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...
It was that night right after the girls had gotten back from their group date. Most girls were prepping for the campfire we were going to have tonight out on the beach, but there were a few in the living room. I was beginning to walk into the room when I heard voices coming from it.
"Who do you think is our real competition?" I hear Kendal ask.
"We aren't competing with each other." Violet states confidently. "We are just hoping Will sees something special in us."
"Exactly. We all have different connections with him right now." I hear Josie say.
"Well who do you think he has the strongest connection with?" Kendal asks.
"I don't know. Eden and him talked a lot at the group date. I was watching through my bedroom window." Violet says though her voice is muffled through the walls.
"I've noticed he's very fond of you too Josie. He seems to always be taking you out." Kendal states.
"I don't know, he talks to Autumn a lot. They seem to have something apart from all of this going on." Josie says. "But I do feel a strong connection with him and I honestly don't see how anyone else can feel it."
"Yes, you're right. I think Autumn is suspicious. She nearly never talks and keeps to herself the majority of the time. The Girl is literally not friends with any of the Selected." Kendal snorts. I roll my eyes at her idiocy.
"Oh, quiet down Kendal. If you don't talk softer she will hear you and that's rude. I think Autumn is nice and just simply prefers alone time." Josie says controlled.
"I think the prince might only like her because she will sleep with him. She's a pushover, Josie. Or maybe it's the fact she's the last lower caste left and he has to look like a good person." Kendal states sharply. I was slightly taken aback by the comment.
Pushover? I'd never thought of myself that way. And who were these girls to judge, I mean, they barely knew me. However irrational the comment seemed, it hurt. I couldn't believe people would just assume things like that.
"Kendal! You've barely even talked to Autumn before! Stop being so jealous because he can show affection to girls other than you!" I hear Josie say angrily and footsteps lead away from me.
I turn around, ready to head back into my room, but at the end of the hallway blue eyes meet mine.
Will. He'd heard just enough of the conversation and seen me listening to it all. Needless to say, I was mortified. Other than the fact that I was embarrassed for being caught listening to my own gossip, Will had an extremely sympathetic look in his eyes.
I walk forward but instead of walking to Will, I turn left and into my room.
"Autumn." Will says as he catches my closing door and pushes it back open so he can get in.
"Stop pitying me." I nearly shout as he pushes himself into the room and closes the door behind him.
"That's not what I'm doing." Will says, though I knew he was only trying to be nice because of the recent events.
"Yes it is and it's what you've been doing this entire time. The other girls talk about me and about us, okay I get that. That's just how people are and if I can be fine with it, you can too." I breathe out and step away from him and onto my bed.
"What They said isn't true, Autumn." Will replies quietly. "I promise. Please trust me. I don't want you here to take advantage of you or to look good on my reputation."
Will makes his way over to me and sits by me. His hand finds mine and I stay quiet.
"I really do love you. Nothing I've told you is a lie." He pauses."Please tell me you believe me."
I stare at him for a moment, oblivious of what I should say. I almost wish he'd just left me alone because I was close to crying. Wait, no- I was.
Tears threaten to burst from my eyes and my cheeks flush. Will grips my hands a bit tighter.
"This stuff isn't supposed to bother me. It's just girls talking, but when it involves you it goes to a different level. Their questioning my seriousness in this situation and acting as if I'm just a sort of pity tool." I breathe outward to control myself.
"That's the point. They don't know you well and they don't understand what we have. They're just jealous that I'm always with you instead. Don't worry about it." Will leans forward and gently kisses me. "I'll leave you to get ready for tonight. Reporters are going to be there for clips on the Report."
"Okay." I let him stand from my bed and smile at me as he left my room. I make my way to my bags and search for a dress appropriate for this occasion. I found a short dress with a baggy top and bottom and floral designs on it.
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I smiled as I brushed my hair out in the mirror and let it lie naturally. I barely even worry about makeup and slide into sandals that seemed comfy for the beach.
I walk from my room and into the living room where almost all the girls sat and waited. A few were missing including Kendal which I was glad for because I was scared to make eye contact with her again.
"We are going to head outside and wait for the other girls now on the porch. The reporters will probably interview a few of you or try and get good footage so let them do their job." Will says coming up behind me and gently putting his hand on my back to lead me outside.
The girls murmur quietly to themselves as they walk outside. Will and I were the last of them to step out and as we did so he immediately moved his hand from my back and up to my hand casually.
"Don't be so tense; you're going to make everyone think you're scared of me." Will leans to my ear and whispers with a knowing grin on his face. Immediately I felt calmer with all the cameras on me and rolled my eyes with a smile. "Come over here."
Will leads the cushioned benches that surround the fire pit. He sits and brings me down beside of him. Something I noticed that Will had done was put himself on the edge by the armrest. That meant nobody could sit by him but me.
"Will, do you mind if we talk privately for a while?" Kendal comes up to him and asks. Will looks at me than nods simply.
"I'll be back. Save my seat." He mutters to me and walks away with Kendal. Three cameras follow them out and I sit quietly until Will comes back along with the cameras.
"What happened?" I ask him questioningly as he sits back beside of me, noticing Kendal was nowhere to be seen.
"I figured she needed to be sent home this weekend. Don't worry about it." Will mutters, but I could tell he was tense. After light conversation between the girls, I turn to Will and whisper something in his ear.
"You probably should talk to the other girls more. You know they probably aren't happy with me and you're setting off quite a big hint with the cameras." I say quietly.
"If they all think what Kendal thought about you then I've got to prove them wrong too. And what's showing you off going to hurt?" I see him smirk a bit and roll my eyes as he slips his arm around me and enjoys the drink he had just been brought.
"There isn't that much to show off, Will." I say quietly so it stayed between us.
"Oh yes there is."
A/N
Hey guys!!! This was a pretty long chapter and I thought it was pretty good honestly. So I'm at the beach this weekend and it is absolutely beautiful and very relaxing so this kind of set the mood for this chapter and vacation plan😁
