The Honeymoon

Chapter 3

We stayed together in the cabin for the next day, not able to keep our hands off of each other. That first night, I found that Marlee was right: it does hurt the first time, but the next couple times are amazing. To be honest, each time after the first was amazing because I was with someone I truly love.
      
Maxon was just so adorable with our first time because every time I would tense up, he would stop and keep asking if he had hurt me. I finally just told him to stop worrying, and after that, we had fun. After everything, he would pepper me with compliments and kisses until I giggled.
      
We were so happy, and we actually felt semi-free from everything. Every once in a while, though, I would hear the clicking of a guard's heel and remember we weren't alone. Maxon knew it bugged me, so he made them all stay outside the house so we would be alone. It was wonderful.
      
About a week into our honeymoon, I was sitting in the library while Maxon was in the study trying to do work. He apparently was told said work was an emergency to do. However, that's when I began to feel my cramps start. I was bummed that it couldn't wait till the end of the month, when we would finally be home, but mother nature wanted for it to be now, and I don't think Mary packed any of the stuff I would need. I went to the bathroom to see if there was anything in the cabinets, but like I thought, there was no hygiene care products.
       
I walked to the study that Maxon was in to find him sitting at the desk on a small phone. I've never really used one before, except for the time after a rebel attack that was really bad, I got to call my parents to let them know I was okay. He was faced away from me, looking out over the ocean that was visible through the opening the trees gave. He looked stressed, but also tired. I never really got to see him while he worked, and I wish there was something I could do to help him calm down and be able to work stress free. When Maxon turned back around, he noticed me standing in the door. He ended the call as quickly but nicely as he could.
      
"Hello my dear, are you okay?" he asked with a hint of worry in his voice.
    
"Yes, but I will need to make a run to the nearest store," I say. I can feel the heat rise, making me blush. I know he must know of the female system, but it's still awkward to say it out loud.
   
"We can go in about ten minutes, is that okay?" he asks. I nod and walk over to him.
    
I give him a quick kiss and say, "You seem so stressed, is there anything I can help you with?"
   
"No, my dear, this is your honeymoon; I don't want you to worry about work yet," he says, smiling at me.
    
"Maxon, it's your honeymoon as well. Let me help; maybe we can get this done quicker then one person working on it," I suggest, pulling a chair from the other side to sit next to him. He looks at me with a smile.

"What's so funny, your Highness?" I joke.
    
"Well, your Majesty, I love how you don't take no for an answer. I suppose I'll explain some some of the problems I have to you. This whole emergency is due to us trying to eliminate the caste systems. We already got rid of the eights, sevens, sixes, and fives. They were all willing to try it, and thrived for a while. When we started with the fours, some were for it, but some weren't. What I need to figure out is how to make them all okay with it," he says, pointing at the papers as he talks, showing me the different points he was talking about.
      
I grab the papers to look at the papers more clearly. There were multiple riots in three different provenances, and some were violent against other people. Why would people want to stay this way? We are trying to eliminate the lines so they can do whatever they want. Don't they see that?
    
"Is this happening in more than these three provenances?" I ask, looking up at him.

    
"No, these are the only three," he responds, looking back at the papers, "I just can't find the similarities that would make only these ones revolt. All the others agree to it, some were reluctant, but these three are completely against it."
    
I look at the three provenances again. They are both in different quadrants as I was told. Since I am queen, I had to learn the kingdom. I broke the kingdom into four quadrants to learn it easier. In the middle of each is the Castle in Angeles. Where the provenance lies defines which quadrant it is. These three are in different quadrants, and they all assist with different obligations.
    
"Maxon, do you have a map here? It may help me if I look at where each lie," I say shyly. I fear that he will think that I'm not good enough if I can't remember where each one lies, but it's easier for me to see then to picture it.
    
"Yeah, give me a second to get it," he says, standing up from his desk.

He goes over to the book shelf and grabs a thin book. He opens it up, sets it in front of me, and opens to a map of our country. I look at the papers to view the names of the provenance. They are all located farther away from the castle. I remember Silvia telling me that the farther away from the castle you are, the worse the conditions will be.
     
"Maxon, could it be that they are scared?" I ask before thinking about saying it.
     
"What are you saying?" he asks, looking at me with confusion.
     
"I don't know if this is right, but I remember one time I was with Silvia, after I asked for some extra lessons. We were discussing geography and the different provenances, and she said the farther away from the castle you live, the worse the conditions become. Maybe they are scared that if their title of a four is gone, they won't have anything." I look back up at him and observe his expression.
      
"Hm, I didn't think of that," he says thoughtfully. "But how could we make the conditions better for them? I mean, we have free food for people who need it, so they could go there for a good meal. What else would be the problem?"
     
"It's not the food that's the problem. Fours are people who are just on the edge of not having enough. These are the people who just have enough for family and some luxuries. I bet they think that if the lower castes try and take their jobs, they would be kicked to the bottom and left with nothing," I respond.
     
"Okay, now I understand a bit. What do you propose that we should do to calm them down?" he asks calmly, looking up at me.
    
I look into his eyes, and I see that he is actually curious. What could we do that would help them?

"Well, maybe instead of having the lower castes pay for the jobs that a five on down would do, we make it equal. Kind of like how it was before World War Three. I remember reading that there was a minimum wage set that each person should make in the work force. Maybe we should bring that back to reassure people that everyone should be equal," I explain. He looks impressed.
     
"That, actually, is very brilliant. What should the minum wage be?" he asks.
     
"I think it was $7.25 an hour before. I think that would be a good amount, and get some of the lower families out of poverty. Maybe, after a while, we can get rid of the free meals because people would be able to work enough for the money and not have to worry about finding food," I explain. It was a good idea, but I wasn't sure Maxon would agree. However, he does.
     
"I knew you would be good at this. When we get back, I want you to talk to the advisors about this. I think they would adhere to you. God, I love you, America," Maxon says before giving me a long, deep kiss. It would have gone somewhere if I didn't remember why I needed to go elsewhere.
     
"I'm sorry to ruin this fun time, but I think you promised me that we would go into town?" I joke, pulling away.
    
"Why yes I did, but when we get home, we will start right where we left off here," he teases, giving me a quick kiss on the nose.