The Selection ✓

three - there is absolutely no way...until there is

The next few days passed in a blur, although my fondest memory of the collective week was all thanks to Will.

I couldn't wake up the next day, groaning my way from the moment my foot touched the ground, through breakfast, all the way to the car ride to my first event. The only thing keeping me awake was the cold shower I had taken to at least keep my eyes open during the performance. 

My mother was furious. 

End of story? Not quite.

Promptly after I finished three consecutive events I didn't even know how I managed to get through, my brilliant mother decided it would be a bright idea to pick Tuesday out of all days to submit our forms and get our photos taken. 

My mother had borrowed dresses from an old friend. Cydney was a recurring customer of ours, requesting that only my mother or I perform at any of her events, and as a two, her dresses were practically drop dead gorgeous. The younger of her two daughters, Kila, remained my best friend to date despite warnings from he father and sister to avoid me for a spotless reputation. The family had moved around quite a bit, eventually setting in Clermont, the distance didn't hinder our friendship, though, or quite frankly, Cydney's request for my mother to perform at her events.

Well, we still talked, but not as much as we used to.

When my mom handed me the dress to try, I immediately recognized it. It was a gift to Kila when she turned seventeen, although the style had grown old, it was still in perfect condition, thus it was in my hands now. I slightly envied Kila and her posh lifestyle, but I was reminded of all the times she called me, crying over the phone because of humanity's discrimination and problems she went through every day. A five's life was hard, but so was a two's. 

"Next." The photographer yelled in utter boredom, I was just one of the candidates anyway. He probably felt like falling asleep on the job. I can relate, I thought. 

I was half asleep by the time we got to the front of the monstrous line and only the extreme shriek of the photographer snapped me out of my thoughts.  It was a quick process: submit your form, then smile for a photo. I sat poised on the seat and posed for my shot.

Pretend to look happy.

Not convincing enough, I thought. 

Everything will change if you do this right. Just imagine.

A pause.

Imagine love.

And that was when the real smile came out. I looked radiant, caught up in a world of my own. For a second I forgot about all the money, and all I could see was what it would be like to be caught up in the euphoric reaction of love. 

Wouldn't that be cool? "Next." And that moment had ended quickly. But a smile tingled at the tips of my mouth. 

In the present, it was approaching the scheduled time of eight o'clock, and family and I were conversing in small talk about the topic. We were huddled together talking in short ecstatic breaths.

"Maybe you'll get picked?" My dad attempted at sounding supportive but knew the odds weren't in our favor.

"There is no way," I confirmed. 

"Well you say that now," My mother hushed us, "there is absolutely no way...until there is, anyway. Now sit, and be quiet."

The Illean emblem flashed across the screen, as Gavril made his way to the center podium, but Prince Lucas stood up, engaging the first sentence. His face was pointed, though he didn't look nervous.

"Good Evening, Gavril and all of Illèa." Prince Lucas laughed, Will sat beside him in a structured manner. No signs of enjoyment present. 

"Thank you for borrowing my signature line." Gavril winked at the camera, "I just got Royal endorsement." he coughed, "Now, your majesty, I'm going to ask you a question I once asked your father, Maxon, and the late King Clarkson: What will it feel like having thirty-five new guests at your home."

"Well," he joked, "I have a little brother. I think I'm prepared." 

Will just looked irritated, rolling his eyes, then maintaining his mentality for the sake of showbiz before the lights were redirected for Gavril.

"Now, I'm sure you're all excited, so I won't keep you in the dark any longer. Without further ado," Gavril's voice boomed, "Here are our thirty-five."

"Callista Luthe of Clermont, Sarah Cev of New Asia, Holly Mane of Carolina, Denise Lydia of Vermont, Tashi Peralta of Hondragua-"

There were two things that scared me partially. The first one was hearing my name, and the second was hearing the name of Kila's sister. I didn't think I heard it right at first, two familiar names coincidentally in the pile of thirty-five chosen from, what three hundred thousand applicants?

Callista Luthe, sister of Kila Luthe. Holly Mane, a girl she wanted to get rid off since the beginning of time.

Talk about the small world.

My family had practically been screaming their literal heads off at the announcement, while the television was promptly switched off. In all honesty, I was a bit excited and intrigued. What would this new life feel like?

"I knew it was a good idea to pay for cable!" My mother wrapped me in a tight hug, while Selina and Sarah gave me the biggest smiles I had ever seen in my lifetime. Then, my father and I did our signature handshake. 

Then I got a call that made my heart only beat faster. It was a girl named Silvia, and she requested I be present in my home for the next week to discuss a few important details relating to my participance in the selection. I agreed. 

Then, post-call, the screaming started all over again. I rolled my eyes and took a well-deserved bite into an apple.

That was how it worked in my family. It was never quiet.