I giggled as I ran down the hall with Maxon.
" Wait up. I- I can't run in heels" he sighed, slowing down slightly.
Maxon had requested seeing me after supper. I had been in the ladies room when a maid had come with a note. As soon as I had received it I had ran out to meet him. So here I was running down the halls to what looked like the kitchen.
Maxon bursted through the doors with me in tow. I stopped quickly.
" So… what was so important that you needed to see me tonight…in the kitchen." I said with a little laugh. He picked up a picnic basket and walked over to the exit on the other side of the kitchen. I followed still staring at him in disbelief.
" So what, we're having a picnic after eating supper." He sighed looking at me.
" It desert." He said in a tone that implied he was annoyed. He smiled again grabbing my hand and walking out the door again.
" So where exactly are we eating our desert?" I asked pressing myself as close to Maxon as I could.
" The gardens, of course." He said. I smiled, the gardens was ours. It would always belong to Maxon and me. No matter who married Maxon I knew that the gardens would be ours. Forever. A sad thought crossed my mind as I remembered that I wasn't the only girl Maxon was dating right now.
I followed Maxon out into the gardens by the bench that Maxon and me had first met at.
He unfolded a blanket that he has pulled out of the basket and set it gently on the ground. I sat gracefully fixing my orange dress that had become crumpled as I sat. It was dark out. The only light was the moon and the stars that twinkled and shone. I smiled at Maxon, glad that he had picked me to be with tonight. I knew Maxon would marry me right now if I would let him but I just didn't know if I could do that. That would mean leaving my family and forgetting about Aspen. And frankly I didn't know who I loved, Aspen or Maxon. I guess it was fair to say I loved them both, but that wasn't really fair to them. So instead I kept my mouth shut and watched as Maxon took a seat beside me. I snuggled in closely.
Maxon passed me a tart and suddenly I was hungry all over again. We ate I silence staring at the stars till we were both done and then he broke the silence.
" Could you sing me a song?" he asked and suddenly I felt like throwing up every last bit of the tart. Maxon looked at me and I could tell he saw the panic in my eyes. " You don't have to if you don't want to."
" Umm… of course I do, I just…well I guess here we go." I started singing him a slow melody. It was one that I had never ever sung to Aspen which made my heart feel somewhat better. When the song was done Maxon began applauding.
" That was, wow, that was beautiful," I looked down, attempting to hide the tears that threatened to pour out. We stayed silent for the second time tonight.
" America," he whispered. " America I love you so much and it pains me that even doing the things you love bring tears to your eyes." I cursed myself for not hiding them well enough, but he was right. I loved signing and doing it reminded me of Aspen. When I still didn't respond he brought his hand up and lifted my chin so that I was starring in his eyes.
" America, I'm sorry for even asking you, would you like to join me for a cup of something warm and a movie?" I nodded glancing downwards at the blanket. Maxon hopped up. I grabbed his outstretched hand and hopped up. I watched as he packed up the blanket.
" Maxon, I… I want you to know that I love-" my words were cut off when a large hand covered my mouth. Another arm wrapped around my waist and lifted me up slightly. Maxon looked back and gasped.
" Guards," he yelled and in the distance I could hear their running and shouting. " Guards." My breathing was fast and panicked as I starred at the worry on Maxon's face. The hand moved from my mouth. And suddenly he was holding a gun to my temple.
" Good day Prince Maxon." The man said before turning around and running. I could hear Maxon yelling my name but it all felt so distant. After we had reached a place deep in the forest the man stopped.
" Lady America," he said slowly. " You seem tired how 'bout you take a rest." He said before slamming the butt of his gun into my head.