A/N Another chapter! Did you know The Prince is coming out in two days? I am so excited to read it! Please review the story so far...

Chapter 3

"I've spent my entire day waiting to see you."

"Me too." I admit reluctantly.

"You have?" Maxon looks up at me and into my eyes. I look into his and what I see there astounds me. Pure love. He's in love with me! He begins to blush furiously before dropping my hand and standing up. He picks it up again and pulls me to his side, before half-walking, half-running off.

"Where are we going?" I ask.

"You'll see." Maxon leads me into the maze of luscious hedges that form the palace gardens, his pace getting quicker and quicker. We finally reach an open area of grass, where a blanket is lying on the floor, next to a hamper of what can only be food.

"Did you do this for us?" I question.

He smiles guiltily. "Do you like it?"

"Maxon, I love it." He smiles so much then that it makes my heart want to break.

"Come on then, there is some food in the basket." He pulls me down so we are lying side by side on the blanket. I can feel the palm of his hand sweating as his pulse beats faster and faster.

"So," I ask as we gaze up at the stars. "What food did you bring?"

"Normal picnic stuff: there is sweet and savoury, depending what you feel like. I asked them to pack some strawberry tarts for you."

I laugh. "You sure know how to spoil a girl! I think I feel like something sweet."

"Same, you wait there while I bring it over." I stay lying down, as still as a statue whilst Maxon arranges some food on a plate. He carries it over and lies back down. I reach over and a pick up a strawberry tart.

"This is gorgeous!" I mumble through mouthfuls of rich pastry.

"I thought you'd like it!" Says Maxon, reaching for a cupcake.

I flop back down and he does too.

"The stars are beautiful tonight, aren't they?" I ask him. They really are, all glittering and shimmering against the ink-black sky.

"They are," he says in agreement, "And you see that one there?" he points to a particularly bright one, "It's named after me, Astronomica Maxonus they call it."

"Wow."

"I know. And you see the one next to it?" I nod.

"They are going to name it after the winner of The Selection."

"Oh." I say. I hope he can't see me blushing. I think that he wants me to win, and this is his way of asking. The thing is though, I do want to win, but I want to be sure before I say anything. I decide to opt for silence.

Maxon props himself up onto his elbows, his handsome face illuminated in the light. "What are you thinking?" He asks me.

"What are you thinking?" I counter with.

"How much I want to kiss you right now." He is being a lot blunter than usual, but I don't think I mind.

I smile at him, in the most flirty way I can. "I think that can be arranged..." I whisper to him, and I think he is really surprised.

"Really?"

"Really." He leans down and kisses me softly on the lips. It is so soft, so gentle that I almost want to sigh. I kiss him back and a new confidence sweeps through him. He tucks a stray piece of hair behind my ear and kisses me stronger, harder. I don't tell him to stop, though I think I should. It's not right for me to kiss him when he will probably have to kiss Elise and Kriss on the their next dates too. But I can't stop, and neither can he.

I don't how much later it was, when we finally broke apart. He went up to his room and I went to mine, but when I arrived there was a shock waiting for me. Aspen was sitting on my bed, casually, as if he had every right to. Which he most certainly didn't.

"Aspen! What are you doing here?" I practically shout, but luckily I stop myself in time. I am glad, I am unsure how I would explain this situation to a guard or one of my maids if they came to investigate.

"I came to see you, Mer. I can never stop thinking about you." What he says is sweet, but I am not in a forgiving mood.

"You need to leave, Aspen." I demand, trying to leave out all traces of emotion in my voice.

"Why?"

"We can no longer do this. It's illegal and feels wrong. Plus, my feelings are with someone else now." I admited it!

"What, Maxon? That jerk?"

"He. Is. Not. A. Jerk." I hiss.

"Are you breaking up with me, America?" He chokes out, almost pathetically.

"I'M breaking up with YOU?" I am almost shouting now, my anger is so extreme. "You told me you wanted to marry me, and then you crushed my heart into a million pieces. In my mind, you broke up with me that night in the treehouse, it's just that it has taken me this long to realise it. Now leave." Aspen stands up and walks towards the door, his stride slow and purposeful. When he reaches the door, he turns the handle as slowly as he can. I'm sure it's deliberate. He has just stepped outside when he turns around.

"Bye, Mer." He says it with such compassion that I wonder if I made the right decision. "Or should I call you Your Majesty?" He spits out with such spite that I feel all my sorrow gone within a split-second. All the love I once felt for this man is gone, and in it's place is nothing. The person standing at the door is a stranger to me.

"Leave, Officer Leger."