The Luna Choosing Game

I didn’t want to think about Nicholas anymore, so I made my way over to Joyce instead. I knew his two

brothers well but not him, and that seemed a shame.

When I drew near, Susie glanced up to smile at me. “Oh, Piper. Have you met Prince Joyce? Should I introduce you?”

How could I say that if I met him, I didn’t remember? That would be unbearably rude.

“I don’t remember if we’ve met,” Joyce said in my silence. He looked at me eyes of burnt umber, watchful and calculating.

“I’ll introduce you, then,” Susie said. “Prince Joyce, this is Piper. Piper, please meet Prince Joyce.”

“Nice to officially meet you, Prince Joyce,” I said, giving a small curtsey.

He nodded.

We both didn’t move for a moment, me standing with Joyce gazing up at me. Then he motioned toward one of the chairs near him.

“Please, sit,” he said.

seem to care for small talk. Meanwhile the quiet was making me anxious. I worried my fingers together in

you enjoying the competition so

he said.

glanced at Susie. She

you decided who you are going to select

went out to her. If

yawn with his hand. “If it were up to

no?” I asked.

supposed to find the perfect person for me during a popularity contest? No one cares about ne anyway. They didn’t before the

true that no one cares about

didn’t seem to

it. I just want

she frowned, I prompted, “Wouldn’t it be nice if you did find love

not an ideal situation for love to spring from, but imagine if

in me with my brothers around,” Joyce said. “I wouldn’t even bother with this, except my

gain his attention and declare her interest had gone unnoticed. She took a breath, maybe to muster her courage, and said too

the room turned to look at her. When she noticed, her face went