Hey guys. So this next chapter is about Maxon and Daphne's relationship as friends. Hope you guys enjoy. If you guys want to see Maxon's pov during the selection, let me know and I will do that.

Disclaimer: I don't own the selection or any of its characters

The King of France was coming today for a diplomatic meeting with my father. That meant of course that Daphne would be here. Daphne. My mind ran through memories of her. How amazing our friendship was. How she would always understand me. How I'd always understand her. How she always tried to make me feel better. That kind of a friend doesn't pop out of nowhere. But then again, she is my only real friend. How could I know. I smiled and got out of bed as my butler helped ready me for the day. I rummaged through my ties deciding what color to wear. It may seem silly, but I spend most of my time in the morning picking out my tie. As Prince, I have to wear a suit all the time. It is nice to be able to choose one thing to wear, one thing that represents my mood for the day, one thing that shows my personality. I decided to wear one of my yellow ties. Yellow did represent happiness and I was definitely happy.

After breakfast, my family went to the front doors to greet our visitors. Royals were never late, not even fashionably late. I straightened my shoulders as Daphne entered. She gave me a mischievous smile, and I returned it. My father spoke first, "Hello King Curtis, Queen Sheryl, and Princess Daphne. As always it is a pleasure to have you here. The maids will escort you to your rooms and our first meeting will begin tonight." The maids escorted them to there rooms and my parents and I went off to our usual busy day.

About a half hour later, I knocked on Daphne's door. She opened it smiling, "I was wondering if you were going to show up before the meeting."

I returned the smile, "Of course I was going to show up, I just wanted to give you time to settle in."

"Ugh, maxon the gentlemen as always," she joked. But it was not funny to me. Doesn't everybody. She ushered me in and I sat down on a nearby couch while she plopped down on my bed.

"So tell me, what's new."

"Oh, nothing really, just tons of meetings about things I would rather not discuss right now." I sighed trying to get those horrible things out of my head.

"Same here," she fell back on her back laying down. I mimicked her and then we both burst into a fit of giggles.

"Come on, we have an hour before the meeting, let's do something." As much as I really would like to do something with Daphne, I couldn't. If my father saw, he'd consider it a date. I wasn't allowed to date until the selection. He didn't understand that the opposite genders could be friends as well. I made up the lamest excuse ever.

"I'm really sorry but I have a meeting that starts in ten minutes." Daphne raised her eyebrows, she knew I was lying but she didn't say anything.

After a while she spoke, "You better get going then, a prince can't be late." I exited the room and immediately felt bad.

Ten minutes later I returned, "Turns out my father canceled the meeting because of your family's presence, so we still have time to talk." Ugh I hated myself for lying, especially to Daphne. Friendship was built on trust, not lies. So we talked until I found myself in the conversation of the selection

"Maxon, don't you think the selection is stupid. I mean why are you having one. Don't you want to find love yourself." Seriously, was she forgetting that the selection was not my idea.

"As prince, it's my duty to hold traditions. Plus with all the rebels, we need something to keep the people happy. Sooner or later they might decide to join the rebels, you know that right."

Daphne looked outraged, "So that's all it is then, cheap entertainment!" Cheap entertainment, what a funny way to put it, but I guess in a way it was true.

"It's not just that!" I told her defensively. "It's also my chance to fall in love."

"So you're telling me you haven't already," she looked sad. What was she implying. That she thought I was in love with her? Wait did that mean she liked me as more than a friend? No, we are just friends, she is probably just curious.

"No Daphne, I have not." I wanted to make it perfectly clear in case she was assuming anything.

"Well what if you don't find love." Daphne stated my biggest fear.

"I'm certain I will," I lied and then exited the room. That conversation had gotten too personal. Daphne was my friend, but I didn't like discussing that stuff to anyone, not even my mom.

Thanks for reading this chapter. Hopefully I'll update another one in a couple of days. Let me know if you guys want any more of his life before the selection or if I should just skip to his pov during the selection.