Surprise Selection

.Chapter1.

Ashlar

"Get off the railing!" the guard says as I zoom down the banister of the stairs.

"You'll have to catch me, sucka!" I yell back while laughing.

I jump off the rail and run to the dining hall for breakfast. I barge through the huge doors and hop into my seat, smirking at the disapproving looks I get from my parents and the king and queen.

"Ashlar, may I speak to you for a moment?" Raylon asks as I leave the dining hall just before him.

Okay...  He has never spoken to me with such kindness and concern. Come to think of it, he has never called me by my actual name before. He always calls me Katnip, for some reason. Something is up.  Raylon is acting weird. Weirder than usual.

"Well we are speaking right now and I think it's been a moment so... Bye!" I say and start walking away, but am stopped by a hand on my waist. I feel an electric shock from his hand and jump away.

I look up at him with shock clearly in my eyes and his as well. He felt it to.

"Um... I was going to ask you for your opinion on the selection. You know, if you think it's a good idea or not." He says, pulling me from my trance.

I scoff, "Why do you think I care? And if I did why would it matter? Since when did you start caring about what I thought and my opinion, huh? Do you suddenly have feelings for me? That would be a mistake." I walk over to a vase of flowers on a table a few feet away and pull out a rose as I speak. "People are like flowers. I specifically, am a rose. From far away I look harmless and gentle but up close you can see that my petals are wilting and I have thorns. So if I were you, Your Highness, I would stay out of my way until I'm able to leave this living nightmare."

I drop the rose at his feet and turn away, running to my room.

Prince Pretty Boy and I were enemies and I wanted to keep in that way. No person or thing is going to change my mind about leaving. Eight years, I have been waiting and planning for the day I am able to leave. I need to keep my feeling locked away until that palace wall is behind me and I am on the other side.

.Authors Note.

I am a HUGE Hunger Games fan and had to add the nickname.