Kalee's POV

I was walking down the hallways of the castle on my way to the library to pick out another book. I had already finished two over the past week and a half. The Selection was moving along pretty slowly recently, and the girls had a lot of free time; I just preferred to read rather than gossip.

I was about to open the library doors, when they opened from the inside, and Celia walked out. She glanced at me, pausing for a second, before walking away. I stared after her, confused as to why she'd paused by me.

I shrugged, and walked into the library, making a beeline for the fiction section in hopes of finding something that would interest me. I heard shuffling from behind me, and turned to see Cal looking through a shelf, a small smile on his face.

"Cal, hey!" I said, moving over to him. He looked up, and smiled.

"Hello Kalee, how are you today?" He asked.

"I'm doing well, and you?" I asked.

"Very well, thank you." He replied, taking a book off the shelf.

I smiled, "I'm looking for a new book, have any suggestions?" I asked.

Cal shrugged, "I'm not sure, I'll check my bookshelves."

My brows furrowed, "How can you not be sure? You always have suggestions."

"My mind is just drawing a blank right now," came Cal's reply.

"Are you feeling okay? You seem distant," I said, about to touch his forehead to see if he had a fever.

He pulled back, "I'm fine, really, I just have a lot on my mind. Look, I have to go, but I'll see you later, okay?"

He left, I scoffed in disbelief, he never just leaves.

I grabbed a random book from the shelf, no longer feeling like reading, and made my way back to the women's room.


I sat at dinner, eating contently with Maggie on one side, and Fallon on the other. Maggie was talking to a girl named Stefanie, who seemed nice enough, and Fallon was focused on her food.

I glanced up at the royal family's table, and willed Cal to look at me, he didn't. I sighed, and moved my dinner around my dish with my fork. Why is Cal ignoring me? Did I do something?

"What's wrong?" Fallon asked, drawing my attention from my uneaten dinner.

I shook my head, "Nothing, I'm just not hungry."

Fallon's eyes narrowed, "Oh no, something's wrong, and I'm not going anywhere until you eat, or tell me what's wrong."

I sighed, and shoved a forkful of food into my mouth. Fallon nodded, but her eyes seemed sad. I scoffed internally, I hated pity, and I didn't need it from anyone right now. I sat straight, and finished my entire plate.

Fallon looked away, and I looked back at Cal, who was talking to Everett. Everett's gaze flicked to me, but I couldn't read his expression before he looked back to Cal. Cal eventually stood, and left the dining hall, my eyes following him out. Everett's shoulders slumped, and he seemed to lose his appetite, then he too left.

"Oh, no." Fallon muttered. I turned to her, and saw she was studying me closely. "You like Callum."

I stiffened, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Fallon scoffed, "Please, I know that look. What happened, why are you upset?"

I sighed, "Look, fine, if you com to my room after dinner I'll tell you."


"Yes, but I didn't think you'd actually come!" I retorted, staring at Fallon who was standing outside of my door.

"Oh come on Kalee, I know something is up between you and Cal, and clearly you're upset about it, so just talk to me." Fallon said. I sighed, and stepped to the side, letting Fallon into my bedroom.

She immediately went over to the bed, and I closed the door, following her. She patted the bed, and I sat next to her. She turned to me, and held my hands. I had to resist the urge to pull them away, but she spoke, "Now, tell me everything."

After I told Fallon everything that happened, and about what we were like until before then she seemed deep in thought.

"Kalee, you have to remember, he's prince, he could just be stressed about paperwork or something." Fallon said.

"I know, but-" I paused, "But he's always been nice to me, and now he seems so distant, I tried to ask him a question about books and he all but shot me down."

Fallon's eyes were sympathetic, and I held back wince. "I know, but, maybe you should just go talk to him, try to figure out what's going on. If he really cares about you, nothing could get in between you."

I sighed, and nodded, "You're probably right. I'm probably just overthinking again, thanks, Fallon."

Fallon smiled, and nodded. "Now, go talk to him, I'll wait here until you get back."


I knocked on Cal's door, and waited exactly three seconds before he opened the door. He had a grin on his face, and his face looked surprised when he saw me. A voice in the back of my mind was screaming at me, but I couldn't tell what.

"Kalee?" He said, "What are you doing here?"

I raised a brow, "Who else would it be?"

Cal nodded once, "Fair enough, what can I do for you?"

I narrowed my eyes, "Cal? Are you okay? You act as if we don't even know each other."

Cal's brows rose, "Why would you think that?"

I sighed, and stepped around him into his room. He shut the door, and I spoke rapidly, "Maybe it's because earlier today you acted like I was bothering you, then you left like it was nothing. Then you didn't look at me once during dinner, and you seemed to be arguing with Everett again, and I'm worried about you."

Cal sighed, and was about to speak, when a knock sounded at his bedroom door. We both stiffened, and my gaze shot to him, accusing.

I scoffed when he didn't reply, and pushed past him to get to the door. I opened it, and saw Celia on the other side, smiling until she saw me. I let out a disbelieving laugh, and turned to Cal.

"This is who you were expecting?" I asked, then remembered her leaving the library. I turned to look at Celia, who looked nervous, I shook my head, and pushed past her out into the hallway.

I made it to the end of the hallway before Cal caught me, "Kalee, wait, hear me out."

I turned to him, glaring, "You invited her to your room? What, like you did with me? Or do you actually like this girl?" I shot.

Cal seemed stunned for a moment, but then said, "Kalee, please, she's not….we're not-"

I let out a dark chuckle, "You know, I actually thought maybe you liked me, but I guess I'm nothing special, right? A new girl comes along and you treat her the same, leading her on until you break her heart."

"I didn't-" He paused, seemingly understanding for the first time. "Wait, you-"

I scoffed, and turned on my heel, leaving him, but he caught my arm, and held me. "Kalee, please, I didn't know you liked me, I wouldn't have-"

"Save it, Cal. You like her, and I guess she likes you, so you don't have to make anymore broken promises." I spat, tearing myself from his grip.

"Kalee, I'm sorry, but-"

"No! You're not sorry, Cal! That's exactly your problem, I befriend you, and you make it seem like maybe you like me too, but then you turn around and chase the next poor girl in your sights who seems like she needs someone." I ranted, glaring at him.

Cal seemed taken aback. Everett came around the corner of the hallway, expression concerned. I spotted him, and asked, "Did you know about Celia?"

Everett glanced between us, and nodded, "Yes, I knew, but I'm on your side Kalee."

"I don't think anyone is really on my side right now." I said, fighting back tears. Don't cry, you don't want their sympathy.

Cal stepped towards me, and I shook my head, "Don't come near me. I don't want to talk to you anymore Callum Schreave."

As I turned and practically jogged to the stairs, I heard Everett say, "Don't go after her, you can't fix this right now."


I barged into my room, tears now streaming down my face. Fallon jolted, and turned to me, eyes wide. She moved over to the bed, and I joined her, crying into her shoulder.

"What happened?" Fallon asked, smoothing my hair.

I told her, I told her everything, down to the last detail.

Fallon seemed ready to explode at Cal herself, but she stayed with me, and tried to calm me down.

A little while later, a knock sounded on my door. I let out a dry sob, so Fallon stood and answered the door, keeping me from view. I heard her voice, cold and distant, "What do you want?"

I heard Everett's voice from the other side of the door. Of course it's not Cal, he's too busy replacing you with Celia. "Cal thought it best for me to come instead of him."

Fallon replied, "Well, Kalee doesn't care who it is, she's not accepting any apologies right now."

I heard Everett sigh, "He's really sorry, he didn't know Kalee felt that way about him."

Fallon scoffed, "Is he really sorry? I don't see him here on his knees begging for Kalee's forgiveness. I instead see a boy who's too terrified of the wrath that is Kalee, so he sent his brother in case things went south, it wouldn't be his neck on the line."

And with that she slammed the door shut, and locked it before Everett could even think about just walking in. Fallon looked to me, with sad eyes, but now I was willing to take the sympathy, as she walked over, and enfolded me in a hug.

"Don't worry, it will work itself out." Fallon said, but I had a hard time believing her.


I had decided I didn't want to stay here a minute longer than necessary, and sought out Everett the next morning before breakfast.

"Everett!" I called, and he flinched, but turned to face me.

"Yes?"

"I would like to go home, please." I said, watching his reaction closely.

"Really?" He asked, "Cal won't-"

"I don't care what Callum thinks." I said, fighting the urge to raise my voice at Everett, after all, he was just the messenger boy.

Everett sighed, then nodded, "Pack your things then, feel free to take dresses and jewelry. I'll bid you goodbye after breakfast."

I nodded my thanks, and went back to my room to pack. I didn't want to take much, only one dress, and a sapphire and diamond necklace. I didn't want to go home right now, so I planned on a hotel where I could stay. I glanced at the nightstand next to my bed, where my favorite book sat. Eirwen.

Eirwen, the first book I had lent Cal, the first book we really bonded over. I stared at in thought, then grabbed a piece of paper, and wrote out a message.

My Dearest Cal,

I don't forgive you, I don't know if I ever will. So I'm leaving this book here for you to remember what you lost, what you threw away so carelessly, and I hope you have to look at this book on your shelf for the rest of your life.

K.M.

I left the note and the book by Cal's door, then picked up then made my way down to the front doors of the castle.

Everett was waiting, my luggage already in the limo taking me to the hotel about 30 minutes away. He watched me approach, and almost looked sad to see me leave. I lifted my chin up, and walked over to him, waiting for the official goodbye to be over so I could leave.

"Kalee, it's been a pleasure, you've changed both me and Cal, and I'm sad to see you go." Everett said.

I shook my head, "I'll miss this place, though I'm not sure all memories will be pleasant."

That's when I spotted Cal at the top of the stairs off to the left. We locked gazes, and I noticed he was holding the book and note I'd left by his door. "Goodbye Kalee, I hope you know that I really did care for you."

I fought back tears, "And I, you. But you made your decision, and I made mine. Goodbye Callum."

I nodded to Everett, and turned on my heel, leaving the castle, and everything I'd dreamed of in the past few months behind.


This. Absolutely. DESTROYED me to write. I teared up multiple times, and my heart hurt to write them fighting, as I can't see them doing to often, since Cal and Kalee seem so good for each other. But I wanted to try something other than fluff, and this is the result. I hope you enjoyed the chapter though.