The Selection: Third Generation

Ch. 20: Making Music

"Brother, we were waiting for you."

"Oh, hello. We are on our break from the meeting. Arabella? Is everything okay?" Carlisle asks, noticing my presence. I stand, trying to hide my shaky legs, and I nod.

"Everything is fine. I had wanted to ask if I could get a raincheck for tonight. I didn't realize you had been in a meeting and Augustus kindly brought me to your office to see if you would be back soon." My voice shakes as I speak and I struggle to meet his eyes.

"Sure, can I ask why? Is it your project?" Carlisle's entire face is etched with concern for me.

"Yes, I am really nervous about presenting it to your mother and Sophia tomorrow and still have some things to finish up." I say, nodding and wringing my hands. Hopefully, he assumes it is just stress over the project and does not suspect anything else.

"Okay, well then I will see you tomorrow. Send for me if you change your mind or need any help, okay love?"

"I will." My heart is pounding and I consider sitting back down just until it beats like normal again. Carlisle comes over and gives me a tight hug, and I feel like my whole world is crashing down on me. I hug him back gently and when he pulls back to kiss me, I turn to give him my cheek. 

"Good luck, my dear. You'll do great. There's no need to be nervous."

"Thank you. I am going to go get to work on it before dinner." I say, taking a step away from him and towards the door.

"Okay, I will see you then." He says, kissing my forehead and releasing me. I basically run from the door and Augustus comes with me. We walk silently all the way down to the first floor. My heart still has not returned to normal.

"Well..." He says awkwardly.

"Yeah. See you at dinner, Auggie." I say, walking as fast as I can towards my room. Unfortunately, my bad luck doesn't stop there. Isabella is standing outside of my room, about to knock, when I get there.

"What do you want?" I say grouchily, shoving past her through my door and blocking her from following me in.

"Too late to say sorry I take it?" She asks, a suspicious look on her face.

"Try again later." And the door slams right in her face. I hear her huff and start to leave as I go straight to my bed. Thankfully, my maids are not in here, and I begin to sob, my body shaking with the weight of what I did. I like Auggie, but I never wanted to act on it. There has just been this pull towards him since I first met him. But sweet Carlisle does not deserve what we have done to him, and even Auggie seems to see that. Carlisle is the one I am here for, and I love him. I have to make sure nothing else happens and that I can still be around Auggie, or living here as Princess will be miserable...

And then there is what happened in the garden with the girls. What if I am not going to live here as I had been told? What if I get sent home? Could Prince Augustus be with a previous Elite? Would I even want that? 

I picture what life as Princess beside Carlisle would be. I would have duties, party planning, decorating, and shadowing the queen. I would live in the princess suite next to Carlisle, but I would sleep in his arms every night. I would no longer have friends here all the time, just his family. My family could move in or move nearby, but I am not sure how they would feel about doing that. I would eventually become Queen. Everything would be expected of me. I could not make any mistakes, or everyone would judge me for it. 

A life as Auggie's princess, however... I would live here, probably in a similar princess suite near Auggie. I would have my family live nearby, but it may be inappropriate for them to be in the palace. We would have to leave and travel for a while to give me and Carlisle the space after it came out that I want to be with his brother. I may even have to move home and do the long-distance thing. We would eventually marry and maybe move into a large, private estate nearby. I would be able to be out of the spotlight. Well, mostly. I would come here for the holidays, and Auggie will be on Carlisle's board of advisors. I could become best friends with whoever does end up with Carlisle.