THE SELECTION: The Decision.

The Confession

Maxon's POV:
I don't go up to see America that night, even though I tugged my ear. And I pray that she doesn't try to find me until I figure out how to fix this. I hope to get a second to explain at breakfast the next morning, but she isn't there. She isn't at dinner either, and that's when I start to get worried. I send someone to get one of her maids so that I can find out what's happened without my father seeing us together.
Her shy maid comes into my office timidly. "Your Majesty? You... You asked to see me..?"
"Yes, come in, please." I stand up. "I was wondering if Lady America was alright? She missed breakfast and dinner, and I don't know if anyone has seen her all day..."
"Well, sir... I... I don't know if I should be telling you this... But she has been terribly sick all day. She can't keep any food in her at all and she can't even sleep because she just wakes up and has to be sick," the maid spills worriedly.
My eyes go wide. "She's sick? Oh no..." I bite my lip hard. "I must see her." I don't care what my father thinks. "Take me to her, will you?"
She nods and quickly leads me to America's room. I don't even knock before barging in, my worry for her overshadowing the worry that someone will see me. I quickly look around but there is no sign of her.
Her maid points to the bathroom door. "She's likely in there..." Her suspicion is confirmed when we hear heaving on the other side of the door. I open it quickly to find her other maids tending to her as she leans over the toilet. I suddenly feel an ache to see her in pain like this. "Thank you, ladies, I can take it from here. You are dismissed..." I quickly bend down beside America as her maids make themselves scarce. I hold her hair up and rub her back gently.
"Hey... It's okay... Just breathe, darling..." I say sadly. When she finally stops, she stands up shakily and washes her face before nearly collapsing into my arms.
I gently pick her up and cradle her in my arms, trying to ignore how light she feels.
"I'm sorry," she mumbles.
"What on earth for? You're sick, America... You couldn't help it..." I sigh. I quickly take off my shoes and climb into her bed while holding her. I lay her down gently then crawl under the covers beside her. "You're shaking," I whisper.
I wrap my arms around her protectively and she immediately snuggles in.
"Maxon?" She asks quietly.
"Yes, dear?"
"Why didn't you come last night?"
I sigh. "I got stuck with my father... I'm so sorry... He... He figured out our signal."
She looks up into my eyes and sadness fills her face. Her voice becomes low and worried. "He didn't hurt you, did he?"
I sigh and tuck her hair behind her ear. "No, America... I'm alright. He didn't touch me... It's you I'm worried about," I confess. "He doesn't want me to marry you... What he doesn't know, is that my mind is already made up... I'm just afraid that he'll try to... Try to take things out on you... And I don't want him to get near you... Even if it means I can't be with you..." My heart breaks as I speak and it does so even more when I see the determination in her eyes.
  "Maxon, I don't care if he tries to hurt me.  I want to be with you... I..." She hesitates and my heart speeds up.  "I love you."
  There it is.  The unspoken is finally spoken, and I'm afraid I might cry.  "I love you too," I breathe out.  I press my lips to her forehead and pull her closer to me.  I now know that, no matter what, I am going to marry America Singer.  No matter what.