Hi All- Here it is, my version of the One! More at the bottom!

The rebel alarm blared in my ears, jolting me from my sleep. The alarm brought back a wave of memories, ones that I couldn't even escape in my dreams. I hadn't heard the alarm since Maxon was hurt… since I almost let it all go down the drain…

I had to get up, to get moving. There was no way I could win him back if I wasn't alive for it. I ran from my room, to the secret entrance that led to the safe room, but it wouldn't budge. I fought and pounded against the entrance but no one came. Had the rebels somehow blocked the entrances? Had they made it into the tunnels that ran to the safe room?

Guards, I had to find some guards.

I ran along the hallways, but I realized how silent everything was. There were no guards on this floor, no shouts or screams, no peppering sounds of gunfire. The alarm was silent as well, so I assumed the rebels must have disconnected it.

I walked downstairs, fear causing my frame to shake. Where was everyone? If the rebels were here, why wasn't there any damage? Where were the guards? As soon as my feet hit the first floor, I started running. Something caught my eye as I skidded to a stop.

A mess of blonde hair, hair that I recognized, had someone pinned to the wall in a small alcove. My cheeks blushed at the memory of Maxon and Celeste, and my heart felt like it was being ripped to pieces.

He didn't trust me.

I had to put some trust in him.

I started to back away. I didn't want Maxon to think I was spying on him. I had to act better, and this was a competition. I had to remember that. I turned, thinking that I must have just been dreaming about the rebel alarm. I started to walk back towards the stairs, misery engulfing me. I expected Maxon was with Celeste again, but it wasn't the voice I heard.

"Maxon, I love you," Kriss whispered breathlessly.

"And I love you, my dear," he responded with a tender tone.

I came to a stop, and my heart hit the floor. I felt like I was getting sent home all over again. My chest turned into a black hole, sucking every single feeling out of me. I wanted to run, to get away from them, but a pair of hands grabbed me, turning me back towards the dreaded couple.

"You never had him, America," Celeste whispered breathlessly in my ear. "You will never be good enough. You ruined everything."

I couldn't argue with her. I regretted all my actions the past few weeks. I deserved it. For breaking Maxon's trust, for ignoring him, for not trusting him… for upsetting the system. I looked away. It hurt too much to see him look at Kriss like that. Celeste grabbed my face, forcing me to watch them.

"Look at what you did, America. You just threw away one boy for one that you could never have. How could the crown Prince of Illea ever love a plain, low-caste thing like you?"

I began thrashing, trying to get away from her. More hands just grabbed me, pulling me down through the darkness. They started to scratch and grab at me, and I simply fought harder.

"No! Let go, let go!"

"Lady America!"

I opened my eyes, a pair of light blue eyes meeting my own. Officer Meadow held my arms, a blush stealing his cheeks. He let go of my arms, taking a tentative step back from my bed.

"L-lady America, I'm terribly sorry, but I heard you scream, and I was concerned…You were having a nightmare, my Lady."

I stared at him in shock, looking around my room in wonder. I was in my bed, the sheets a tangled mess around me. I was covered in sweat, despite the chill in the castle from the winter air. It was dark outside, the stars shining in the night sky. I put my hand on my forehead, wiping away the hair that was stuck there.

"I was asleep? No rebels?"

"No, Lady America. No rebels tonight."

"I'm sorry for worrying you," I muttered quietly. Officer Meadow had been stationed outside of my door all week. Aspen had mysteriously disappeared as soon as I was told I was allowed to stay. He was avoiding me, and I can't say I blamed him. I needed to talk to him, but I didn't dare go looking for him. I felt bad for snapping at him like I had, and he probably wondered what I was still doing here. Looking at Aspen's history, I wanted to go with the avoiding theory.

And Aspen wasn't the only one avoiding me.

"Lady America, may I be frank with you?"

I was so lost in my thoughts, I hadn't even realized Officer Meadow was still in my bedroom. I nodded my head, wondering what he could want to tell me. He was very nice and gentlemanly, and from what Lucy had said, he was courting one of the servants in the kitchen.

"I know you've had a rough week, with the events of the Selection and the Report. I know you haven't been sleeping well, but I wanted to tell you that what you did…Well, it was one of the bravest things I had ever seen in my entire life. I know what it's like. I grew up a seven," he finished quietly. He didn't have to say anything further. From the expression on his face, I knew there had been times he had been hungry as well. "Just so you know, you have a lot of people that support you. I hope you win."

With that he left my room, shutting the door quietly behind him. I glanced at my clock, seeing that it was two in the morning. As much as I wanted to go back to sleep, my mind was racing now. I was hot, and like on the first night I was here, I felt claustrophobic.

I climbed out of bed, throwing on some pants and a sweater. As it was getting later in the year, it had gotten a lot cooler. Even the castle had a chill late at night. I threw on my boots, and then poked my head out of the door. Officer Meadow looked sideways at me.

"Something wrong, Lady America?"

"I can't sleep. I need to go for a walk."

He leaned down, a serious expression on his face. "You know it would be unwise to venture outside at this late hour," he whispered out of the side of his mouth. "The King doesn't want the selected roaming the hall so late at night after what happened during the last attack."

"I don't have the best track record for making wise decisions," I muttered. He chuckled at that, bowing as I stepped out of my room.

"If I wanted to go outside to the gardens, I would use the servant's stairs, which happen to be down the hall on the right. If you are not back in an hour, I might have to come looking for you," he warned me.

I mouthed a thank you to him, and he nodded his head, a small smile on his face. I walked downstairs, trying to keep the flurry of thoughts from my mind.

Kriss. Celeste. Elise. And me.

Maxon had been with each of them this week, but I had tried to keep my composure. Every time I saw him with another girl, it ripped me apart on the inside. I had to learn to control my emotions. At first, it had been difficult. I spent the first day with my nose in a book, trying to block the world out. As the week progressed, I started to become numb to it all. He spent the most time with Kriss, which I guess I was as happy as I could be about.

The King had made sure to make his opinion of me known every chance he got. He would cut me down, or make a snide remark, and I did my best to stay polite and calm. It usually ended with me crying myself to sleep, but no one knew it. My maids suspected it, but they were kind enough not to say anything. Lucy just hugged me this morning, and Anne did her best to make sure that my make-up was flawless so no one could tell. I was lonely, and I no longer had anyone to talk to about my fears. I desperately wanted to see Marlee or write a letter to my dad, but I was afraid to do either one. The King was looking for any reason to send me home, so I had to be extra careful. I wanted to see Maxon, but I couldn't seek him out, at least according to the rules. More than once, I found myself at the foot of the stairs leading to the third floor. I would look up at it longingly, but I didn't dare venture there. If Maxon wanted to see me, he would have come. I had to trust that he had a reason.

It was a lot harder than it sounded.

I made it to the garden doors, and the guard nodded at me, opening the door. I will admit that the one positive thing that came from this was that I had apparently earned the favor of the lower castes. The maids, butlers, and guards went out of their way to help or cheer me up. It was nice to know I had made a positive impact in some way. At the same time, it was terrifying. It seemed that I had started something, and all I had done on the report was speak my heart. Granted, I did it to get kicked out, but I also meant what I said. I hated to see suffering.

It was cold, and my breath came out in a cloud as I walked around the garden. I made it to our bench, bringing my knees to my chest. Being outside gave me time to think.

I loved Maxon Schreave. I had thought everything had been so certain with Aspen, and then, my world turned upside down. Maxon made me feel important and beautiful, like I was more than needed. It was such a strange feeling compared to what I had felt for Aspen. I still loved him, and I knew I always would. However, I had learned to live without Aspen Ledger. With Maxon… if it didn't work out, and I ended up married Aspen, I would hold that regret in my heart until the day I died.

I made my choice, and every day since then I had wondered if it was the right one. I knew it had to be, and for Maxon to trust me, I had to place trust in him. Even thinking of him, despite not being able to see or spend time with him, brought a smile to my face. I wanted to be an us with him.

Maxon cared for me, too. He just wasn't sure yet if that was enough, and I couldn't blame him. I hoped that time would heal the wounds I had caused. I had to keep that hope. If I didn't have hope I didn't have anything at all.

My maids and I had come up with a plan. They told me I didn't need to change anything about myself, that obviously Maxon cared deeply about me already. I just needed to be polished and learn the ways of royalty. I had to earn his trust back, and that meant no more being rash and overreacting.

I wanted to prove to him that I wanted to be here, that I could do this. With more free time, I had dove myself into studies. I worked on every aspect that I could. Politics, economics, wars, great minds… every subject I thought I needed to master had become my new obsession. My maids brought me different books, trying to help me as much as possible. Even Silvia, after a few days of being angry at me, started to help me once again. Even before the tears came, I had been reading late into the night, and my maids would fuss every morning over the bags under my eyes. I hadn't been eating much, but with my nerves, I just couldn't stomach much. Maxon had looked at me in concern at breakfast, and I had locked eyes with him. I had hoped beyond hope that he would tug his ear, but King Clarkson gave a grunt, taking Maxon's attention away.

Acting like everything was normal, trying to hide my emotions, was more exhausting that I ever thought possible. I felt like an outcast with the other girls, who were now treading around me like I was a bomb waiting to go off. Celeste only talked to me to make sure that I felt even worse about everything. I gripped my arms, fighting the urge to scream in frustration.

How did I get myself into this mess?

I began to cry, although it was silently. I pressed my head into my knees, gripping them tightly. I was allowed this one moment of weakness, where no one could see. The enormity of my choices came crashing down. The nightmare was simply my deepest fear, that I had messed up beyond any form of repair, come to life. I just had to remind myself that Maxon still wanted me here. Although, I wouldn't be surprised if I was eliminated soon. After being hopeful the first few days, I just felt lost now. I kept telling myself I had to stay strong. This was just a test, and it was one I was determined not to fail.

Just the opening chapter, going over some of the things that I have been sure was going through America's head. We will have some Maxerica next chapter :) (Those who already follow/read my stuff know I am OBSESSED with those two!). Don't worry, I have love for Aspen as well!

I'm going to try to update fairly often. Would you guys rather have longer chapters or more frequent updates? Let in know in a review or PM me. I also want to stay as true to the One as I can be. I really can't wait for it!

I hope this opening lived up to your expectations!

Stay sweet! ;)

-Holls