The Selection: VALDEZ EDITION

Chapter 7

P I P E R

Piper really hoped that no one had seen her stumble when she entered the plane-- surrounded by the most beautiful women in the entire country, Piper was having trouble keeping one foot in front of the other.

The strange boy's little speech set off a flurry of whispers around the cabin and, although their attention wasn't targeted at her, Piper still felt a blush spread over her face.

"Window or aisle?"

Piper looked up. The boy was gesturing at the plane seats nonchalantly, as if this was all normal.

"Er- window, please? And is your name really--"

"No, no, it's just Leo." She slid into the window seat and grinned. "I'm a Leo, too!"

"Really? Nice to meet you Leo #2." She laughed.

"Sorry to disappoint you, I meant the zodiac sign. I'm Piper, Piper McLean."

Leo held out his hand. "Piper is a nice name."

They shook.

"Thanks."

* * *

L E O

Leo liked Piper-- no, not in that way. She had a nice smile that instantly set him at ease, and (even more importantly) she was easy to talk to. Everyone else was staring at him like he had a bad word written in LED lights across his forehead.

"How did you do it?" asked Piper after awhile. The plane hummed and rattled around them as they gained altitude.

"Do what?"

"Get everyone on this plane to hate you with a passion."

"Oh, you mean how did I become the most famous Selection candidate in history?"

"Yeah, exactly." They chuckled.

"I glamoured them with my amazing personality. Didn't even need to bribe a single official."

The smile slid off of Piper's face. She replaced it quickly, but Leo was already asking,

"You ok? What's up?"

"Nothing," she said. She relaxed back into her chair, crossed her ankles, and sent him a confident grin.

"I might have had to bribe one or two, but after that the going was easy."

Leo tried to return her smile, but something felt off; Piper McLean was hiding something.

Other than being gay. She was definitely gay.