The Selection

💄Makeovers💄

I didn't realize that I had fallen asleep. Selena was calmly shaking me awake, and I fluttered my eyes open to see that we had just landed.

My new friends thought it was amusing, as did I, so while we were giggling, my jaw dropped when I saw the crowd at the airport. I didn't know I had so many supporters! Turns out, a lower caste might benefit me. A little girl with a sign that said, Aria for queen! Asked me for her autograph, and a few people wanted to shake hands. The others had admirers too, so it took a while to get in the car that was supposed to drive us to the palace.

I'd never left Midston, let alone my own town, so it was quite overwhelming seeing Angeles. There were huge buildings, architectural masterpieces. What I mostly looked at were the crowds on either sign of the road showing up to support their favorite Selected. My name was dotted a few times, as was Selena's. Mara was obviously a favorite of the public, having many admirers.

Finally, we reached the palace, and I was in awe. It had huge walls and beautiful windows, even a few turrets like there were in fairytales.

Some guards opened the door for us and escorted us to the massive front doors of the palace. A brisk-looking woman was waiting for us. "Hello, girls. I'm Lexia, the girl who called you all to discuss a few matters."

I recognized her voice as one of the many callers back at home. Unsure of what to say, I stayed silent while Mara said, "Pleasure to meet you, Lexia!"

Lexia gave her a brief smile. "It's time for your makeovers," She said. I raised my eyebrows, wondering what she meant by that. Lexia walked down a grand corridor until we arrived at a pair of double doors. When she opened them, I saw tons of beauty machines. Hair dryers, salon chairs, manicure and pedicure chairs, racks and racks of clothes, and clusters of any beauty product you could imagine. It was buzzing and full of girls, the Selected, maids, and stylists. "This is the women's room." Lexia told us. "You usually spend spare time here, but it's been transformed for the makeovers."

I could see where it could be a recreation room. "Alright, Lady Mara, head over to station one, Lady Selena, go to station five, and Lady Aria go to station nine. I obediently headed to a salon chair marked nine. A pretty blonde girl with two streaks of pink in her hair was there. "I'm Chloe," She said. "I'll be your stylist today. So, what are you looking for?"

I considered that. "I don't want to look like a Seven anymore." I confidently said.

"Oooh, I like this approach." Chloe said. "So, a ready-for royalty kind of vibe?" I nodded with a smile. Chloe had been changed into a white tee and matching shorts. I once more noticed the quality of it. "So, we'll clean and polish you first." A few maids headed over with a warm tub of water. First, they waxed my legs, arms, and eyebrows. It hurt badly, but the pain vanished quickly. Then, they used scrubs, serums and soaps to clean my arms and legs and others for my face.

Chloe seemed satisfied. "And we'll do your nails next." She walked me over to one of the spa chairs, and it was like nothing I'd ever seen. She painted my fingernails a frosty white and my toenails a nice pale pink.

Chloe then led me back over to station nine. "So, your natural blonde streaks could be enhanced."

"I agree." I said. "Maybe add a bit to them and make some more, but make it look natural."

Chloe nodded, glancing at my hands. My cheeks flushed red. Being a Seven, my hands were always dirty and dry. She gave a little smile. "I can get some maids to work on your hands."

While she worked on my hair, a few maids came and rubbed scrubs, lotions, soaps, creams, serums, and who knows what over my hands. It was like magic. When Chloe had finished my hair, I really liked it. My blonde strands looked good.

"Now your face," Chloe said, squinting her eyes. "You have lots of natural beauty, and with the right skincare, you'll be princess material."

"Thanks, Chloe." I smiled, appreciating her kindness.

She rubbed any skincare product imaginable on my face. It looked wonderful. Then she did makeup, not caking it on but enough to make a difference. She led me to a rack of clothes and let me pick the dress. My eyes gleamed, these were the dresses of my dreams. I skimmed them, appreciating the material until settling on a peach colored day dress with off the shoulder sleeves. I also put on kitten heels, which I was highly grateful for considering the fact that I would roll an ankle wearing real heels.

I sat on a plush, muted pink sofa while a few other girls went. "Alright, let's show you your rooms!" Lexia said. The group of girls contained Selena, as well as Moxie Stone who was a Two, and Paisley Greene, who was a Three. Lexia led us down the corridor while I took in the palace's beauty. There were marble floors and columns, fancy portraits, and plush red carpet that my heels sank into. She led us up a grand staircase. "This is the second floor, where all of your suites are." Lexia told us, walking down the hall. White double doors lined the hall, and girls would drop out once they reached their assigned room.

My room, along with Selena's, was tucked off in a corner along with Paisley, Vanessa Ridge of Whites, a Five, and Ella Hansen of Labrador, a Two. I walked to my assigned room and opened the doors, to be in complete amazement.

There was a marble floor (of course) , a fancy-looking desk with stationary in one corner, a set of sofas and coffee tables in the other corner, and a mannequin with a beautiful evening gown tucked away in a nook. I also noticed tons of fabrics, threads, little add-ons, and a sewing machine! There was a plush canopy bed with lavender and white covers, and a silken pillows. A chandelier dangled from the ceiling, glimmering down on the rest of the room. Beautiful, priceless paintings lined the pale blue walls.

What I noticed most were the three girls in a maid's uniform standing in the center of it.