The Selected

The Picture

I'm momentarily blinded by a bright flash and then quickly rushed out of the photography room. My eyes adjust just in time to momentarily see my picture flash onto the photographer's laptop. One look tells me I definitely do NOT look like royalty. I'm wearing a simple pair of dark blue jeans, a white V-neck, and a light gray cardigan, but I have to admit that mom cleaned me up pretty well, all things considered.

My long, bleach blond hair hangs in loose ringlets around my face, and it's probably the first time in forever that I can't spot one spec of dirt in it. My mom left my face pretty simple, only applying a thin layer of mascara to make my grey eyes stand out, and bit of foundation to hide how god damn pale I am.

As I make my way out of the photography room I pass by a girl in an extravagant, light pink ballgown who looks me up and down with a smirk. In my eyes she looks ridiculous but one look at the photographer tells me I'm the one who looks underdressed.

I continue to make my way back out into the market when Anna comes running over in a red sundress and punches me hard in the arm.

"Ow!" I yell at her, "what was that for?"

"Look at me!" she screams, "look at what I'm wearing for gods sake! This is all your fault!"

I begin to burst into laughter cause the sight of Anna in a dress in unheard of.

In my best upper class voice I say, "I think you look lovely Lady Anna" while giving her a ginormous curtsy.

"Lets just go home before I beat you to death", she replies.

The walk home isn't a long one considering I live about 10 minutes away from the market but it feels like forever. I just wanna go home, wipe this stupid make up off my face, change into my pajamas and go to bed. One look at Anna and I can tell she feels the same way.

Once we reach my house I give Anna a hug goodbye and promise we'll play more football tomorrow, just the two of us, cause I can't stand my brother playing with us any longer.

Once our moms finish their goodbyes, Anna begins to walk home, her light brown hair swinging behind her. I watch as her hazel eyes scan the houses beside her until she reaches house number 18, then she opens the door and runs in, already undoing the zipper of her dress.

**

I wake to a football being thrown at my window and look to see that it is past 11:00. crap, I slept in. I quickly jump out of bed, throw on some track pants, and make my way down stairs to open the door for Anna.

"Hey Ann" I mumble while rubbing my eyes.

"Wow... you look like hell", Anna replies smirking.

"Shut up! I still would have been in bed if it wasn't for you!", I tease.

"What ever, we've wasted enough time, just grab some toast or something and get your butt outside", she yells while running onto my front lawn.

Anna and I throw the ball around a bit, only stopping when a couple of twos came strolling along the sidewalk and gave us a lecture on how we're not acting "lady like". Since both of us are only fives we don't exactly spend hours on end strolling around in dresses and acting "lady like" or whatever.

Anna and I then decided to spend the rest of the afternoon mimicking their accents and dissing each other while using whatever big words we could think of. It wasn't until mom beckoned us to come inside that I realized how tired I was, but the fun was just beginning.

I walked into my living room to find Anna's mom, Carol, sitting on the living room couch along with both of our brothers. I'm surprised Hunter and I have been in the same room for over five seconds without him somehow pissing me off.

I smile at Carol and then Anna and I find our usual seats on the floor in front of the TV. Hunter tried to trip me on my way over, but at the last second I jumped over his feet and made it to my seat safe and sound.

When I turn to face the TV I see Andrew Fadaye, the Royal announcer and host of the selection, who just so happens to be the old announcer, Gavril Fadaye's, son. I guess being on TV is in their blood or something.

As if at once Andrew begins opening the Selection ceremony with the history of Illea, and how the Selection came about, and all that stuff that no one really cares about. Then Andrew finally turns his attention over to Royal family where King Maxon and Queen America sit side by side, with their only son Damon sitting to the left of them, looking unamused.

The King does some opening remarks, talks of his own Selection, and of how he was so lucky to have found Queen America. But my attention is still on Prince Damon, and how his messy brown hair goes up in sections but also swoops across the front of his face, how tan and muscular he his, and how his deep brown eyes look almost irritated. He must be nervous and can't wait to see which 35 girls will be staying in his palace for who knows how long. My bet is it will be packed to the brim with 2's and 3's... the selections always are.

I quickly snap out of my daze when I see a picture of a girl with bleach blonde hair, deep blue eyes, and pale skin staring at me from the TV. It's in that moment I realize that the Selection has begun, and that I am apart of it.