The Prince (Maxon's Selection POV)

Chapter Seventeen

I looked up from my joke of a desk as one of the guards rushed into Father's office, giving him a quick bow.

"Your Majesty, two of the Elite, Lady Newsome and Lady Singer, just got in a fight."

Everyone in the room paused, looking to Father.

Father sighed. "Yelling like cats again?"

"No, sir. They're in the hospital wing. There was a little blood."

I felt myself tense. Was America alright?

Father looked to me. "No doubt the Five is responsible for this. You can't be serious about her."

I stood. "Father, all of their nerves are frayed after yesterday. I'm certain they're having a difficult time processing the canning."

He pointed a finger. "If she started it, she's gone. You know that."

"And if it was Celeste?" I countered.

"I doubt a girl of such high caliber would stoop so low without provocation."

"Still, would you dismiss her?" I shot back.

"It wasn't her fault."

"I'll get to the bottom of this. I'm sure it was nothing," I said, ignoring the stares of the guards as I walked out of the office.

-o-

I marched into the hospital wing, immediately met with the sound of Celeste's voice. "Maxon, sweetheart!"

My eyes breifly connected with America's from across the room and moved towards Celeste who was laying on her bed. "Are you alright?" I asked quietly.

"America attacked me, Maxon!" she whined, grabbing my arm. "I was just minding my own business, reading my magazine when she jumped at me! Look what she did to me!"

My eyes were drawn to her red cheek and cut lip. "I'm sorry, Celeste. Just keep the ice there and I'm sure it will go away." I hesitated before briefly kissing her cheek and moving away from her bed. I made my way around the curtain, my gaze fixing on America as I walked down the wing towards her.

"You're lucky my father had the cameras barred from the palace, otherwise there'd be hell to pay for your actions," I said, running my hand through my hair. "How am I supposed to defend this America?"

"Are you going to kick me out, then?" She asked quietly, playing with a peice of her dress.

I sucked in a breath. "Of course not."

America nodded towards Celeste's bed. "What about her?"

"No," I sighed. "You're all stressed from yesterday, and I can't hold that against you. I'm not sure my father will accept that excuse, but that's what I'm going to say."

"Maybe you should just send me home."

My heart felt like it had been stabbed again. Was she that eager to leave?

"America, you're overreacting," I whispered.

"Look at me, Maxon," she urged and I complied. "I've known from the beginning I don't have what it takes, and I thought that I could- I don't know- change, or somehow make it work; but I can't stay here. I can't."

I sat on her bed, my knees starting to feel weak. "America, you might hate the Selection, and you might be mad about what happened to Marlee; but I know that you care about me enough not to just abandon me in this."

She took my hand in hers. "I also care enough about you to tell you you're making a mistake."

I held her hand tighter, trying to keep myself in check. I hesitated before leaning in to whisper to her. "It's not always so difficult. And I want to show that to you, but you have to give me time. I can prove that there are good things to this, but you have to wait."

She took in a breath, about to respond to me until I continued. "For weeks, America, you've asked me for time, and I gave it to you without question because I had faith in you. Please, I need you to have a little bt of faith in me, too," I begged.

She sighed. "Fine."

"Thank you," I breathed, relieved. "I have to get back, but I'll come to see you soon."

She nodded and I stood from her bed, wanting so badly to give her a kiss.

I bit my lip and walked back over to Celeste's bed. "Goodbye. I hope you heal fast."

"Thank you, Maxon. See you soon?" she asked.

I nodded and left the hospital wing, straighting out my suit. How on earth was I going to convince Father to let America stay? As I walked I noticed a guard walking, doing his rounds.

"You there," I called, an idea coming into my mind.

The guard stopped, checking to make sure it was him I called to, before giving me a bow. "Your Highness."

"Tell me, do you know who was on guard in the Woman's Room today during the... incident with Lady America and Lady Celeste?"

"I-I was, Sir," the guard stuttered, probably nervous that I would yell at him or something.

I held back a smile, suprised with my luck. "Could you tell me exactly what happened?"

The guard swallowed. "I-I didn't see much, your Highness, but I'm fairly certain that Lady Celeste said something to Lady America, causing her to a-attack."

I nodded. "Thank you. I would appreciate it if..."

"I won't say a word to anyone, Your Highness."

I gave him a grateful smile, before resuming my walk to the office. According to the rules, you couldn't attack any of the other Selected, but because America was provoked, she might still have a chance. Energized by this possibility, my pace quickened. Please let this work.

I know it's been a while since I last updated, and I apologize. Between school, vacations, and being busy with dance, I haven't had that much time to write. Also there's the fact that I am less energized to write fanfiction these days, which certainly didn't help. I'll try to get as many updates out as I can, but from now on, there are going to be fairly slow. Hope you enjoyed the chapter!

-theselectionseriesfan