dusk until dawn (the selection)

helios wins! (dawn gave up)

As soon as the war against Dawn had started, the tension had completely dissipated by nighttime. Once again, the girls entered a whole new lifetime. There were (to Isa's dismay) more important matters to discuss in the common room this eve. Shortly after the prince had left the library, the girls were gathered for etiquette class and before they went back to Illéan history lessons, they got to hear about this night's plans. Everyone would get to spend a few minutes one on one with prince Helios tonight.

"Dates?" Jessica offered.

"No." Lady Tylles snapped.

-

Every pair of eyes in the common room was on Kaia Bellomero. Who was elaborately explaining to everyone that prince Helios had just fallen in love with her. Or at least, that's what happened during her three minute talk with him as far as she was concerned.

Dawn shifted her gaze when she noticed Macy walk back into the common room, saw her tapping a very nervous-looking Ollie's shoulder meaningfully at a lone table away from the group, then she sat down next to Dawn while a mischievous smile danced around her lips.

"He said he'd absolutely never seen someone as beautiful as me." Kaia explained, while twisting her black hair around her finger dreamily. Dawn wasn't sure if the girls around her were really interested or if they were too polite to just walk off. "I've already decided our kids' names. And we'll have a dog.."

Dawn gazed over to Macy, who looked back at her and lifted her eyebrows while trying to hold back laughter. Seeing her friend like that, made Dawn have trouble holding it back, too. Macy probably received all the interesting details about other conversations. Macy wasn't interested in Helios. At least, not romantically. Dawn thought. Something like that. Maybe because she knew he used to eat glue as a kid.

Kaia retreated to her room a bit after that, completely convinced she had just won the selection. Other girls started sharing their experiences too. As if it hadn't been fully safe to do so while Kaia was around. It took a while before some girls returned, for others it only took a few minutes. At one point, Dawn noticed she was one of the only girls who hadn't had their turn with the prince yet.

Not that she cared. Truly. Helios was nice and all but she most definitely did not feel excited to see him again. No knots in her stomach. He'd already talked to her about the issues she created for this selection so what could go wrong?

Although, she wondered if it would be awkward without Macy. And what would they even talk about? Should she apologize for her interview after all?

Or bring up the altar.

But more girls left the common room and just about everyone had had their turn. It was getting pretty late. Maybe Helios figured Dawn had already met him. And now she wouldn't get to talk to him. Dawn bit her lip. That idea sort of disappointed her for some reason.

The girls had scattered a bit. Some retreated to their rooms and it was just Macy and Dawn on the sofas at this point.

"Kaia tripped over her own feet, by the way." Macy suddenly spoke up.

Dawn looked at her, silent.

"She told Heli she wants two dogs and three kids." Macy laughed dryly. Heli. She nicknamed the crown prince of their nation Heli. "Jessica apparently commented that he has a really good jawline and Celeste just popped off on how rude he is." she spoke quietly so the other girls wouldn't hear.

"He tells you all this?" Dawn asked.

Macy looked at her softly. "Well, yea. I'm like, the—" she cut herself off and sighed. "I'm not a love interest for him. He also tells me which girls caught his eye." she rolled her eyes like it was disgusting. She was talking about him like he was her brother. Not a love interest.. Maybe Macy ate her boogers when she was small and Helios wasn't into that.