Chapter 7

Aster- 1

Adelaide-0

Kayden-0

So, here's the author's note instead of at the end! I'm kind of sad that I only received one vote for the dates. I mean, I know that my book isn't very popular, but I thought that at least a few of you guys would vote. Anyway, sorry that my updates aren't very frequent, but it's my first year of high school, and I'm still trying to get used to all of the homework. Plus, I'm in tennis this semester, and the matches take forever. Sorry for my little rant... Anyway, here's the story.

P.S. The dress for Aster is on my bio.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Aster Sherwood stood in front of the mirror in her bedroom, just staring at her reflection. "That's me?" She asked for the third time, touching her face.

Mim, one of her maids, laughed some and nodded. "Yes, miss. That's you."

Lyra, her other maid, rolled her eyes. "I still think you need this dress." And she held up a ball gown kind of dress with lots of ruffles.

"No thanks, Lyra. I think this dress is perfect." She said quietly, spinning around in a circle.

Her black hair was curled slightly, thanks to Mim, and she had light, natural makeup on.

"Now for the shoes!" Mim exclaimed, heading to the closet.

"Actually... Would it be okay if I wear these?" Aster asked, holding up her dusty cowboy boots.

Lyra made a face. "Ew. No. Of course not."

Mim rolled her eyes and pushed the snobby maid out of the way. "Sure you can." She smiled at the girl. "The boots could really work with this dress."

Aster smiled and slipped the boots onto her feet. "I think it looks good." She said, looking at herself in the full-length mirror again.

"So do I." Mim nodded and fixed Aster's hair a little bit.

A sharp knock on the door startled Mim and Aster.

"He's here!" Mim started to panic, rushing to open the bedroom door.

Lyra sat at the desk in Aster's bedroom, starting to create another dress. "You don't have to worry so much. She'll be back within the hour... The Prince can't be too interested in... That." She muttered to herself, glaring at the sewing machine.

Aster nervously waited for the Prince to take her away from these two.

Preston stood in front of Mim, trying to step into the room without having to remember her name.

"Um... Excuse me, miss... I must get going with Aster."

Mim wasn't having any of it. "Your Highness, I've been here since you were a little boy. I practically grew up with you. You at least have to remember my name."

"I can't. I'm sorry, miss. Now please, I need to have Aster now."

Aster gently nudged her maid out of the way. "It's alright, Mim... He's a busy man."

Preston smiled sheepishly at the girl. "Thanks. Are you ready?"

The girl nodded, smiling back at Preston. "Yes. I'm ready."

The Prince held his arm out, and Aster placed her hand on it.

"You look very lovely, Aster. Your dress is stunning." Preston complimented her.

Aster smiled and thanked him, and the two headed out and to their date.

oooooooooo

Aster and Prince Preston sat down on top of a small hill in the Royal Gardens. A small picnic basket laid on top of a classic checkered blanket.

"This is really nice, Your Highness." Aster said, eating a small strawberry.

"You can call me Preston. I prefer that."

"Okay. Thank you, Preston." She said, looking at her date for the night.

Preston smiled at her, eating some chocolate cake that Richard had made for them.

Aster smiled back, a small blush on her cheeks. "So why did you choose me?" She asked him, taking another strawberry out of the bowl in front of her.

"Well," he swallowed his bite of cake. "I thought that you'd appreciate the date the most."

"Really? Why's that?"

"You're a seven, correct?"

Aster sighed and nodded. "Correct. Why?"

"That's why. You're a seven. You're one of the poorest girls here." Preston said, shrugging some.

Aster clenched her jaw and set the strawberry onto a napkin.

Preston continued. "And so, you probably haven't had the luxury of even going on a date."

She shifted uncomfortably where she was sitting, looking down at the blanket. "Please stop..."

"Especially food this good!" Preston laughed, taking another bite of his cake. "My brother made it. Have you ever had cake before?"

Aster had finally had enough. She stood up and stormed back into the castle.

The Prince's eyes widened and he hurried after her.

"Aster! Where are you going?" He yelled out. Preston had no idea what he had done wrong.

The Selected girl ignored him and rushed into her room, locking the door.

She ignored the constant banging and pleas from Preston to let him in.

Aster opened her nightstand drawer and pulled out a picture of her family.

Her father, Amal, stood beside her mother, Jayne. Behind her parents stood Aster and her two older brothers. Mal, the oldest, stood behind and to the side of their mother. Walsh, the middle child, stood to the behind and to the side of their father. Mal was smiling, while Walsh looked like he hated everyone there. And in front and between her parents stood Aster herself, smiling happily.

Aster sighed, tears starting to pool in her pretty green eyes. She missed her family more than anything. She even missed Walsh, her brother who never even paid attention to her until she was Selected.

Eventually, Aster fell asleep, still clutching the picture tightly in her hand.

ooooooooo

Preston and Richard were in Preston's room, Richard sitting on his twin's bed.

"You insulted her and her family?" Richard glared at Preston.

"No! Of course I didn't!" He defended himself, shaking his head.

"You pretty much did, Pres... You can't just say things without thinking. Lady Aster probably thinks you're a cold-hearted jerk." He scolded his younger twin, frowning.

Preston groaned, falling into his leather recliner. "I didn't mean to! You know I didn't!"

"I know, but does Lady Aster?" Richard questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"No... Probably not..." Preston muttered, closing his eyes. "But oh well... I'll apologize tomorrow."

Richard stood up from his spot on Preston's bed, and walked out of the room, slamming the door on his way out.

oooooooo

The next morning, Aster woke up to the smell of pancakes and coffee. She sat up, slowly rubbing her eyes. "Mim? Lyra? Are you there?"

Aster slowly got out of bed, shuffling over to the small table in her room.

There sat a plate with three freshly made pancakes, a cup of milk, and five white roses in a blue vase.

Aster smiled to herself, eating the breakfast. She thanked whoever made this wonderful meal.

What she didn't know, was that the person who made it was passed out in his bed, because he had been planning the apology all night.