"I have your back. I didn't mean only when it's easy. All the time."

- Veronica Roth, Divergent

"Try, this on" Mom handed me a cream colored dress which was slim and sleeveless, which my mom got from my older cousin.

Word spread out that I got the pick and my Mom's going to hold a party for me, later this afternoon. Parties we're never our kind of thing, they were fancy, costly, and unpractical, but from the looks of it, Mom let it pass this once.

Our neighbors were invited, so are my friends from school, and some of our relatives. Mom decorated the entire house to look presentable, We even did a lot of baking with the help of Aiden, we got to finish the job faster. It somehow seemed like she was hosting a going away party for me, I've never seen her this happy to see me off. Kidding

I wore my cousins cream colored dress, it hugged my body perfectly and it exposed my arms. Mom tied my stubborn, curly hair into a bun and fixed the loose strands.

Afterwards I ran downstairs to check the oven, good thing the Walnut cake we baked didn't burn.

Suddenly the door opened and there came, Zoe, Anna, and Dell, my friends from school.

"There you are!" Anna pointed and ran towards me to give me a hug.

"Paige!" Zoe and Dell screamed in unison and hugged me aswell, "Why are you going to leave just like that?!" Anna started tearing up.

I frowned. "Hey I'm not leaving yet!"

"But you soon will" Dell teared up aswell.

I'm really going to miss these girls, they were all so sweet and caring, one of the pieces that I call home.

Anna sat on the couch and started crying hysterically. Ever the emotional.

Dell kept her hug on me trying to stifle her cries. While Zoe just looked at me full of sadness in her eyes.

"Guys cut it out! It's not like I'm leaving forever."

"6 months?!" Anna recalled. "Then when you come back for the holidays and summer vacation, you'd be gone again!" She cried.

I knew leaving would be hard but never this hard.

I sat beside Anna on the couch and Dell followed, while Zoe sat at the other stool.

"Girls, this is just a new chapter in my life, We all will have new ones, and mine may seem so unpredictable, but you three should always know that wherever I may go, you'd always have a special place in my heart," I smiled, finally feeling the sting of tears in my eyes.

But before I could let them out Mom came downstairs, and that ended our girl drama.

Since they were early, they joined me hang out in my room and we talked a lot on my small twin sized bed. They came 2 hours early for the party giving us too much time to talk. Although it wouldn't sustain the months we'd be apart.

"When you get there and meet some handsome prince, Be sure to mention me and how long my eyelashes are" Dell laughed.

Anna but in." Also mention me to some cute Asian guy, I'd love a Korean gentleman," she giggled. She always was the lover of Kpop between us.

"Hey! while you're there, you should find a billionaire boyfriend!" Dell laughed, "And make sure you introduce him to us" she winked.

My eyes widened. "What? No! I'm not interested in billionaires!" I'm more into normal people, I have no interest in elite people.

"Really?" They crossed their arms. "Poor Aiden, Paige doesn't like billionaires, we should tell him to be a millionaire instead." Anna giggled.

"I thought you two are just friends?" Dell raised her eyebrow. "Or is there something going between you two?!"

Zoe turned to me with an intense look on her face.

"Of course not! Why would there be something going on between us, we're best friends."

"Yeah! Dell, they're just friends" Anna nudged her.

"Sorry it's 15 year boy bestfriend" Dell said. "Not boyfriend."

I rolled my eyes, and they laughed.

Zoe laughed too but often glanced at my open window which showed the parking lot. I giggled, She's obviously waiting for Aiden's car to pull up, she's never gotten over her crush for him.

She just doesn't want to tell him, she's just too shy.

Self reminder: Re-mention Zoe to Aiden.

Soon the other visitors came, and we had to go downstairs to help mom with them.

"Go get yourself a wealthy billionaire!" Aunt Linda teased. Gold digger

"That dress looks nice on you" Emma my cousin laughed, "I owe it to you" I smiled.

I was talking with my neighbors when Mom called me to take the Lasagna out of the oven. I rushed to the oven and wore my baking gloves and brought the tray out. I was taking my gloves out when suddenly, two wide hands covered my eyes.

"What the?!"

"Guess who?" Aiden giggled,

I scoffed. "Very funny"

"Guess who? He repeated"

So I played along. "Are you my bestfriend who looks like an Oompa Loompa?"

"Hmm." He thought. Handsome best friend? Yes. Oompa Loompa? Uhm not so much."

I laughed and pulled his hands out of my eyes.

Oh look it's the bestfriend! Anna said as she walked beside us, behind her were Dell and Zoe. "You're late!"

Aiden shrugged his shoulders. "Sorry I slept in."

"You take care of her, ok?" Anna ordered.

"Of course I would"

Zoe smiled at him but kept quiet. She held her posture better than a while ago.

Dell eyed him. "Is it me or is he even taller now?"

We all laughed. It was true, the four of us girls were always the same height. Roughly 5 foot 5 feet and ever since, Aiden was always taller than us, but he's even taller now. Cheater.

As the hours went by, the people started to leave and so did the girls, till all that was left at home were just, Mom, Me and Aiden.

He helped me clean up then we both sat down in the front porch.

We both held flashlights and played with the light. The night was peaceful.

But I didn't fail to notice his silence today. He still joked around but he wasn't as loud as he should normally be.

"Is there anything wrong? You seem awfully quiet today."

He exhaled. "There's just a lot on my mind lately."

"Like?"

There was a long moment of silence, seemed like he was processing his thoughts.

"Look," he faced me. "You don't have to go with me to my school if you don't want to, not just because I want you there."

My eyebrows furrowed. "Wait, what?"

"I'm saying, don't do something that you don't want to, just because other people want it for you. I'd be fine to leave for 6 months as long as I know that you're happy back here."

"Hey" I cut him off. "I want to make mom proud, I want to go there." I want to be with you.

Many asks me what my relationship with Aiden is, I'd consistently say that we were best of friends but deep down I know, that I feel something so much more than that. We aren't lovers, but we are much more than best friends.

He looked straight at my eyes, trying to tell if I meant it or not. Then he sighed, "It's settled then."

After a few minutes we both decided to go back in, he helped me stand up, said goodbye to Mom and left afterwards.

There really was something wrong with him today, It may not be that obvious but I've known him long enough to know.

_____________________________

I'm shocked to see a man in a black tux with a weird looking mustache at our front door, he introduced himself as Mathew Crumbly and said that he would start my orientation.

Mom was too happy to see him that she showered him a lot of questions about the Royal families that he seemed annoyed already.

I knew Aiden wouldn't be around today coz he had a family gathering with his dad and relatives.

"So let me make myself clear," Mathew straightened his bow. "The School of The Royal and The Rich isn't like any other school which I'm sure you know. The academics are of different level so I need to question your intelligence.

"Don't worry I'm not worried about that, I'm sure I would catch up"

But it was true, I really didn't doubt my intelligence coz I'm sure I have lots of it. Since we weren't the richest, mom couldn't afford much toys for me, so instead I focused on books which made me love them and learn a lot from them.

"I'm glad to hear that...uhm next," He searched his pockets then pulled out a dark blue box and handed it to me. I opened it and was amazed to see a beautiful bronze nameplate with my initials carved into it. Paige Bennet.

"That's your bronze name plate, since you'll be interacting with Royalty and elite, you'd need identification, Everyone at school has that, the Royals have golden nameplates, the Rich have theirs in silver, while the few percentage of commoners in our school have bronze, including you.

That way no one would mistaken our students statuses. But even so, Royal,Rich or Commoner, everyone shall be treated justly. But as a commoner you'd have to remember to bow to the Royal, and look up to the Rich."

My eyebrows furrowed. "But what about the commoners?"

"Oh yes!" He recalled. while the commoners bow to the royal and look up to the rich, the royal and the rich shall respect the commoners. But mind you, in our school, equality is the law."

I nodded.

"So," He continued. "You will get your School uniform when you arrive at the Elite square. You'd also get your dormitory at elite square and get yourself registered to the school security to avoid getting shot by the knights on sight."

"What?!" my eyes widened. "Shot on sight?!"

He chuckled. "That's the process if our Knight system detects any unregistered outsider, but not to worry, we'll have you registered before you reside in the campus, so there won't be any bullets for you." he looked back at my nameplate.

"Don't loose it for it is very precious, now as I was saying, The school has many classes, of course the advanced academics which is for all, but you would have to take the other extra curricular classes such as horse back riding, boat riding, polo ,ice skating and skiing are our winter classes where we bring the students to Alaska to learn them, we also have hunting and shooting for the men and a few ladies who chooses to sign up for these classes, and many more.

It is also required that every student must have a certain sport since all sports trainings are available so you better think of yours. Also there will be classes where you will get to learn some of the lessons a Royal must learn such as, posture, Geography to make you more aware of the kingdom you live in and some royal affairs also such as business classes where you will learn how to run a huge business one day.

But there are classes exclusive for heirs of the thrones only where they are being taught how to rule their kingdom since it will soon fall into their hands. there are many activities such as fieldtrips to different kingdoms and community clubs in elite square, the rest you will know when you get there. But to wrap this up here" He handed me a ticket.

"One of our men will pick you up and take you to the nearest Rocket station where you will be transported to California and afterwards you will meet the other lucky scholar and at last get settled in your dormitory. Don't worry, Elite square has the best dorms, cafe's, libraries, museums and malls so don't get too overwhelmed."

"Uh..." I was speechless.

"Ok then, I believe we've come to an understanding, now your departure from here, would be next week Sept.16th, the time is placed on your ticket, Understood?"

I just nodded.

"Very well, you have the whole orientation in this folder in case, you forget anything." He looked at his watch. "I shall be off then."

And just like that he called Mom, and Mom escorted him out the house.

The next few days were a blur, full of packing and sermons from Mom, telling me how I should behave in front of the Royals and The Rich and how I should mind my manners.

Some days Aiden would drop by and tell me more about his school, he seemed lighter, but I was sure there's still something holding him back. I won't force him, that's not the kind of friend I am, he was the forcer who makes sure he could do something when I'm in a bad mood, he hated it when he felt like there was trouble but there was nothing he could do.

I was the opposite, I wouldn't force him to let out his problems if he didn't want to, I would just stay close to him, I'll be here for him, and that's what I'm doing now.

_________

"You leave on the the day after tomorrow right?" Aiden asked while he helped me sort out the things I'm planning to bring.

I wasn't bringing a lot since we'd be wearing a uniform and all the essentials are there.

"Yeah"

"I got a rocket train ticket scheduled the same as yours so that we go there together." He became quiet again.

Something was really troubling him. Did one of his guitars break? I thought, or does he have a secret elite girlfriend that he's not telling me about and they broke up?

The thought saddened me, It's hard to picture me and Aiden together, but I also somehow couldn't picture any other girl with him aside from me. It was a selfish thought so I erased it.

My eyes wandered around my room, my safe haven through all the years. It would be weird to finish the day without seeing it, or not seeing mom in the kitchen, or not washing the dishes every meal time. That's when the sadness dawned on me. I'm gonna miss all this.

"What's wrong?" I was surprised when Aiden spoke out off the blue. He really knew me.

"Nothing" I continued sorting my books.

He chuckled. "You can't fool me Peggy"

"I said it's nothi-

"Don't tell me it's nothing when you know it's something" he cut me off. "What is it."

He really was persuasive among the two of us.

I exhaled. "I really am going to miss this place."

"Then don't go"

I scrunched my forehead. "How come you've kept telling me to go the first time you heard the news, but now when I'm about to go, you're the one telling me not to. What do you have mood swings?"

"No I just feel selfish about forcing you to go when at first you didn't want to."

"Well now I want to" I took a deep breathe. "I need to move on in life and be independent somehow, just like you."

He shook his head. "I'm not as independent as you think" He made a long sigh then reached for my hand. "Just know that wherever you are, whenever that may be, I'm always on your side. I got your back.

_______

"You got everything?" Mom surveyed my look and my suitcase. I didn't bring much since I didn't even own much, all it had were a few clothes, some shoes, a photo album to keep me in touch with my mom and some books. I held my phone in one hand.

I nodded, I was wearing a white T-shirt inside my brown jacket, and some jeans and white sneakers. I was never the fashion Icon. My favorite things to wear are loose clothes and pants. I only look presentable when Mom dresses me up like today.

We're in the Rocket train station in Boston, a guy named Jeff from the school was tasked to join us. I already bade my goodbyes to my neighbors and friends last night aswell as my relatives. Mom and I had a heart to heart talk last night as well. She reminded me of how much she loves me and we both shed some tears.

Fifteen minutes before departure. The station announced.

We were later joined by Aiden. He was wearing a black T-shirt and ripped jeans, he had one suitcase as well.

He was then followed by his father, Mr. Wyatt, in his business suit.

Mom called them and chatted with his father.

"Sup Peggy!" Aiden ruffled my hair. He seemed energetic today.

He then faced Jeff who kept glancing at his papers and watch, waiting for departure. "Hi Jeff! Sure missed seeing you!"

"Same to you Aiden Wyatt" Jeff kept his cool and kept glancing at the time.

Just then a swift sound echoed, and out came the Rocket Train.

The Rocket train is the modern mode of transportation these days. It's in a capsuled shape with many seats inside and transparent walls, It's structure is strong and extremely high-tech, with screens and blue lights emerging from it's sides. It's the fastest mode of transportation, It bring us from Massachusetts to LA within 30 minutes, and can travel both on ground and underwater, bringing people from one country to another faster than any plane can.

Old people say that before the wars and spread of monarchy, The world had ordinary trains but with an old class style and minimal speed. I couldn't imagine a world without the Rocket trains. Traveling without them would be so inconvenient.

I only got to ride one of them 1 time when, me and Mom went to New York, and that was back when I was 7, I almost forgot the feeling.

The train stopped and the announcer called the passengers.

I looked at Mom to find her looking at me.

"Come here" she opened her arms welcoming me in a big warm hug.

Tears dripped from my eyes as I felt Mom's arms encircle around me. I won't have this hug in a long time.

She patted my head and kissed my forehead. "Be good ok?"

I nodded on her shoulder.

"I love you Mom"

"I love you Paige"

She let me go. "Don't forget to call me, and improve your clothing style, I'm not going to be there to tell you to stop wearing your loose shirts" she laughed.

"Aboard Passengers" the station announced.

"Take care" Mom kissed my cheek.

I looked at Aiden and Jeff, they were waiting.

Mom hugged Aiden aswell and bid her goodbye. "Take care of her," Mom said to Aiden.

He nodded. "I will."

Then we boarded the Rocket Train. I was amazed at the beautiful white structure around and the transparent walls. I found my seat and, Aiden sat beside me, Jeff sat across us. Aiden wasn't as amazed as me, probably because he's used to it.

I looked out the transparent walls and saw Mom beside Mr. Wyatt. She blew me a kiss and I gave it back.

Aiden held my hand while I used the other to wave Mom goodbye, as the train sped away and the train station of Boston was out of sight instatntly.