked at me since Bridget stepped out of that car.

I lowered myself into my new seat and tried to withhold my growing anger. I felt

+15 BONUS

like I was holding a wolf back with only a paper chain.

Bridget found her seat directly between Nicholas and Julian. She smiled at them both, they both couldn’t seem to stop looking at her.

she was, moved from her previous seat to sit

leaned in close to whisper, “You

can’t believe this is happening,” I whispered back, careful not to catch the attention of the cameras. This truly was my worst nightmare. Bridget was here, like she had walked out of my worst, darkest

once, maybe I could

notion. This was just a vision of how things were always going to be. The competition wasn’t going to last forever. Eventually I would have to leave Nicholas behind and return to the diner and my apartment. Two jobs to

that still hasn’t been

sister that was still on

of hardship and loneliness.

here, I had three steady meals for me

left me early, abandoning me to the

could endure anything.

I felt the itch

good right about now. I could let loose and be free, without these worries and

to

we wouldn’t disappear again, I replied

then, not wanting to hurt

it. “It’s a wonder,” he said, holding his drink aloft, “what life hands us when we least suspect it.” He lifted his drink

replied right away. “To old friends!”

+15 BONUS

were slightly slower. “To

anything,

eyes as she said

eyes on me.

whispered, “To old friends,” but I wasn’t saying it to mean Nicholas and Bridget.

returned to his seat.

wonderful toast, Nicholas,” she said.

my drink down to the table.

lowered mine in front of me. I picked up my

arms. Slowly, she traced her fingers down

glanced at her, a bit of surprise in

said in a

at my hand. I had bent my

into my lap before the cameras could catch it.

gave me a worried look. It was one that I mirrored as

Miracle whispered, “Run.”