Battle For the Crown

one

2:00 am
The sky was darker than it had been all summer, the kind of dark that pushes on your lungs until you can't breathe, but you somehow still manage to grab gulps of hot sticky air through the night.
The midnight air was whipping past her, tossing her hair harshly against her face, slapping against her already stinging cheeks, she raised her hands from the side of the sunroof to high above her head, offering herself to the sky. It couldn't catch her torso with its grip fast enough, she slipped through its fingers like sand every time. The music from the inside of the car flew out of the open roof,"send a dozen, send a dozen dead roses." The little woman laughed into the harsh, unforgiving night sky.
She slipped herself gently back into the passenger seat and smiled over at her best friend,"This is my favourite part." She smiled and the driver nodded,"I know, I hate it." She smiled gently as she looked over to meet her friends eyes,"I wasn't talking about the song, although that is my favourite part of Deadroses. I meant that this was my favourite part of our lives." She started, only letting a little giggle out when she noticed the face her friend was making at her, knowing it would make her laugh,"This part. The part where we aren't supposed to be out, and if our parents found out that we were, we'd be six feet underground, deader than dead. The part where you let me scream into the endless abyss that is our universe, even though we both know very well that I could fall out and get myself killed. This part where we're both in your car, and nobody can drag us apart."

10:00 am

Allyson's POV

The leather of the couch underneath my thighs was sticky from the blinding heat, the skin pushed directly against it was damp with cool sweat. The tv in the corner was black and the room was quiet except for the hot pants of collective breathing,"Isn't that prince thing happening soon?" My mom chimed up,"Prince thing?" I asked, shrugging my shoulders and continuing to text Jorja.
Thanks again for last night.
She sent and I gently shook my head.
You drove me
She read it immediately
It was your idea, and you bought the blizzards.
I rolled my eyes
You were way too good for him.
She started typing as soon as it sent
I'm done with guys.
Not even thirty seconds later another text came through before I could send my response.
I was on FaceTime with Cody, he's so nice, and hot, OH LORD, YOU SHOULD SEE HIS ARMMMMSSSS
I laughed and sent back
"I'm done with guys."
I set my phone back on my leg when I saw my mom click the remote, the tv screen erupted into life,"can I turn the A/C on?" I asked, reaching towards my dad's iPad which sat on the coffee table, she nodded and began to flip through the channels.
My older brother Kris came clunking up the stairs, making his famous raptor face before stretching out over my seat with a smirk tugging on his lips. Kris is 7 years older than me and home for the summer, my other brother still lives in town with his wife Nicole. Caiden is 10 years older than me and comes to visit on holidays and weekends sometimes but is busy most of the time with his job.
I live in a small town in Canada, everyone around here is related to or is someone who works in the oilfield, and most Sunday's are dedicated to watching local hockey at the arena. Nothing exciting ever really happens around here very often, but it's sort of nice.
After I had set the iPad back onto the table, I shoved Kris off of one end of the couch, although when I sat back down his long legs flopped right back down onto my lap, I shook my head and ignored him to the best of my ability. My mom turned the tv up a couple notches to hear over my brother and I's inevitable bickering.
The tv was set on the news,"girls from all over North America have been selected and will be announced in 30 minutes time. The 14 lucky girls will be flown up to the gorgeous kingdom of Tickot for the Battle Of the Crown.
This competition has been going on for centuries, every crown prince hosts it when they come of age, and if they do not manage to find love in the 5 month timespan they must begin again until they do." The newscaster drawled on and on, Kris and I shared unimpressed glances between each other as the man's hand flew to his ear as something was passed along to him,"I have just received news that the next competitor is about to be selected." I began to turn my attention away from the tv screen when a pounding knock sounded against the front door sending me to my feet quickly, thankful for a break from the mind numbing news.
I turned the doorknob quickly, expecting to be met with a solicitor or a kid fundraising for school, much to my surprise five cameras were scattered across my lawn, and a man in a tailcoat smiled warmly at me when he saw my shocked expression, my heart nearly pounding out of my chest as my face paled,"just smile, they don't bite." He seemed nice enough, and I would've taken any advice that was given by this point, the cameras crept closer, all shouting questions that I didn't know the answers to,"Does the prince think he'll be capable of falling in love with you?" "What's your favourite line from Tickot's national anthem?" The man nudged my side and, taking the hint I smiled, as if by magic they all stopped asking questions and starting taking pictures, the flashes leaving their mark permanently against my retina. The man smiled down at me, shook my hand and slid  and envelope between my fingers before pushing me gently back inside of my house, bowing lightly before retreating into his long black limousine.
I shut the door behind me and walked back into my living room, Kris was mocking my stunned face and holding back fits of laughter," oh shut up!" I laughed as I ran my finger under the navy blue wax seal with a swirly T pressed harshly in it. My mom began to laugh almost as hysterically as Kris,"I didn't even think about there being a chance of you being chosen." I nodded in case she began to get upset, and pulled the heavy paper out of the envelope, it read;
Dearest Allyson,
I sincerely hope this letter finds you in good health. I remember going through the pictures of all the eligible ladies and taking a little longer on yours, those eyes make me weak in my knees.
I simply cannot wait to meet you on September the 2nd, 2017. That morning a car will arrive at your home and escort you to the airport where you will fly on a private jet to my castle. You do not need to bring any of your own clothing or possessions unless it holds significant emotional value and you cannot live without it, these girls are ruthless and may use it against you, be careful.
I laughed a bit at that part.
Bring only yourself, your dashing good looks, and a smile (and maybe a set of clothes to get you here) Best wishes and safe travels.
Sincerely yours,
Prince Elliot James Prescott III.

I looked back up at the tv  and saw a smiling face, the same name that I had just read flashed under the photo, he was hot, smoking hot. I had to call Jorja.

A/N
Hey guys, thanks for reading my book, or at least the first chapter of it, I used to write under a different name on Wattpad but decided that it was time for a fresh start. I made a new account and hit the ground running, beginning three books at once, one a poetry, another a short story and finally the one you're currently reading, my novel. Throughout my time writing this book I've fallen in love with many of these characters and hope that you can do the same.
Thank you for reading, please don't forget to like this chapter if you've enjoyed.
-CM