The Selection

Chapter 1

"Margaret please go get the mail!!" My dad yelled across our small house. My name is Margaret and My family and I are a 5 in our caste system. Except my sister Jennifer who got job and worked her way up to a caste 3.

"Yes sir!" I yelled back. I quickly walked outside and got the mail. On the way out I passed Luke. He is a 7. 8 is the worst.

"How are you Mags?" Luke asked as I passed him.

"I'm ok. Im just getting the mail." I exclaimed.

"I already got it for you it is in the Treehouse. Are we meeting there later?" He asked in a whispered tone.

We meet in the treehouse quite often just to talk and catch up. We have been best friends since we were 4. Sometimes I guess you could call us Friends with Benefits but we have to keep that a secret or we could go to jail.

"sh. of course we are though" I said worried someone passing might hear us. "But thanks for getting the mail."

"No problem. See you later." Luke said with a smirk. 

I left with a blush on my face and went to the tree house to get the mail, knowing if I showed up without it my dad would be furious. 

I climbed up the ladder and saw a huge envelope peeking out. In big red letters it said THE SELECTION. Oh no.... I am not doing this. Luke and I are getting pretty serious and I can't leave my family or him. 

I grabbed all the letters anyway and walked back to the house. I dropped them all on the table and took the selection letter to my room. I closed my door and sat on my bed. 

I tore open the letter trying not to rip the forms inside. Even though it wouldn't matter anyway since I am NOT doing this. It needed a ton of information and it was due a week from today. So that at least came me some time to think things over. I mean it would give my poor family some money so maybe I could try to stay for a little while just to help them out. 

"Mags!! Dinner!" My brother, Alex, yelled while walking into my room. "Whatcha looking at? You know Mom and Dad will be mad if you are looking at the bills again." 

"Shut up its not that. It's the-"

"THE SELECTION" Alex said, interrupting me. 

"SSHH, if Lily hears you she will explode from happiness." I said. Lily is my little sister, while Alex is older Lily is only 15. I am 17 and Alex is 20. Lily has been waiting for this letter to arrive so I could enter. 

"Well lets get to dinner. And if you do not tell everyone at dinner then I will." Alex said with a smirk. 

"YOU WILL NOT" 

"Yes I will." 

I moaned and we walked out to dinner and sat down. This is going to be so fun....

Lily was setting our small make-shift table, since we could not afford a nice table. Mom was in the kitchen putting the small dinner on the plates and Dad was already at the table. So we walked in and sat at our spots.

"Um. I have some news that I want us all to consider from my point of view."  I said with everyone looking at me with confused looks. "My letter for the selection came." I continued. 

"OH MY GOSH!!!!! THIS IS SO AMAZING YOU ARE GETTING MARRIED!!!' Lily said sounding so excited it almost made me excited. Almost.

"No that is not what it means. I might not even be picked..." I answered.

"So you are doing it?" Mom asked.

I shook my head "I have no idea. We need the money."  

My dad frowned. "Do not think about that part. I mean we do, but this is about you honey." 

"Ya Mags. This is not really about us." Alex added in.

"DO NOT PUT THOSE THOUGHTS IN HER MIND I WANT TO GO TO THE CASTLE!!" Lily chirped in. 

We all laughed. Typical Lily thing to say. 

"I will think about it. The photo booth opens tomorrow so I might as well apply I don't know." I decided to say something after all of those comments. "Could I eat in my room?" I asked.

"Yes. If you want." My mom answered.

I took the food and 2 drinks with me to my room. I was going to give half of this and a drink to Luke when we met in the treehouse. I really needed tot all to him about this. He also needs the food because his family usually cannot afford enough food for everyone. 

After about 5 minutes of waiting in the treehouse I saw a shadow with a flashlight creeping up the ladder. That must be Luke. 

"Hey M." The familiar voice of my best friend said while climbing up the ladder. 

"Hey. I brought some food. Should I do the selection?" I just decided to say it.

"Thanks. Uhh thats kind of random. But I think you should do it. Get away from here." Luke said.

"But I want to stay here with you." I said

"Yes. But if we ever admitted we were dating we would be in so much trouble. I can't even provide for you and I do not want you to have to do all the providing." I could hear the sadness in his voice. It was the truth but it was both hard to say and hard to hear. 

"I do not care." I added. hoping to change his mind. Instead, he placed his lips onto mine and everything stopped. I did not need to think abut the selection or anything else just here in this moment in my treehouse with the boy I thought would be the only one. 

"I love you Margaret. But I need to let you do this. You deserve better." Luke said after stopping the kiss. I started to tear up. 

"What?" 

"I love you. But we cannot keep doing this." 

"You love me?"

"Of course." 

That is it I'm sobbing now. 

"I cannot leave you after saying that." I said in between sobs. 

Luke pulled me in close and held me in his arms. 

"Please do it. Do it for me." Luke whispered in my ear. 

I nodded.

"I should get back home before anyone notices I'm gone. Thanks for the food." Luke said and he climbed down the ladder. 

I guess thats it. I have to do it. I am so confused. He just left after saying he loved me??? 

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Well...That is the first chapter!! I hope you enjoy! Please like and comment...