The Selection: One of the Selected

6: The Makeover

'This on the right is the dining room, and to your left we can see the Great Room.' A lady explained. 

I saw sprawling gardens out the glass doors, and, being too focused on them to process where we were going, I was snapped out of my daze by being pulled into a huge room. It was teeming with people rushing around, holding makeup brushes or dress material. Rows of mirrors with people working on girls' nails, or styling their hair were ahead of us.

Racks upon racks of clothes were dotted around, some being rolled past us at a worryingly high speed. 

'First things first,' a smartly dressed woman approached us and, judging by the reactions of those around her, she was in charge, 'We need "before" pictures. Come over here,' she instructed us, pointing to a chair central to a white backdrop. Camera loaded people wandered around, catching footage of the Selected being "glammed up". 

I was set down at the chair, and a picture quickly taken - thankfully with no flash - before we were pushed to one of the seats facing a mirror.

'Hello! Hello! You are very late, no? Sit, sit,' a man instructed, their voice heavy with a foreign accent. (A/n: Imagine it as a german accent, I just wasn't sure if Germany exists in the Selection) His black hair looked sodden with a gel, and a wide smile filled his face. 

'So, what do you want your image to be? How the public sees you, mhmm?' he asked, scrutinising my face. 

'Oh, uh...' I hadn't thought about this. I had the idea that the stylists would pick everything for you. 

'We can do posh, or with your black hair a smokey look...we get eyeliner, yes? Or no? I think red lipstick, for sure.' He listed many options, while I sat there blankly.

'Just...make me still recognisable. I don't want to look like one person the first day, and another the second. If that's alright?' 
The man seemed a little put out that I didn't pick one of his extravagant looks, but he shrugged and waved a swarm of ladies over to me.

They scrubbed me, and covered me with lotions all different scents. It ended up with my prominent smell being vanilla, because, "Prince Maxon adores that". My nails were worked at until they shone, and painted a soft white colour. My black hair was styled into gentle, almost unnoticeable, waves, and one tried to cut most of it off but I quickly declined. 

'Lady Quinn Appleton is it? We need a quick shot of your look,' the camera crew said.

'Smile in 3, 2, 1...' The camera clicked and the crew rushed away to another girl. 

'Quinn! How do I look?' Marlee smiled from the seat beside me and twisted so I could see the back of her too. 

'Amazing, but you looked great before as well!' I smiled, and she gave a modest one back. 

Someone else called me over to a rack of dresses, my name hanging above them, and they helped me into a lilac one. 

'This is a day dress,' they explained. 'And all your evening ones are in your room already,' they finished, attaching a silver pin with my name glittering along it to the top of my gown. 

Everyone was either being rushed around, or rushing someone around. It was hectic, but in control at the same time. The lady in charge, who I learned was called Silvia, stood observing in a corner, clipboard in hand. 

'Quinn! We need you for an interview!' a woman shouted.

Once I pushed through the crowds to her, she pointed to a chair and I sat myself down, smoothing the skirts as I did so. 

'Right, Lady Quinn Appleton, I see you haven't got the most extravagant makeup on. Could you explain why?' A camera was pointed at my face as she asked.

'Well, I didn't want to look so different each day that I wouldn't be recognised! But all the girls look great with their looks, they really do.'

'So, as a three, are you used to wearing beautiful dresses all the time?' 

I felt myself blushing a little. This question was essentially asking if I was poor or not. 

'Well, I'm not the biggest fan of wearing them, I do prefer trousers, but I suppose I will have to get used to it, won't I!' I joked, and the lady narrowed her eyes a minuscule amount at my answer.

'Yes, yes. Are you enjoying this whole experience so far?' She spoke quickly, as if I was being timed.

'It's been great, and the other girls are lovely. I'm loving it.' 

'Great stuff. Have fun at the palace!' she smiled, although it didn't look a sincere one. I got up and was directed to a sofa, already with Marlee, America and a handful of other girls on.

'Quinn! You look great!' Marlee grinned, and America nodded. 

'Ooh Marlee, do you have hair extensions in?' I asked, indicating to her longer blonde locks. She nodded.

'America, you look great too. I see we both didn't overload with the makeup! No offence, Marlee, you look great with it.' 

The lady with a clipboard, Silvia, clapped her hands for our attention. She ran through some of the rules the skinny man had told me at home already, and lead us to our rooms. Mine was just next to Marlee's, but America's was tucked away down a corner. 

As soon as I walked in, I was greeted by three excited girls who introduced themselves as Rose, Lily and Bessie. One was sewing something at my table, another was dusting an already perfect shelf and another was straightening my already straight-looking bedsheets.

They gushed over me, and helped me to unpack my few photos I had with me. We got along as if we had known each other for years, but at six o'clock I was called for for dinner. 

~ * ~

After I had eaten, I was taken to the Women's room with the others, and we were informed we would meet Prince Maxon tomorrow. Tomorrow. So close, but such a long time to wait. I couldn't help but wonder if he was as shy as he seemed on TV, as nice as he seemed, or if it was all an act...

A/n: Yay we get Maxon content next chapter ahah! The plot will start to get better from here on, now Quinn is actually at the palace.

Also, thanks for all the reads and voting too! It means a lot :)