Hello. So this is chapter four.
In case you didn't know, there's a poll on my profile about your favourite male character in this story. GO VOTE FOR YOU FAVOURITE!
Anyways, if i were infinity, did you read the other chapters? Did you like them?
Is anyone else kind of fangirling over George? Please tell me that I'm not alone.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own The Selection. That belongs to Kiera Cass.
Happy Reading!
Chapter 4
I get up from the plush, leather chair and immediately notice that I've wrinkled the gown I'd been wearing, since I hadn't had time to change out of it before we left. I just hope that Anne, Mary, and Lucy will all understand. It's just that they must have worked so hard on this dress and here I am less than twelve hours later with a ruined gown.
As I made my way towards the door, Maxon slipped his jacket over my shoulders. The soft brown leather caressed my skin and I could smell his sweet scent lingering on the fabric. It smelled of happiness and love – of our future, because I'm his dear. The look on Celeste's face let me know that she'd seen the whole thing and she'd been staring daggers into my back until Maxon looked over at her and gave her a small smile. We were in my home province of Carolina after all. Couldn't she just accept that Maxon wanted to make me look special in my hometown?
Once we were outside, Maxon put his sunglasses on and put his arm around my shoulders. We were both smiling like maniacs at each other. Since Carolina wasn't about to be attacked by the rebel army, everyone had come out to see us. The crowd went crazy when Maxon leaning over and pretended to whisper something romantic in my ear. What he'd really done was comment on how much the crowd adored me. "What can I say, I'm a natural when it comes to charming people," I whispered back. The smile on my face made it seem more like we'd just professed our love to each other like we were Romeo and Juliet. Fortunately, we aren't star-crossed lovers and this isn't some Shakespeare play. This was real life – my life, to be more exact and I could get used to this.
We strolled down the carpet, signing autographs and taking photos with civilians, James and George never leaving our sides. The press were snapping away on their cameras and the cameras from the palace filmed Maxon and I the entire time. For some reason, no one liked Celeste in Carolina. I wonder why.
I ripped off my heels as soon as I'd sat down in the car. I have blisters all over my feet and my body ached from the long walk to the limo. Maxon was ever the gentleman and offered to rub my feet, which was something I was extremely grateful for. I made a mental note to sneak the pair of flats I'd brought with me into my bag for the rest of the trip. After all, why shouldn't I be comfortable in my own home?
I've never seen Maxon like this before. He looks so eager and nervous to see the house that I grew up in – my room that reflected my life back before the Selection – before I'd truly fallen in love. Personally, I was so excited to see my family again. I wanted to hug my parents and gossip with May about the palace, see if Gerad had found his talent and be able to comfort my parents when I'd see that he still hadn't found his artistic talent. Now, if only we'd get there. What I hadn't realized was that people had been absent from the crowds today. Many were fleeing, as we had done from the palace. I just hope that we didn't bring the threat with us when we'd left.
When we finally reached my old home, my entire family was waiting outside next to some neighbors and reporters. Kota was taking advantage of the cameras and promoting his art, but he immediately stopped when he saw the car roll up onto the driveway.
As we made our way out, George pulled me back, the outline of his muscular arms showing through his uniform. "Stay close Lady America. They aren't all here to see you smile," he warned. And with that, we made our way through the crowds and to my family, who were already chatting up a storm with Maxon. "Mom, Dad, it's so good to see you two again. How have you been May? By the way, I asked Maxon here if he has a secret younger brother that you could date and unfortunately, he said no." That got a laugh out of everyone, especially Maxon, whom was also blushing from finding out about my sister's secret crush on him. "May, if I could, I would marry you, but I guess I'll just have to stick with America for now until I can secretly find a way out of marrying one of the Selected. Then, I'll come get you and we can run away together. Does that sound like a plan," he asked her. May looked like she was about to faint. Her cheeks were as red as roses and Maxon had sounded so genuine that I have to commend him on his acting skills. He was simply phenomenal and he charmed my parents like a pro.
Inside, we had lunch as a family with Maxon. Celeste, not even bothering to come in, had booked a hotel and fled to it as soon as she could. That was fine with me, since the less I had to see her, the better.
Finally being able to afford good food, my mother made mashed potatoes, with pasta – a wine sauce drizzled over it. For dessert, we had a delicious cheesecake with strawberries and bananas. By the end of the meal, I was stuffed to the core with food.
I led Maxon up the old, creaky stairs to my old bedroom. Everything had stayed exactly how I'd left it and I was shocked when Maxon snuck up behind me and gave me a passionate kiss. We'd closed the door, but we'd been warned by James and George that should they hear anything suspicious, they would come in. So, we were extra careful not to make a sound, as our kiss got more and more intimate.
Finally, he pulled away. "This is everything I imagined your room to be like and more. It's so perfect for you that when you move into the Princess Suite in three weeks, I'm going to have this room reconstructed in there. Then, it's going to feel even more like a second home for you," he said. I was so grateful that he was also thinking about our future together. "Except, I have one little suggestion." I looked around my room. What didn't he like about it? I began to feel slightly insecure. "What," I inquired. "It's just that I think it would be nice if they wrote Maxon's Dear on the door, so that no one would ever have any doubts in their mind about how much I love you," he said. This time when we kissed, we weren't as careful and when Maxon and I slammed against the wall, George and James came rushing in. "Are you alright, Your Highness," James asked. George just gave me a look that said he didn't want to know what we'd been up to for the past ten minutes.
After assuring them that we were both fine, they left us alone again. "Maxon, you need to go see Celeste. It's still a completion and she's still in the running," I said. "Not for much longer," he confessed. "Still, you need to go see her." He gave me a questioning look. "Only if you come with me."
And with that, we left my house for the glitzy glam world of the Carolina Hotel. The lobby was so posh and luxurious, that I felt like an imposter walking inside. We quickly took the elevator to Celeste's room and when we got there, knocked on her door, only to find her half-dressed.
"Maxon dear, what a lovely surprise," she said in her usual seductive voice. "Listen, now's not the best time. I was kind of in the middle of something before you showed up, but maybe you could come back in an hour?" What was going on in there?
Maxon didn't seem to care and just strolled right into her room, pulling me in with him. "Okay, if you're both going to be that way, than I think it's time that America tells you her secret, because I know she has one," she said. Where did that come from? I didn't know whether to lie to him, or tell him the truth. But then again, this was my chance to tell him about Aspen. I just hoped that I wouldn't get killed in the process. "Maxon, you know my old boyfriend? Well, he got picked by the Draft to become a palace guard and at first we kind of kissed during our secret meetings, but lately I've been more sure that I want you and only you, so I'm working on completely removing him from my life, but don't worry, I'm still exclusively yours," I confessed. Maxon just shrugged it off. "Do you need help with that? I could get him reassigned," he said, a smile on his face. He didn't seem mad at all and I knew that I'd done the right thing.
"That's not fair," whined Celeste. "You're not supposed to forgive her!" He simply laughed. "If I get to experiment with other girls, then she can experiment with other boys too, if she wants," he explained. She was completely shocked by his reaction. "But you Celeste, you need tell me what's going on right now! What have you been up to lately? A girl like you clearly has something to hide," he inquired. But she just smirked and simply said in a devilish tone, "Oh Maxon, you'll find out soon enough."
So, the cliffhangers are back! How evil is Celeste? Seriously, does anyone think they know what she's hiding? Spoiler Alert, it's something huge and slightly unexpected, so I guess you'll have to follow this story to make sure you never miss an update.
Any predictions? Any guesses? DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!
As always, thank you to my lovely readers.
Until next time...
- Hearts And Crowns
