dusk until dawn (the selection)

helios probably thinks he's funny

Carmen was fanning herself with her hands hysterically. "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, is my make-up melting away yet?" she kept asking the same thing. She and Jessica had been running around backstage for a while now, and just about everyone else was annoyed with the two.

Some girls were stationed by the mirrors to look at themselves and practice facial expressions, like Esmé, Kaia and Celeste. Other girls were just quietly talking. Evangeline was still teaching a few girls how to balance on their five inch heels.

It was really cute to Dawn how Evangeline took it upon herself to help out the lower caste girls with their etiquette class assignments and non-verbal attitudes. None of the other Twos bothered.

Dawn and Macy sat on the ground by a black wall, trying not to look too nervous about the interviews. It was five fifty-three. The selected went on stage at six sharp. From behind the stage the girls could hear Jilles Mackerman and his co-host talking. The pre-show had already started. Very few girls were by the curtains that seperated them from the hosts to try and listen what was going on.

All afternoon the girls had been practicing their walks and smiles and waves to make sure the evening ran as smooth as possible. It still felt different now, though. The theatre was full. They were being watched.

Earlier, Dawn was wearing comfortable jeans with a shirt. That outfit had turned into a heavenly blue dress with wide sleeves and a layered skirt that only reached her knees. Amy, Julia and Biha had outdone themselves, although Julia was the only one of Dawn's maids that dressed her up for today. She had been less talkative than usual, and very serious.

She told Dawn this interview was very important and that she should choose her words very cafefully. And to not forget what she promised the people back in the Red Fennley camp..the place full of casteless revolutionists.

To be completely fair, Dawn had pretty much forgotten about it until today. Until Julia mentioned it to her out loud. And told her this was going to be her first shot to catch prince Helios's attention.

She didn't even take Julia's words that serious until she passed Lisander with another guard in the hallways. They both gave her a very meaningful look. As if they were expecting something from her. Counting on her. The both of them.

Back in the moment it made her uncomfortable. She was no savior.

Weird.

Dawn hadn't even noticed Pigtails had sat down next to her until she spoke up, "Do you guys think prince Helios will be here tonight?" she asked curiously. Pigtails sat on her knees, facing the two girls as she played with the purple dress that spread around her. As usual, Two brown pigtails emerged from her head. Today they were tied up by big pink bows.

Dawn sighed and leaned her head back against the wall. Obviously. He was there all afternoon for the repetitions, wasn't he? Looking bored and avoiding eye contact with everyone as usual. How exciting.

"Why wouldn't he be?" Macy turned to Pigtails, "I heard he's asking the questions."

Pigtails' eyes grew wide. "Really?" she asked, completely taken off-guard. Dawn glanced over at her friend too. Macy always seemed to know a lot of things she wasn't supposed to know. Maybe that's why Pigtails immediately believed her.

Macy nodded.

Pigtails gasped and stood up to tell a bunch of other girls what she'd just heard.

Dawn waited until Macy met her gaze and with a little smirk she asked, "Did you actually hear that?"

Macy shook her head and laughed lowly. Of course she hadn't. Dawn grinned.

Silently, she reminded herself to remember the way blonde curls fell around Macy's face. She looked gorgeous as always. Today in a velvet red dress. Elegant and Mature. Dawn thought of it very poetically. Macy was fire, and acted as such. She was bold, extroverted and warm. Dawn wore dark blue, like water. A bit less extravagant, more serene.