Hey everyone! It's been a while since I've written on here, so I invite wholeheartedly any and all constructive criticisms.

*WARNING

This will be a generally fluffy and happy story, though, the main character I've created will have some depicted anxiety attacks throughout the story as seen in the first scene. Please read at your own caution. As someone who regularly experiences anxiety attacks, this is just my own interpretation as to what I've been through, yours or other's experiences may differ.

With that said, I hope you enjoy what I've written and hope you let me know in the review section what you think, what you want from the story, and who you think is going to win Adeline's heart, *wink wink*

Happy reading~

Rigid breaths shook through my chest, rattling inside me and escaping in short puffs. With each breath, a consequent shiver ran down my spine to my toes. All of my skin felt cold and clammy to the touch and I could feel a small line of sweat gather on my brow. My head was hot, as if someone had struck a match and lit a fire inside of me. It was all a terrible feeling, but the worst was my sight; tiny little black and white speckles clouded over my eyes as I drowned deeper into my thoughts. Anxiety attacks were something I had been having more of recently, given the state of things in my life right now.

A sharp sound on the other side of the door I was leaning against knocked me out of my thoughts and back into reality. "Yes?" I called out shakily.

"Your highness, it's almost time to go, are you ready?" I could hear one of the maids say outside my door.

"Almost," I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to get a hold of myself, "Give me a moment please, I'll head down on my own."

There was no response, to which I tried to stand on my own. I fumbled a little in my thin heels and grabbed onto the post of my bed for some support. Another knock on the door startled me, "I said to give me a moment!" I said more angrily now.

"Ad, it's me, Maxon."

I exhaled a little and sat on the bed, "Come in." The door opened quickly, my flustered brother walking in with a small pout on his lips. The second he saw the state I was in though, the attitude dropped from his face and a wave of concern washed over. I shook my head and lifted my gloved hand, "I'm fine, I just-"

"You're not fine, Adeline, you look terrible," he said flatly.

"Gee, thanks." I grumbled, looking at his neat and tidied suit.

"I'm sorry, but it's true, you look sick." he said, pressing his hand to my forehead.

I smacked it out of the way and leaned back, "I said I'm fine, Maxon. I just needed a minute to get ready." I wiped the bit of sweat off of my forehead and inhaled deeply, as if a little more oxygen intake would put my anxiety attack to rest.

"I know you told me not to, but I need to tell Mom and Dad what's going on again, you can't keep having these attacks and acting like everything's okay, you need help-"

"I don't need help, I need you to stop smothering me," I huffed. He looked hurt, which immediately made me feel guilty. After all, he was just trying to help me. I cleared my mind a little and tried to approach the situation from a calmer and kinder standpoint, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap, but really I am okay, Max. I promise. The selection starting has just been really very stressful, okay?"

"You know, it's not going to get any less stressful, right?" he asked solemnly. "Not ever."

"I know." I nodded, feeling sadder now. Times used to be so simple and so care-free. Maxon and I would run around the castle's halls when we were little, shrieking at the top of our lungs. We didn't have to worry about marriage and families and ruling then, we only had each other. We had each other still now, but things were beginning to get different, I could tell. Mom always told me that things wouldn't stay this way forever, that the four of us wouldn't be our family forever. She told me one day I'd meet the love of my life, my future husband, and soon after that the family would become five. And when Maxon did the same we'd be a family of six. I just didn't think that day would have approached so soon.

"We need to go." Maxon said, I could hear in his voice that he was thinking along the same lines as me right now. Once we walked out of my room and through the doors of the foyer we'd never be the same. We would never just be Maxon and Adeline, twin siblings.

I nodded and reached for his hand, which he took surprisingly fast. As we walked towards the foyer, I ran through the mental list of names in my head. My long and navy blue chiffon dress grazed the floor as I walked, my heels making a soft click on the marble flooring. Maxon's dress shoes made a gentle clunking noise as well, our feet in rhythm as we approached our fate. Behind the doors we now stood in front of was going to be Maxon's wife and my husband, I'd never felt so excited and so fearful all at once.

"Ready?" I asked, exhaling before looking to my left at him.

"Not really," he let out a nervous laugh.

I managed a pinched smile in return, "Neither am I."

"No need to be nervous, Ad, you look beautiful." he nodded.

"Thanks." I said, my face relaxing a little. "Alright, shall we?"

He gave my hand one last squeeze before letting it go, so that he could open the door for me. The tall white doors swept open, all signs of chattering ceasing as my brother and I entered. Sylvia turned around gracefully, a wide smile spread effortlessly across her cheeks, "Your highnesses," she curtsied a little, giving cue to the line of ladies and gentlemen behind her to follow suit. Once she returned to her upright position, she said, "I was just prepping the selected on how the interviews will work."

"Thank you, Sylvia," I smiled warmly, "please continue."

Sylvia nodded with a relieved expression, she always did like to finish her thoughts. Her words trailed out of mind though for me as my eyes wandered to the line of tall and handsome gentlemen across the room. Part of me hoped that like in some romantic novel or movie, I'd be able to spot my soulmate the second we made eye contact, but I knew it was too good to be true. They all just looked like a bunch of boys. My eyes flitted to the girls, then to Maxon, who had a dazzled look on his face. He was usually really very good at concealing emotion, but right now he looked absolutely star-struck to me. I looked forward to the person he was looking at, a pale and red-headed girl who wasn't even looking at him. Her eyes suddenly glanced to Maxon, then looked away, a small blush rising on her cheeks. Maxon looked away too, a smile dancing in his eyes. What was that about? They acted as if they knew each other.

"Thank you Sylvia," Maxon said, startling me from my observations. "To the selected, on behalf of my sister and I, we thank you for leaving your lives behind to be here today and for hopefully a number more of them."

"Remember to relax and be yourself in your interview," I said kindly, "you want to make sure we get the best impression of all your wonderful qualities."

"With that," Sylvia said a little giddily, "we will start the first interviews."

I turned around, gave my brother an encouraging smile and a discreet nod. He did the same, parting ways with me towards opposite rooms off of the foyer in which I would be interviewing the selected men. I took a deep breath in, avoiding the eyes of them all as I walked behind the door. So it began.

Soooo...what'd you think? Let me know! While you're waiting for more chapters to be released, check out some of my other Selection stories!