The Choosing

Chapter 23//: I am not going to do this

[ E D I T E D ]

♕✿~♕✿~Chapter 23//: I am not going to do this♕✿~♕✿~

I take in the view of the large hot tub in awe as Rose and Addaline do the same next to me as Tara, unaffected by the hot tub, walks past us into the hot tub with a magazine.

We're all in a simple bathing suit, all outside of the jacuzzi, while Tara sits down comfortably on one of the benches situated in the warm water.

Tara glances at us with a raised eyebrow. "What are you guys waiting for? Aren't you going to come in? It is time for us to relax before getting ready for the ball," she says as she goes back to the magazine.

I share glances with Addaline and Rose. As Reds, we've never experienced anything luxurious like this. I've never gotten the chance to relax in a hot tub before.

I feel a stab of guilt as I watch Addaline and Rose tentatively go into the jacuzzi. While I was here experiencing things that I never would've experienced before, how was my family? Are they eating a good breakfast? Are they going to appointments set up by our clients? Was the money I sent them from this competition enough to keep them going like mom had told me?

My thoughts are interrupted when Rose gestures for me to come into the jacuzzi.

"Come on, Madison! This is like heaven." Rose sighs as she lowers herself into the steaming water.

I purse my lips as I dip a hand into the water. Surprised at its warmth, I pull my hand back out. But at Rose's and Addaline's beckoning, I slowly go into the water, putting one limb after another in the water.

I sigh as I sit down on the bench in the jacuzzi. This wasn't too bad...

My bubble of peace is popped, however, when Tara suddenly drops the magazine she was holding into the water.

All of us watch as Tara quickly grabs the magazine and shakes it desperately, trying to dry it off. When she realizes it's no use, she calls over one of the maids stationed by the door of the jacuzzi room.

"Can you get another edition of this magazine? The recent one, of course," Tara says in a rapid voice as she hands the soaking mess of papers to the maid, who nods and rushes off to carry out Tara's order.

Curiosity gets the better of me as I ask Tara, "Why did you drop the magazine like that?" Tara focuses her brown eyes on me.

"The results of the poll a couple of days ago are out. I want to see where I placed."

As she says this, I remember the poll that was sent out. It was about who would look best with Ahren and we had to have that whole photoshoot.

For some reason, nerves were opening up in my stomach. I watch as Addaline and Rose gasp and watch the door with Tara to see when the maid would come back. Why was I feeling so nervous? I shouldn't even care so much about this.

But I forget that as all of us see the maid rush back in with the magazine. She hands it to Tara, who quickly rips it open with shaking hands. All of us watch as her eyes move up and down the page. Then, a smile breaks onto her face.

"I placed 6th!" Tara exclaims excitedly as she passes the magazine to Rose. Addaline peers over the shoulders of Rose as they both scan the page.

A wail escapes from Rose's mouth. "I placed 14th!" she says in mock distress. The others don't notice her forced tone of anguish, but I do. She doesn't really care about where she placed; after all, she has Nick.

Addaline purses her lips. "I placed 10th. Not too bad I guess." Then Addaline plucks the magazine out of Rose's hands and hands it to me.

I feel my fingers shake as I take a hold of the magazine. What if I got last place? I probably did. I mean, no one would want a Red as their-