Plastic Crown: A Selection Fanfiction- Unfinished.

[ Chapter Twelve ]

I ran my fingers though my baby hairs and glanced in the mirror one last time. The highlights in my hair shimmered as I lightly ran my hand over the top of my head. As I was closing my door, I heard footsteps slowing behind me. But when I turned, they were gone. I made my way to the gardens, a guard escorting me after I told him what Prince August had told me.

I was led to a beautifully planned picnic near a pond with bushes with flowers of every color surrounding a clearing.

I sat down by the picnic blanket and smoothed my dress out with my hands. As I was doing so, Prince August's figure was approaching from the distance. I grinned and waved, and as I did so he ran up faster. Sitting down next to me, he breathed deeply, trying to catch his breath.

"Odette!" He gasped, pulling his hair back. "I didn't think you'd show up so soon!" He scratched the side of his neck. "I must admit, I am a bit embarrassed to be late."

"Late? No! You were on time! I just can't stand being late to any event, it gives me anxiety just thinking about being late to something. I always show up as early as I can make it. Either way, I just got here, and I was enjoying myself without a royal pain in the butt hanging around me."

Prince August chuckled and turned to the basket.

"At first, I thought I had this Selection planned out. I told myself, 'August, you will turn down only five girls on the first day', but as it turns out, I sent off eight! I wanted to give everyone a fair chance! It turns out, this isn't as easy and stress-free as I was hoping."

"Tell me about it! Girls can be vicious. I'm pretty sure a fight almost broke out the other day, and it was about being quiet! I mean, I understand high tensions, but fighting for no reason is like asking to be kicked out."

The Prince turned back to the basket and dug into it, pulling out tubs of colorful fruits and sandwiches. As he was pulling out napkins, he reached up to his neck and touched it lightly, keeping his hand there and continued through the basket, pulling things out one-handed.

Out of suspicion and curiosity, I turned away, moving the blanket slightly. As I turned it, I sensed that the Prince had moved his hand back down from his neck.

Quickly, I turned and glanced over at him. In the spot that he was covering, a large red lipstick kiss was smothered on him. I sighed, losing hope.

I wasn't his first date, and I'm not special to him. In fact, the shade of that lipstick looked familiar.

I debated leaving, then decided against it. I may not have been his first date or his first kiss of the selection, but he asked me on a date today, and I wouldn't be passing it up.

We ate the delicious fruits and sandwiches in silence for awhile, but once we were done, Prince August was quite chatty.

"So, Odette, why did you come to put your name in for the Selection?" He asked, laying down and looking at the bright blue sky.

"Well, honestly, it was my friend. She was red to put her name in the lottery and asked me to join her. She backed out at the last second, but I knew she would be angry with me if I backed out with her."

He glanced my way and nodded.

"Okay, so your reasoning is to not make your friend mad, makes sense, Odette."

I laughed, coving my mouth with the tip of my fingers.

"I guess just the thought of being here was too good to pass up. Not that I had any idea of it working, though."

He chuckled and grasped my hand gently.

"Well I'm glad you decided to go through with it." The amount of sincerity in his eyes scared me. He met me only this morning, and now he acted as if he had known me my whole life. Well, he hadn't.

"What's that? Are you hurt?" I asked, gesture to his neck. I crawled forward, trying to act as if I was actually concerned about him.

"What?" He covered his neck quickly, and that sealed it. Forgetting to mask that I knew what it was, he caught on based on my facial expression.

"You knew." He said quietly, his hand drifting back to the blanket.

"Yeah. I saw it earlier," I said, sighing. "So is this what you meant earlier? That you didn't really know what you were getting into?"

He nodded, fidgeting his thumbs.

"Yes, it was. I- I wish I could tell you about it."

I sat up, clearing my throat.

"Prince August, here's the thing. You don't know me. You don't know any of these girls. You could be totally wrong about me. I don't know why you're looking for, and I don't know your type. If you just need someone to talk to, tell me. I'm terrible at reading people and you should know that if I have something to tell you, I will.

Secondly, these girls aren't what they seem. You can't- you shouldn't, go around and speak your mind to any girl here because it will either be publicized to every other girl here or it will be taken advantage of.

I'm not going to tell anyone about this, but you'd better be sure of that in a girl the next time you pour your heart out to her.

I'm not trying to place myself above those other girls because I'm definitely not better than any of them. I just don't want to see anything happen if I could have stopped it."

I took a breath as I watched his expression twist as I spoke. I finished, stood and brushed off the front of my dress. I began walking away, my thoughts clouded.

"Odette, Wait!" I felt his hand grasp mine, and I turned.

"Your highness, you don't have to speak, I know what you will say. I'm heading to my room now to pack my things and tell my maids that I'm leaving."

I knew this would happen, I knew it. I would be kicked out mid-date.

"What? Odette, no, I'm not making you leave!" He pulled me into a hug. I could smell his body wash, it smelled nice. "I couldn't do that, not after what you've just said to me."

I looked up at him, standing on my tip-toes and touching his neck.

"At least tell me what this is? It doesn't have to be now, but eventually?" He nodded, stepping back.

"I'll think about it. For now, I think we should give each other some space. I need to think about what you've said."

I agreed.