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The Selection candidates were announced this evening. Literally five stood out to me. There's Connor Troy. He seemed cute, but kind of full of himself (It's amazing how much a person can tell from a picture). There's William McCartney. He seemed pretty nice, but I can't help but think that there's got to be something he's hiding. He seems too good to be true. There's Cooper Devine, who seemed to be popular among the public. I later learned that his father is a local politician in Dakota and he's an actor on a teen comedy show. There's Drake Nicholson, who didn't stand out in a good way. I think he literally put on lipstick for his application picture (then again, Cooper probably did too). And there was Andrew Bradley. He seemed like the kind of guy in a clichéd movie where the loser girl who's strangely attractive falls in love with her nerdy best friend who's also weirdly attractive. I hope there are more choices for me than this, though.

I'm in Mom and Dad's office to talk about this evening.

"So what do you think about the choices?" Mom asks me.

"I don't know. They're attractive." Except for Drake Nicholson, I think.

"We tried to consider looks for the young men." Dad says.

"Tea, anyone?"mom asks at the drink cart.

"Yes, please." I reply.

Mom walks over with two china cups and hands me one.

"Maxon?" She asks.

"No thank you, dear." Dad says.

"The Selection candidates arrive here in five days, right?" I ask.

"Yes," Mom replies. "And we want you to be fully ready when you do, so Sylvia is going to help you with ball etiquette."

"Mom, I know what I'm doing. I had my birthday party a few days ago."

"Yes, but you stormed out."

"I didn't storm out, I just..." I trail off.

"Just what?" Mom asks.

"Just... Walked away from dozens of guests." I look down.

"Exactly." Mom crosses her arms. "So you are going to take lessons with Sylvia for the next four days."

"Four days?"

"Yes four, for three hours every day. Dancing for one, table etiquette for one, and conversations and eliminations for one."

I sigh. "Alright."

"And, we've arranged a dancing partner for you." Dad says, smirking.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I ask.

"It means, you're going to have to practice with someone. A boy." Mom says.

I sigh again. "Fine."

Is this what regular people feel like?"

I head down to my lesson with Sylvia. On my way down, I run into someone unexpected as I turn the corner.

"Chris?" I ask as I see someone go into the ballroom.

He pokes his head out of the doorway.

"Hello April." He walks towards me.

"What are you doing here?"

"I'd ask you the same thing, but clearly I know the answer." He says. I giggle at this. "I'm here for your lessons. My parents and your parents decided to punish us this way." He answers.

"Some punishment. I despise you." I say.

"I can't stand you either."

"Well, that's too bad." Chris steps closer. "I think we would really get along."

I want to kiss him. I really really want to kiss him. But I can't. I know in the back of my mind that I can't. Not here, anyway.

He puts his arm around my waist and pulls me closer. It's like I'm hypnotized. His lips are just about to meet mine when I say, "Chris, we can't." I put my hand on his chest and gently push him away. "Not now." I look up into his blue eyes. I run my hand through his dirty blonde hair.

"You're right." He says. "Sorry."

"It's fine. It's not like it's your fault. It's mine for being born into this family." Chris laughs.

The thing about Chris and I is we always agree on when to stop. We've only had one argument, and I don't even remember what it was about because it was so stupid. It was sometime last year, I think.

"Here, let's go in." I say.

"Okay." He says. We turn the corner and walk in.

"Good morning, your majesties." Sylvia greets us as she curtsies.

"Good morning Sylvia." I say as I slightly bow.

"It's good to see you again, Sylvia." Chris says.

"Why thank you, Christopher!" Sylvia is quite flattered. "Shall we begin?"

"Yes." Chris and I answer simultaneously.

The lesson actually goes by fast. I learn how to dance a little better. Chris is definitely a better dancer than Kyle. My table manners are improved a bit as well. I also learned how to keep a conversation going, a skill I am horrible at with strangers. I also talked to Dad a little more today about eliminations. He told me if I want to eliminate someone, I should just say I want to speak with them later, and then break the news to them gently.

"Be sure to apologize when you do eliminate them." He reminded me.

Luckily, Chris will be here for a few more days. At least I'll get a little more time with him. He and I have decided to meet tonight in the gardens this afternoon to have tea. The bad news is, Crystal, Nathan, and Chris's younger sister and brother, Faye and Justin, are joining us. They're fine, it's just I wanted some alone time with Chris.

Elle helps me get ready for tea. She puts me in a cream-colored, lace dress with spaghetti-straps, since it's getting warmer. She also gives me a pair of white flats and puts my hair in a fish-tail braid to the side. I walk over to my dresser and put on my locket and my bracelet. I struggle to put the bracelet on. The clasps are so hard to get on with one hand!

"Here, miss. Let me help you." Elle walks over and puts the bracelet on.

"Thank you, Elle." I say.

"Anytime. I know it's very special."

"Yes," I look down at it. "It is."

"Here, let me help you with your makeup."

Elle applies my makeup lightly. She uses neutral colors, which is the way I like it applied. I have beigeish-tannish eye shadow, mocha mascara and eyeliner, and light pink lip gloss.

"Thank you, Elle." I say as she finishes.

"Your welcome." She replies. There's a knock at the door.

"Perfect timing!" I say as I get up to answer it. Chris stands there when I open it.

"You look beautiful." He says.

"Thank you, you look very handsome as well." I reply.

"Shall we?" He hold his arm out for me to take.

"We shall." I loop my arm through his, and we head to the garden.