The Selection: One of the Selected

14: The Maids

After crouching behind a pot plant for what seemed like forever, I eventually decided to get up and go to bed, as there was no sign of anyone leaving America's room. I had also assumed in that time that Maxon had not heard me telling him about my friends and guards.

I had opened my door when the sound of hurried footsteps came behind me. Turning, I was met with the blonde haired prince, who had a nervous smile on his face.

'Oh! Hello,' I smiled back awkwardly, as he would now know for sure I had been sat behind his plant for the entire time he was in with America.

'Hello, I was hoping to catch you.'

'You were?'

'Yes...to apologise for earlier. The rebels have never...sorry, I don't want to scare you,' he said, absentmindedly taking my hand as he spoke.

I glanced down at our interlocked fingers, but didn't acknowledge it, not wanting to embarrass him.

'It's alright, probably for the best you didn't hear anyway-' I started, but realised how bad it sounded all too late. He dropped my hand like it had gone white-hot all of a sudden, and narrowed his eyes at me.

'What do you mean?' he asked, a little harsher than perhaps intended.

'Uh, nothing, it's fine, sorry,' I said, flustered, but he gave a small nod and an amused smile.

'You apologise an awful lot, Quinn,' he thought out loud, but everything he said was lost on me because...he had called me by my name, no "lady" before it or anything. A little thing, but I noticed it.

'Oh,' I responded, just to fill the growing silence.

'Look, if it makes you feel any better, I'm going to be making cuts soon.'

'Um...why would that make me feel any better?'

'Well, because I'm not planning on removing you from the competition,' said Maxon, as if his point was obvious in the first place.

'O-oh, thank you,' I blushed, and backed slowly into my room, as a question of if I should leave now or not. When he made no move to stop me, I turned and shut the door, immediately jumping into a starfish shape on my bed, a silly grin on my face.

Lily came out my bathroom, a questioning smile playing on her lips.

'Lily! Hello!' I welcomed, but she just narrowed her eyes.

'Hello, whatever, tell me what made you so giddy all of sudden with Maxon,' she bluntly said, but I could tell that she wasn't being rude.

'Well, he told me he wasn't planning on kicking me out! Isn't that great!' I gushed, but she still looked unimpressed.

'No, not really enough to make someone giddy,' said Lily, raising an eyebrow.

'Well, it did for me. You must not know what it's like to be in love!' I blurted, still grinning, but Lily's amusement faltered from her face briefly.

'Huh. You're in love are you now?'

'Well, I suppose so, that's one way to put it.'

Rose pushed open the door with her foot, and stumbled in, a basket of material or washing loaded in her arms.

'Oh, Lady Quinn, hello!' she greeted, and set her bundle onto the desk.

'Hello to you too,' Lily said, playfulness laced through her tone.

Rose chose to ignore this, though.

'See, Lady Quinn, Bessie will be taking the next few days off. If you want us to get a substitute maid that will work all through that time, then we can, but if not, then expect to see some other maids in here,' Rose explained, lifting some of the clothes from her basket and folding them over her arm.

'Is she alright?' I queried, and saw Lily give a subtle shake of her head to Rose out the corner of my eye.

'Mmhmm,' Rose muttered.

'Oh, and I don't mind about a replacement. Just find whoever is free whenever,' I added.

Rose gave a sharp nod, and a silence dragged out between the three of us.

'So how's it going between you and Officer Avery?' I asked, to save us from further awkwardness.

'Oh, actually better than ever. I was just talking to him before I came here, come to think of it,' Rose blushed.

'Have you made anything...official, or something, yet?' I questioned, and Rose's face went even redder, so she seemed to now fit her name.

'N...no, but I'm sure he will ask very soon. Especially what with that Hallowe'en party coming up,' she decided, but then saw my blank face at what she said.

'Hallowe'en? What's that?' I said, racking my brains for anything previously said about it.

'It's a celebration from the olden days. People would dress up in extravagant or fun costumes, and go to people's door asking for a piece of candy, or a treat, and if they refused then they would pull a trick on the person at the door. They said the phrase "trick or treat" and carved out pumpkins too!' Rose explained.

I was taken aback.

'That seems like a strange celebration. And did you say a party?' I inquired, and Rose nodded.

'Yeah, I think Lady America and Prince Maxon, or just Lady America, gave the idea for it. It sounds fun, and everyone will wear a costume! We can start making yours soon, I was thinking...' but I tuned out after I heard that it was America and Maxon organising it. And neither had told me yet.

'-but the party might be smaller than expected, seeing as the prince is making cuts the night before,' Rose finished, and I furrowed my brow.

'But then the maids will have made a bespoke costume for someone who might not even wear it!' I realised, and both the maids in my room shrugged.

'It won't be the first time an outfit has gone unworn,' Lily said monotonously.

'Lily!' Rose said, scolding her with a gentle push on the arm.

'Just saying,' Lily mumbled.

'What do you mean?' I asked, and they both whipped round to me as if just remembering I was there.

'Nothing!'

'Well, Rose here insisted-'

Rose and Lily both started at the same time, but were interrupted by a guard knocking on the door.

'Hello?' Rose asked.

'The Lady is needed in the Great Room. The king needs to make an announcement,' he said, and walked on to the next door.

My maids shared an unreadable look, and quickly fixed up my makeup a little, before ushering me out the room.