How did I get here?

Chapter 4

We arrive and I put my arm in Tyler's and throw on a smile. But this time the smile wasn't fake. I got to wear the dress I wanted and I saw Marlee which I guess proves the darkest starts to days can have the happiest endings. The place looks beautiful where they are holding the dinner. There are lanterns hanging from the ceiling with beautiful big windows all around the room that had huge mint green drapes. Tyler and I find our table which as a beautiful mint green and white center Piece.
Tyler's boss and his wife approached us smiling  like no other.
"Hello you to! America you look radiant as always," Sarah his bosses wife says.
"Thank you," is all I say.
"I'm excited to see who gets to go to the palace," Jake his boss says.
"Well I hope we get the chance," Tyler says gesturing towards me.
"Would you want to go back America? See the now King again?" Sarah asks. 
"It would be nice to see a good friend again," I say even though in someways I don't mean it.
"America," I hear from across the room.
I turn towards the voice and see Marlee running towards me and Carter following, shaking his head and smiling.
"America, I didn't realize that how close you were to the palace representatives," Sarah says.
"Well her and Marlee were both in the selection, my dear," Jake says.
I freeze at the words my dear that's what Maxon used to call me to be sweet. I was so wrapped up in my thought I completely forgot Marlee was coming over here.
"Hello," Marlee and Carter greet everyone.
"Hey," everyone says back.
"Oh America you look beautiful," Marlee gushed and then she whispered to me, "Maxon would think so to."
I blush slightly and shake my head. He hates me, I don't know how I'll survive at the palace if Tyler gets to go. 
"How are the King and Queen?" Tyler asked as if he were old friends with them.
"They seems to be happy," Carter said. I see Marlee slightly shake her head as to say that's not true. 
"Oh Queen Kriss seems so lovely," Sarah says.
"Oh yes lovely not a northern rebel..." Marlee says under her breath but Carter gives her a look that stops her from talking. 
"Well she always was the best candidate for Queen," I say.
"That's not true! My personal opinion is the kingdom could use a Queen with a bit more fire," Marlee states.
"I would have to disagree Ms.Tames," Tyler said emphasizing the Tames part to make Marlee mad.
"That's Ms. Woodwork, hon," I said suppressing a grin. "Excuse me," I say pushing past them. 
"America wait," I hear Marlee called.
I turn around and see she has a huge smile on her face.
"Thanks for that, I can see the fire hasn't left," she says.
"No problem," is all I say.
Jake then clicks his wine glass to start the dinner. Marlee and I turn around to face him and clink our glasses as well.
"I would like to welcome you all tonight," Jake says and takes a sip of his wine.
"I would like to welcome Mr and Mrs Woodwork here from the palace," he says and Marlee and Carter wave to the crowd. "We have a lot of good pitches to hear tonight, so we will start the dinner and then hear the pitches. Let's eat!"
Tyler comes over to me and grips my arm hard and pulls me toward him. He then whispers in my ear, "I can't believe you had the audacity to embarrass me in front of my boss with that whole, Mrs. Woodwork thing."
"Oh I'm sorry, I was trying to make sure you didn't offend the palace representatives," I said with a slight smirk on my face.
"Well their marriage was basically illegal," he whispered to me.
"Yeah so illegal that Maxon officiated it," I said with a smirk with that I walked away and sat down. I'd won! I finally won a battle with him. Tyler followed me and sat down. I kept a smug look on my face as I drank my wine.
"So America," Sarah said as I was swallowing my first bite of chicken.
"Hmm," is all I said back.
"What was one of your favorite memories at the palace?" Sarah asked.
I knew for a fact my favorite memory was Maxon and I dancing in the rain on the roof, but I couldn't say that.
"I remember I loved the Halloween dance. It was a lot of fun and I think everyone enjoyed themselves at that." I said.
"That's fantastic! What about you Mrs.Woodwork?" Sarah asks.
"I loved all the fun times and how close we got once the competition got down to the elite."
"Of course, I'm sure all of you girls bonded," Sarah adds. "What about drama? Any of that?"
Marlee and I just looked at each other and laughed.
"Yeah lots of it! I got my dress ripped one time before the report," I said.
"Really, oh that hilarious!"
"You and Celeste got in a physical fight that one time," Marlee adds.
"So the truth is out it's not all tiaras and smiling," Sarah says.
"Oh absolutely not," I say. I take a sip of my wine and look over and see that Jake and Tyler are talking business. 
"Did anyone ever fight with King Maxon?"
I about choked on my drink at Sarah's question. 
"Oh it's what we were best at," I laughed. My answers got me a glare from Tyler and suddenly I felt so small. 
"I never did," Marlee said. Of course Marlee and Maxon never fought, they were both to nice.  I think the reason Maxon and I fought was because we loved each other. Another reason could be, that I figured out how to push all his buttons and he figured out how to push all of mine. I eat the rest of my dinner in silence as Marlee and Sarah talk and Tyler, Jake, and Carter talk. Eventually, Jake stands up and clinks his wine class and announces that it is time for the ideas to be presented.