Once Upon A Pink Suitcase|✔️

Chapter Two:

His face disappears as the metal doors shut with a satisfying thump.

I stare at the ground, unable to process what I just did. So I use my 'Saige get your crap together' method.

I am Saige Elizabeth Montgomery.
I am 20 years old.
I live with Abigail Rose and Owen James.
My parents are divorced.
My dad is dead.
Abigail has leukemia.
I am entering the Selection.
I just kissed Thomas.

Oh my God.

At least I am back to normal, ish. I still can't process that kiss. Maybe I am just paranoid, but maybe I am not?

The elevator doors open and walk out, semi confident.

"Good Luck Miss. Montgomery!" calls out the receptionist. With a chorus of other good lucks's from other nearby people. I guess they could say they said 'good luck' to the Princess before she was a Princess... I can't get ahead of myself. I most likely won't be chosen, and if I am chosen, I most likely won't make it very far. I don't seem like Princess material. Heck I need my 11 year old sisters advice on how to dress for dates and school.

I speed up to a speed walk like pace, walking about four blocks. It would take me 20 minutes to drive, but Owen takes our only car a lot for his jobs so I can rarely drive. So I rely on my trusty friend, the subway. Making my way down the cement stairs with many loud clunks, I quickly run to make the last one which was loading people as I arrived down underground. I stole a seat near the window, looking out at the concret walls around me. I thought about how much my life has changed, looking at my white nails, wallet, shoes, dress, headband. Its shocking how much I have changed since Abigail was born. If I had the chance to talk to the 9 year old me, I don't know if she would be relived or disappointed.

Growing up I had my whole life planned out. I was going to go to medical school on the other side of the nation, and have my family grow up in a quiet suburb by the beach. In a beautiful, big, white rustic house, with lots of beadrooms and a beautiful kitchen. I would marry Thomas, and have three kids. Two girls, one boy hopefully, and the boy would be the oldest and very protective because of the age gap between them. Owen would visit him a lot and teach him how to play football. Abigail would teach him how to be a good brother and I would teach him how to respect girls. My father would tell him how to apply for jobs and my mother would tell him about how to plan a party. Thomas would spend lots of time with him and never make him feel lost or alone. We wouldn't swamp ourselves in work and be their for our children. The girls would enjoy playing football alongside their brother but have fun shopping too. The girls would both look like Thomas, with beautiful fawn colored hair and green eyes, but the boy would have my platinum blond hair and Thomas's green eyes. We would look like a whole family. Then when I became older, and my children went off to college, I would open a bakery called Splendid Saige. Thomas and I would grow old and enjoy being outside, maybe join a tennis group or something. I would see my children grow up, and see my grandchildren grow up until Thomas and I have used up our time on Earth.

But my parents can't be in that picture, and Abigail might not be their to. I won't be going to medical school anytime soon and the chances of opening a bakery are slim. I probably won't marry Thomas, and I won't be having kids anytime soon. I won't be going to the other side of the nation and buying a big, beautiful house.

Before I can blink, I arrive at city hall. I came bright and early so there would be a small line, and I was right. I waited patiently against the red bricked building.

The five girls in front of me, all in fancy ball gowns and pounds of makeup on. I panic for a second thinking I should have done that to increase my chances, but I instantly take that back. If I actually was selected and if the Prince even wanted to marry me, I would want him to want the real me. Unfortunately a lot of that can come across in how you dress and present yourself. But those are two major ifs. I don't want to imagine what my life could be in the palace, and I don't want to imagine being in the presence of Prince William, let alone think about going on a date with him, or being in alone with him. Well at least, not yet.

"Saige, get your head out of the gutter!" I mutter to myself. This is NOT how I want to present myself. I trace my hand along the side of the building, curving around all the bricks. The line moves up slowly, but steadily until its almost my turn.

"Finally!" I think to myself, it was a slow and painful wait. I couldn't stop thinking about what they might ask me. I studied each girls dress, walk, attitude, and tone of voice (when I managed to make small talk with some of the girls around me, most were too self centered or busy to even notice me...). I held back from critiquing each of the girls, I mean I am in no position to, but I did identify the wealthy and then not so wealthy. I looked at hairstyle, eye color, nose shape, lipstick color, makeup, eyebrow shape (yes I was that bored). I wondered what eye color and hair color Prince William prefers.

I know how this process works more or less, he picks out anyone he doesn't like at first sight and then they draw thirty names, and pick the other five based on connections to people helpful for the palace or someone his parents want in it. I just hope that my simple style would maybe seem humble to the Prince? Laid back but sophisticated? Maybe simple and bland? No, no, no, not that....

"Miss Saige Elizabeth Montgomery, it is your turn."

authors note:
hey, I am so excited for this book. it is just getting started out, so the chapters are fairly short. but they will get longer. please vote/comment/share!

xoxo,
@k_b5239