His Choice (The Selection)

Chapter Nineteen

Charles looks down at where I am looking at her hand. My eyes flicker up to Bexley's face for a few seconds. It looks slightly panicked. I look back down at her hand to be sure, and I am. A gold band with a green diamond is on her ring finger.

"Ember, are you sure?" Charles asks. I nod and grab her hand. Bexley gasps and raises her other hand like she is going to slap me. Charles raises his eyebrows in a questioning way and she lowers her hand. I move her hand so Charles can see it.

"That ring, right there on her finger, was my grandmother's and is mine now," I say. Charles stares at the ring for a few moments before running his hand through his hair and sighing. He looks at Bexley then me then Bexley again.

"Bexley, where did you find that ring?" Charles asks her. She opens her mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. She looks down at the ring, then back up at us. She's nervous. I can tell.

"It was in my jewelry box this morning when I got dresses," she explains. I arch my eyebrows. She seriously was wearing it this morning when I was?

"No it wasn't. It was on my finger this morning," I spit out, not thinking of the consequences. Bexley glared at me out of the corner of her eye and then looked at Prince Charles with pleading eyes. To be honest, I'm surprised she hasn't tried to stick her boobs in his face.

"Ladies, calm down," he says, staring at me. I can tell that his statement was directed at me. Obviously I am the only one freaking out over a thief living here in the palace. A slight smirk forms on Bexley's face.

"I am calm," I tell him. "I just want my ring back." Charles sighs and nods.

"Bexley, are you sure this ring was in your jewelry box this morning?" he asks her. Bexley nodded.

"It was. I think someone here is making a mistake," she says. It takes almost all my strength to keep myself rolling my eyes. Someone here is obviously making a mistake and I am pretty sure it's the person making that statement.

"When did you notice that your ring was missing, Ember?" he asks me.

"When I got back from the dance studio and finished getting dressed. It was probably about 3:00," I say, even though I am pretty sure I have already said that.

"Well, are you sure you wore it this morning?" Bexley asks. Charles shoots her an aggravated glance. If this moment wasn't deciding if I could have my ring back or not I would laugh. At least he isn't her biggest fan.

I nod. "I did wear it this morning! I had it on until I came to the gym," I say a little louder than I mean for it to. Charles lets out another sigh. He puts his hands up in front of him as a sign for me to stop. 

"Look, one of you are lying. I don't know who to believe because I have know both of you for a week. So, can we just-" he starts.

"I think I'm being framed," Bexley interrupts him. Charles stares at her and he looks really irritated by this. Honestly, I am to. Who framed her? Herself?

"By who? Why?" Charles asks. A sad expression that looks faker than my mom's lips comes over Bexley's face. She looks down at the floor and lets out a pitiful sounding sigh.

"Ember. . ," she says. Charles looks away from her and at me where my mouth has fallen open. "She hasn't liked me since we got here. In fact, earlier she made me come into her room where she yelled at me and told me I was being a slut," she explains. I throw my arms out to the side and let them fall back down.

"Why would I call you a slut?" I ask. Charles stays quiet and looks back and forth between us.

"I don't know. Maybe because you're insecure in your body and I feel comfortable in mine," she says quietly with a shrug. This time I don't contain my laughter. "What's wrong?" she questions.

"Okay. Fine, Prince Charles. I did call her a slut earlier, but it wasn't because I don't feel comfortable in my body. It was because she is trying to seduce you with her body. All I did was point out that she put her boobs in your face," I explain. Charles raises his eyebrows.

"Okay, even if I did that, which I didn't, it wouldn't be any of your business," Bexley says. Charles bites his lip, sighs, and nods.

"She's right, Ember. It wasn't your place to accuse her of doing that," he says. I nod slowly. "But when did you tell her that?" he asks.

"This afternoon. She came to my room and tried to start a fight then. I was just firing back with what ammo I had," I tell him. He looks over at Bexley.

"Bexley, is it true that you came to her room?" Charles asks. Bexley stares at the floor for a few seconds before looking up at him and nodding.

"Fine. I did. I came to her room to have a civil conversation so we could try to become friends and somehow it turned into a big fight," she says. When Charles isn't looking at me, I raise my eyebrows. She smirks at me, but quickly wipes it away so Charles doesn't notice. 

"Well, thank you for admitting the truth," he says. Bexley smiles sweetly and nods.

"No problem," he says. He nods and looks at me.

"Ember, she has a pretty good point, and there is no way to prove that you had it on earlier today," he says. I look around him towards my room.

"My maids! They know that I had it on earlier," I protest. He shakes his head.

"We're not getting anyone else involved in this," he says. My shoulders fall and I release a short sigh through my nose. "Bexley, please give Ember her ring back." Bexley nods and pulls the ring off her finger. I take it from her and put it on mine.

"Is that it?" I ask. He nods.

"It is. No one is getting in trouble for this. We aren't going to go out of our way to hunt down who stole a simple little ring," he says. I stare at him, trying to stay as emotionless as possible.

"Fine," I say. He nods and looks between us.

"Are we good?" he asks. I nod. "I will see you two later then," he says before walking off. I turn to walk back to my room. A hand on my shoulder stops me. I turn back to look at Bexley.

"Keep that safe. We wouldn't want anyone to steal it, now would we?" she asks. She smirks at me.

"Bi-" I start to say. She raises her eyebrows. "Thank you. That's great advice," I say before walking away down the hallway to my room.

I feel like this update took forever to write and I have no clue why. I guess I just worked on it off and on today. Because of that things might be a little confusing or something. I dunno. Anyways, school again tomorrow. Yay! Ugh... Anyways, comment and vote!

Don't forget to vote for Our Life Together and Twisted Disney for the Wattys! I know I probably won't win but I love every vote I get!

Disclaimer: The lovely Kiera Cass wrote The Selection. I wrote this.