The Selection

Chapter 70

Mature part
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This story/plot belongs to Kiera Cass

𒊹︎︎︎ᴥ︎︎︎𒊹︎︎︎

Walking Back into yhe palace  felt impossibly right. A maid I'd never seen before was there to take my coat, and Taehyung was next to a guard, explaining quietly that he'd give a full report on the trip in the morning. I started up the stairs, but another maid stopped me.

"Don't you want to go to the reception, miss?"

"Excuse me?" Was I supposed to have some fantastic homecoming or something?

"In the Women's Room, my lady. I'm sure they're waiting for you."

That was less of an explanation than I was hoping for, but I climbed back down the stairs and headed around the corner to the Women's Room. Strolling down the familiar halls was more comforting than I could have imagined. Of course I still missed my dad, but it was nice not to see things that made me think of him everywhere I turned. The only thing that would have made this homecoming better was Jungkook walking here with me.

I was toying with the possibility of sending for him when I heard the wild noise coming from the Women's Room. I was confused by the sound. By the volume, half of Illéa was waiting in there.

Tentatively, I opened the door. The second Tiny—what was she doing here?—caught a glimpse of my hair, she called out to the room.

"She's here! Y/n's back!"

The room exploded with cheers, and I was so confused. Emmica, Ashley, Bariel . . . everyone was here. I hunted, but I knew it was pointless. Marlee wouldn't be invited to this.

I was rushed by Celeste, who embraced me tightly. "Ahh, you bitch, I knew you'd make it!"

"What?" I asked.

She didn't get her words out fast enough. A split second later, Kriss was hugging me and half screaming in my ear. The smell on her breath said she'd been drinking quite a bit, and the glass in her hand confirmed she wasn't planning on stopping.

"It's us!" she yelled. "Jungkook's announcing his engagement tomorrow! It's one of us!"

"Are you sure?"

"Elise and I got the boot last night, but he sent for all the girls to come back and celebrate, so we stayed," Celeste confirmed. "Elise isn't taking it well; you know how it is with her family. She thinks she failed."

"What about you?" I asked nervously.

She shrugged and smiled. "Eh."

I laughed at that, and a moment later a drink was shoved in my hand.

"To Kriss and Y/n, the last girls standing!" someone yelled.

I was dizzy with the news. He'd decided to end it, to send everyone home. And he did it while I was away. Did that mean he missed me? Did that mean he realized he was fine without me?

"Drink!" Celeste insisted, tipping the glass back for me. I downed the champagne and came up coughing. Between the jet lag, the emotional stress of the last few days, and the sudden intake of alcohol, I was immediately giddy.

I watched as girls danced on the couches, celebrating even though they had lost. Celeste was in a corner with Anna; it looked as if she was apologizing repeatedly for her actions. Elise crept in quietly and came to offer me a hug before retreating again. It was a blur of excitement, and I found myself happy even though I wasn't totally certain of the outcome in front of me.

I turned around, and Kriss was suddenly there, embracing me.

"Okay," she said. "Let's promise that tomorrow, no matter what, we'll be happy for each other."