The Twist | ✓

one.

Disclaimer: I don't own The Selection or any characters, ideas, scenes, settings, etc. from the series. They all belong to Kiera Cass. I only own my own ideas and characters. So don't steal those, because they're mine.

When I found out that I would have to have a Selection, I locked myself in my room for three days. I didn't talk to my family at all and took all of my meals in my room.

Of course, I knew that I would have to have one eventually-I'm the oldest, and I'll have to be king one day. I'm expected to produce heirs and all of that bullshit. My parents want me to fall in love, but every time I explain my issue with that to them, they don't believe me.

I don't believe in love. At least, not with the Selection. It's not possible that out of thirty-five girls, I'll find someone to love and to love me. My parents were an exception. Possibly. But it isn't statistically possible that I'll fall in love with with one of the thirty-five girls in the Selection.

Eventually I decided to just accept it and move on.

"Alexander!" Clara puts her hands on her hips, narrowing her eyes at me. "You aren't supposed to be in here! Are you finally interested in the Selection?" Her blue eyes twinkle with excitement.

"No," I say. "I just want some idea before I have to go through with this."

"Well, too bad." She grabs my arm and tries to pull me out of the room, and I follow without argument. "They're being announced tonight. How's all the preparation been?"

"Exhausting," I say. "I don't even want to do this."

She smiles sadly at me. "I know, Alexander. But it's necessary."

"I know," I sigh.

"I'm sure you'll find someone, older brother."

"I hope so." I really don't.

I don't even pay attention when they announce the girls. I have Clara write me a list of their names, where they're from, and their castes before I go to sleep. She even includes pictures, but I toss them aside. I memorize names and castes and home provinces, especially the ones that Clara has circled-"They're the ones we picked for you," she said-and at eleven o'clock I put the list down and get ready to go to sleep.

It's not until I lie down that I realize that I don't have long before everything changes for good. Within the next few months, it won't just be Clara, Mason, my parents and I. I don't know if that irritates me or upsets me. Either way, I'm not happy about it.