Hey guys! I'm so happy and excited that we've made it to dates. Just because we're here doesn't mean you can't still submit characters. The character deadline will be Friday, July 29th. Before we get into it, I'll explain how this go. I'll make one chapter per date. I'll still have non-date chapters and have the perspective of the girl on the dates. As of right now, I have 4 great dates planned out. I'll make sure that all the girls get at least one date type activity. In each date chapter I'll have either full date in Liam's perspective, full date in the girl's perspective, or half and half. I will also have the perspective of a girl that is not on the date.

KATIE

After we had all been briefed on our expected palace behavior, we all piled into the Women's room. It was huge, bigger than any room I'd ever been in, but clearly not big enough to fit 36 nervous girls, and elegant princess, and an excited little girl. We all waited to see who the butler announced had the first date. For me, getting that date would mean one thing, Liam in the palm of my hand, before the competition even started. I could be very seductive. That sounded pretty great to me and I'm sure I wasn't the only one.

When the butler came in, I occupied myself by talking to Sara. Mainly, our conversation consisted of her telling me stories of amazing trips. Trips which I imagined she had taken herself, but that reality was crushed, as I learned how she'd never actually been there. She was just a maid and had probably only seen pictures of those trips. I politely excused myself from the conversation not wanting to be seen with a maid. I turned the other way to see a chess game happening between two girls.

A knock came to the door, and the room fell into a silent inner chaos, no one daring to move. Princess Esmeralda, who had told us to call her Esme, rolled her eyes, smiling at Brooklyn who had settled with a book at her feet. Brooklyn got up and walked over to the door, smiling at the butler. He smiled back and walked into the room.

"Katie?" He asked, "Katie Morgan?" I stood up, all the girls glaring at me.

Looks like my plan would be set to motion sooner than I thought.

I rushed up to my room and from the dress laid out on my bed to my maids with smiles spread from ear to ear, I could tell that they already knew. They slipped me into the soft pink dress. It was a ballgown style, the skirt had a rose pattern embroidered in a darker pink thread. After spending an hour on hair and make up, they deemed me acceptable and sent me on my way. The card had said to meet outside in the private gardens. As I walked outside I saw Liam sitting on one end of a little round stone table that had been set up for dinner.

LIAM

Katie looked gorgeous as she came outside through the glass french doors. Even though my father was using her connections and setting us up, I couldn't have picked a better person to be my first date. I got up to greet her, taking her hand and lightly kissing it, just like I had been taught. She laugh a small laugh, very similar to my sisters fake laugh she had trained herself to use when ambassadors and mayors came over. I motioned for her to sit down.

"Hi" I said nervously.

"Hello, I'm Katie"

"I know" I responded. "Oh sorry that was really awkward. I should know better." I had meant to say that in my head but that never seemed to work for me.

"It's okay, I'm sure you can somehow make it up to me." She swung out a leg rubbing it against mine. Out of reflex I pulled it away. I saw the shock on her face.

"We've got salmon and asparagus." Announced a butler, coming out from a service entrance and setting out two plates full of food. He walked away and Katie moved to sit on my side of the table. I scooted over, half hanging of the chair. She titled her head seductively, revealing the nape of her neck.

"Hey Liam, could you tie my necklace" She pushed the chain into my hand, not giving me a chance to politely decline. For a moment I hesitated. Would it be possible to not politely decline. Then I remembered that my etiquette teacher would not be proud if I did.

"Of course." I tied it, avoiding touching anything more than I had to. I knew that this wasn't honest. Surely she had more tricks up her sleeves, but I didn't really want this to stop. Did I really need to do the right thing?

"Oh come on Liam, don't you wish we could just take it all off." she said in a small pout-full voice.

"I'm afraid I don't know what you mean."

"Well maybe I can show you." She pushed down the spaghetti straps. Slowly peeling off the bodice before I held up a hand.

"Katie, stop. This is my first real date. I don't know much but I know this is not what happens." I reached out a hand to help her up. "You don't need to throw yourself at me or anyone to get them to like you. You seemed so nice, and you're clearly gorgeous though I think you knew that." I smiled weakly, sort of insulted she would think I was as shallow as to judge and pick based on look and charm.

"I know, I know, but this is my first time in a relationship. I'm like you I've been waiting for a chance to find a guy like you."

In response I gave her a tight hug. She nuzzled her face in my shoulder. Could someone really be like me in this. Maybe I could have a chance. We could experience this together, both of us in a relationship for the first time. In that moment I almost forgot about the 35 other girls. Almost.

LILAC

I could see the girls' face drop when none of their names were announced. Her royal Highness

princess Selena got up to check if this was not a misunderstanding and that her "fiancee" did just want her. The butler had sighed and left the room, leaving Selena with a pout on her face. Not being able to bear all of this awkwardness, I stood up.

"All right ,enough," even Esmeralda looked up from her work and smiled. "We need to do something. Sitting around here uselessly waiting our turn is pointless. How about we watch a movie, learn some laws, design some dresses, do anything other than this." The girls nodded in approval, and all glanced at the TV remote that sat on the mantle under the TV. "I take it the movie option won?" Brooklyn laughed and rushed to sit on my lap.

It at first seemed a little weird since we hadn't talked, ever. I glanced at her strangely. "Hi." I said. She giggled.

"What? You're sitting in the middle. That's the best seat." We both laughed and settled on the couch.

Elizabeth popped a DVD into the player and we all laughed at her selection. She had selected, "The truth about the Selection: The Documentary."

We were 30 minutes in when we all her Sara, who had been sitting at the window seat, gasp. Apparently, she had been watching Liam and Katie's date unfold.

"What?" One of the girls asked. "If you're gonna gasp, have a good reason."

"Look!" she screamed at us. We all gathered around the window to see her start slipping her dress off. Brooklyn tried to push through the crowd. But I held her back, figuring this was not going to turn out age appropriate. Esmeralda though, pushed through us like a bulldozer, taking only one glance at the scene before shaking her head. She pulled the curtains motioning for us to go back to what we were previously doing.

"That'll be enough of that. I trust you'll respect the prince's privacy in the future, no?" no one responded as Brooklyn settled on my lap once again and Elizabeth hit play.