A/N: To mom, if you decided to read this one. Yes I am aware that you might be concerned about the colorful language in this chapter. In the Elite, Celeste referred to Marlee as a 'Whore' and I cannot change that, so I've chosen to put it in this. Sorry :)
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"I'm staying." I said to my maids when they asked that dreadful question. Of course the answer was more than delightful.
"We know. We've known all along." Mary said with a smirk.
"You've spoken to my father and Maxon." I blurt out.
"Yes. And eavesdropped, sorry." Lucy replied with a blush.
"It's not a problem. But stop. Now I demand you to dress me in the most marvelous gown possible." I said imperatively. They all laughed at my joke.
"How about this?" Anne said in a small voice, with a grin about as big as what used to be called Texas.
She took a hanger out of the closet and took the bag off of the dress.
You could hear my gasp a mile away.
The dress, lilac in color, was down to my feet in length. It had slim sleeves that were quarter length and exposed my shoulders. This dress could've been the same as usual, but it wasn't. Above the waist was laced and the bottom was lace and mesh.
"Too beautiful. You're fired." I snapped at her.
She laughed. "We're not leaving yet. I suppose you'll just have to deal with us."
"Seriously though. You've outdone yourselves. How can I ever repay you?" I asked softly.
"You've done enough," Lucy started. "We all know you have what it takes. Taking us into safety when the rebels attacked, being the friendliest of all of our previous masters."
"Don't call me that." I said quickly. "I'm not your master."
"You're so good." Anne said nearly silently.
"Let's just get me into this beautiful dress." I said jubilantly.
"Happily." Mary said with a smile.
They helped me out of the dress I was wearing and pulled me into the new one. As Anne tied up the back, Mary worked at my hair. Lucy handed her pins. They barely bothered with makeup.
"Now head down to the Women's Room." Anne said. "And be careful of the debris in the hallway."
I nodded and stood up. I slipped on my heels and carefully took the trip down the Women's Room.
"You're still here?" Elise asked, generally surprised, but not in a mean way.
"Nearly everyone has second chances." I said simply. "You'd be surprised."
The Women's Room hadn't been untouched by the attack, but it was cleaned faster.
"America!" I heard Kriss's voice call. "Thank goodness! I thought you were leaving."
"Not yet." I said and kept walking. Celeste noticed me. I sat down on one of the sofas and looked around. Everything was covered in some sort of dust from the destruction.
What did the rebels really want? I thought to myself. Sure, the royal family was a target, but why us?
"He should've dropped you." I heard Celeste say as she sat down in a chair next to the sofa. "A long time ago, might I add."
"Well I wouldn't have had to deal with you then." I said through persed lips.
"Listen." she started rudely, indicating that if I didn't then I'd be sorry. "You already know where you stand. With the people. With the king. With the queen. But apparently you haven't put Maxon on that list yet." She sighed angrily.
"Can anyone get some tea around here?" She yelled out to anyone that would listen. She shook her head and continued.
"It's obvious that you want to put up a fight. But trust me, I know Maxon better than you ever will. He doesn't want to fight for you. He doesn't care about you. That crown," she glared at me, "is mine."
She stood up and dropped a note on my lap. She walked away like she made a difference. I was fuming. How dare she? Ready to go off on her again, I opened the note.
'You're just going to end up like the whore.'
I gritted my teeth and ran before I could attack. I screamed as I ran out of the room.
Basically crying, I ran up the stairs and into my room. I sat on the bed and clenched my fists tight.
After calming down, I dropped the note into my desk drawer. I decided it would be healthy to eat my lunch in my room.
"Anne. Lunch in my room today." I said to her. "I'll tell you why I'm angry."
"Please, do. I'll call down." She replied. She did as she said she would.
I sighed and looked into the mirror. Just as expected, my hair was messy. I tried my best to fix it, but it wasn't the same.
"I'll get that for you." Lucy said from behind me and began to pin my hair.
Soon, my lunch came. Anne set it on the table and brought my desk chair over so we could all sit. I sat down at my chair and began to eat.
"So..." Mary hinted.
"So Celeste's welcome back gift to me was a lecture about how I'm nothing compared to her, and... This." I said and stood up to get the note. "Sorry it's crumpled. I was a little more than slightly mad."
"Is she referring to..."
"Yep, Marlee. How dare she?" I replied to them.
As I was taking another bite of my food, I noticed a note at the edge of my platter. I set down my fork and read it.
'Tugging my ear.'
I sighed once again. I finished up my food and hugged my maids. They looked surprised.
"I have to go. I really, REALLY, want to stay though." I said to them.
They nodded. I waved and walked through the slightly cleaner debris.
My destination was the Great Room. I saw Maxon sitting at a couch by the entrance.
"Why did you scream earlier-" He was cut off by my shoving the note at him. I wanted to cry.
"And I suppose you want her to leave..." He said, not needing an explanation to whom it was from.
"No." I surprised him. "She needs to stay. She needs to be the last besides me."
"But what about Kriss?" He asked quietly.
"Here's my plan," I stated. "Elise, first. Then let Kris's down very easily. Then Celeste. And then-"
"You're mine." he said with a small smile. "That will be a surprise."
"I don't need any more time." I declared. "I love you. But you need to know some things."
"What is it, my darling?" he asked gently.
"The boy, my old boyfriend." I started. "He's- He's Officer Leger. Don't be mad at him. Don't cane him. But you have to know."
"I- You- Does he still have feelings?" he asked.
"He does. But I don't. I don't. It's hard to say it, but I have to face the fact that it's true." I said, looking to the ground.
"I'm okay with that." Maxon said. "He can stay. We won't cane him. We can pretend this never happened."
"Thank you." I replied. "And secondly, I want to see your cut. Is it any better?"
"You cured me well. Hurts like hell though." He stated. I laughed.
"Later, I'm seeing it." I pressed on.
"Okay." He said with a smile.
"And later, can I see your bedroom? I know what mine is going to look like, but I wish to see yours." I ask.
"Tonight is perfect for that." he exclaims, quietly. "My parents have a meeting that I'm not attending."
"Good." I said before standing up. "Hopefully no one eavesdropped on us today."
Luckily no one even knew I was there.
"Hopefully, no one has or ever will eavesdrop on us." he said.
"Hope." I said one last time, sort of loudly. Me and him hugged, knowing everyone was watching.
I already knew Celeste was going to do something stupid when I heard her fork drop on the table.
