Oh my gosh guys, thank you so so so much for all of the support last chapter. You guys are so amazing. Thanks to everyone who reviewed Elmer's glue, Lilla, Cookiedoodles168, PercyjacksonRxs, .just. , XOStarbrightXO, LadyAnj, wolfofstark, Demigod18, 4Love4Love4 (x2), thirteenth17 (x3), PrincessDream, ApolloSerenity (x3), SolarisEclipse77, LeaGirlWriter22 (x7) let me say that again 7!, and lizcalixto65.
Okay so the SYOC is officially closed! Yay! Thanks so much to everyone who submitted a character and for those who I couldn't accept I'm sorry and I appreciate you making them and sorry I didn't have room for them. This will be the last chapter of intros and next chapter will be the Report. Hope you guys like it!
...
Cosmina Dragomir
"En garde," Cosmina told her opponent.
"Pret," she responded, telling Cosmina that she was ready. Usually a judge would be the one preparing them but since it was just practice Cosmina and her opponent, Shelby Wilson, were doing it themselves.
The two girls stared at each other for a moment before simultaneously yelling, "Allez," so the match could begin.
Cosmina smiled. She knew she could beat Shelby, she wasn't nearly as good as Cosmina.
Cosmina immediately launched into the offensive and swung at Shelby, thinking that she was sure to hit her. She was shocked when Shelby managed to parry the strike and even more shocked when Shelby executed a reposte and struck at her.
Cosmina's smile grew. Finally a challenge, finally Shelby was putting up some sort competition against her. Cosmina's attacks became faster and her defense stronger. Soon the two were a blinding whirlwind of steel and a crowd had gathered to watch them. Shelby and Cosmina exchanged blows, dancing across the arena, neither able to get a touch and finish the match.
The three minute time limit was nearly up and neither girl had gotten close to touching the other with her sword. Cosmina became more determined. She would not lose to Shelby.
With her newfound determination, Cosmina went after Shelby one last time. She struck again and again, pushing Shelby back and giving her no time to retaliate.
Shelby took a step back too fast. She tripped over her own feet and stood there for a moment, wobbling, trying to regain her balance. Cosmina took advantage of this to finish her off, using her sword to give her a solid tap right in the middle of the chest. That was all it took to make Shelby lose her balance completely and go tumbling to the ground.
Cosmina was greeted by a round of applause. She smiled beneath her helmet, not wanting Shelby to feel bad. Cosmina loved winning a match. It made her feel like she was doing something right and that she deserved to be there.
She pulled her helmet off and tucked it under her arm before she changed sword hands and reached down to help Shelby up.
Shelby yanked her helmet off and glared up at Cosmina, not taking her hand.
The two stared at each other before Cosmina rolled her blue eyes and dropped her hand. Shelby pushed herself off the ground and stalked away. Cosmina resisted the urge to roll her eyes again.
She went into the changing room and stripped off her fencing gear before pulling on a comfy pair of sweats and a maroon T-shirt. Her dark hair was still in her messy french braid but now it was full of sweat. Cosmina didn't care and emerged from the locker room and headed straight for the door, eager to get home.
On her way out she passed Shelby and a group of people who were all talking. They stared at her as she passed.
Cosmina avoided their gazes and kept her head down as she walked to the door. She was stopped by a tap on her shoulder and she started, expecting it to be Shelby.
She turned around and found herself facing a handsome boy that she recognized from training. She thought his name was Jake.
Jake smiled at her, "You did really good today, Cosmina."
She smiled back, "Thanks."
They stood for a moment in awkward silence, Cosmina not sure what he wanted.
Then a voice from Shelby's group called out at them, "Give it up, Jake. She's just gonna say no."
Another voice added, "She doesn't date anyone. Nobody here is good enough for her."
And then Shelby, "Nobody is worthy of the great Cosmina Dragomir. Not even the Prince. She's not entering the Selection. You're not worth the time of day to her."
Jake looked at her, hurt, "Is that true?"
Cosmina tried to hold in her tears, "I have to go," she said and turned around to march out the doors.
The whole way home she tried not to cry. Did they really think she was that stuck up and proud? They wouldn't if they knew the truth, but Cosmina wasn't going to tell them.
She'd only lived in Illéa for three years, and in that time she hadn't dated anyone. Most people assumed she just had high standards, but it was so much more than that.
Back in Romania, everything had been perfect. Cosmina had a best friend and a boyfriend, a perfect boyfriend. Gabriel was everything to her and she was everything to him. They were so happy together, but of course it couldn't last. One night as Gabriel was driving Cosmina and her best friend, Crina, home, he was hit by a drunk driver. The driver slammed into the driver's side of Gabriel's car, killing Gabriel and Crina, who was in the backseat, instantly. Cosmina only survived because she was on the other side of the vehicle. Though she kept her life, she was wracked with survivor's guilt and most days wished she had died instead. Three years later and she still wasn't over it. Nightmares filled with Crina's screams and shattered glass, along with Gabriel's corpse still haunted her. There was no way she would date anyone else when Gabriel still had her heart. It was impossible. But those stupid jerks at the training center didn't know any of that, so they just made backhanded comments at her because she was a better fencer than them.
Cosmina reached her house and tried to paste a smile on her face, knowing that her brothers wouldn't see beneath it.
She swung open the front door and was greeted by her three best friends, Jennifer Adams-soon to be her sister-in-law, Sally Morgan- her older brother's girlfriend, and Jaquie Pierce- her twin brother's girlfriend.
The three saw right through her mask and were on her as soon as she shut the door.
"Cosmina what happened?" said Sally.
"What's wrong?" Jacquie asked.
"Your face is all red, don't tell me you've been crying," that was Jen.
Cosmina laughed in spite of herself, "Nothing's wrong, I'm fine."
Jennifer snorted at that, "Clearly everything's not fine, so why don't we skip all that and you can just tell me who's butt I need to go kick."
"You don't have to kick anyone's butt, Jen, but I could use your help with something," she paused, "I want to sign up for the Selection."
All three of them gasped. Cosmina had spent the past week saying how stupid the Selection was and that she'd never enter it.
"But, why?" Sally asked, "You were so opposed to it yesterday."
Cosmina thought before she replied, "I just decided it would be good for me. It would show people that I'm not a stuck up, prideful, spoiled brat."
"Whoa, hold up," Jaquie said, "What do you mean by that? Who the heck is telling you that, because clearly they don't know you."
"All I can say, is that whoever they are, they better be prepared for World War Sally, Jen and Jacquie," Sally told her.
"Who are they though? Pray tell cause I'm itching to start a fight," Jaquie got a glint in her eye and Cosmina knew that she wasn't joking.
"Don't say it, because if you're not going to confess it willingly, that means we have to beat it out of you, and you know I'm into the whole torture thing. It's how I roll." Jennifer smiled sweetly at her, like she hadn't just threatened to beat her up.
Sally rolled her eyes, "Way to sound reassuring, Jen."
"It's nobody," Cosmina said, "just some girls at the training center. That's only partly why I'm doing it though. I think it's time to move on. It's what Gabriel would have wanted," her heart ached as she said the words but she knew they were true, "I'm signing up with or without your help, I just would prefer it with."
The three girls exchanged looks before nodding.
"Go get your form, Cosmina," Jen said, "Prince Brandon's not gonna know what hit him."
...
Anya Emerson
Anya turned to look at the little girl next to her, a blonde version of herself, "Keep watch for me Kenzie, okay?"
Kenzie nodded before turning and trotting to the end of the alley, where she peered out at the pedestrians with laser focus.
Anya smiled at her little sister before turning to the trash can in front of her to continue rummaging through it.
She tore through the top layers of paper and wrappers easily, leaving them in a messy heap behind her. When she got to the next layer, which was slimy and gross she let out a frustrated sigh. Anything underneath that they wouldn't be able to salvage.
Her stomach let out an unhappy gurgle as it realized that it wasn't about to be fed. Anya hadn't eaten in two days and her stomach was cramping horribly. She needed to have food, and more than that, Kenzie needed food.
Anya looked at Kenzie, who turned and waved at her big sister before returning her attention to the street.
Anya smiled and moved on to the next trash can with newfound determination. She would do anything for Kenzie, including look through trash cans to find her a meal. In her mind, Kenzie was all that mattered, and Anya would sacrifice anything to take care of her.
Kenzie was the reason they were Eights, but Anya didn't blame her at all. It wasn't Kenzie's fault that she'd been born a mute. If anyone was to blame it was their parents. They'd wanted to throw Kenzie out when she was seven because she'd never be able to work and make money. In a family of Fives with only four people Kenzie's disability shouldn't have been a problem, but their parents refused to even try and help her. Instead they planned to kick her out and let her fend for herself. Anya, who was twelve at the time, refused to let that happen. She'd taken Kenzie and run away, giving them the life of Eights, but at least they were together. That was what mattered.
Anya turned again to check on Kenzie, but she wasn't there. Anya began running through a list of what could have happened. Her mind jumped to the worst conclusion that Kenzie had been kidnapped. She couldn't call out for help, but Anya should have noticed her. Or she'd wandered off looking for something. Whatever it was, Kenzie was gone. It was Anya's job to watch out for Kenzie, and she'd failed.
Anya sprinted to the end of the alley and nearly collided with something solid.
She sprang back and put her fists up, ready to fight her attacker. Once she actually looked at him she lowered her hands.
"Alex, thank goodness. Have you seen Kenzie? I can't find her." Her words were laced with panic.
He just smiled and looked down.
Kenzie's blonde head appeared behind him and she grinned up at Anya.
Anya jumped on her sister, "Kenzie! Don't you ever do that again!" She pulled her into a hug, "I don't know what I'd do if I lost you."
Kenzie hugged her back for a minute before squirming away. She ran over to the pile of trash Anya had collected in her search.
"Kenz, get away from that, it's filthy," Anya ordered.
Alex spoke for the first time, "She'll be fine," then he smiled at Anya, "I brought you something."
Anya protested before he'd even said what it was, "Alex I can't take it. You and you're family have already given us enough."
When Kenzie and Anya had first been on the streets they had nothing and didn't know how to survive. They would have died if they hadn't found the Smiths. The family of Eights had accepted the girls without question and did everything they could to help them out. Anya and Kenzie were forever in their debt.
Alex ignored her protests, reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of bills. He held them out to her as an offering.
Anya refused to take them.
"Come on, Anya," he said, "It's just a few bucks. I stole it from some Three on the street. This is just a little bit, my family's keeping most of it."
"Your family should keep all of it." Anya retorted.
"Would you quit being so stubborn?" Alex demanded, "If you won't take it for yourself at least take it for her," he pointed a finger at Kenzie.
He knew that would work and Anya accepted the money without looking at him.
A noise from Kenzie made both of them look at her. She was still sitting on the ground but she'd kicked a trash can to get their attention.
Alex and Anya walked over to her and Kenzie proudly held up what she'd found, a crumpled and dirty envelope.
Anya accepted it and could tell immediately that it was no ordinary envelope. It was made of thick, creamy paper, and when she flipped it over she saw the royal seal on the back.
"What is it?" Anya wondered.
Alex plucked it out of her hand and examined it too, "To me it looks like an application for the Selection."
"Really?" Anya snatched it back and ripped open the seal.
Though she couldn't read every word, she got the gist of it and saw that Alex was right. She glanced at the form part and was relieved when she could understand all of the questions.
"Do you have anything to write with?" she asked Alex. To herself she murmured, "Why would anyone throw this away?"
"Why?" he wondered, but he began digging through his pockets anyway, "You're not going to enter, are you?"
He found something and triumphantly offered her the tiniest nub of a pencil.
Anya grabbed it and informed him, "Of course I'm entering. I'm not going to waste this opportunity. If I get in then they pay me and I'll be a Three. That'll be plenty of money for Kenzie and I to live the rest of our lives happily."
Anya took the form gently in her hands and slowly began to write.
Name: Anya Celestia Emerson
Age: 16
Province: Lakedon
Caste: 8
Occupation: None
Hair color: Light Brown
Eye color: Bright Green
Skin tone: Pale with freckles
Height: 5'5
Weight: 108
Languages Spoken: English and Swendish
Hobbies: Running, grooming horses, collecting things, reading, writing
Alex snorted at her last ones, "Anya, you're practically illiterate. You don't read or write."
"But I think I'd like it if I got the chance so I'm putting it on there. It's my form, not yours."
Alex rolled his eyes but didn't say anything else.
Anya looked her form over one more time. Her handwriting wasn't good, but it was legible and that's all she could ask for. She didn't think she had a good shot of getting in, she barely had any chance at all, but she was going to take it. The Selection was hope, and Anya wasn't going to let that get away.
...
Colleen Barrett
"Quiet on the set!" someone yelled.
Once everything was as it should be the director yelled, "Action."
Colleen watched from the side as her best friend, Aliyah Pernouce sauntered into the scene.
Colleen had to laugh as she watched Aliyah get so into character. Aliyah was dramatic already, but when she was acting she took it to a whole new level. Especially for this series. Aliyah was playing a young princess in these movies. It was based on a book series by a famous young adult author, Flara Blakes. Colleen had never read it, but everyone said it was really good. The series was called Secrets and Lies of Royals and was quite the scandal when it came out, but people ate it up. Soon the books were headed to the big screen under the shortened title The Royals. Aliyah was soon hired to play the lead, a role which she loved.
Someone walked up to Colleen at her spot amidst the food. She smiled and handed them a cup of the best coffee on the planet, the special brew served only at her sisters restaurant in Ottaro, The Coffee Bean. She tightened her chocolate brown ponytail before turning her blue eyes back to the scene.
Colleen had been the caterer for the movie for years now and everyone knew who she was. Her coffee was legendary around the set and Colleen loved that she got to spend her days away from her sister and her sister's family. It wasn't that Colleen didn't like her sister, but lately she'd realized that thirteen years was a big age difference and that her sister didn't like always having to watch out for her. She'd rather watch out for her own daughter and have Colleen live somewhere else, but since Colleen wasn't eighteen yet that couldn't happen.
Colleen wasn't sure what she would do once the filming was done. They'd been filming in Ottaro for years and Colleen didn't want to think about what would happen when they were done and Aliyah went back to Angeles.
Suddenly Aliyah appeared at the table, as if Colleen's thoughts had summoned her.
"Hey," Aliyah greeted her friend.
"Hey," Colleen answered.
"So we're done filming for the day and I was wondering if you had any plans?"
Colleen laughed. She never had plans and Aliyah knew it.
"Good," Aliyah said, "then I was thinking it's time for you to apply for the Selection."
Colleen laughed even harder at that.
"I don't see what's so funny." Aliyah said, "Since we're from different provinces we can both enter and be chosen. We'll both go to the palace and we can hang out every single day. I already know what we can wear and our rooms will be right next to each other. We'll have the time of our lives, but for that to happen you have to sign up."
Colleen rolled her eyes at her friends antics, "Yeah, well that's easy for you to say. You're one of the most famous actresses in the country, of course you're going to get in, but I'm just some nobody Four from Ottaro. What chance do I have?"
Aliyah reached into her purse and pulled out a form, sliding it across the table to Colleen, "You never know until you try."
Colleen gripped it in her hand then sighed and grabbed the pen from Aliyah's outstretched hand.
She put the tip on the paper, You never know, she thought.
...
Cosmina was the work of LeaGirlWriter22
Anya was made by Demigod18
Colleen was created by LadyAnj
Sooooooo what'd ya think? Leave me a review and let me know. Hope you guys liked it and liked all of the characters I introduced. The Report with the girls will be next chapter so for those of you who still have provinces reserved try and get them to me as soon as possible.
Let me know who's POV you'd like to see for the Report. I'm gonna have at least one of the twins (remember them?) and one from Brandon, but the rest are up to you guys. Let me know in a review who you want to hear from.
Thank you guys for all the support you give this story, it's seriously incredible. When I decided to write this I never thought I would make it this far or that I would have so many awesome characters submitted that I'd have to turn some away, you guys are truly the best!
Love you lots,
~Jen
