The Selection: Third Generation

Ch.5: Relief

Arabella's POV

"Miss, your food," Anne calls from the room. I walk back in and save my guitar back in its case.

"Thank you so much, ladies. You can go for the night." I say, smiling appreciatively.

"Oh, are you sure, Lady Arabella?" Barbara asks.

"Yes, ma'am. Thank you." With this, they curtsy and leave. I look over at the small table in front of the fireplace and see it is covered in food. The main dish is baked chicken. The sides are: salad, macaroni casserole, some fancy-looking green beans, and rice. The rice looks so plain... In Louisiana, we never eat rice like this, but with a meat gravy on top.

I decide I will at least try each thing. I take one bite of each side and a few pieces of chicken. For dessert, there is a chocolate chip cookie, a strawberry tart, and a ginormous piece of chocolate cake. I take one bite of each dessert.

I end up eating most of the chicken and most of the chocolate cake and cookies.
I keep eating, moving onto the side dishes. It is all so good.
Once I realize how much I've eaten, I feel like I'm going to explode. My stomach isn't used to this kind of or this much food.

I start thinking of home and about how this place is so different. Then, I think about meeting the prince tomorrow morning and about what the other girls may be like. My mind is suddenly flooded with terrible thoughts and my breathing is speeding up, but I cannot stop it. I know it is just a panic attack, and it is all in my head, but it is too hard to breathe like normal.

Tears streaming down my face, I open the door to the hall and pop my head out. With no one in sight, I walk quickly down the hallways, looking for the Music Room. I just need to play something new. I need to put my focus on learning something so that I cannot think about anything else.

 I pass many rooms-- the Great Room, the Dining Room, the Health Room, the Hospital Wing-- probably every room in the darn palace except for the Music Room!

I put my back against the wall and slide to the floor, breaking down in sobbing tears. I know I'm being loud and obnoxious, but I don't care. I need my brain to stop, I need the bad thoughts to go away. My entire body is shaking and my head hurts.

"Are you okay?" I freeze, sniffling one last time, at the sound of his voice. I know that voice... I look up to see Prince Carlisle looking down at me. I shoot to my feet, nearly banging heads with him. I carefully curtsy, still shaking terribly as I do so.

"Your Highness," I say, my voice shaking. He chuckles lightly, probably thinking it is from being starstruck.

"I asked if you were okay? There's no need for the 'Your Highness' and curtsying when no one else is around." I try to stop the tears still rolling down my cheeks, and answer him.

"I'm-I'm okay," I say, barely a whisper.

"Let's take a walk." He says, concern and disbelief on his face. I follow him through the doors that apparently lead to the Palace Gardens. The guards at the doors held them open as we pass.

I desperately try to keep the tears in, but my stomach is a mess of nerves and I can't believe I let the prince see me like this. I am not even supposed to meet him until tomorrow. Oh, God, what if he kicks me out tonight?

He leads me to a bench looking over some rose bushes.

"So, what happened? I mean, why were you crying?" He asks, looking into my eyes. His eyes are a gorgeous hazel color and made it easier to breathe somehow.

"It's nothing. Really, I-I'm fine, Prince Carlisle." With this, he wipes a tear from my cheek before it could fall. I am still shaking, but the tears have stopped. We are sitting facing each other, knees slightly touching. He notices my shaking and puts a hand on my leg right above my knee.