The Selection: One of the Selected

18: The Return

"What are you doing?" Lily moved from behind a chair to look at me, setting down the book she was reading upside-down-open on the dresser. Rose also looked up, seemingly amused by my entrance and Lily's question, although she said nothing.

I stared at them both in silence.

Running from the prince while I tried to spy- no- find my two friends.

"Reading in the library. Lily, what are you reading, your book looks interesting-"

Lily flipped the book round to face me so I could read the title, 'Sewing a Dress for Advanced Wanting to Advance'.
"What's wrong with the books in this room? I'm sure we have quite the selection in here already?" she said, staring at me as if she were the possible princess and I were the maid.

Rose turned to Lily, "She can read where she pleases. And also-" she looked to me- "Your dress is nearly finished for the Hallowe'en party. Lily was meant to have completed it, but she was apparently 'busy'. Her part of the dress looks quite messy, if you were to ask me - well, I don't know who else you would ask - but she really needs to get a move on. That's why I recommended that book there, about sewing, to her."

Lily made no comment on that, but shut the book, not saving the place it was open on, and stepped into my bathroom.
"One minute."

Looking to Rose, I noticed how she had an air of someone who still thought they were right, despite everyone telling them otherwise.

I decided not to question it, as Lily came out the bathroom. I searched her face for any signs she had been crying or similar, but found none.

"Lily-"

"Rose, did you listen to what I asked earlier?" she cut me off with a brief apologetic look.

Rose gave a slight nod while shrugging, and refused to meet her eyes.

"I actually have no clue why I asked that, because it's clear you didn't pay attention, but sure."

I was still stood awkwardly in the middle of this heated conversation, before Lily swiveled to face me.

"I'm sorry, Quinn. It's something...small, and I shouldn't be upset about it. I apologise. I'm going to sew my bit of the dress, if anyone needs me." And with that final comment, Lily dashed out the room.

Rose gave a wide-eyed smile, and followed my other maid out the room, leaving me stood alone.

I barely had time to process whatever had just happened before my door gently creaked open, and someone tentatively stepped inside, their back to me, them oblivious to my presence becoming clear. Not wanting to scare whoever the dark-haired girl was, I started to breathe unnecessarily loud, while punching a cushion on my bed in an aggressive attempt of 'plumping' it, so as to alert them that there was someone else there.

The girl whipped around, slamming the door as she did so. Before she could let out a scream, I ran to her, not thinking straight, and covered her mouth. It suddenly hit me what was going on, and I realised who this was.

"Bessie?!"

What the-

~ * ~

Marlee pov:

I had followed America, and left Quinn. I kept trying to justify my choice, but any argument I made always had a stronger counter. A lost cause, fighting against myself.

Why America? I thought I had allowed myself to trust Quinn again?

Then again, did I ever truly have a reason to think she was lying, or was that just me jumping to conclusions again?

I hadn't spoken to Officer Woodwork, other than the odd polite greeting when passing in a corridor, since Quinn had seen us after the rebel attack. There were so many unspoken words between us that could never be shared, too many and they just kept stacking up.

I hope that one day we will be able to, but does he? Does he care as much? Did he ever, does he still?

America stops abruptly in front of me, and I come very close to treading on her dress in my daze.
"Why'd you follow me?"

"I- excuse- what?" My mind was elsewhere, and it took me a moment to figure out what she was asking.

"You had to choose. What happened between you and Quinn that made you pick me? Because I'm going to assume I'm not that special that you would pick me without reason."

She goes on a little longer, but I find myself blocking her out, and instead distracted by a few guards having a conversation outside.

It's not like it looks particularly interesting, the conversation that is, but rather the people who are having it is what sidetracks me.

Officer Woodwork, Officer Leger, and one I believe is called Officer Avery, stand out in the gardens. Woodwork and Leger are talking quite animatedly, whereas Avery stands awkwardly, as if he is only there because he has no better place to be.

At some point, America must've realised I wasn't paying attention, as when I finally turn to face her, I find that she, too, is facing the three guards.

I was no lip reader, but every now and again I could see the odd word said. Although I think the sentences I put them in using the context I had assumed were probably wrong (the words in bold are the ones that I'm sure of).

L: it's not like the food belongs to Maxon anyway.

W: you say that like it's his fault.

L: who else would deserve to hate apples too?

W: I'm no professional but I sure try to listen to them. I don't hear anything interesting, or of use.

L: you can neat enjoy without wow America has nice food too.

W: like, the place?

L: What? No, are you even lying

America, the person this time, taps my shoulder.

"You still haven't answered me, Marlee. Please. I want to know, or else I will be getting no sleep tonight," she said, and, looking at her properly now, I could tell she did have some meaning behind those words. I could trust her, she's my friend, and has been since the first day. And I'm not going to doubt myself like some cringey story trying to build up unnecessary drama. Because I'm not a book character, nor wanting unnecessary drama, unlike some people in this palace.

"Quinn...Quinn's been...sorry, I don't know how to phrase this without seeming rude-"

"It's only me here, and I'm not going to tell anyone," America tells me. And I wouldn't have thought twice about that if she had held her infamous eye contact, rather than letting her eyeline trail to the guards talking outside. But it was so brief that it could just be a random look. She'd probably just seen a bug or something.

A/n: "I'm going to try and update more"