The One (A Selection Fan Fiction)

Chapter Three

WHEN QUEEN AMBERLY LEFT AFTER her announcement, Celeste, Kriss and I were in complete panic. I tried reassuring myself that this was natural, but my frantic thoughts had clouded me. I could only stare where the queen was moments ago. I tried to keep myself together, but I know I'll go insane any moment now. So I excused myself to go to the comfort room.

On my way there, I noticed Aspen guarding the Women's Room. I ignored him and walked past him.

"Lady America?" he whispered. I stopped walking. Please, Aspen, don't stall me.

Don't turn around. Don't turn around, I keep telling myself.

Exactly two seconds later, I ran. But I never heard his voice again. He knew my reasons. He knew our limits.

When I reached the comfort room, I put my hands on the edge of the sink and closed eyes. I inhaled deeply, held my breath, then breathe out. I opened my eyes and looked at my reflection in the mirror.

Stay strong, America. You can do this. I kept on repeating those words.

"I won't let you down."

"The Selection shall end in three weeks."

Stay strong.

You can do this.

A droplet of something black fell on the sink. I looked up, searching for the source but my eyes began to burn. That was when I realized that the source was my eye. My eyes sting from the mascara Mary had put on me this morning.

Swiftly, I grabbed a tissue from the tissue box nearby and started wiping on my cheeks and eyes. Unfortunately, the black had scattered. I turned on the faucet, wet the tissues and tried cleaning again until my face was clean again.

I exited, and went straight back to the Women's Room, Aspen nowhere in sight. A new guard was on the place where he was just minutes ago.

"Well, you look pale." I sat on my previous chair and faced Elise, and answered her comment with a small nod.

"I decided to remove my make-up for now," I said. "Let's go back to our lesson, shall we?"

"Of course, Lady America. Although, I had forgotten my previous question. I shall ask a new one," she said. "May I do your make-up?"

"Please," I replied. "But, Lady Elise, please don't make me look like a clown."

She nodded, both of us giggling at my little joke. We both stood up and I sat on a chair in front of a mirror, Elise sitting on the other chair beside mine. I turned to face her as she grabbed a few supplies.

Half an hour later, just when Elise finished her work on my face — which I still haven't seen, by the way — and Silvia stood from her seat where she was reading a magazine earlier, our mentor announced that we can go.

I turned towards the mirror behind me, gazing at my completely new reflection. Elise has definitely done a great job! And she surely did what she had promised: not to make me look like a clown.

I smiled, still quite impressed with Elise's talents in fashion.

"Wow," I breathed out, looking at Elise who was smiling, obviously satiated with my expression and impression. "Thank you. You have a great talent in fashion, Elise."

"You're welcome." She nodded, grateful with my compliment. "I should go and look at my dress for tonight." I nodded. Then we both left in opposite directions as we exited the room.

"Hey," Maxon said, walking up next to me from behind. My eyes instantly looked to his way, and I felt a tug at the corner of my lips, a smile forcing to show itself.

"Hi," I replied, still looking at him.

"So, I may have said 'I will see you at breakfast' and I did. But that wasn't enough, was it?" I frowned and shook my head at his question, honestly saying no. My eyes darted back to the ground, watching my steps. He sighed quitely, and I felt a warm hand slip into mine. "Let's spend the night together, shall we?"

The small grin was back, and I nodded. He smiled back, and I know he wants what he said.

"So," he started as we stepped into the gardens. "Remember that night when we were here?"

I laughed. "Maxon, we're here most times together. Which specific night do you mean?"

"Oh, that night when we were lying there —" he pointed a spot on the grass " — and we were looking up at the stars. And you said that you thought I was perfect. I told you I wasn't, that I was probably terrible at some things, too."

"Oh," I said, remembering the moment. "What about it?" I asked as we both sat on the bench, facing each other.

"I just thought that maybe we could repeat that night. Gaze up at the stars and tell you what I know and what I like about them."

"Of course, I'd love to," I said. Maxon smiled, standing up and tugged his ear. I mirrored his actions, grinning widely while tugging at my ear, too.

"I'll see you tonight, America."

"You, too, Maxon."