Autumn Meadows used to live a mediocre life with her little brother and her mother in a big town. They were Six's, but never went without. Everything changed after Autumn's cousin, James, convinced her to join the Selection and she was chosen.
Autu...
The next day, I followed my maids directions and went to the Women's Room after breakfast. I was wearing a light blue/ purple dress that flowed gracefully to the floor with an intricate flower like lace pattern on the top.
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My hair was in loose curls and I had on simple makeup. We weren't supposed to see the prince today until the ball. I was nervous and excited for my first formal ball, because I'd never been to one before.
I walk into the Women's Room, trying not to cause a scene of any sorts. None of the girls looked up when I came in but I recognized a good portion of them from the previous day.
I didn't see the queen or princess yet, so I sat in a comfortable looking chair in the corner with a table in front of me. It was close to the TV so I watched as news shows ran across the screen.
Up next we will show secret clips of the Selected of Prince William's Selection. Stay tuned for more. The reporter says and flashes a smile. My eyes stay focused on the TV as the commercials fly past. I keep my eyes glued to the screen as the show turns back on.
Short clips of familiar Selected flick past the screen, using about a minute for each girl. Most were normal, them sitting with their families through their window. Then I recognized a familiar street and then familiar faces.
First, it was me, pushing through the crowds of people with my mother grabbing onto my arm to keep from falling with the people around us. My hands fly to my mouth in surprise. Why would they do that to her? Secondly, it showed me on the last day before I came here coming out from the kitchen petrified with what the man from the palace had told me. I'd almost forgot about it. Then it showed me saying bye to James at the airport, making it out like he was more than only my cousin.
"What on earth was that?" I hear one girl say. I realized all the girls had came up behind me and started watching too. "It made it out like I didn't want to even come here."
"It acted like I was some spoiled brat." Another said. I stood up and started out the door. I couldn't stay here.
As I open the door, I was nearly a foot from the queen herself. I felt that if I said anything I'd burst into a sob.
"I'm so sorry, your majesty." I say as quickly as I could without sounding rude or crying.
"Lady Autumn." She said calmly without any harshness to her voice. "Is everything alright?"
"Perfect." I nod and force a smile. I was a bad liar and would regret every second of it if I didn't fix it now. "Just finished watching a report on the Selected and it hit close to home."
"I understand." The Queen smiles softly.
"Thank you, Queen Charlie." I say and as I'm about to leave the princess comes up behind her.
"Mother!" She says before even seeing me. "Have you watched the news report? I was with Will and—"And that was the last thing I needed to watch.
"Paige." Queen Charlie says warningly and nods her head to me.
"It's alright." I shake my head. "I think I'm going to go up to my room." I say quietly and leave to go up the steps. My hands tremble as I walk into my room and find my maids chatting quietly to themselves. They turned to me with upset expressions.
"You watched the news report too?" I ask with a forced smile.
"Oh honey, don't worry about that. The prince probably didn't even see it and what was there to be ashamed of?" Liliana ask but I knew they were all still confused on what they had seen too.
"Lets just get you cleaned up and let you relax until the ball. We'll send awareness that you won't be attending lunch and there won't be a gathering for dinner since the ball will be so soon." Amelia says with a smile.
"I'll go let them know," Tina says with a smile and leaves the room.
"I'll run a bath with rose petals." Liliana smiles and leaves toward the bathroom. I smell the oils and fresh flowers as soon as the water starts running.
"Let's get you out of that dress." Amelia comes over to me and starts to pull out the laces holding my dress together. As the corset was untied, I sigh a breath of relief and make my way to the bath waiting on me.
After I'd soaked in the bath tub and had my hair dried, I sat on my bed with a book. I liked to read stories, but usually didn't have a lot of time for an entire book.
I hear a slight knock at my door and stand awkwardly. I was wearing a short silky dress that was oddly comfortable and my hair was in natural waves around me face. I pull off my glasses and look in the mirror to make sure I looked normal. I knew it'd be nobody of too much importance.
I make my way to the door and open it. The man in the doorway was no one I recognized and I had no idea why he would be there.
"Hello?" I say questioningly.
"A letter came in for you earlier this morning." The man says. I take it excitedly and read who had wrote it.
Ryan Meadows
I read the name multiple times before it clicked in my brain. The man had already walked away from my door.
"Sir." I say to catch the man's attention. He turns toward me and I push the letter toward him. "I don't want it."
"I have to give it to you, I'm sorry." He apologizes.
"No. I don't want it. Trash it, tear it, burn it if you like, I don't want it." I force it into the man's hands and step back a few steps.
"But—"
"Please. I won't tell a soul." My eyes pleaded to the unknown man.
"Yes, m'lady." He says and tucks the letter away in his jacket pocket.
"Thank you." I say and begin to turn around when my eyes meet a familiar blue pair at the bottom of the steps.
