The Selection without America?

I Love You

Maxon's POV

The girls all run around the palace like maniacs and they are laughing and giggling. Good thing that none of them have started to cry yet and hopefully never. I just never know what to do with crying girls.

The days pass in a blur. America and I don't talk unless it's totally necessary and that rarely happens. The last night with the girls still here my father, who is at the head of the table like he always is, stands and clinks his fork on his glass. We all stare at him.

"I just wanted to tell you all that next week I will be stepping down as king. A week or so after that Maxon will be coronated as King and Kriss will be coronated a week after that." He says and sits down.

For some odd reason I was expecting him to say that America will be coronated a week after me instead of Kriss. Oh me and my silly mind going crazy.

The girls around the table "oooo" and "ahhhh" at the announcement while I sit in pity of myself and the choices that I regret.

Kriss's POV

Finally. In three short weeks I will be queen. Not Amberly, not America, not no one but me. I sneak a look over at Clarkson. He was already looking my way. If only Maxon would stop looking at that god awful America and start to stare at me more.

Maxon knows he needs to play the part. Even if he hates me with all he's got, he still needs to at least pretend to love me. I don't care if he actually loves me or if he is faking. As long as I'm queen I'm good with almost anything.

Later that night I meet Clarkson in his office.

"Okay. Maxon will get coronated and then a week later you will. I've talked to Maxon and he is on the right track." Clarkson smirks.

"Oh. I see what you have done. The little whip here and whip there. Good. I like how you play." I say and laugh. I couldn't care less about how much pain Maxon is in. That's America's job. Not mine.

"Of course. It is how I keep him in line. He will agree with you more and more. You just need to be nicer to him. Also to my wife. I don't know how I like it that you treat my wife horribly. Maxon is a mommy's boy. Play nice with Amberly and you have Maxon under your thumb." The king explains to me.

"But Amberly is so- so- so how do I put it?"

"Annoyingly sweet?"

"Yeah." I say with disgust. "She is way to nice. But she also stands her ground. She questions me. She argues with me. Drop her." I say and drop a glass of scotch I was holding in my hand. The glass drops with a clash and breaks on the ground.

"Excuse me?" The King's voice rises.

"I said. Drop her. Like I did the cup. You could have done so much better." I sneer.

"You will not talk to me that way. I love Amberly so freaking much you don't even know!" He screams.

"Then why cheat on her?" I ask quietly but powerful.

"I have my reasons." He says his voice going down.

"And those are..."

"I'm not going to tell a young evil girl like you. Now, onto the next thing. Are you really pregnant?"

America's POV

"Aspen. I don't think I can do this. I can't leave you!" I say quietly.

We were in my room sitting on the bed. Hands held tightly and faces inches apart.

"America you can't live here forever." Aspen argues. "The other palace guard's wives don't live here. They live at home."

"Well have you seen where that got us? Aspen we need to be together right now in our relationship. We need to get through the rough patch before we can get to smooth sailing. We need to rebuild our trust!" I say and squeeze his hands hoping he will understand.

"America. I know. I will forever hate myself for the hurt I have caused you. You know this." Aspen says and looks deep into my eyes.

"I don't know Aspen. I just don't want to leave you..."

"Come with me." Aspen says abruptly standing up and pulling me off the bed. He rushes out of my room and into the hallway. We make our way up to the roof.

Once there I look and see a picnic blanket, and some desserts.

"Aspen. What is this?" I ask with awe in my voice.

"I know it's not the treehouse, but I hope it can be just as special." He smiles and points up. I look up and see the tens of million stars above us.

"No worries. Just like the tree house." I smile and walk over to the blanket.

We lay back and point to constellations and just talk. We talk about our families, our day, just about anything. If I wasn't thinking too much I could pretend that we really were in the tree house. Looking up at the stars and the midnight black sky. Just like the good old days. Where we didn't need to worry about anything. Just not being caught by the police or our families.

Aspen puts his arm around me and I snuggle in close.

"You took your wedding ring off." He says finally after a long break in the conversation. It wasn't an awkward break. Just a normal one.

"Yeah." Was all I could say. How do you respond to something as simple and complicated as that sentence?

"I'm hurt a little." He confessed.

"Now you know how I felt. Times that hurt by a thousand." I say like it was common sense.

"America?" He asks in a whisper.

"Yeah?" I turn my head to face him.

"I just want to let you know-" he cuts off and looks down.

"What, Aspen?"

"Just wanted to let you know that I love you. I will always love you. You will always be etched into my heart. Whatever happens. I want you in my life until I die." He says and leans in to kiss me. I kiss him back. Then there we are. Two people in love kissing each other under the stars.

"Aspen." He looks at me and brushes my hair out of my eyes. "I love you too." I smile and a tear of joy escapes both of our eyes.

Sorry it wasn't really the girls day chapter I had in mind. Sometimes I think I know what I'll write about next but then it doesn't follow through. So what do you think of Kriss and Clarkson's conversation? Is Kriss really pregnant? What do you think about America and Aspen? Please please comment!! Also please vote!!

I'll post again on 7/8/18

Spoiler: the report and coronation comes up!!