Decided to write another chapter since I'm free for once. Enjoy it!
sparklysparkle: Thanks! I'm new at writing fanfics and I'm trying to make them as 'in character' as possible, but give me any suggestions if you want. I kinda thought Maxon should be driven by jealousy and desperation. And yeah, I realized that after reading it again, and have changed it to brown eyes :)
"No, I haven't totally forgiven you, and I don't know if I ever will," Maxon stated, straightening his uniform. "Maybe it was the jealousy, but I needed to do more than he had done."
I cringed inwardly; this was more complicated than I had thought.
"Don't you want to know what happened to him?" he stared, searching my face for a response.
My throat was dry and my tongue was like sandpaper; I couldn't force a word out. I swallowed nervously, willing the lump in my throat to disappear, but it didn't budge.
"Well, America, if it comforts you, I didn't tell anyone. Oh, and about Celeste, you better not agitate her. She's hopping mad right now. And as for Officer Leger, you should probably not meet him again." And with a slam of the door, he was gone.
What had he meant; what did he do to Celeste? And exactly what had happened to Aspen? I had spent the whole time hating myself, not realizing Maxon's forgiving side wasn't very generous at all. Hadn't I known that before?
I settled on the edge of my bed, depression rolling over me again, and waited for my maids to arrive. Sure enough, after a few minutes, they came bouncing in, elated smiles plastered on their faces; anticipating my good news. But when they saw my darkened face, their short-lived happiness immediately subsided, and they went about silently preparing my dress. Pulling myself up, I sat myself in front of the vanity, and my maids started on my make-up; covering all my imperfections.
"You're ready for breakfast, Lady America," Anne tapped my arm lightly. I had fallen asleep again.
My maids had put me in a gorgeous yellow dress, its material soft and silken, with sleeves up to my shoulders. Somehow, they had managed to make me appear presentable, though on the inside I was gradually breaking down. This was going to be a long day. Heaving myself off the chair, I stepped into my white flats, and slowly made my way down the stairs.
When I entered the dining hall, all eyes turned to me.
"A princess should never be late," Silvia clucked as she shoved me over to my seat.
Sitting across from Celeste, it was hard to ignore her murderous glares, and I focussed all my attention onto my scrambled eggs, trying to ignore the curious glances I was receiving.
Finally, Kriss broke the silence, and whispered, "Why is Celeste staring daggers at you? Did you do the damage to her face?"
"Doesn't she always do that?" I shrugged nonchalantly, picking at my food and ignoring her second question.
"No, there's an intensified level of murder in those eyes." Then she gasped, "Did something happen between you and Maxon? We promised to be honest with each other."
"No, not really. Celeste just saw me on a date with Maxon, that's all." I forced a smile.
"Oh ok," she looked away, sensing I was hiding something from her, "I wonder what happened to her cheek though."
Stealing a glance at the royal family's table, I saw Maxon chatting amiably with Queen Amberly, smiling like nothing had happened. With his episode this morning and everything he said to me, I was even more confused. I gathered comfort in some things though; how it was still a secret- one that Celeste could spill anytime but nevertheless whatever Maxon had done was working, and how Aspen was generally fine. I wondered if he was going to send me home; which was a mercy compared to what he could have done.
After being dismissed from breakfast, I shuffled out the dining room, lagging behind the other girls as they headed towards the Women's Room. Unfortunately, Celeste was also behind me, and she caught up to me, pulling my arm. Her face had developed a welted scratch mark that even her make-up can't conceal, and her eyes were burning with hatred. Grabbing my arm and sinking her perfectly manicured nails into them, she dragged me into the girl's restrooms. Once we were safely in the confines of the restroom, out of sight of the general public, she slapped me across the face, her palm leaving a stinging ache that intensified.
"You're happy now, aren't you? I can't say a word about what I saw," her red nails trailed around the red mark her slap had left on my cheek. "Or Maxon will kick me out. KICK ME OUT, ALL BECAUSE OF A SLUT LIKE YOU!"
She screamed in rage, and using that opportunity, when her grip had loosened, I sunk my fingers into her tight bun and yanked at her brown hair. She took a swipe at me, smacking me square in the nose, and I stumbled backwards, holding a cubicle door for support. Blood had splattered all over the white tiles, and my nose was now bleeding consistently.
"Do you think I won't expose this? Huh?" she continued, coming closer to me, "I can leave the Selection and marry some other rich royalty, but after news of what you've done spreads, your future will be tarnished. No one wants to marry a cheating bitch like you!"
But deep down, I know she wouldn't risk it. She wanted the crown too badly - ached and yearned for it - to give it up.
The doors burst open, and two guards ran in, having heard the screams that emanated. They helped steady me immediately, one handing me a tissue to clean the blood on my face. The front of my pale yellow dress was stained with red spots, and my white fabric flats were stepping in my own blood. Celeste tried making a run for it, but was stopped at the door by Maxon, who held her wrists and yanked her roughly out of sight, her trailing red dress the last thing I saw.
Then all went dark.