Unthinkable - a The Selection fanfiction

The Report and The Siblings

Today was the day of the report. The first in which we would actually be interviewed, which was weird, since it was almost a month we'd been here. It was different from the last selection, in which the girls were interviewed a week into the competition. I was going ballistic inside my mind. Emma and Jane were making sure my dress fitted me well. I was amazed by their works. It was a beautiful blush gown. The straps were golden and became a belt, crossing on the back. The neck was cut low, but it wasn't too suggestive. It was overall a great gown. It was modest, but it made an impact, furthermore it was great with my medium skin tone and my dark espresso hair.
Katherine and her maids were going back and forth from my room, asking me or the girls what I would wear, what I would match with it and so on.
Emma made sure I could let my hair down, she somehow (I guess Jackson was the 'how') knew how proud I was of my hair. Well, who wouldn't? It flew down past my bottom! Emma put them in a sort of double half-ponytail. I loved it just so much. The only problem was walking in that dress with the blush platform pumps. At least, I won the battle for the colour of my lipstick, and found one that matched both the dress and my skin tone.

***

I sat down next to Kat, where Silvia showed me. If looks could kill, I would be six feet under by now, she still wasn't over the fact I got to skip the history lessons.
I complemented Kat's dress, it was a lavender ball gown, very beautiful and it looked amazing on her. Her hair was up in an intricate updo that framed her face perfectly.
"I'm so scared! What will he ask us? What if I don't know what to say?" Asked Kat, she was going ballistic, just like my heartbeat. I understood her so much.
"I don't know, Kat, I'm asking myself the same questions." I replied truthfully.
"Oh please, Cassie, you'll do great. I know it. You're so interesting. I'm regular"
"No sweetie, you're kind and compassionate, I'm just the stuck up spoiled little brat with weirdo hobbies" I said, using the words Clara told me just a couple days before.

***

The lights went down and a spotlight shined on the Royal family. I could see William was trying and acting relaxed. Too bad he couldn't.
After the routine announcements, Gavril interviewed William.
"Your highness, tell me, how have you been enjoying these first few weeks with this lovely ladies?" Gavril was cheerful and it was contagious apparently, since I saw William's shoulders relax a little.
"Very much, I had the chance to spend some time with every lady, they all are very unique. They all are very diverse." He continued shooting me a glance and smirking. This scared me. What was he going to say? "Some are quiet and reserved, others are more opinionated and outspoken."
"Is it true, your highness, that there was a lady who made Silvia, the polite and proper Silvia, lose her aplomb?" How did he even find out?
"Yes. Actually twice in one day, but I have to say, she had her reasons. This girl we are talking about is quite uncanny, just as her interests and passions." Every girl now shot me glares. Oh well.
"Very well, it's about time we discover who the prince is talking about, isn't it?" Asked rhetorically Gavril at the camera.
The host started calling the girls from the first row. I didn't pay much attention, since I was trying to think of what to do. The attitudes the girls had varied from the femme fatale to the sweet girl next door. Clara mixed the two cunningly. Even William was captivated by this, which bothered be quite a lot. To every girl, Gavril asked if they were the mystery girl. I saw Clara's eyes dart to me. She was fighting with herself whether to spoil it was me, say she was no such weirdo or act as if she had not the foggiest idea. It was a split of a second, but she opted for the third.

Kat was brilliant, she was so lively and talkative. Wasn't she the one who was supposed not to talk at all? I liked her interview. She was very energetic but at the same time not overwhelming.
Then the realisation it would be me who had to go next hit me like a truck. I got butterflies in my stomach.
"Now, it's lady Cassandra's turn." Announced Gavril. I made my way to him, praying not to fall or tear the dress apart. Elinor and Jane had worked too long and too hard on that dress for it to be ruined by an uncoordinated goof ball such as myself.
"How are you, tonight, lady Cassandra? I see you're nervous." Asked Gavril trying to make me feel comfortable. Too bad it wasn't working.
"I'm fine, sir. thank you for asking; what about yourself?" I asked back. It was an old habit. If someone takes time to know how you are, the least you can do is ask back.
"I'm no sir, lady Cassandra!" He commented to lighten the mood. I saw William shake his had smiling
"Nor am I lady, mister Faday" I retorted.
"I love your name, where does it come from?"
"Thank you for saying that. The Iliad. Cassandra was a prophetess."
"Sweet name. Now, tell me, how have you been enjoying these weeks?"
"Very much, sir, thank you. I got the chance to meet my brothers, who are guards here at the palace. I'd missed them quite a lot."
"Tell me. How did your history exam go?"
"A+, the highest mark in the class."
"My! Aren't you smart? Was it hard?"
"Thank you sir. If I don't get the highest mark, I'm out of college. I have to be the best. Anyway, it was supposed to, I guess, since we had to study the history from the Third World War up to now, and my questions were about the twentieth century." I answered truthfully. Maybe I shouldn't have. Oh well. Too bad.
"Does Silvia teach you history?"
"She does indeed"
"And did you have a discussion with her?"
My cheeks turned bright red. I felt I was going on fire. "I'm afraid so"
"Ha! I knew it! Can you tell Illéa what it was about?"
"I'd rather not say. The argument is over and done with. There is no need to talk about it any longer" I answered. I didn't want to tell the country Silvia didn't consider its founders but 'bloody details'
"A real lady, you are!"
"This is just common sense, sir, but thank you all the same"
"And she's humble! A real catch! Tell me. Have you been on a date with his highness"
"I have, yes"
"What did you do in such an occasion?"
Goodness, should I tell the country I was a better shooter than William? Or that we even went to the shooting range at all? I looked at Will, who nodded.
"We... We went to the shooting range. I taught Will... His highness... How to shoot a gun."
"This isn't the first time a selected with such reputation calls the prince by his first name rather than his title, am I right, my queen?" Asked Gavril to the queen, who just smiled looking fondly at her husband. "And did Will learn?"
"I don't know. I haven't had the chance to certify it just yet"
"Ask her about our first meeting" required William.
"And I have already heard an heir ask such a question, am I right, your majesty?" Asked Gavril, again, to the King, who just nodded smiling. "And The selectioned who was asked it now sits right next to him. Anyway, do tell us, lady Cassandra" had I just been compared to the queen herself? I looked to the Royal family, Will was grinning and the King and the queen were smiling knowingly. What they knew, I had no idea.
"I was... Sparring with Jax and... I mean Jackson. Well... long story short, I didn't know it was Will and I kicked his ass, well his back. Litteraly." I was Santa Claus red by now.
"Did you?"
"I had a mark on my back for two days!" Commented Will
"Oh come on! I didn't hit that hard, Will!" I replied directly to him. I could picture Silvia tearing her hair off from despair, just as much as I could see Richard crying from laughing so hard.
"You want to ask that to my poor back, Cassie?" Retorted Will.
Gavril was enjoying this, I'm sure. Shalom was, as well as Amberly. The King and queen were looking at each other in a way I couldn't describe.
"Oh my! Look at this girl! Isn't she something?" Commented Gavril. Was this positive or negative?

***

Oh good gods! I tried so very hard to call William by his title and not his name. I probably didn't like it. Or my mouth didn't want to articulate the words.
Either way, I'd made a fool out of myself.
Both with my clear refusal of gender norms, hierarchical structure and etiquette.
But I was sure William hadn't minded. He knew full well that I couldn't stand those things; which was why, when he knocked on my door I wasn't scared, though I was wearing that ridiculous nightgown again. Was he doing this on purpose?
I opened up and, as usual he didn't greet, but went straight to the point. I could see Kat and Clara out of their doors looking at us
"I loved your dress. If you were trying not to draw attention to you, I'm afraid to say you failed big time, honey"
"Hey, Will, it's nice to see you, too, want to come in?" I said sarcastically,
"Now that you asked, yes, yes I'd love to, thank you" he replied just as sarcastically, I loved how are humours matched.
"Suit yourself" I concluded, closing the door to hide this from Clara's spiteful eyes.
"As I was saying, you were stunning" started Will, again
"Thank you. Did you say this to all the other 24, as well?"
"19. And no"
"Excuse me? Is this the way you drop such news?"
"Right. Still, you got the point. You were beautiful. Amber said she wants the same dress. And hair. She adored you tonight. Richard said that I finally found someone who can keep me at bay."
I didn't know what to say. I was humbled by this declaration.
"Can you tell them I thank them?"
"You can tell them yourself"
"Are you inviting me upstairs?"
"No, to the moon again. Let's try with Rick first"
"Wait, I'm putting something on."
"Don't bother. The heat is way to high"

***

The second floor was clearly the noble one. The decorations were polished and there were several frescoes and tapestries, portraying mythological scenes mostly. And portraits of generations of the Royal family. I was quite intimidated by this. Will sensed it somehow, since he grabbed my hand to reassure me.
He knocked on a door. When it opened I saw Jonathan. Weird. I didn't think guards were allowed inside the bed chambers. But maybe I was wrong and they were the best of friends.
I smiled widely and greeted the both of them. I could see they were nervous, so I tried and made them understand it really was no problem at all.
"Here she is, the night's most shining star!" Announced Richard. "And when I thought you were good just for kicking Will's ass, there you came and blew us all away"
"Thank you, but I did nothing special. I was just being... Me"
"Everyone saw that, which is why they like you. And the guards. They say you are too good for William" continued Jonathan.
"Do they? Maybe we should pay them a visit" retorted Will. "And I thought this selection was to keep the population's morale high, while it was all for the law enforcement." This was for the morale? So William hadn't planned this. It was imposed on him. Now that was why so many girls left so early.
"Now come, Amber was eager to meet you."
We wave goodbye and leave the room, I was about to ask Will about the guards in the rooms, when he knocked on a door.
A girl came right out and smiled.
"Come on in guys" she was just as jovial as the next person.
"I'm Ca..." I was starting to introduce myself but Amberly anticipated me
"Cassie, I know" said the princess shooting a side smile at William "I'm Amber. Don't curtsy." Amberly stopped me while I was beginning to.
"I heard so much about you. You are the only girl I haven't met yet."
"Well, you have now." I replied smiling.
Amberly made us sit on her bed.
"Yeah. I loved your dress, you know? And I love your hair. It's sooooo long" commented the princess.
"Why thank you! I like your hair as well!" Complimented Diana. Amberly was a beautiful girl, slim and tall, her hair was ginger, and it was really beautiful. It fell in waves past her shoulders. 
"You're too kind. She's too kind" commented directed to William.
"Trust me, sis, I know" replied the prince.
"You know, it's been a long time since I last saw someone sass my brother like that."
"So... Is it a good thing?" I asked uncertain.
"Totally! Mum and dad were laughing their arses off, once the report was over. Dad said you have a lot of mum"
"Thank you. But I doubt it."
Will and Amberly looked at each other and said at the unison "we don't"
"Alright." I commented defeated.
"Hey, you think I could meet your maids? To talk about your dresses?" Asked the princess.
"No problem. Is it alright tomorrow morning? As soon as they wake me, I can send them here."
"That would be lovely, thank you!" Oh, while I'm at it, my birthday is around Christmas time, mum and dad are letting us have a masquerade, so, just tell your maids to start thinking about your dress"
"Now? I don't even know if I'll still be here at Christmas." I replied astonished
"I'll make sure you will" Amberly reassured me winking at me.
Alright then.