Maxerica Rebellious chapter 1

The palace shines and glitters like a million diamonds. Every piece of nature, trees and bushes alike, is groomed to look like art in a museum. The fountains flow water so crystal clear you could see your reflection in them. As if you were looking in a freshly cleaned mirror. All of the flowers were so bright and colorful, you'd think that they had been painted. But they weren't. It was just the magic of the palace.

Yet I couldn't register the sheer beauty of the palace. It wasn't that I didn't want to be here. It's just not what I would ideally prefer to be doing right now.

Marlee Tames and Ashley Brouillette were the closest things to friends I had at the moment. They took a moment to run there fingers over the branches of the trees, while I admired but didn't touch. Like window shopping. Celeste Newsome the other girl exiled on to the plane with us didn't even look. She just walked past us and into the palace.

Your probably wondering why I am suffering my life away in this palace. It's a long story. My mom heard of The Selection for Prince James Schreave of Illea. She immediately decided that I had to sign up. At first i said no. She begged and begged. And begged. And begged some more. But I didn't want to go. So why would I?

That's when she came up to me with an offer no sane person could resist. If I sign up, just sign up. I don't even have to get picked. If I just signed the form, she would give me my earnings from my performances. So I thought to myself, what are the chances of me being picked. 1 in a million. So I said yes.

And here I am. A one in a million chance to go to the palace and I get it. So now I stand in front of the palace with three other girls, wondering what the heck I'm doing here.

A little voice In the back of my head is calling 'what if you do like James. What if he is the one' But what if he's not. What if I somehow become THE one. And he isn't the right one for me. That would ruin my life.

"Hurry Girls!" Someone yelled as she exited the palace. "You need to get your makeover done."

We rushed into the palace.

The lady smiled at us. "I'm Miss Silvia. The women's room is right through there. You can get anything you want done there. Hair style, hair die, makeup, tan, dresses, you name it."

As we entered the room, a maid with long jet black hair and blue eyes waved me over. She gestured for me to sit down with a pat of her hand on the back of the chair. Her eyes were scrutinizing every inch of my body. Analyzing it. Deciding what to do with it.

"How about some layers in the hair?" She asked. "To change it up?"

"I'd like that," I agreed. She nodded enthusiastically and turned towards her array of supplies. She grabbed a comb and a pair of beauty scissors. She turned me away from the mirror and began her work. I listened to the snip snip of the scissors while attempting to dodge the conversation other contestants tried to have with me.

About 10 minutes later she set the scissors down. She grabbed some lotion and began to rub it on my arms. It smelled nice. Like vanilla. The maid stepped back to take another look at me.

"Blue!" She exclaimed randomly and led me over to the racks of dresses. She pulled from the rack a pretty but simple blue dress. Oh. Blue. The color of the dress she wanted me to wear. That makes more sense. "Go change," she directed.

When I exited the little dressing room they had set up, her smile widened. She brought me over to a mirror and I marveled at how I looked the same, yet my features were enhanced.

I loved The new hair style. it was still close to my old hair, yet it was different. It was pretty. The lotion made my skin feel soft and the dress 'brought out my eyes' as the maid put it.

"I'll lead you to your room upstairs so you can meet your maids," The maid instructed, and I noticed she had a thick Scottish accent. "Dinner will be sent to your room. Get some sleep. You'll meet the prince in the morning, and you'll want to look your best."

I thanked her and she began to walk upstairs. I followed her and admired the halls. There had to have been special attention put into each and every hall and room of the palace. Every turn I took, took me into a whole new well furnished hallway. It was like they hired an interior designer for each and every part of the palace.

I met my maids who quickly introduced themselves as Anne, Mary, and Lucy. Which ones which, I don't know. It felt rude to ask so I just smiled and introduced myself.

"It's nice to meet you, m'lady," they chorused.

"Please call me America," I asked politely.

"Yes, Lady America," they said in unison.

"No. just America," I corrected.

"Are apologies Miss," one of them with blonde hair apologized. I think she was Anne. But she could be Lucy.

"No problem..."

"Lucy," she reminded me.

I nodded.

"Do you think I could be left alone?" I asked.

"Of course. One of us is supposed to stay with you during the night, though," Anne, I think, explained.

"That won't be necessary. I'd really prefer it if I was alone," I explained desperately.

"I'm not sure miss," Mary, (at least I think it's Mary)said wearily.

"Leave! Please," i backtracked. I didn't want to yell at them. They didn't deserve that.

"Yes m'lady," they chorused. They bowed formally and scurried out of the room.

Shortly After they left my dinner arrived. It was the bet food I had ever tasted and I enjoyed it immensely. I went out on to the balcony and admired the gardens. In the moonlight it looked even prettier than it did in broad daylight. The vibrant colors still showed threw the darkness. But it still felt like a cage. I felt trapped because beyond this garden was the palace walls. Where I was trapped till James sent me home.

Suddenly I couldn't handle it. I ran from the balcony and threw my door open, barely closing it before I took off down the hall. I ran down the however many flights of stairs and came to a stop in the foyer where the huge doors are.

"I need to go outside!" I yelled out in desperation.

"Lady America! You are not allowed outside," the guard told me.

I couldn't be inside anymore. I had to get outside. No matter what it took. I collapsed and the guard dropped his staff to catch me.

"Let her out!" A masculine voice yelled. I tilted my head back to look at who I assumed was going I be Prince James. Instead I saw his younger brother, Prince Maxon, in all his glory.

The guard helped me up and opened he door. I ran out and collapsed on a stone bench. I gulped in the fresh air and groaned. I can't believe I let a royal prince, Prince James or not, see me like that. Why couldn't I just stay on my balcony and save myself from having to avoid Prince Maxon during my stay here.

"Are you okay?" His voice called to me, as he walked to stand in front of me.

"I'm fine," I snapped.

"I did not mean to offend you," he said, taken aback by my quick attitude. Oops. Did I just yell at the prince of Illea. My bad.

"You didn't offend me," I sighed. "I just hate being stuck in this cage."

"I know what you mean," he agreed. "It's quite a beautiful cage though."

"Yes. Yes it is."

"May I sit?" He asked.

I nodded.

"If I may ask." He sat down beside me. That's never a great way to start a sentence. "Why are you here if you think it's a cage. Aren't you here for my brother?"

"Can I be honest with you?"

"Of course."

"I'm here by mistake."

"Mistake?"

"My mom wanted me to sign up. And I never thought I'd be chosen. I mean I never ever wanted to live with royalty," I spat out the last word like a disease.

He looked and probably was offended by my words, but I kept on speaking. "And I miss my family so much."

All of the stress of the day caught up to me and tears began to fall silently down my face.

"Please don't cry, my dear," he said, fidgeting.

"I'm not your dear," I managed to croak out through the tears.

"I never know what to do when women cried," he explained.

"Comforting them helps," I sassed to him while trying to wipe away then never ending tears.

"I never know how to," he sighed nervously. "Is this okay?"

He put his arm around my shoulder, but it was very stiff. I could tell he was uncomfortable but the gesture still helped to calm me. My tears slowly stopped flowing yet I didn't want him to move his arm.

"I think we should go inside," Prince Maxon said standing up. "It's not safe out here at night. Security issues." He was looking fir something. "My apologies, m' lady, but I can't read your name pin in the dark."

"America. America Singer."

"May I escort you back to your room, Lady America?" He asked formally, offering me his hand.

"Of course, your majesty," I agreed, taking his hand.

"Please call me Maxon."

"Of course, Maxon," I laughed.

We walked up to my room um comfortable silence. My arm looped through his in the formal position of royalty. We stopped outside my door.

"Have a lovely rest of the night, Lady America," he said kissing my hand.

"You too," I said and walked into my room. I gave him a wave before closing the door. I changed, washed up, and slipped under the silky sheets of my bed. I couldn't help but think of his messy golden blonde hair and chocolate brown eyes. Thoughts of Maxon drifted me into a dreamless sleep.