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Estelle shows me to my room, which has a great view of the garden and a view of the city. Not to mention that it has a balcony with a table and a chair.
The bedroom is decorated in shades of blue, eggshell, cream, and white, and I just want to flop down on the bed it looks so comfy.
There are two other girls sitting at a table in the corner of my new room, writing things down. "Allie, Ariel, this is Lady Iris, from Angeles. We're going to be taking care of her during her stay here."
"Hello Lady Iris." They both chorus. "No, no, no, Iris. Just Iris." I correct them. The three of them share a glance, but they nod.
"Anyway, what were your names again?" I ask them. Estelle points at the blonde, "That's Allie," and then the brunette, "That's Ariel."
"Got it, thanks." I smile at both of them, and they all smile back.
"Anyway, you guys doing something?" I ask, looking at the papers. "Oh no," Allie says. "We are just sketching out dress designs."
"Dress designs?" I repeat. "Yes." Allie nods. "Why?" I ask. Why do I ask sooo many questions? "Because we design your dresses and sew them." Ariel straightens a little at that.
"Really? That's crazy!" I exclaim. "Really." Ariel replies. "That's good to know. Can I watch you?"
"Of course!" Estelle interupts.
I pull up a chair to the table and watch as Ariel, Allie, and Estelle start sketching out drawings. "That one, I love it, but I think it would be just beautiful if you used a shimmery copper fabric." I say, pointing at one of the day dresses.
"Yes of course!" Allie says, "I never thought of that." "You know what they say? Great minds think a like." I tell her. "In this case, its true." Allie says, offering me a shy smile.
30 minutes rushes by and Allie stands up and starts gathering the papers and Ariel gathers the pens and pencils and Estelle goes to the bathroom and comes back out with a tube of make-up. "Can you please sit down Iris, so that I can do your make-up?" Estelle asks, placing the tube on my white vanity.
"I can do my make-up myself, Estelle." No way is she doing my make-up. I'm not some 3 year old who needs help with everything.
"Are you sure?" Estelle asks, not convinced. "Yes, I am a grown woman. I think that I'm capable of doing my own make-up."
"Whatever you say." Estelle walks out of my room with Ariel and Allie.
I sit down at my vanity and open the tube and take all the make-up out and organize it. When Mom does her make-up, she starts with moisturizer mixed with her concealer. Or is it her foundation? Whats the difference?
I grab the bottle of moisturizer and squirt some on my hands and rub it onto my face followed by concealer.
15 minutes later, I get a good luck at myself and my face. I close my eyes and count to three and then open them.
And shriek.
I look gross. Disgusting. How did I do that? To my face?
The girls walk into my room and Estelle says, "I told you so." "Fine, I need help. I look like a monster." I state. "Yes, you do." Estelle tells me. "Thank you for your vote of confidence." I snap. "Well you said it first. I was just backing it up."
"Now go, wash your face." Allie instructs, taking a good look at my face. I walk into the bathroom and wash my face free from my disastrous make-up attempt and Allie and Estelle get to work on my face, with Ariel pointing out what would look good on me and what would not.
"Hurry! Your going to be late!" Ariel exclaims as Allie finishes packing away the make-up. "You need to get to the ladies room so that you won't be late!" Allie says, pushing me out the door and into the hallway.
"You have to be there. Now." Allie adds. I nod, and take off towards the ladies room, joining the throng of other Selected making their way to the ladies room.
The ladies room is transformed. Instead of stations and people being everywhere, there are comfy looking couches and chairs.
"Hello ladies!" Its the women who greeted me from when I first walked into the palace. "My name's Crystal, and I'm going to be in charge of you during your stay here. Please, find a seat." I quickly find a seat in the front of the room as other girls start walking in.
Once everyone's found a seat, the lights go out and the TV in the front of the room turns on. Beckett Snow starts talking about Illea's relationship with New Asia was falling apart and then another rebel attack in Palome. Finally, he switches to the footage taken from the Selected leaving our homes.
"Amelia Johnson, a Five from Palome, was the crowds favorite. Several sources say that Amelia is taking the Selection very seriously, and is determined to win Prince Liam's heart and not let her province down. . . ." Beckett reports. I can't hear the rest of what he's saying, because I'm trying to find Amelia.
A clip of Amelia leaving Palome flashes on the screen, and I look around and try to find her. She has her arms crossed and a smug look on her face.
I roll my eyes and turn my attention back to the TV. "Lady Charlotte Brown, a Three from Waverly, was all happiness during her send off. And she had quite the crowd to show her off. Her mother, during an interview, told us that she [Charlotte] has always been a favorite in her community. She is already immediately a favorite, followed by a few others." At least half of the girls spot Charlotte and glare at her as Beckett keeps talking.
She looks uncomfortable, so I smile and wave at her and pat the seat next to me. She stands up and offers me a smile and walks towards me and sits down.
"Thanks." She whispers. "No problem. Us Three's have to stick together." I whisper back.
I look around, but Charlotte grabs my arm and whisper squeals, "Look! That's you!" I whip my hear around to the TV, and it shows footage of me signing the little girls magazine. "And here we have Lady Iris Campbell. Her mother, Rose Campbell, almost won King Phillip's Selection, until she fell in love with Nicolas Campbell. For those of you wandering how the Campbell's are, they are fine, and Rose and Nicolas are still very much in love with three wonderful children, Iris, the eldest, Lily, and Oliver." The camera now shows a clip of my parents hugging each other.
"Iris Campbell was most definitely a favorite during her drive to the palace, and already people are voting for her. Magazines, I've heard, are already casting votes and asking people to put their favorites in. Claire Dovins, a Two, is coming in first place, followed by Iris Campbell, closely followed by Charlotte Browns."
By the end of my segment, all of the girls are glaring daggers at me. If looks could kill, I would be dead already.
