The One: Rewritten

Chapter 3

As I watched the palace get smaller and smaller from from my window view, I sighed. What I had thought was my everything turned out to be nothing. How could this be? 24 hours ago, I was so sure of what would happen in my life, and now I feel like a blob on the floor, not sure what's going to happen anymore. As I thought about my seriously messed up life, I felt a hand lay on my hand, and I looked in that direction, startled. I saw Celeste looking back at me, probably wondering why I kept staring at the palace like a stalker. 

"Hey, it's going to be ok." She said, trying to comfort me. It wasn't working.

"I-I know. I know, everything's going to be fine. I'm just going to move on, even though I lost everybody. And I mean everybody. Maxon, Aspen, Lucy, Mary, Anne, Marlee...Oh, Marlee. I'm sorry." I said, breaking into round 3 of tears. Here we go. Again. 

"Hey, you'll see Marlee again. I promise." She said, giving me another hug. I couldn't believe how supportive she was being to me. Before, she probably would have just thrown her shoe at me or something. 

"How d-do you know?" I asked, stuttering like a 3 year old. Wow, I was being seriously pathetic.

"Because she loves you as much as you love her, and that kind of friendship will find each other in the end. Like you and me." She said, smiling shyly, while playing with the hem of her dress. I smiled, through my thick tears. 

"You're right. I mean who knew at the beginning of this Selection that we would become friends," I said, chuckling. Celeste smiled. 

"Don't worry, America. The heartbreaks over. Your staying with me now, and it's going to be like living in a dreamhouse." She said, rolling her eyes. Thanks goodness, I thought as the real Celeste showed up again. The whole sincerity thing was kind of freaking me out, as mean as it was. I rolled my eyes, too. 

"Anything's better than the palace." I replied, half smiling. Celeste smile faded.

"What's wrong?" I asked, worried that I had hurt her feelings.

"Nothing, it's just... I think we might have to go back for Kriss's and Maxon's wedding." She said, frowning. I groaned. 

"Noooo." I said, as my heart sank 10 feet below ground. 

"Maybe we can say we're sick. Or that your new boyfriend wanted to go on a date or something." She said, and my heart took another 30 feet drop. 

"What?! Uh, no boyfriend for me. I'm done with romance. Done, done, done. No more. Maybe in 40 years or something," I said, panicking so much about what Celeste said, I didn't realize at the moment how ridiculous saying done three times is. 

"Uh, yes! You have! I'm thinking a really famous celebrity, like Ryan Smith or something, since your like a celebrity now, the tabloids will want to focus on you guys. Everyone will see it, including Maxon! Wait!!! I know!!! You can take him to the wedding as a date. Than Maxon will radiate envy!! Perfect! He might not take you back, but at least we can show him who's boss here!" Celeste squealed in delight, and I knew that this meant a lot to her because the Celeste I knew, did not squeal. At all. 

"But I can't! Celeste, I'm not even over Maxon yet, there's no way I can just go out with another random guy just for the tabloi---" I was interrupted by Celeste, who had a stern expression on her face. 

"America, do you want Maxon to know how heartbroken you are?" She asked me. Darn. How did she know? 

"No, bu---" I was cut off again. I sighed. 

"Than trust me. Kriss and Maxon's wedding is in a couple of weeks, and at least with this plan, he'll think twice before messing around with you." Celeste replied, waiting for me to agree. Should I? I mean this was kind of crazy, since my heart was still broken in fourths, which was also sprinkled in salt. Wait, isn't salt supposed to heal wounds? Ok, but that's not the point. As I thought about the plan, I felt something tug my heart. What lesson was I teaching May? That just because a backstabbing heartbreaker swoops in and steals your heart, your life was over?! No. Way. I cracked each of my fingers, as Celeste grinned, amused. I couldn't believe I was doing this, but with all the courage in my heart, I asked Celeste: 

"Who do you have in mind?" 

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Drama!!! LOL 

So, I know that this story has been off to a slow start, but I wanted to thank you guys who have started reading it. It means a lot to me, and I'm really thankful. If you have any comments or questions, write them below! If you have any ideas, I'm open to them. 

Thanks so much for reading. 

<3 Booknerd1116