The Selection without America?

The King and the Maid (part 1)

Maxon's POV

I was taking a walk. I couldn't bare to be in that room with Kriss much longer. I needed out. So I went out into the hallway to just think about the exact same things.

I looked out of the window into the garden. The moon was high and it was full. It always amazed me as a child and even sometimes as an adult how beautiful it really is. A beauty that outshines everything I've ever seen in the twenty-some years I've been alive. Well to be fair I've never truly traveled to any other places in Illéa. Yes, I've been to New Asian and other countries we have alliances with, but I have never truly seen my country. And that, is truly a shame. I'll have to change that.

I look at my watch and it's a quarter past four. The moon still high on its peak. Giving enough light for half the world to sort of see. I wasn't tired at all. I had many meeting tomorrow and the next week, the next month, the next year, basically for the rest of my life. Well my life as King.

I turned to go back to my room. I wanted to take the only way back. It gave me more time to think. The lights were off because ever since I've been king I wanted to save more energy. So I got lights that only I and a few maids can turn on and off with a switch. The maids weren't up. And I didn't want any light. I'll have the moonlight guide me.

Thump. Someone crashed into me, knocking me backwards a bit. I regained my balance and looked at the person who bumped into me. She was small. She looked so fragile. She couldn't have been America, or Kriss. She was shorter and was wearing a simple nightgown. I knew it wasn't America because of the height and I knew America wore a t shirt and shorts to bed. Kriss on the other hand wore extravagant nightgowns that show off way too much skin for my taste.

"I'm so so so sorry! I wasn't looking and..." the girl who bumped into me looks up. And her eyes get as big as saucers. "Oh my gosh! Your Majesty! I'm even more sorry now. Please forgive my clumsiness." The girl says and curtsied. I bow my head at her quickly.

"No. It's not your fault. I had the lights turned off so I could be guided by the moonlight. I wasn't looking where I was going. And you-" I look her in the eyes. She had been crying and she still is a little. "You has been crying. I can tell. Let's just say it was both of our faults and laugh it off." I say lightly.

"Yeah." She laughs a little and sniffles.

"Do you- do you need to talk?" I ask. I had all the time in the world right now. Maybe we could share some of our own problems.

"Oh. No. I wouldn't want to waste your time." She says quickly and turns away a little.

"No worries. I have all the time in the world. I've been feeling a bit down myself. Maybe we could help each other." I say and lightly grab her wrist. She doesn't pull away. She turns her body a little towards mine and a small smile creeps up on her lips.

"Sure." She says and sits down on a bench.

Wow so much has happened on these benches.

"Well maybe we could get some privacy." I say. I tried not to sound creepy, but I don't think that saying that sentence doesn't ever sound non- creepy.

"Umm..." She ponders.

"I don't mean creepily." I laugh a light laugh which makes her crack a smile.

"Oh okay. I just heard about your dad fooling around with other girls. So... I didn't know." She stammers.

"And I have just heard that maids gossip." I mock her playfully.

We finally agree to go out into the garden. We sit on the exact same bench that America and I met up at each time we tugged our ears. It has now become my favorite bench.

"So we just start talking?" She asks shy-fully and I nod.

"Anything. You don't have to use names but it would make sense sometimes. I won't judge you, you won't judge me. I give you advice or what I think about the situation and then you do the same. Also everything that is said right here and now. Stays right here and now." I say and explain how this goes.

"Okay. So I guess I'll use names. But... promise you won't think badly of me." She says and looks up at me.

"Promise." I say and hold out my pinky. She takes it in hers and we shake on it.

"So it all started when America left. Aspen felt lonely and so I thought I could help him. I could listen to him while she wasn't here. To just be there for him, as a friend. Then one time. We kissed. My feelings were growing up to the kiss and now they keep growing. But he's with America. I never planned to hurt America. Why would I want to? I mean she was my best friend. The one person who treated all the help as equals." She explains to me.

She must be Lucy. I know I've seen her before. That's where. When I picked up America or wanted to talk to her, Lucy was there with America.

"I want America's friendship back, but I also want Aspen. I know I can't have both. The bad thing is that I would choose Aspen over America. Your Majesty-"

"Please call me, Maxon." I quickly cut in. If I was going to tell her my deepest secrets and feelings I can't have her calling me your majesty.

"Maxon." She tests it out. "Well Maxon. The thing is that I love Aspen! It's so hard to explain how it feels when your friend has the person you want. I don't want America to be unhappy. But I also want Aspen to be mine. Only mine. I know Aspen loves me. He just told me. But I have a dilemma. I just don't know what to do." She says and tears start to well up in her eyes once again.

What do you think Maxon will say? Will he tell America what he has learned? Or will he keep his promise and keep Lucy's secret? What do you think Maxon's advice will be? What will Lucy say to Maxon's problems? Will she tell the other maids? Please comment your thoughts! I love reading them and answering. Also please vote!!

I will post again on 7/16/18

Spoiler: Maxon and Lucy keep talking.