Chapter 7

I awoke to the pitter-patter of rain on my window and a heart attack as I realized it was already eight in the morning.

"Wait…" I sighed in relief. "It's Saturday!" I jumped out of bed and peeked out the window, despite the rain, there was an immense amount of people walking on the street sidewalks, and an unusual amount of motor traffic. What was going on? The smell of cinnamon toast intruded into my room as Sandy waltzed into my room, without knocking, while I was changing. A classic little sister move.

"What? I'm a girl too!" She replied, winking teasingly as she placed a piece of cinnamon toast on my bed.

"Get out!" I laughed, but I meant it. Once she left, I finished getting dressed for the weekend and ate the toast. The sound of the front door opening and muffled voices greeted me as I walked downstairs. My mom was dancing around the kitchen with Sandy, laughing and giggling about something. What was going on? Was there a holiday I was unaware of?

"Gabriella Schreave!" Sandy fell on the floor, literally rolling in laughter. I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion.

"What's going on?" I asked. The room went silent, but not for long. Sandy jumped up joyously and ran over to me, grabbing my hand and twirling herself around

"You're gonna be a princess!" She sang, "Mom took your application and turned it in this morning! And she said that with the money they send back, I can go to a music school!" My mouth dropped in anger and surprise. She betrayed me. She turned it in even though I said I wouldn't do it. I ripped my hand out of Sandy's and glared at my mother.

"I can't believe you!" I shouted. Sandy's eyes widen at my sudden outburst and Mom sent her to her room.

"Gabby, you know I would never make you do this-"

I stood up, hands pressed to the table. Everyone in my family hated yelling, but I was…enraged.

"Mom! Can't you see I love my life here in Dakota? How can you ask me to leave Janelle and you and Sandy? You went behind my back and entered me in this competition without my consent. I don't even know what's more important to you, money, or your children!" I shouted.

"Gabriella Rena Biyen. It is because of you that I did this. You and Sandy! All I want is for you to be taken care of and happy and being able to reach your true potential. That's what every mother wants for their children and I can't give that to you, not here, not now…Please don't be mad…" Gabriella couldn't bear to think about leave, her home, and everything else she loved. Inside, a dark oily anger lit up in her chest against the princes. This was all her fault. Feeling hot tears trickle down my cheeks, sat down on my chair and rested my head in my arms, beginning to sob. "Gabby, darling, I did this to give you a better chance at life. If your father doesn't return by the end of the month, We'll be sixes again, not threes. We'll have to go back to my home town. Gabby, if you don't do this, we'll starve." My mother sat beside me, comfortingly stroking my hair. I felt terrible for yelling, but I was still mad.

"You could have at least asked me. I don't even know what I'm going into!" I sobbed. I felt cowardly for crying. My family need me to do this. But I wanted my marriage to be my decision. I wanted to fall in love.

"Gabby, they haven't even announced the winners. If you don't get in, we can at least say you tried."

"And if I do?"

"Then put on your best smile for those handsome princes." I sat up and wiped my face. She was right, and as much as I hated admitting it, it was true, I needed to do this.

"Don't they need a picture?" I wondered suddenly.

"I stole one from your room while you were sleeping." She answered. I slapped my hand against my forehead in anguish.

"Oh my gosh, Mom…" I moaned as she laughed at my response. "You're terrible." Upstairs, I heard Sandy singing in her room. I imagined her blond braids swinging as she twirled and sang, "Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match!" From one of the old musicals we learned about in History. I hoped my sacrifice would make her happy. When I thought about it, that's all that I wanted.

That same afternoon, I walked outside to check the mailbox. Janelle waved as she trotted forward, a smile lighting up her face. I knew what she was going to say.

"I saw your Mom this morning!" She chattered in a sing-song voice. I rolled my eyes at her.

"Janelle, I really don't want to talk about it…" I said, closing the mailbox. "We need the money, that's all there is too it. I'll stay for a couple weeks and then leave." Janelle shook her head as we walked along the sidewalk. By now, the rain had stopped, leaving puddles blotching the dips and cracks in the cement. Overhead, the sun was starting to show itself, but it was still cloudy for the most part. Janelle was chattering about her cousin from Kent who was getting married this summer, and how her Mom was working on her business. I wanted to pay attention to her, but I couldn't wrench my mind off of the Selection. What if I was picked?

Janelle snapped her fingers in front of my face. I blinked rapidly and turned my head towards her. "Darling, you've got your head in the clouds-" She stopped speaking abruptly and squinted her eyes at something a distance away. I followed her gaze but didn't see anything.

I asked her what was wrong and she hesitated. "I thought I saw someone hanging around your garden…Must've been a mirage." She shrugged, but I was curious, and slightly disturbed.

"Who was it?" I wondered.

"He looked familiar, but I couldn't pin point it. Honestly, I see so many different people from around here because of the café, I'll probably never know. Hey look! It's Stella and Amory!" Janelle's attention was diverted to two of the girls I knew from school. "Hi girls!" She waved as we passed them, stopping for a quick exchange of words about last's night's announcement. Stella was a tall girl with dark, chocolate brown hair, who was one of the smartest kids at school. Her father was a dentist in one of the richer towns, Glass Creek Valley, named after one of the canyons surrounding it. Amory was not very popular, but really sweet. While they gushed about the princes and the Selection, I noticed a strange look on Amory's face, as if she was already infatuated with Prince Cassian. I didn't understand how they could be in love with someone they had never met. I heard the church bell chime three and realized that Mom would need me home for chores.

"I've got to go, see you later," I said, hugging Janelle, and then Stella and Amory. "Good luck with the Selection," I smiled. "Maybe you'll be the next princesses." Stella and Amory laughed and shrugged.

"You two, Gabri!" They chimed together. When I arrived at my house, I passed the garden by our front window and stopped, remembering what Janelle had said. My eyes wandered the weeds and tomatoes, but it wasn't until I had almost given up that I saw a blue envelope. With excited hands, I grabbed it out of the weeds and ripped off the top.

"What's that?" Sandy questioned, running out of the house. "A love letter from the prince! "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more-"

"Shut up, Sandra." I rolled my eyes, tucking the envelope under my arm and heading towards my room to get some privacy. With a sister like Sandy, that was hard to come by. I flopped onto my bed and peeked inside. The contents surprised me, but the note inside was enigmatic.

Join the Selection and these will stop. -M-

Another note, and one hundred dollars from M. I didn't know what to do, except hide the money. The offer was puzzling, because whether I entered the Selection or not didn't matter if I wasn't picked. But if I was picked, I might have a week and then we'd be penniless. Not to mention, the note was creepy. I crumpled it into my pocket as Sandy burst in, blabbering about some sort of nonsense, but I didn't stop thinking about it.