I updated the first chapter, since I saw so many typos (how embarrassing). Please read and review, and if you like it, please favorite. This story is basically my child. As always, enjoy and be gentle!
Two weeks after my embarrassing Report, the remaining four members of the Elite were finally allowed on the broadcast again. King Clarkson didn't want to deal with another difficult situation. He already had more riots than usual and more rebel attacks on the castle, at least one every week, or so After lessons, Gavrill sat us all in a room and announced the outline for our next appearance. "The country would like to see the chemistry between Maxon and the remaining contestants. So, in order to appease this desire, we have initiated a Special segment of the Report, in which the Elite will each get to kiss Maxon on camera in front of hundreds of thousands." Knowing people's barbaric views on the Selection, I was sure that this wouldn't "appease their desire" to see the connection between Maxon and us.
This struck me as odd. I wasn't around for the last Selection, but I was positive that this "kissing" segment had nothing to do with it. It seemed like an invasion of privacy, a very public invasion of an intimate moment between Maxon and myself. I didn't want it broadcasted in front of thousands of people. Let alone even one person.
"Why?" Kriss exclaimed. I slightly recalled her hesitation towards kissing Maxon. I knew she was saving it for a special occasion, however, if it had already happened, I had no idea.
"A kiss tells a lot about a person. If they are too impatient, if they are sloppy, if they are demanding. All of these traits are not needed in our future queen. The country must know, as should the King and Queen, who Maxon is planning to marry, and should at least have some idea of how good of a queen she would be." I looked towards Celeste. A few of those traits reminded me of a certain moment between her and Maxon in the castle hallways. Although the memory was a harsh one that I would sooner forget, I knew that the public would see what I saw, and they would finally know just how awful a person she was. She caught my glance and rolled her eyes. It seems she thought the same of me.
"Does Maxon know about this?" I questioned. It didn't seem like him, to order something so intimate to be shared with the public. It seemed even stranger since his first kiss with me was so awkward. I could only assume that he hadn't kissed at least Elise so the Report would be their first. Poor girl, she didn't stand a chance.
"The king has demanded it, at this point Maxon has no say in the matter." Finally, that made sense. The Maxon I knew would never agree to this, of course unless his father had something to say about it.
"And know this, the public will decide who stays and leaves this time. With the riots in the big cities, the king is doing everything in his power to try and please his commoners. Please take this seriously, because it is your future in the balance. That is all, ladies, you are dismissed." And with a flourish he allowed us to leave.
I took time to think about what he said. It seemed after my Report debacle, riots had started to pop up in the cities that had flourishing lower castes. They despised the caste system because they were looked down on. The people needed a new hope, and the king was dead-set in his traditional ways. He kept forcing customs down their throat that didn't work and was even more hated than useful.
"I can't believe this." Kriss declared as we walked though the halls back to our rooms. It was right before lunch and right after lessons, so we had a few spare minutes to ourselves. "It just doesn't seem right. I don't-I don't think I can kiss him in front of so many people."
She looked absolutely disheveled, as if she had received news about a parent passing. But, I felt the same way. Sharing a kiss with Maxon was something special, something personal. If someone, let alone the entire country was to see that, I would feel embarrassed. But I didn't want to lose this challenge, it would mean losing Maxon. I wasn't ready for that, not yet, maybe, even ever. "What am I going to do, America? I really can't lose him."
"I don't know," I said, somewhat numbly. "But we'll get through this together." She faintly smiled and looked away. "At least we'll be better than Celeste. I've seen her kiss and boy it isn't pretty." I meant it as a joke, but Kriss didn't laugh.
From down the hall, I could hear Elise freaking out.
"But how are we even supposed to practice?!" she yelled to no one in particular.
That poor girl.