Hi everyone, I decided to put this chapter up a bit early. I hope your having a great week. I am. I was elected treasurer of my school. Yay me. Enjoy the chapter.
My whole family was at breakfast by the time I walked in. Mother was delicately eating pieces of fruit, carefully spearing each piece on her fork. Father was quickly eating his toast, reading through papers as he ate.
I sat in my seat next to Maxon as usual. He smiled at me, like he did every morning, but it was different this time, I realized with a jolt that this was the last breakfast we would ever eat the four of us. The selected were arriving today, we would meet them tomorrow.
"Maxon, you have to stay away from the selected today." Mother said, she was practically bouncing up and down in excitement. I felt jealous that these random girls were being fawned over, while I was just here.
"Do you want me in the office Father?" Maxon asked, although I could tell he didn't want to be in the office today, he seemed like he could barley sit still. His blond hair was already sticking up, the result of a nervous tick he had. His habit of running his hands through his hair annoyed Father to no end. The fact that he got blonde hair, while I got brown annoyed me to no end.
" No, Maxon. I think it would be better if you stayed out of the Palace today. Maybe you and Ariana could go horseback riding?" Father suggested. Maxon bobbled his head obediently. Father's questions are always orders incognito. I felt a tad bit offended that my opinion wasn't asked on the matter. I mean, I want to go with Maxon, but it wouldn't of hurt to ask.
"What are we having for dinner?" I asked, not that curiously but, I wanted the attention.
"Pasta." Father said barely looking up from his papers.
" You know Ariana, if you actually helped me make the menu you would know these things." Mother said pointing her fork at me. It was well known that I despised making menus. Mother always bugged me about it for a week, than she ended up doing it for me.
"Excuse me, you mean to tell me that my responsible, smart, never lazy daughter has been slacking on her duties?" Father asked, laughter in his blue eyes, looking up from the stack of papers that had previously held his attention.
" Leave me alone." I mumbled crossing my arms.
" We're just teasing, Honey." Mother said patting my arm across the table.
" I'll meet you at the stables at 10, Ari." Maxon's said getting up quickly. We watched him leave, the door shutting with a final sounding bang. This was the last family breakfast we would ever share.
" Really, You would think that boy has no manners. His behavior is appalling." Father said to nobody in particular.
" Clarkson, He is just a child, this is a big day for him." Mother said.
" Amberly, really Silvia would have a heart attack."
" Silvia has a heart attack 5 times a day." Mother shot back, but even as they were arguing, the loving gaze, Father looked at her with was unmistakable. Niether was the smile on Mother's lips as she spoke to her husband.
I dismissed myself quietly, neither Mother nor Father glancing at the door as I left.
An hour later I met Maxon at the stable. He already had his favorite horse, Noble saddled. He had also gotten a horse for me. It was one of the stables horses since I was rarely allowed to ride. Mother seemed to be under the impression that I would break a bone. I knew how to ride, she was just so overprotective.
"Do you need a stool, Your Highness?" A stable attendant asked as he walked over. Though he didn't say which Highness, Maxon was tall enough to get on a horse without the aid of a steep stool. I, however, was not. I nodded sheepishly and he brought me a small step stool.
Once me and Maxon were on our horses we set out on a path that goes through the woods.
"Did you memorize their names yet?" I asked quietly.
"Nope, my plan is to wing it." Laughter was hiding in his brown eyes.
"Brilliant" I scoffed.
"You know, I'm nervous and all, but I just want to meet them already. This whole build up is really frustrating." Maxon said.
"I know." I said sympathetically.
"No You don't." Maxon reached over and patted my head.
"Do you think that they are getting there makeovers now, I wonder what they'll look like,
"Yes, of course they must.." Maxon said "Some of them must be here by now. It's the first thing they do once they arrive. I hope thy don't get freaked out."
"Your such a basket case, they all are hopelessly in love with you." I said.
"Yeah I guess, Oh you know that show we used to watch, the one one with the rabbits, any way they redoing it." Maxon said
"And here I was thinking you read the news paper for educational purposes." I said
" Of course I do, like how you need all those dolls to practice poise and etiquette." Maxon said
"It's not my fault if our parents actually bought that." I shrugged.
"You asked Mother while she was sick and Father was half-asleep."
" You May call that exploitation , but I call it careful strategizing." I say shrugging
Maxon has his horse start Galloping and I followed after him. We came to a small clearing with a few swings. We used to come her to play as children. Maxon sat down on the bench and I went to the swing. We spent the rest of the day laughing a chasing each other, acting like kids.
A few hours later we had to head back to the palace. My maids swarmed me, changing my dress doing my hair, applying makeup among other things. I whirl around and glare at a poor maid as a pin pokes the back of my head.
Dinner was noisier than usual. Maxon kept blushing at our parents obvious attempts to pair him with one of the selected. I laughed my head off.
We went up to a small lounge on the third floor. Mother had the kitchen serve dessert here. There were platters of Macaroons, chocolate cake, and fathers favorite, strawberry tarts.
The program was about an hour long. They covered most of the selected. I watched a brunette named Celeste from Clermont, which had a excellent beach by the way, have a long send off. They harped about a redhead Named America from Carolina. She was obviously on the verge of tears.
The program was over soon and Mother and Father went to his office and I went up to my room. I looked at my reflection, This is a good thing, I reminded myself. I was having a hard time believing it.