Dear Elise

Chapter 21

I wake up the next morning, unsure why I'm still smiling.
Then I remember everything, and my smile only grows wider. My maids almost walked right in while I was still kissing Sam, but I think we were quick enough to get up and start acting normal.
I think.
But I think Florence may have somehow found out - in the quiet way that she finds things out, and keeps them to herself. I saw her glancing between Sam and I yesterday, and she gave me the secret smile that I see her do sometimes. The one that says 'don't worry. I know, and I hope you'll be comfortable enough to tell me someday.'
I think I will, the next chance I get. She's the maid I've felt closest to from the start of the Selection, and it feels wrong that she's the only one who doesn't know.

After our conversation yesterday, I didn't expect to see Maxon much, but, to my surprise, another note is dropped off at my room after breakfast.
Sam had come to spend some time with me again, but Zoe and Emmica spotted her on the way, so all four of us are now sat in my room, doing each other's hair.
Emmica is the best at it. She has a knack for twisting and braiding our hair into lovely, elegant shapes, so she insists on doing it for all of us.
"My mother taught me how to do it." Is all she'll say about it, and we're all quite happy to let her comb and tease our hair into pretty styles.
My hair is done first, and she's moved on to Zoe's when the note is dropped off by a maid I don't know.

"Ohhh, what does it say?!"
"Open it, open it!"
I glance at Sam, who looks just as confused as I am, before unfolding the note.

Can I talk to you? Same place and time as yesterday.

Zoe squeals as she reads the note over my shoulder.
"He wants to see you again?!"
"I guess so."
Emmica grabs me by the shoulders, surprising me.
"We should come back here afterwards, and you can tell us all about it!" She looks around at Zoe and Sam.
"Meet back here an hour after her date starts?"
Zoe nods enthusiastically, but Sam frowns.
"I'm busy later. Elise can tell me about it... another time."
Zoe and Emmica strt protesting, but all I can focus on is Sam's face. She looks almost... upset?
Eventually the excitement dies down, and we settle to watch Emmica do Sam's hair. But I can still feel our confusion. Has Maxon reconsidered his decision?

I arrive in the gardens to see Maxon standing in the same place as yesterday, looking restless and holding some kind of package in his hands.
"Maxon?"
He smiles when he sees me approaching.
"Ah, Lady Elise. I apologise for the lack of explanation for this sudden meeting, but I wanted to be discreet..."
I smile awkwardly in return. "It's no problem."
There's a long silence before he starts to speak again.
"Even though you're not actually competing for my affections anymore, we need to make it look like you are. Otherwise, there would be no reason to keep you in the  competition at all."
I nod. What he's saying makes sense - neither of us want anybody getting suspicious, me for obvious reasons, and him... well, I don't exactly think helping me like this is something he would be commended for.

"So I found these for you."
I look at the package he's holding out to me. It's pretty, wrapped in silk and tied with a ribbon.
"Show them off to the other girls a bit. Make it seem like we're interested in each other. That should do the trick."
I look at him. He's smiling, looking very pleased with himself for coming up with this, and I can't help but smile back. Maxon really is a generous person. Whoever ends up winning the Selection will be very lucky.
Before all of this, the thought would have just made me jealous, but now I know that whoever wins, I will be able to stand at their wedding and be genuinely happy for them. Hopefully, Sam will be there with me.
Heading back up to my room, I think about the rest of the candidates. I spoke with Maxon a little before I left, and he seems nice. Perhaps we could become friends, in time.
I think that Lady Marlee would be a good match for him. They both have the same sort of positive attitude. But I've seen him with Lady America. Everyone thinks she's his favourite, and I can't help but agree. I can see them together.

The moment I open my bedroom door, Zoe and Emmica run over.
"Sorry we're early-" starts Emmica, before Zoe squeals.
"We were just so excited!"
Emmica doesn't even seem annoyed at being cut off. She and Zoe pull me over to sit on the edge of my bed, and they make me tell them everything.
Obviously I lie about most of it, but then we turn our attention to the gift Maxon gave me.
"What do you think it is?" Zoe whispers excitedly, tugging at the ribbon.
I frown, whispering in response. "I don't know."
"Why are we whispering?" Whispers Emmica.
"...I don't know."

After a few more moments of staring at the packaging, I undo the bow. It's a pretty lavender colour, and the silk beneath it is a brighter purple. I unwrap it to reveal two gorgeous combs, decorated in a beautiful flower pattern made of bright jewels.
We all suck in a collective breath.
"Wow..." I'm not sure who says it. In fact, it might've been me. We're all awestruck by Maxon's extremely beautiful - and extremely expensive looking - gift.
I pick one up, looking at it. It's a similar shape to a pair my mother owns, and the thought brings a pang of homesickness.
I remember when I was younger, asking her if I could try them on.
"When you're older." She had said.
I suppose that's now.
I turn to Emmica, holding out the combs.
"Will you help me put them in?"
She nods, pulling me over to my dressing table.
"Absolutely! Let's redo your hair, too!"
I sigh, preparing myself to match their seemingly limitless supply of energy.

We rush into the Women's room, all three of us looking absolutely ecstatic.
I try my best to mimic an excited squeal, turning my head to show the girls the combs Emmica so carefully put into my hair.
"Look at these combs!"
The next few moments are a flurry of gasps and appreciative comments. I see Sam watching me, and she looks strangely... hurt?
I frown, meaning to go up to her, but people are still surrounding me. The next thing I know, she's stood up and hurried out of the room.
Nobody else seems to notice, and I can't even follow after her.
My heart aches at the thought of her being hurt, but I don't understand why she would be.
The lack of her presence in the room should stop me thinking about her, but it only makes the ache worse.