The Luna Choosing Game

After gazing at the ocean for a time, Nicholas separated from us, saying he had to make the rounds. So Elva and I walked to
where a couch was arranged on the deck. Julian and Veronica were already sitting on it. I sat on the open seat and Elva wedged
in between me and Julian.
One of the wait staff brought me a fruity drink with an umbrella in it, and gave Elva a virgin lemonade with a curly straw. The
straw amused Elva to no end. She was excited to see if she could get the lemonade stuck in one of the hoops.
“So, Piper,” Julian said, waggling his eyebrows as Elva was thoroughly distracted. “Things seem to be going
well with you and Nicholas.” [rolled my eyes at his teasing, “Aren’t you glad you decided to join us?” Julian continued, flashing a
toothy grin. Beside him, Veronica remained silent, but I could see the humor in her eyes.
I'huff a soft laugh. They mean the teasing good-naturedly so I’m not put-off. “Iam,” I reply honestly.
Already this trip has felt something like a success. Things were still strained with Nicholas, but it felt good just being beside him.
The ocean was beautiful. The drink was good. Elva was enjoying herself. Really, what could be better than this? All those good
feelings went out the window the moment Bridget walked
closer to us.
“You all seem cozy over here,” she said. Her bright smile had returned since it had disappeared on the airplane. Her perfect
facade was back in place on her face.
Yet as Bridget’s brightness shone, Julian’s dimmed. His toothy grin diminished into a humorless smirk. I missed it instantly, and
wished Bridget would just go away, to whatever far corner of the world all her money would take her.
Maybe that was unkind. But I was tired of watching my friend be hurt just because of this woman’s proximity.
Veronica must have felt similar. The humor vanished from her eyes, though her expression didn’t otherwise I
change. She watched Bridget carefully, with a too-cool indifference. If Bridget noticed, she pretended not to.
“Piper, I'm so glad to see you enjoying yourself. You must be so unaccustomed to places like this,” she said, her voice sugar-
sweet.
I could see the insult in there. She was calling me poor. Unfortunately, that was a fair assessment. I didn’t want to give her that
kind of joy though, or let her know that her words struck me at all, so I smiled vaguely in reply.

“Fortunately for me,” I said, matching her sugar-sweet tone, “my inability to regularly visit places like this makes them all that
much more special to me.
How terrible it must feel to be so jaded that you can’t appreciate the beauty of nature all around you,”
“Talways try to stop and see the small things,” Veronica said, adding to my veiled insult. “It’s essential to happy living.” Bridget’s
smile went tight. “Yes, well.
I’m glad you are able to experience it like this, then.” Her sharp gaze cut into me. “Especially as the next elimination ceremony is
coming soon. It’s good for you, Piper, to enjoy yourself while you still can.” Her words stung more than I want to admit. Yet
through the dull haze of pain, one thing struck through the most.
“The next elimination ceremony?” I asked. There had been no mention from Nathan or any of the staff about the planning of the
next ceremony.
Was Bridget talking out of her ass, or
did she actually have evidence the next one was approaching? “Oh,” Bridget said and covered her mouth like she admitted
something she hadn't meant to. The gesture was proven entirely dishonest, however, but the genuinely joyous smile she was
now half-hiding with her fingers. “I’m sorry. I forgot that no one else knows about that yet.” Veronica and I shared a look. Julian,
still lost to his misery, stared into the bottom of his beer bottle.
“Keep this a secret between us, okay?” Bridget winked. “It’s all very hush hush for now. But of course, I get the inside scoop all
the time, since the royal family and I go so far back. They are quite fond of me. The feeling is mutual, of course,”
“Of course,” Veronica added flatly.
For such a beautiful day, it was starting to get very sad around here. For what purpose would Bridget mention the next
elimination ceremony other than to bring down the bright mood of me and my friends? “I'm not worried,” Veronica said.
“Of course now,” Bridget said. “I’m sure Julian will save you.” She switched on a sadder face when she looked at me again,
though it was entirely dishonest juxtaposed to the smile still gracing her lips. “What about you, Piper? Do you think anyone will
save you from being eliminated?” Across the room, Nicholas was speaking with Selma, the head housekeeper, He was fully
immersed in
the task. He always gave such dedication focus to every action and conversation, .

Someday he’d be an amazing King. He would give everything to his people.
He would have nothing left for me.
Without Nicholas’s support, that would leave me... Julian. I looked at him now, instead. He was peeling the label off of his bottle. I
wasn’t sure he was even listening to this conversation. God, whenever Bridget was nearby, it was like his cognitive thinking went
on vacation, “What do you say, Julian?” Bridget asked, calling him out more directly than I had intended to.
Julian startled and glanced up from his I
bottle, “Huh?” “For the next elimination,” Bridget said. She tilted her head. “Will you save Piper from being ejected? Or do you
think it’s time for her to go?” Julian sighed. “I don’t know.” Wow. Okay. That hurt like a knife to the heart. I didn’t expect Julian to
defend me to Bridget. He always got a bit watery when she was around. But to actually fold entirely when the matter of me being
eliminated is brought up? That was like a slap to the face.
“Julian,” Veronica said quietly.
It was nice of her to want to stand up for me, but Julian was allowed to have his own mind about these things. If he didn’t want to
rescue me for the elimination, he certainly didn’t have
to. I would never force him into anything.
That didn’t mean that I wouldn’t get hurt by his actions, however, I tried not to be too disappointed. I could talk to Julian about this
later, without Bridget around, and he could tell me his reasoning in private. This wasn’t a conversation to have with an audience.
I grabbed the empty beer from his hands and began to stay. “Elva, stay here. Julian, I'll get you another drink.” “Okay,” Elva and
Julian said at the same time. Elva was still trying to catch her lemonade in her straw. Julian was now staring at his empty hands.
Bridget watched me closely, even though I tried to avoid returning her I gaze. I Yet as I walked directly beside her, she seemed to
lose her balance. Her glass of red wine toppled and somehow managed to splash all over me, from my shirt down to my pants.
My entire outfit was spattered with red.