Tugging My Ear, Shaking My Head

Chapter 1

The Selection was not a simple contest of beauty and personality. It was a test of love at first sight, of fate, of taking chances. It was the probability that the right girl would walk into the castle doors on the first day, and that she would not walk out much too soon. But most of all, it was a challenge, for both prince and girls.

Caspian Ponsonby was a prize. That's what most of the girls in the Selection were programmed to think. He was the crown prince, and a bonus if you won the Selection. Or maybe Caspian wasn't the bonus, maybe the crown was. Each of the 35 girls was different, each of them had their own personalities and each of them wanted different things out of this.

Eloise Acuff was a perfect lady. Sarah Napier was quiet and shy. Jacqueline Jameson wasa wildcard. Seraphina Yipp was whatever you wanted her to be.

But Grace Sinclair was a different story. She wasn't here, in the Selection, for the prince, nor the crown, nor because someone close told her it would be a good opportunity. Not because of her family, they didn't need anything at all, but she was in the Selection for the experience, for a good time.

And Caspian Ponsonby. Caspian Ponsonby was not your average prince. Yes, on TV he seemed very princely, like a model king. He was kind and careful when speaking and he gave off that aura of power. But did anyone actually know Caspian Ponsonby? The real Caspian was nothing like his TV self; the real Caspian was an easy-going, fun-loving, loud, happy, curious young man.

How would that turn over with the ladies? Eadlyn Ponsonby knew that her eldest son was unpredictable and anything but princely, but there still needed be a Selection. He did need a wife, didn't he?

"Grace Sinclair! I've told you time and time again that you are not to enter the Selection!"

"Mother!" I let out a great sigh, one that border-lined into a groan. "There is a very slim chance I'll win, and even if I do, it'll benefit you as well as me! I have no idea why you're choosing to make me live this boring life for the rest of my measly existence!"

"Grace Elizabeth Sinclair, listen to me!"

"No. I'm entering this contest and there isn't anything you could do about it." With one quick movement, I was out the door. My mother had tried to stop me, but I was gone and headed to the post before she had a chance to call for my older brother to help her hold me back. And by the time the pair had caught up with me, my letter was already out of my hands and into the hands of another, and my picture had already been taken. I had entered. It was done. Now, if fate was on my side, I would be able to leave my boring life and experience a Selection. If fate was not on my side, I would be forced to stay as a boring old writer for the rest of my stupid existence, which was definitely not what I wanted to do.

As soon as my brother and mom dragged me back into our house, the yelling started. "How could you do this, Grace, we're perfectly fine off and we don't need the compensations!" they said. I'm not doing this for you, I would reply. "But what if you do win?" they shouted. Then I win and marry the prince, I tell them. It went on and on and on for so long, before my sister finally convinced mother to stop and let it go for a bit.

I took my dear little Lisbet out for a walk for that. She wasn't much younger than me, being 15, but she was a year too young for the Selection. I was 17, and the perfect age for 18-year-old Caspian Ponsonby.

Lisbet had the same black hair as I did, and skin the color of toffee, like mine. Her hair was curlier than mine was, and that I was thankful for. Hers spiraled in tight little curls that bounced from her head when she walked. You couldn't pull a brush through her hair without breaking the bristles. Mine were looser, and I could manage them with ease. Lisbet's eyes were a curious caramel color, mixing light browns and hazels and tiny bits of green. My eyes were less intricate; a simple hazel did the trick for me.

"What if you do get in, Gracie?" Lisbet asked me as we walked by the lake that sat out behind our house.

"Then I get in. Nothing will change, I'll still be with you guys after it all, don't worry." Lis didn't seem so convinced, as she stayed quiet. "Lis, I promise I won't abandon you if I do make it into the Selection. I'll keep you in mind, and I'll even mention you whenever I'm on TV." She perked up at that.

"You promise?"

"Pinky swear." We linked our pinky fingers together in an unbreakable promise.

"You know, you're really pretty, Grace. You'll definitely make it in."

"Gosh, I hope."

"And Prince Caspian is very handsome. I wish that I was old enough to enter the Selection. Aren't you excited that you might meet a prince?" She was throwing many things at me at once now that she was over her little worries.

"Yes, Prince Caspian is very handsome." It was true, too. He had light brown hair the color of an acorn that he gelled back in a formal manner. His eyes were a greeny color, which l thought was the absolute best eye color to have. My mom had green eyes, though instead of brown hair she had gold, and I had been jealous all my life. His face was perfect in every way, and as was his body. He wasn't very exciting, though, and that's what worried me the most about being Selected. If I was, would I just change from my normal boring life to a more elegant boring life?

"It's only a matter of time before the Selected are announced, I do hope you get in…" My sister kept going on and on and on as I thought over the choice I had just made. Was it indeed the right one?

"Come on, Grace, come on!" Lisbet knocked on my door frantically. "It's already started! I told you it was starting and you ignored me!"

"I'm writing… I need to have something to back me up when this doesn't work out…"

"Grace!" She kept knocking. There was a pause, then more loud knocking. "I can hear names being announced now! Sarah Napier, Eloise Acuff, Jacqueline Jameson, Michelle Trysconston… Come on, Gracie!" I sighed, standing from my bed and walking to the door.

"Alright, alright, don't get your panties in a twist…" Lisbet grabbed my hand and rushed me down the stairs, just in time to hear the name 'Grace Sinclair' be called on the television. Lisbet stopped dead in her tracks, and my mother and brother turned to look at me.

"You got in," Lisbet said slowly, still processing it all. "You got in! Gracie!" She enveloped me with a great hug, while my mom stood on, giving me a glare.

"I cannot believe it," I muttered, returning Lis' hug. "I'm getting out of here."

"Yeah, and into the castle!" Lis shouted, and I laughed.

"Yes, indeed." In reality, I was nervous. But I couldn't show that. This is what I worked so hard for, right?