Another Elite (Book 2 of Selection fanfics)

Chapter 28

"This is incredible!" Mom gushed as we walked into one of my family's rooms for their stay. All of their eyes were wide with wonder; the two rooms were bigger than our entire house. Each of the rooms had two beds. My father and brothers would take one room, while Mom, Amber, and Annika would take the other.

"Can I stay with you tonight?" Amber turned to me as Dad and my brothers went to put their things away.

"Amber," Mom began to speak before I interrupted. "Of course you can."

Amber squealed and jumped over to Annika, who was sitting on one of the beds. "Anna, want to join us? It'll be just like home!"

Annika swallowed and spoke without looking at me. "No thanks, Ambs. I'm too old for sleepovers."

I narrowed my eyes. "Since when did you get too good for us?"

Annika still wasn't looking at me. "You're one to talk. I'm surprised you haven't started ordering us around, you've been living here so long."

Both Amber and I gasped, but Mom stepped in before either of us could say anything. My mother was a small woman, but she could be terrifying when she wanted to be.

"That's enough. We haven't even been here an hour and you're already fighting," she looked between us, hands on her hips. "I don't know what's going on with you two. You used to be so close and you're letting the Selection drive you apart?"

Annika stared at her hands, looking miserable. Before I'd left, she'd always been the put-together one. She'd somehow made old jeans and t-shirts fashionable and even while working on the farm her hair was always gorgeous. Now, she looked tired, with dark circles under her eyes, and her hair was lazily braided to the side.

"Annika, please, just tell me what's wrong." I pleaded. It had been months but I still knew my older sister; something else was wrong.

"You wouldn't understand," Annika shook her head and stood up from the bed. She rushed into the bathroom, closing the door without another word. Amber, Mom, and I stood staring at the door. I was at a loss for words; I had no idea what was wrong nor how to figure out what was bothering her.
~~~
I woke the next morning to find Amber sprawled over me and the rest of the bed. She clearly was taking full advantage of the bed that was twice the size of hers back home. I gently pushed her arm off me and sat up to stretch. The sky was milky gray and it was sprinkling small raindrops.

Amber stirred and sat up as I crawled out of bed. Her brown hair was mashed to one side of her face and her eyes were still sleepy.

"Morning," she yawned and climbed out of bed after me.

"Good morning, girls!" Beth, Elisa, and Cora stood near the sitting area. "We have a dress for Miss Amber if you two would like to get ready."

Amber's eyes lit up at the mention of a dress; I hadn't been fond of them growing up, but I still remembered Amber and Annika playing dress up with Mom's clothes.

Elisa pulled Amber into the closet while Cora and Beth helped me into a dark purple day dress. Amber walked back out, outfitted in a light blue dress that matched her eyes. While the Elisa and Cora fixed our hair, Amber began firing questions at me.

"How many times have you kissed?"

I laughed at that one. "I don't know, Amber. I don't exactly keep a list."

"How many dates?"

"Again, I don't keep track of everything I do with him."

Amber pouted but tapped her chin to think of questions. "Has he said 'I love you?'"

I smiled. "Yes."

Amber screeched and bounced in her seat. "Did you say it back? Oh, please tell me you did?"

I giggled. "I did. And I do love him."

Amber clapped her hands and jumped up once Elisa was finished with her hair. "I can't believe this! You're going to be a princess."

"I don't know that yet," I shook my head and stood up with her. "I know he said he loves me, but I don't know if he'll choose me in the end."

Amber shook her head furiously and grabbed my hands. "I know he will. I could see it in his eyes when he kissed your cheek last night; he adores you." I smiled at the thought and absentmindedly touched my cheek. I couldn't help but hope that Amber was right.

She squealed suddenly and rushed over to her opened bag. She grabbed a stack of magazines and flipped through them before finding whatever it was she was looking for. She jumped back over and slammed the magazine in my hand, pointing to a photo.

It was a picture of Derek and I from the Christmas photoshoot; in fact, it was a whole special on the Selection. At least a page or two was dedicated to each of the Elite; mine was filled with photos of Derek and I looking into each others eyes, as well as snapshots of me on the Report.

"You're not necessarily the Public's favorite," Amber rambled as she pointed to a graph. "But this magazine is betting your Derek's favorite."

"Oh." I breathed and scanned the photos. I was never much interested in the gossip about the Selection so I stayed away from the magazines some of the other girls read. Based on this magazines article, it was a good thing I didn't go into the Women's Room often; Audrey surely would have had some choice words for me.

Amber grinned victoriously. "See, I told you. You're his favorite."

I snorted. "You can't believe everything you read, Ambs."

She shrugged and took the magazine back before placing the stack into her bag. It struck me suddenly how much I'd missed my little sister. It had been wonderful becoming friends with Liana, Genevieve, and Everly, but none of them were Amber. Everly, though a year younger than me, didn't feel like a younger sister in the way that Amber did. Amber wasn't innocent; she was fourteen, after all. Yet she still had that wide eyed trust of the world that made her my little sister.

I'd always been closer to Annika growing up; I was the little sister she'd wanted which meant I'd looked up to her in nearly every way. Amber was the baby of the family, always coddled by parents and grandparents, and even us. Amber, being the sweetheart that she was, had never been offended or hurt by Annika and I's closeness. She found her own ways into our hearts.

And I was so happy to have her back.
___________________________
Man, I am just pumping out chapters. I just can't wait to start book 3 so I'm trying to finish Another Elite soon! There are now about be 2-3 chapters left! ALSO, book 3 will be called Another One (I just made the cover and it might be my favorite)

QOTC: What are you most excited for/hoping to see in Another Elite?

AOTC: This one I can't really answer, but I guess the resolution to the conflicts/drama that will be happening soon in Another Elite!

Please comment and vote, I love you all!

xoxo, _lovemultifandoms_