Labeled (A The Selection Fanfiction)

Chapter Fifteen

Cece, Eleanor, and I are sitting in the Women's room and looking out at the gardens, which are slowly loosing their flowers. Since it is mid-October now, leaves are changing colors, from green to a rusty-orange to brown.

The seasons are sort of like my emotions, I guess. One day I feel fresh with a new friend, a new school, and a break from my life. The next day, I am whooshed off to the palace to try and fall in love with the Prince. All this time I am still connected to the tree, the way my life has been shaped by my mother.

But now, the leaves of my tree are turning brown, a comfortable and warm color. Soon they will fall, and then I will be confident, believing that I can be someone who isn't my mother. Knowing that that person isn't my destiny.

And so, when the leaves grow again, they will be on a new tree, leaving the old one behind. These leaves will be bigger than ever, greener than ever, and stronger than ever. They will be evergreen leaves on an evergreen tree, letting opinions and judgements glide past, like mist in a forest.

They will know where they belong. They will be the leaves of my tree.

A clatter breaks me from my thoughts. 

"Oh! I'm so, so, sorry Hope!"  Bridgette exclaims.  I don't even know what happened, and she sounds fake.  Everything about her is fake.

Hope doesn't respond, but the sound of her sobs fill the room.

Immediately there is a crowd of girls around Bridgette, comforting her, telling her it wasn't her fault as fake tears cascade down her face.

Eleanor and I share a glance and motion for Cece to follow us.

I shout, "Excuse me!"  And Bridgette's followers part for us.

I bend down to Hope, strangely feeling like I'm comforting a little girl. 

"Hey Hope, are you okay?"  Surrounding her is what looks like shatters of something crystal.

She shakes her head, hastily wiping at her eyes.

"Could you tell me what happened?"

She gulps, "Sh-she b-broke my only-ly  t-thing I ha-have lef-left fr-from home!"  She wailed.

"I'm so sorry, is it a necklace?"

"Y-yes."

"Do you know if anything happened to make her do this?"  Even though I wouldn't put it past her, it seems unlikely that Bridgette would do something without being provoked.

"W-well, I just -just came b-back from m-my d-date with t-the Pri-Prince," she explained.  I couldn't help but feel a pang in my stomach.

"Oh, and she hasn't gone on one."  I left out the yet.

She nodded her head, and I stood up to my friend's shocked faces.

I shrugged.

"Hey, Bridgette?"

She looks up with puppy dog eyes.  When she sees me, she glares through fake tears.

"What?"  She asks in a sugar sweet voice.

I arch an eyebrow at her and gesture at the glimmering shards that that look like the tears frozen on her face.  Everyone quiets.

"You know exactly what I mean," I say.

She stares at me for a few more charged moments, then tosses her hair over her should and walks out.

Stopping at the doorway, she says, "Don't be so sure Clarissa.  First impressions mean nothing."

---

After what Bridgette did to Hope, we all (Eleanor, Cece, Hope, and Clarissa) went up to my room to chat.

"But then we all started singing and old song called "New Romantics" and made a funny dance to it, it was hilarious!"  Hope says.

"Oh that sounds like so much fun!  I wish I had siblings."  I tell her.

Hope nodded along with Cece, "They're so much fun, they always make me laugh and smile and...they are my best friends."

Cece energetically nods her head. 

"And Clarissa?" Eleanor says, "We are your sisters now."

The rooms energy calms down to a more serious level for a minute.

"Thank you.  You don't know how much that means to me."  Eleanor looks like she understands.

I don't want the rest of the afternoon to stay like this, serious and calm.  So, I say, "Let's do a karaoke session like you do, Hope!"

"Yes!"  She squeals.

We ring for my maids, and ask them to please bring a karaoke set up to us.  We select a song called "Count on Me" by Bruno Mars, and old singer.

We sing, or rather holler, the song:

If you ever find yourself stuck in the middle of the sea

I'll sail the world to find you

If you ever find yourself lost in the dark and you can't see

I'll be the light to guide you

We find out what we're made of

When we are called to help our friends in need

You can count on me like 1, 2, 3

I'll be there

And I know when I need it

I can count on you like 4, 3, 2

And you'll be there

'Cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh yeah

If you're tossin' and your turnin'

And you just can't fall asleep

I'll sing a song beside you

And if you ever forget how much you really mean to me

Everyday I will remind you

We find out what were made of

When we are called to help our friends in need

You can count on me like 1, 2, 3

I'll be there

And I know when I need it

I can count on you like 4, 3, 2

And you'll be there

'Cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh yeah

You'll always have my shoulder when you cry

I'll never let go, never say goodbye

You know...

You can count on me like 1, 2, 3

I'll be there

And I know when I need it

I can count on you like 4, 3, 2

And you'll be there

'Cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh yeah

You can count on me 'cause I can count on you

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In case you were wondering or missed it, the song is "Count on Me" by Bruno Mars, all credits to him!  Thank you for reading, and remember to vote and comment!  It means a lot!