The Selection ✓

ten - ever-so-productive stunt

In addition to all the current load being placed upon the Selected, Prince Lucas had decided to trust the entire batch of us to choose multiple aspects of Queen America's big bash. Twenty-three of us were trying to organize an entire party which would be located out in the open. Some of which included...

"We still can't find someone to play music," Emily complained, "I can't believe we're two hours away from disappointing  the Prince." Genevieve sighed, shaking her head. No one knew what to do.

My ears perked up at the sound, "I'll do it." I offered, kindly, but the girls were in no mood turn down anything at this point.

"Great!" Denise exclaimed excitedly, "Now, the final two things. The banner, which we need to finish, oh, and the cake, it'll be here any moment now. We can't let the queen down, it's her birthday after all."

Everyone looked at me, "What?"

"We need to finish the banner, and you're the closest to an artist."

"I'm a musician, there is a distinct difference. I can't do art to save my life, it's the exact reason I chose music over art." I noted.

Prince Lucas laughed, resting his hand on my shoulder to which I nearly jumped in surprise. "Klutz."

I curtsied, "The one and only."

Soon, the banner was finished as best as the group of us could muster, then hung by a few guards on the wall. The cake was being wheeled in by the chefs, only one problem, though. It was completely empty. Like a canvas.

What was everyone's obsession with an art-filled day anyway? I preferred my music over anything else at this party.

And we were still decorating the cake as best as we could when we heard footsteps and not only that, we also heard the distinct voice of Queen America. I was the first to snap out of my trance, ushering the girls to hide everything, "Uh oh."

While stashing everything as quick as possible under anything, The girls grabbed my violin, which wasn't stored inside the safety of its case and slid it under a table, unbeknownst to them was the fact that my violin wasn't in the best condition, and their ever-so-productive stunt had actually broken it.

I knew Sarah was the one that had thrown it, but no one would ever know if it was intentional.

"We need a distraction," Caleigh mentioned nudging Sophia in the process. Sophia shot her a confused look at what am I supposed to do. Finally, the Queen rounded the corner and came face to face with us, The Selected.

"Hello, ladies." The Queen greeted, as we formed a line to curtsy, "Oh, there's no need for formalities."

"Mother." Prince Lucas greeted, "We were just working on -er- some artistic things."

"I'll be off." she nodded taking his hint. Once she had left their vicinity, however, the chaos quickly resumed, with girls strutting in every direction to tie up the loose ends of the celebration which was slowly beginning to come together. 

The staff helped as well, adjusting the decorations, and dusting off the areas in which we felt necessary, and eventually moving onto assisting the girls, like me with some finishing touches. Soon enough, the balloons were being carted in and were being attached to the gardens.

I went to retrieve my violin from under the decorations, only to find a crack slashing through the instrument. The violin was no longer whole, in fact, the broken wooden shards had begun to stick out from the original clear spot. Tears began to well in my eyes, the violin whipped up from the blood, sweat, and tears of my father, my violin. The one that has been with me for ten years.

"Holly, are you alright?" Genevieve asked, noticing my distress, then she saw my violin, and instead of convincing me that it would be alright, she reached out to hug me. I smiled gratefully.

Denise ran over, "Holly?" 

And little by little, the girls began to crowd over me, some of which were talking in hushed whispers asking questions about what the fuss was all about. Prince Lucas walked straight to the middle and looked at me, "Is everything alright?"

I straightened out my dress. "Yes, I suppose." putting my violin back to the place it was hidden for me to retrieve later, I wear the fakest smile I can possibly muster to cover up the tears, "I'll just run by the music room and get another one." 

No weaknesses.

***

I smiled weakly as I finished one of the most emotional pieces I have ever played in my lifetime. Sometimes, I don't really pay attention to the audience, I'm too caught up in my song to bother, and through this, I can rate my performance for myself.

But this time, the cheering was insane, even the Queen was smiling proudly, which was an honor considering she was a musician herself, a professional, in fact.

By this late in the party, the attendance was no longer mandatory, in fact, besides the chatter, the party was already finished. The initial shock of the surprise had worn off, and the party had gone through the food, gifts, and speeches that were needed. Even the camera crew had wrapped up and were already leaving.

So, I decided to leave. Everything I had done was all for show. No one can deal with losing something so precious to them lightly. Not to me, at least. I wasn't materialistic like some of the other girls here.

And I valued the effort put into a gift like this one.

"Holly!" A voice caught up with me, as I ran, barefoot, back into my safe haven of a room.

"Yes, Lucas?" I ask. 

"Why did you leave so early?" He questioned. "This isn't about the violin, right? I mean, the palace could easily replace it. There's no need to be bitter."

"See, this is what I mean. You all think you're so high and mighty just because you're bathing in money. Well, that violin wasn't just any violin. It meant everything to me. All my father's hard work into an instrument that's been with me ten years. And I don't care if you can replace it in a second, or get the exact same model. It won't have the wear and tear, the faded spot, it wouldn't have my father's love in it. Just a Princes guilt." I yell, "And it's not your fault. I don't blame you, but you know what, stop making the matter smaller than it is. Because non-materialistic girls like me don't like the fireworks, they don't want extravagant, they want to love. They would rather the garden dance." Satisfied, I turn against my heel and slam my door shut.

Well, goodbye palace. The prince doesn't take an order from a girl lower than him, but it's not like I cared. These people needed a refresher on who they really were before it got all in their heads.