I was leaving.
Maxon and I had had a huge fight after I had suggested that there be no more castes. He got so worked up, he's decided to send me home.
Tears slid silently down my cheeks as I packed my few items. I would leave as soon as I was done.
Within minutes I was done. My things were packed into my scruffy backpack. Just as I was about to exit through the door, a thought occurred to me.
Maxon was having me leave out of a fit of anger. I was still leaving, nothing could change that, but he might want some way to know that I was sorry, that I wanted to say goodbye.
I pulled out a piece of royal stationery and a pen.
Dear Maxon,
I'm so sorry for everything that's happened. I never, ever wanted to hurt you like that. Thank you so much for keeping me here with you for as long as you did. You're an absolutely amazing person, Maxon. I love you.
Goodbye, Maxon.
Love, America
P. S. The food was definitely one of the reasons I was staying, but so were you. The food was a close second, though.
I finished the letter, folded it, and placed it carefully on my bed. Taking one last glance around the room, I left the room.
MAXON
Our fight had me up in such a flurry, I had told her to go home.
America. I had told her, the girl I loved, to leave me forever. And she had no choice but to comply.
I tried not to think about it. But my mind was reeling. I had to find her, before she left.
I ran down the halls towards her room. I had memorized the path, and I found it easily.
The door was wide open, but she was no where to be seen. And, of course, there was no maid standing guard to tell me witch way she'd gone. I scoured her room, looking for a sign, anything, that would give me a hint as to where she was, a reason to run after her. The only thing I found was a note on her bed. It was addressed to me.
As I read the letter, tears welled up in my eyes. She was sorry, she loved me. I couldn't believe it.
After releasing so many other girls, I had become extremely familiar with the area in front of my house where the girls left the Selection. I ran to this area now, praying that America hadn't left yet.
AMERICA
I had just gotten into the car when I heard someone shouting behind us. The driver slowed to a stop and murmured under his breath something about a crazy person.
Suddenly, Maxon's face appeared in my window. I was startled, and slightly scared, so I slid away from the window. Nonetheless, Maxon opened the door and climbed inside.
"America, thank God you haven't left yet," he said. He reached out to hold my hand.
But I was scared and confused, so I pulled my hand back. "What do you mean? I thought you wanted me to leave."
"America, I was foolish, and I wasn't thinking, and... I'm just so sorry," his face carefully slid closer to mine as he said this. I felt a hand slip around my back and pull me closer to him.
"It isn't you who should be apologizing. It wasn't my place to talk about. I love you, Maxon, I'm so sorry." There, I had said it to his face. I could now leave with a clean conscience.
MAXON
Her words made my insides burn. I tried to close the gap between us, but she kept pushing away slightly, as if she were afraid.
"Stay, America, please. I want you to stay here in my arms."
"I'm not sure I can do that now, Your Highness," she whispered.
That made my heart jump. Now that I had technically sent her away, could she still stay? I didn't care what rules we ended up breaking, so long as she was with me.
"I'll do everything in my power to make you stay. Please, just, don't leave me," I told her.
She stopped pulling away, sitting stock still. I put my hand behind her head and pushed her face to mine. Kissing her tenderly, I peeked open my eyes. The driver of the car was staring wide-eyed at us, and America's were open, too. Her eyes quickly closed, though, and I could feel her tug me closer.
AMERICA
This was so strange. One minute he wanted me to leave forever, the next he was kissing me feverishly and telling me to stay forever.
I pulled away and said, "Are you sure you want me to stay, Maxon? It's not just a spur-of-the-moment thing?"
He stroked my hair and whispered, "I've never been more sure about something in my life."