A/N: Hi guys! Many of you have asked for a form, so it's posted at the end of this chapter. Please submit your character! Without further ado, here is the chapter.
Chapter 4- Camilla Jaylin
The hot Zuni sun sweltered on my face. I impatiently wiped the sweat off with the back of my hand as I focused on the girl in front of me. The butterfly wings arched past her eyes, giving her the look of a cat and butterfly in one. I meticulously looked for any spots that needed touch-ups, and added a spot of color here or there. Finally done, I gave the girl the hand mirror I always gave to my customers. She squealed in excitement. "Oh my gosh this is so cool!" I smiled. This was my favorite part about running a face painting stand, even as a Five. It wasn't exactly everyone's dream job, but I loved making younger kids smile. The girl, maybe about seven years old, looked up at me and said, "Thank you!" and ran toward her mom, who was waiting for her. Now was one of the best times for business because it was Spring Fair season, and everyone was in a festive mood. My dad and my older sister, Charity, were probably performing somewhere nearby; everyone in the town loved my dad's jazzy piano tunes and my sister's soulful voice. They were a common duet known as Duke and Cherry Spice Jaylin. Despite their local fame, my family, along with my mom and my younger brother Connor, was just able to scrape by every time rent was due. But everyone in my family had big dreams, for themselves and for one another. I believed that something good would happen if we kept dreaming.
I decided to close up for the day, because the butterfly/cat-faced girl was close to the end of my hours. I packed up the stand I had started at fourteen years old to support my family. I had become a huge help to help feed my family, and that was something I was proud to have been able to have done. Twos may have comfort, but something tells me they don't have the close-knit connection that my family had, and I wouldn't trade comfort for that any day. I walked the short way home, admiring the Zuni sunset like I always did. Charity and Dad were already home, and Mom and Connor were already setting dinner on the outdoor picnic table we always ate at during the summer. Tonight it was pasta with squash from Mom's garden and chicken, one of my favorites. They all seemed to look at me as we started to eat. Boy, Mom had gotten good squash this year. As Charity finished her last bite (she was always the slowest eater) Mom produced an envelope, which she handed to me. "Mail for you, Milly." Mail? I pretty much never got mail. As I started to open the envelope, Dad said, "Katherine-" But my mom just shushed him and motioned for me to keep opening it.
The prince was having a Selection, the letter said. And apparently, my family wanted me to enter. I looked up at them all, and they were looking at me expectantly. I wanted to laugh. "So, the Selection." I started cautiously. Dad was the first to break the silence. "It could elevate you out of this caste, Milly. It could help us all achieve our dreams. You don't have to marry the prince if you don't love him." Something about his deep, gentle voice lulled away any concerns. Charity said, "Oh, please, Milly, I would love it if you entered! I'm too old, but if you get in, I want to hear everything! The dresses, the food, the jewels… even the prince!" I giggled. Charity was a bit of a diva sometimes. Finally, I looked at Connor, and I was sold. He wanted to be an animator more than anything, and he was stuck in the life of a Five. Maybe I could use my Selection money to help him out of this and get him an internship somewhere.
"Alright, I'll enter!" I said. Mom gave me a proud, gentle smile, and handed me a pen. I began to fill out the form with my family, Charity interjecting here and there about what she thought I should put on the form, and so on.
Name: Camilla Jaylin
Province: Zuni
Caste: 5
Age: 18
Height: 5'6
Weight: 57 kg
Hair color: Black
Eye color: Brown
Skin color: Tan with freckles
I kept filling out the different parts of the form until the night was beginning to fall. I thought the Zuni night was just as pretty as the sunset, with stars dotted all over the dark blue sky. We had to go inside, seeing as the mosquitoes were starting to get to us. I was the worst mosquito magnet out of anyone in the family, and I usually had at least two bites. They never seemed to go away. Oh, well. Maybe there wouldn't be as many mosquitoes in Angeles. But first I had to get Selected. I flopped on my bed in my shared room with Charity and began to daydream about getting into the Selection and earning big money for my family. I was so ready to help them. My daydreams somehow morphed into real dreams, and I fell asleep on dreams of the palace.
Hi again- here's the form, and thanks to Smiley for Milly!
Name:
Age:
Occupation:
Caste:
Province:
Appearance (please be detailed):
History (lots here if you want your character to stay longer):
Personality:
Thoughts on the royal family(especially Prince Theo):
Reason for entering the Selection:
Family:
Likes/dislikes: