A couple hours later, a knock sounded on my door.
"Your Highness, your presence has been requested in the courtyard." Harley's voice came through my door. I sighed, knowing I couldn't keep hiding out in my room forever.
"I'll be out shortly." I called back. I checked my reflection, ensuring my appearance was acceptable. Once I looked put together, I forced a smile and followed Harley to the courtyard. I didn't know what i was expecting but Shawn standing on a makeshift stage was not it.
"Shawn? What are you doing here?" I asked, not used to seeing him outside of the report. As much as he was a close family friend, he kept his distance when he was off duty.
"You know I can never pass on a good hosting gig." He winked before pulling out a mic. "Take your seat, Kiddo. The shows about to start."
He gestured to the lone chair set up in front of the stage. I followed the instructions and took a seat.
"Welcome Ladies and Gentlemen. I am your host, Shawn Hunter and it is my pleasure to welcome you to the first ever Elite Talent Show!" I gasped as he announced what was happening, unsure of what that truly meant. I clapped as Shawn finished his introduction before introducing the first act. "Our first performance of the day will be Mr. Charlie Gardener performing a monologue from Sense and Sensibility." Charlie strutted out from behind the curtains and I could not hold in my laughter. He was wearing what looked to be my mother's dress and held a fan. He struck a pose lightly fanning himself as he began to speak.
"I understand. You do not suppose that I have ever felt much..." Once Charlie finished, Shawn and I clapped for his performance.
"Thank you for that heart felt performance, Mr. Gardener. Truly beautiful." Shawn wiped away a fake tear as Charlie curtsied before disappearing back behind the curtain. "Our next performance will be from the Mystical Minkus." Shawn stepped off the stage. Nothing happened for a moment and then the curtains flew open and Farkle walked out in a glittery suit complete with a top had and a cape. Lucas walked out behind him, pushing a very large box. Zay's head was sticking out of one end while his feet dangled from the other.
"For my trick today I will be sawing my lovely assistant Zay in half."
"Wait we're doing what? You never said nothing about sawing nobody in half." He started struggling, trying to get out of the box. "Help! Lucas!" Zay screamed as Farkle held up the saw. I laughed as Farkle brought the saw closer to the box. The shrieking stopped once Farkle pushed the saw through to the bottom with a thud. For a moment I feared Zay was dead based on his silence but luckily it seemed he was just in awe. Farkle forced the second blade into place before pushing both parts of the box apart.
"Thank you I am Farkle!" He did a dramatic bow before a smoke bomb went off and he disappeared leaving both halves of Zay on the stage.
"Hello?" He called out. Lucas slipped through the curtain and pulled both halves of the box back stage.
"Wow. How does he do it Folks?" Shawn was really camping up the performance, even if it was just for me. I could tell he was having fun with it, something that seemed to be lacking from his usual gig on the report. "Next up Brandon Knight." He rolled out a tray of fruits and I wondered what he was planning on doing with them. He started with an orange, tossing it into the air before catching it again. He added an apple, then a lemon then a banana of all things. He continued to juggle the different fruits until the bowl was empty, somehow managing to keep all of the items in the air before grabbing the bowl and catching them all.
After Brandon came Lucas. He was wearing a cowboy hat and boots with a rope hooked onto his belt.
"Howdy Ma'am. I'm Ranger Rick." I blushed at his use of the nickname I had used for him as he unhooked the rope. He started twirling it around doing different tricks. Eventually he tossed it toward me and I felt the rope encircle me. I playfully rolled my eyes as he stepped off the stage and wrapped the rope around me, helping me to my feet. He yanked it back and I felt myself twirling in a way I hadn't expected. Once the rope floated back over my head, Lucas steadied me by placing his hands on my waist. He smiled before heading back up to the stage and taking another bow.
Zay's performance followed and I was happy to see he had regained his legs. I was even happier to see him walk out in a leotard and a tutu. He proceeded to perform a perfectly choreographed ballet routine. I felt my jaw drop as he pirouetted and twirled across the stage. As hilarious as the image of him in a tutu was, his technique was impeccable.
Once Zay finished, Josh came out holding a guitar. He played and sang a song I didn't recognize. He sounded great but I had to admit it felt anticlimactic after the rest of the show. Everyone else seemed to be having more fun with it.
"Is that all you got Matthews?" I called out with a laugh as he finished his song.
"That sounds like a challenge." Shawn pointed out.
"You think you can do better, Your Highness?" I was grateful he was playing along and not taking himself too seriously.
"I could but it would be rude of me to show you up at your own talent show." I winked.
"You have to show me how it's done."
"Fine, but it has to be a duet." He offered me his hand and helped me up onto the stage. The rest of the boys went around and sat on the grass in front of the stage. Shawn walked over and handed me his mic.
"Follow my lead?" I nodded as he started to play. "Summer loving had me a blast." Josh was already having more fun than in his original performance.
"Summer loving happened so fast" We sang the chorus together and I could feel our chemistry oozing out of every word. When we got to the chorus the other boys sang out the backup lines until we were all singing and laughing together.
"Those summer niiiiiiights" When we got to the end of the song, Josh committed to the performance and belted out the last word. He aggressively strummed out the last chord a few times before jokingly going to smash the guitar, stopping just before it crashed against the ground.
"Much better." I smirked as I jumped off the stage, joining the rest of the boys in the grass. Josh followed my lead and Shawn grabbed the mic back, returning to the center of the stage.
"Beautiful, charming and the voice of an angel? Is there anything our princess can't do?" Shawn turned his attention to the camera. "That's the end of our show folks, so now its up to you. Make sure to vote for your favourite performance. The winner and his prize will be announced on the report at the end of the week. Until then. I'm Shawn Hunter and this concludes our first ever Elite talent show. Goodnight everybody!"
"That was incredible." I gushed, leaning into Josh's side.
"I knew you were having a hard day and wanted to cheer you up." He smiled, taking my hand in his. I blushed at the contact, almost forgetting the fact that I was surrounded by 5 other suitors. "I'm just glad we made you smile." He reached up with his other hand and brushed his thumb along my cheek.
"I can't believe you did all this." I remembered how much Josh's family meant to him. Sure, he was wrapped in a pretty package but his heart was good. He cared so much for the people around him. He was going to make an amazing husband. "Thank you." I breathed out. "All of you," I added, turning my attention to the others.
"We would do anything for you Maya." Farkle smiled gently. Lucas was giving him a weird look and I wondered if it was because he disagreed. Then again he had been prepared to take a bullet for me.
"Yeah, I wore a unitard." Zay quipped, pulling my focus away from the other exchange.
"I'd wear a unitard for you...or less." Josh whispered, his breath brushing against my neck. I knew my cheeks were flushed and I could feel all of the other eyes on me. No one should be able to make the word unitard sexy.
"I think you all deserve some lemonade." I announced abruptly, standing up to put some distance between me and Josh before I did something stupid in front of the others. "I'm going to go get some lemonade and sandwiches and we will have a picnic. As my thank you to all of you for this gesture." I hurried toward the kitchen barely registering the words I heard from Lucas as I left,
"You're a dick Matthews."
YOU ARE READING
The Selection
FanfictionMaya is finally of age to have her own selection. She is far from thrilled to have 35 boys fighting for her hand in marriage. will she change her mind? will she find love?
