Hey! Thanks for choosing my story! I hope you like it! I just finished The Elite and was so excited I NEEDED to know what came next. So I decided to decide for myself what came next! Hope you like it! Go ahead and Review or whatever! Thanks!
All rights go to Kiera Cass. No copyright infringement intended.
Chapter One
"We need a plan" Anne said.
I smiled wickedly. I was going to win back Maxon 's trust. Oh and make sure Aspen understands that whatever there was between us is over. I am going to get extra help from Silvia- like it or not- to prove that I'm just as smart. I'm going to make up for my mistake.
"Okay," I said while I sat down on the edge of my bed. "So what's the plan?" We spent the rest of the night in whispered voices.
The next morning, Lucy opened the curtains in my rooms to a white background. Snow was falling peacefully to the ground.
"Oh!" Lucy said excitedly. Anne, Mary and I looked over.
"Good thing we made a winter dress for today!" She took out the dress. It was long sleeves and the shiney velvety cloth was navy blue. It just brushed my ankles. I slipped on the pearls Maxon gave me and some shoes and went down for breakfast.
There, Elise and Celeste were talking quietly while Kriss and Maxon make conversation. I sat down and ate quickly, not wanting to stand Celeste and the King's glares and not wanting to see Kriss flirt with Maxon. Just before I was ready to excuse myself, Maxon caught my eye. He tugged his ear inconspicuously and I did it back. I smiled. The Queen entered the room just as we were finishing up.
"Ladies, I want you in the Women's Room for lunch. We have the next challenge. This will be the last challenge." I spent the time before lunch writing a new song. I wanted to finish it and show it to Maxon tonight when he comes. To tell him I made my decision.
I got the piano part down perfectly but I really struggled to find words that go with a light turned on. Does love really need words. I just hope the music speaks for itself well enough.
I walked into the Women's room. The Queen and Silvia were talking quietly to each other and Elise and Kriss talk also talking to each other. Celeste must not be here yet. I headed over to Eise and Kriss but Queen Amberly and Silvia invited me over by them.
"Your Majesty" I curtsied.
"America, we were just talking about you. I just wanted to say that mistakes are always made. But the important thing is not to simply ignore it or wallow in self pity. But to learn from it and rise above and beyond it. I trust you will do wonderfully in this next challenge. Good luck. Oh! And remember: Ask and it will be given to you. Demand and it will be taken away." I must've looked confused at the Queen's advice because she added "You'll understand soon enough. Dismissed." I curtsied again and left. Celeste arrived, fuming as always and we gathered around for Queen Amberly and Silvia to tell us our next Challenge. The four of us quieted down as Queen Amberly and Silvia stood up.
"Ladies, I am very excited for this next Challenge. At the end, one of you will be eliminated. Then, at the Christmas ball in a month, Prince Maxon will choose his bride-to-be! Now listen as Queen Amberly explains this Challenge." Silvia back down and Queen Amberly stood up.
"Because there are so few of you and one of you will be Prince Maxon's wife, we decided that the public needs to get to know each of you better than just a one minute interview every week. Therefore, you each will make a video diary, which will be view on Friday's report. Each video will be five to ten minutes but it may be more if needed. You can talk about anything you want. Your family, your home or hometown, your friends, your relationship with Prince Maxon, what you think of the Palace or your time here. You can even talk about the food here if you'd wish." We all chuckled at that. I'm pretty sure she glanced at me when she said that. "It also doesn't have to be just you in it. If you made some good friends here, it can star them, or you with the Prince. Anything you wish. Good luck." Queen Amberly stood down and Silvia took the stage once more.
"Now elimination will be a tad different this time around. The public- both the higher and lower castes- will view your videos and will vote on their favorite and least favorite. Then the Prince, who will get about forty percent of the vote will vote on his least favorite only. The person who get the least favorite of all of that will go home. Then from the three remaining, Prince Maxon will choose his wife! No one is allowed to touch anyone's camera's without their specific consent. Understood? If anyone sabotages anyone's video, they will be sent home immediately. Understood?" We all nodded. Celeste rolled her eyes. "Good. Now your cameras will be in your rooms when you get back. You may start immediately. Good luck." With that we were dismissed to our rooms. I saw the camera sitting on the piano. I picked it up and turned it on. But what do I say? I suppose I should introduce myself, start with the basics, then do damage control from last week. I positioned the screen so I could see myself and held it in front of my face. I smiled as I hit record so it started off with me smiling.
"Hi! This is America Singer! But I suppose you already knew that. This is day one of this new Challenge." I chuckled nervously. "I'll start with the basics. I'm seventeen, I was a five before I came here. I have four siblings: an older brother, an older sister, a younger sister and a younger brother. And two amazing parents. And I miss all of you! I love you!" I thought a shoutout to my family would be good. "I can play the piano, guitar, violin and I can also sing. Hmm…" I said as I thought of something else to say. "The Palace is probably the most beautiful place I've ever seen. The food here is wonderful, just thought I should put that out there." I said jokingly. "My favorite place in the entire Palace is probably the gardens. There is every flower imaginable there. It's just so peaceful and calm and beautiful there." I started walking around my room, pacing, until I finally sat down on a chair by the fireplace. I've made some really good friends here. My best friend was probably Marlee Tames before she was eliminated. I also really enjoy being with Kriss and Elise. I wanted to thank everyone for their awesome support. I never knew someone like me could ever be even in this, let alone an Elite. And I really want to thank everyone." I took a deep breath, turning serious. "I also want to say I'm sorry. I made a huge mistake last Report. I'm really sorry. I was homesick and angry and confused. I didn't think through my actions and I was rash. I shouldn't have done that and I'm sorry. I will not let you down again. From here on out I will control my temper and will think through my decisions. I will not let you or Prince Maxon down like that again. I'm sorry." With that I hit stop and put the camera down on the piano where I found it. I took a deep, shaky breath to me from crying. My maids walked in and I smiled at them.
"Did you get a chance to play with the camera yet?" Anne asked.
"Yeah," I nodded. "I just finished taping. You wanna see it?" I reached for it.
"No, we wanna be surprised." I smiled.
"Ookaay! Suit yourselves!" I said playfully.
"Oh! I almost forgot!" Mary took something out of her dress pocket and handed it to me. An Envelope. I opened it. Queen Amberly wanted to see me in her private office as soon as I got this. "Can one of you take me to the Queen's private office? She wanted to see me." Anne got up.
"I'll go." She smiled at me and I smiled back. We left without another word. We went to the third floor. I remember Silvia saying we weren't allowed on this floor without permission from the royal family. A guard stopped up.
"Excuse me. Ma'am you're not allowed on this floor." I showed him the letter from the Queen. "My apologies, Lady America." I nodded and we continued on to a beautifully carved wooden door.
"Thank you, Anne. I think I can find my way back." She nodded and walked away. I raised my hand to knock just as the door opened. Maxon walked out.
"America!" He said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"Your mother sent for me."
"Oh. Of course. Sorry." He passed me. "I'll still see you tonight, right?"
"Yeah, 'course." I smiled as he walked backwards, staring at me.
"Okay, see you then."
"See you then." I smiled brightly as I walked into the Queen's personal office. She looked up.
"America, good. Take a seat, get comfortable. Just let me finish this." I finished writing something, set aside the paper, then looked at me. "America, I need you to promise me you'll keep this conversation just between two okay? Not even Maxon, or your maids." I nodded. "Good. Now Maxon was just here, as you know, talking about you. I'm going to be blunt now. You made a big mistake last Report. And it almost cost you. But Maxon saved you. Truth be told, you deserve to be eliminated. You really do." My face fell. "You're rash and temperamental. The King's right in saying that the country would not be best in your hands. But I don't think so. I think under all that, you're confident and strong and compassionate. You are smart and would do great things for this country. And most important: Maxon loves you. Very much. That is why I'm going to help you. I want you to win, America. And I want Maxon to be happy. If you agree, I would meet with you every Monday after lunch." I face brightened up.
"Yes! I would love to! Thank you!"
"Good." She smiled. "I'll see you tomorrow after lunch then. And remember to keep these meetings a secret please."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." I got up and curtsied. She smiled and waved her hand.
"None of that. When we're alone I want you to call me Amberly."
"Thank you, Amberly. I won't let you down."
"I hope not. Now go. I believe you have a meeting with my son after dinner." She smiled and I left. I went into my room, where the maids readied a bath and brought my evening dress out.
I slipped into the dress and looked into the full length mirror. It was long, past my ankles. The white accents brought out the winter in the black dress.
"You guys outdid yourselves again." I started towards the door. "Oh and you guys don't need to come back after dinner. I'm meeting with Maxon." I grinned as they clapped excitedly. Then I went to dinner.
After dinner I headed to my room. I barely sat down by the fire when a knock came. I jumped up and opened it. He kissed me before I could say hi.
"Hey," I said as we broke apart. "So remember how I said I just needed time?"
"Yeah," he answered, suddenly interested.
"Well I made up my mind." I said, trying not to let anything away.
"And?" He urged.
"Let me show you." I flirted. Expecting a kiss, he leaned in. But instead I grabbed his hand and dragged him to the piano. I sat and he sat down next to me. I laid my fingers gently on the keys and closed my eyes. I pressed down on the keys and let the music come to me. I could almost feel the bench under me. I could almost feel the keys in front of me. I could almost feel Maxon sitting next to me, staring at me in amazement. Almost. All I felt was the music. I pressed the last keys down, letting the cord linger eerily throughout the room. Then I opened my eyes and looked at Maxon. But only for a second. Before his lips came crashing down on mine.
"That was for you. I wrote it this morn-" But he interrupted me.
"You wrote that? America, that was beautiful." I smiled sheepishly.
"Thanks." There was a small silence. "So you wanted to tell me something?" I asked nervously. For all I know, it's going to be the exact opposite from what I told him.
"Yeah. First of all I just wanted to say that I forgive you for the last Report. It doesn't mean you automatically get my trust back and we're back where we were before. But we're just a step closer."
"I understand."
"And I also want to say that it's between you and Kriss for the final standings. Either Elise or Celeste will most likely be sent home. So I wanted to show you this." he took an envelope out of his pocket. I took it and opened it. Scrawled in beautiful letters was in invitation.
You are Cordially invited
To a Christmas Gala
Hosted by the Royal Family and The Elite
December 25
The Royal Palace
Please RSVP by December 10th
"It'll be sent to all of your families after the last elimination. At the Gala I'm going to propose in front of everyone. Your entire family, even your siblings that moved away and your younger siblings, will be invited. But only the adults will be going to the actual Gala." I took a deep breath to take it all in."
"So you can promise me if it's not me, it'll be Kriss?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"Because she deserves it. More than me even."
"Then I promise." He smiled at me.
"Maxon."
"Yeah?" He smiled even wider.
"I love you."
"I love you too." His lips touched mine, sweet and slow. He pulled back too soon. "I have to go and you have to go to bed."
"Yeah… I know…" I grimaced. He got up from the piano bench and headed towards the door. "Oh and America?"
"Yeah?"
"Be prepared for things to be a little… off… tomorrow. Okay? This is the first time your rash thinking might actually come in handy. And be smart." He winked at me. I looked at him, confused. First the Queen's odd advice, next Maxon's… What's going on tomorrow? I got ready for bed and crawled in.