THE SELECTION: The Decision.

The Brother

We go back into the ball soon enough and we are quickly swept up into the chaos. I have a lot of exchanges with people I don't remember, congratulations I barely hear. I know May is having the time of her life but I barely get to enjoy it because I'm so bombarded with people. By the time everyone starts leaving, I'm on the verge of a nervous breakdown. I grab Maxon's hand and give it a squeeze. "My room?" I ask under my breath.
"Definitely." He squeezes my hand once and then goes off to give a few goodbyes.
When he walks off I begin planning my exit strategy when Kota walks up.
"What's wrong with you?" He asks. I must look as frazzled as I feel.
"It's just... Everything is a little too much." I shake my head. "I'm just overwhelmed." I run my fingers through my hair.
"Are you still going to marry him?" He asks seriously.
I look up at him quickly. "What? Of course I'm still marrying him, Kota... I love him."
"Do you really? Because Aspen is still here... If you really loved Maxon, then Aspen wouldn't be here."
"I didn't ask for him to come here! This was his choice... And I'm not going to have him fired, either. That wouldn't be fair to him at all... He didn't do anything wrong."
"Oh really? Because I think him still being in love with you is a pretty big deal... Did you know that he was here tonight? At the ball? I tried talking to him but all he could do was look at you like you were something important that he lost."
I cross my arms defensively because I know he's not wrong. "I'm not going to fire him... That decision falls on Maxon, and I know that he is not that petty."
"I wouldn't be so sure... Have you met him? Look at what he said about my art..." He scoffs.
"Yes... I have. And I know what he said about your art... He said nothing, because I never showed it to him. I'm not letting you use Maxon like you've used the rest of us... He's too good for you, to put it simply. He is trying so hard to make all of you like him, but I know he will never win you over because you only like people who you can use for your own personal gain."
He seems infuriated. "I can't believe you! You think you're all high and mighty because you came to the palace! Guess what? He picked you because he thought you were attractive or easy and all you came here to be was a glorified prostitute! Don't even try to deny it... That's why he's marrying you, isn't it? Was the end goal that he would marry whichever one of you he knocked up first?"
I'm so enraged that at first I think I'm the one that threw the punch. I certainly wanted to...
But the blurred fist connecting with Kota's nose belonged to Maxon.
I stare at him in awe as he pulled back his fist and shakes it out. He winces.
"That seemed less painful for me in my head..."
I blink and shake my head, clearing my thoughts. "Are you okay?" I take his hand gently.
"Yes, yes... I'm definitely better than he is, right now." He nods over to where Kota is groaning on the floor with a bloody nose. "But he deserved it."
"How much did you hear?" I bite my lip.
"Most of it... I believe I started eavesdropping when I heard the words 'do you still want to marry him?'... Not a question I want asked of my fiancé." He pulls me close and looks thoughtful. "Do you really think that Aspen still loves you...?"
I look down. "Yes... I think he believes that he does... I know what he's actually feeling feeling. It's not real, but he hasn't figured that out yet. It's what I felt when he first came here," I meet his eyes again. "But I swear that I don't feel that anymore."
"Do you think that I should fire him?" He asks quietly. "Should I feel threatened? Should I fear for your safety?"
I take a deep breath. "Honestly? No, I don't think you should fire him... Aspen knows when to quit." I step closer to him and rest my hands on his shoulders.
  "Are you certain?" He still seems hesitant.
  "I'll make sure everything is cleared up... I swear.  Now come on, I'm tired... Let's go back to my room."
  Just like that the smile comes back to his face.  "It's not going to be your room much longer... Shall we give that room the goodbye it deserves before we move you into the princess suite?" 
  I lower my eyes flirtatiously with a smirk.  "That can be arranged."  I look to where Kota is in the corner holding ice to his bloody nose and I decide to ignore that particular part of my life right now.  Instead, I wordlessly begin walking backwards to the doors and when I get there I take off in a jog, heading for the staircase.  I make it to the top before he catches me, tossing me over his shoulder as I laugh and squeal.
  "Maxon Schreave!!! Put me down!!!" I struggle in his arms as he barrels down the hallway toward my room.
  "Not a chance, Darling." He tickles my sides which causes me to scream more.  A guard comes running down the hall, his alarm palpable.
  "Is everything alright-" he freezes.  When I lift my head I realize that the guard standing before us is Aspen, who was yet again guarding my room.