A/N I do not own the Selection or anything like that. Thanks for all the support so far! Also, the names Bella and Rosalie are not a reference to Twilight, I just like the names. I didn't even think of that when I named the character and dog.

I tug at my collar, nervous. I'm announcing the Selection today. Fun times. I am so nervous.

"Chin up kid," Rosie advises me, walking to me. "They'd kill to see you fall." By 'they' she means the rebels.

She's right. I nod, take a deep breath, and take my seat next to Dad. Rosie sits next to her mom's old seat, staring at it with wide eyes. Before I can say anything to her, she blinks and clenches her fists in her pink skirt. She catches me looking and gives me a firm nod.

"We're starting in three… Two… One… Go!" The Report host, Callie of all people, starts. Dad gave her the position when we started dating, and he never fired her when she spilled my secrets to the whole world. "Hello Illea! Welcome to the Report!" She starts. She continues to blab on, and Dad gives his normal thing. "Well, now that we're past all the boring stuff, none other than our own Prince Liam will be giving a special announcement!" She smiles at me, her smile sharper than a knife. As if I was the one who wronged her, not the other way around.

I walk up and join her, biting my tongue.

"So, what's the announcement?" Callie asks, and I take a deep breath.

"I am going to be hosting a Selection. The forms are already sent out. Within the next six weeks, we will be receiving submissions. On the seventh week, I will be selecting the girls."

"Oh my goodness! I pity- I mean, am so excited for those girls!" Callie says, and I clench my teeth.

"I also have another announcement. Rosalie, if you could join me," I request, and Rosie shoots me an alarmed look. This was not part of the plan. She walks over and awkwardly stands there, as there's no seat "Callie, if you could let Rosalie sit there," I suggest politely.

"Oh yes! I'm sorry Rosa, I was being very unthoughtful," Callie says. She called her Rosa. She has no right. Callie moves and Rosa sits down. Callie stands between us and puts one hand on each of our backs. She digs her nails into our flesh. I prepare to announce my announcements, knowing that Dad's going to be ticked off,

"I have two announcements. The first being that if I do not find love in the Selection, I can and will call it off. The second being that despite some consideration, Princess Rosalie will not be teaching etiquette- Ex-Queen Eleanor will." With that, I grab Rosie's arm, and we walk off the stage, leaving Callie to close up and Dad to seethe with anger. We run through the castle, stopping at each of our rooms to grab Shoe and Bella, and then go to Drake's room. I barge in, and see him lounging on his bed, watching the Report.

"Operation Dad is pissed off," I huff, and Drake sits up.

"Of course he is, you idiot. If it was the first announcement, he'd be fine. But you had to go and invite his ex-wife over," Drake says, while helping Rosalie push one of his bookcases over. We remove a panel, and walk into the secret tunnel. Drake closes it up from behind us. Rosie grabs a flashlight we have ready and we start to walk through the tunnels, finally arrive at a small room, where food and water is waiting for us. I glance at Drake, surprised. This wasn't here last time we came.

"I knew you'd do something stupid and was prepared," is all he says. There are also toys for the puppies, and Rosie's laptop.

"Thanks Drake," I say softly. I sigh. I'm going to have to leave.

"She'll be safe," Drake assures me. "We'll go back and she'll stay here until your dad cools off enough to leave her alone. Why did you invite her up front in the first place?"

"I was going to say that she didn't have to teach etiquette, but not that Mom had to. That was all her," I inform him, sighing in frustration. "She's such an idiot."

"She knows you miss your mom. She can't be with her mom anymore, and she wants you to be with your mom," Drake says softly, and we watch Rosie write on her laptop, occasionally being interrupted by Shoe and Bella. It all clicks.

"That makes sense," I mutter. "Rosie?" I call. She looks up. "Me 'n Drake gotta go. See you later." I say, and we head out.

On our way to our room, Drake asks me "Is it smart to leave her alone? She's been struggling to keep it together since her mom. She needs a distraction, and leaving her alone is not going to help."

"I know. But we have no choice. See you later, bro," I say, and slip into my room. I barely close the door to the secret tunnel and lay down on my bed when Dad comes storming into my room.

"Where is your sister?" He roars. I sit up, and prepare for what's about to happen.

"What do you mean?" I question, pretending to be confused. I don't have to pretend to be worried.

"Don't play stupid with me, boy," he growls. "I know your sister is somewhere, and you know where she is. Now. Answer me. Where is your sister?" He shouts. I shrug, carefully keeping an expression of cold indifference. He comes forward and punches me on the jaw. I clench my fist, keeping silent. Before he can get any farther, Drake walks through the open door whistling. I have never been more grateful for my friend. He pretends to freeze when he sees Dad.

"I'm sorry your majesty, do you want me to leave?" He asks, bowing. Dad puts on a tense smile.

"No, that's okay. I was just leaving anyways," Dad says tightly, and walks out of the room. I hold my jaw. Drake walks over to my mini refrigerator and tosses me a pack of ice.

"Thanks," I say, putting the ice to my face.

~Rosie's POV, two days later~

My laptop says it's been two days since Drake and Lee left me down here, although it feels like eternity. I'm left alone with my anger, grief, and emotions do not mix well together. For awhile, I cried, get angry at myself for crying, and cried some more. Then I wrote, played with the dogs, and ate a little. I slept, then I woke up and Drake came to check up on me. More writing and playing with the dogs. That's all I've done in two days. Every so often I'll hear something, and every muscle in me freezes, and I forget to breathe.

Drake comes through the doorway. "You're free to come out of hiding now." He says.

A/N So... Yeah... Here's the next chapter. I don't know if I'm going to write another before I have Liam Select the girls.

Thanks for reading, and please review.

-Elle