Hi everyone, I've just finished reading the Elite and I was dying for more so have been reading a lot of people's great fan fictions; which got me thinking maybe I could have a go at this to!

In my story America wasn't saved from elimination at the end of the book. I apologise for my spelling and grammar, they are not one of my strong suits haha

Chapter one

"America?"

I turned. Maxon was standing at the other end of the corridor, his expression pained.

"Hey" I said lamely unable to muster anything more. I hadn't thought I would get to see him again, and now that I was I wasn't sure I wanted to.

He walked over slowly clearly gaging which he himself could manage to say "you look absolutely breathtaking"

I smiled half-heartedly touching the fabric of my last dress "thank you"

"I wish…" he said as he reached me taking my hands in his "I wish it didn't have to end like this" he bowed his head obviously not wanting to show just how much pain he was in

I looked at him thoughtfully for a second then made conscious decision, one of us needed to be strong; our goodbye would be just too painful otherwise. I lifted his head with one hand under his chin "There nothing either of us can do about it, I was never princess material"

He turned his head away; his jaw clenched obviously fighting back his emotions. It broke my heart, I knew I had to stand by my resolve but I could feel it breaking

"America… I…" he started but I cut him off I had to finish this quickly for both our sakes

"Goodbye prince Maxon, for what it's worth I really enjoyed my time here" and then I left, just like that, I was gone from the castle, gone from the selection and worst of all gone from Maxon's life. It was only once I was safely inside the car that was to take me to the airport that I finally let myself cry. My tears came in torrents and I felt like river that fed them would never cease. I didn't see any of Angeles as the car made its way through the town; I was too lost in my sadness to care.

My mother was waiting for me in Carolina and for once she didn't nag she just held me and told me that I would be alright, I didn't believe he.


3 months past in a blur, days only marked by the brightness of the light that forced its way into my room through the curtains. I was lost and for a long time I wanted to stay that way. But my tears eventually dried up and slowly I began to remember who I was. I remembered what had pushed me on through the selection to begin with, I grabbed hold of that idea in head and used it as a life line to drag myself out of the dark, it also became my shield I placed it between my mind and any thought of Maxon. My family needed me to help provide for them, I wouldn't let them down, not like Kota, I couldn't be like that.

I could tell my family didn't know what to say or do around me when I finally emerged from my room. May often began to tell mother about some rumour she had heard about the royal family only to be silenced by my father, papers quickly removed from view when I entered and if I was in the room the TV remained silent. My family was trying so hard to protect me but I could tell they were struggling after so long of their lives removing around news from the selection, May in particular, and I knew I couldn't let it go on for ever.

"Please don't turn it off for my sake" I said when my mother made for the controls upon my entering the living room one evening, "I need to join the real world some time, and now is as good as any"

My mother looked at me like I was a sick cat trying to walk "Are you sure America, if you're not ready…?"

"I am mum, I need to start living again" she smiled in reply and sat the control back down "so May, what's been happening at the castle" I asked trying to sound like I meant it

May looked to our mother for permission, which she gave with a slight nod of her head "Well, Maxon hasn't sent anyone else home since you left, but you can tell that the girls aren't impressed by it" I felt something like relief rush through my body, Maxon wasn't married yet. "Everyone thought he would send Natalie home but he kept her there." She visually searched in her head for other information she felt 'safe' to tell me "Queen Amberly created some scandal the other day during the report"

"Really? How" I asked, actually interested, which surprised me

"Gavril asked her who she wanted Maxon to choose out of Celeste and Kriss, but she told him that she didn't want either, celeste looked like she could commit murder." May continued obviously trying but failing to restrain her enthusiasm

"I could imagine" and I really could, Celeste had spent a lot of time sucking up to the queen, her rejection would had have been like a slap in the face

"But it gets better; she said that the only person she thought should be 'the one' had gone. Then Gavril asked her who she meant and she come right out and said 'Why Lady America Singer of course', the King turned bright red he was so mad, but Maxon looked like he wanted to run up and hug her"

I smiled Touched, I had so much respect for Queen Amberly and to know she was still liked me let alone the fact she was still in corner filled me with warmth. But at the same time, what had she risked to do so, my thoughts strayed to Maxon's wounds. He had said king Clarkson punished his wife in other ways… what should she have earned for her defiance?

My mind was drawn back to reality by the distinct tune that marked the beginning of the report and I braced myself for what was to come.