The One (A Selection Fan Fiction)

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

Songs for the chapter:

     »Stay Close, Don't Go - Secondhand

     »A Twist In My Story - Secondhand Serenade

     »Back For You - One Direction

     »Vulnerable - Secondhand Serenade

     »When You're Gone - Avril Lavigne

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Chapter Fourteen

HE JOGGED TOWARDS ME AS soon as he saw me, and the guards followed his trail. But I noticed he wasn't smiling. His lips were tightly pursed as we stared at each other.

"Please give us a moment," he said to the guards. As soon as the guards were out of sight and earshot, Maxon almost yelled at me... again. "What were you thinking?"

I stood shocked and gaping at him. "What?" My voice was hoarse from thirst. I needed water. But it seemed like Maxon just ignored this.

"You let them take you? Really, America? You could have just defended yourself! You're absence during the Report caused confusion to all of Illéa," Maxon said.

I deeply breathed in to answer but I started wheezing again. I crouched down, my hand holding my throat and diaphram. The look on Maxon's face was replaced by worry and concern now.

"Paves! Give us some water." Right by that moment, Officer Paves came with a jug. He gave it to Maxon.

"As you were," Maxon said to Officer Paves, then gave me the container of water. When Officer Paves was gone again, Maxon's voice softened. "I'm sorry. I was just stressed out, I guess." He gave me the jug and I drank from it.

"Where's Aspen?" I asked. After seeing the confused look on Maxon's face, I quickly added, "Officer Leger?"

He shook his head, rubbing the back of his neck. "I — Well, Father said to — uh... I'm — "

"Where is he, Maxon?" I asked firmly.

He swallowed before speaking. "I'm sorry, America. He's on probation. After his report that you were taken, Father immediately ordered for him to be probated."

I abruptly stood up, apparently surprised by this news. I did not expect this. I actually thought that the king could not care any less if I was taken, let alone killed. It makes me wonder why he would want to probate Aspen when the one thing that he almost always wanted to happen to me has finally happened — out of the palace; out of sight, out of mind.

"Did he not tell you what I told him to do?" Aspen could be in a lot of trouble.

"He did. But it did not take him off of the hook. It was against protocol to leave you. He still should've defended you."

"We were outgunned!" I reasoned. I probably looked like I was trying to defend Aspen and get him off of the hook — and I was! — but Maxon was totally against me... again.

I didn't know if he was mad because I was kidnapped, or because the citizens of Illéa (especially my family) would be blaming him for my absence. I was hoping for the former, but after our fight last Thursday night, my mind shifted to the latter.

Maxon's eyebrows furrowed in rage. "He's a guard, America. He still should have defended you, even if it kills him."

I gasped as tears sprang in my eyes. I glared at him. "No! I figured you wouldn't want to have one less guard in your army, one less friend in my life, and one more body to send to a suffering family of Sixes who could barely hold on. His father is dead, Maxon, and he has four siblings. His mother cannot work alone for five mouths to feed."

This shut Maxon up. But I continued. "He's the one and only thing alive that kept me at least feel close to home and you know how badly I want to go home. But I stayed — for you. And now you take that away; you take him away. I don't want to grieve all over again and blame it on you," I said, my tears streaming down. But I didn't wipe it away. Maxon looked down at the ground.

"I — I'm sorry. I haven't thought about that," he said quietly, almost a whisper.

"That's because you know nothing about him," I said bitterly.

"I'm sorry, okay?" He was yelling again and I winced. He lowered his voice and I wasn't sure which was the reason: the shame the we were arguing and the guards were probably watching us, or maybe that he was finally realizing how this hurt me. "I was just worried about you."

It was my turn to lower my eyes. He took a tentative step towards me, unsure whether he should or not. Finally, he did. He lifted my chin with his fingers so I would look at his brown eyes.

"I'm sorry," he said softly. "I just can't think of someone hurting you because of me."

"I'm sorry, too." My voice was surprisingly soft after all the yelling. But still, it was a bit hoarse. "I'm sorry for shouting at you and having you worry and stress just because of me."

I felt his thumb brush against my cheek as he wiped my tears. He pull me into a hug, his warmth radiating off of him.

I hugged him back and when we pulled away from each other, I stood on my toes, reached up to him, and kissed him gently in a swift movement. He was surprised but he recovered quickly when he finally kissed back.

I was lost again. All the thoughts that made me worried and anxious were set aside as I feel the reassuring familiar arms hold me firmly on my waist, as if never to let me go anywhere far from him ever again. We both wanted to be inseperable. Feeling him with me, I knew I was safe now.

When I pulled away, he was grinning at me. I smiled back at him, and I realised he was all I needed.

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Note:

Did you expect that? I think you did. Maxon, I mean. Because he has brown eyes and Aspen has green ones.

So, everything got better here, but a bit tense — I warn you! — on the next chapter.

Vote and comment? :)

Next Update: Sunday