Hoping for Love

Chapter 10

I do not own the Selection

Jennifer Ivanoff, 3, Whites

"Dr. Fitzgerald?" I asked, looking away from my new microscope for the first time in four hours. "Are you sure we don't have enough money for the research project?"

"Yes Dr. Ivanoff," Dr. Fitzgerald sighed. "We've been over this, even with every possible cut we could make, we wouldn't have enough money."

I had finally made a breakthrough in the cancer research project I was working on. I had started the project a few months ago, and no one else knew about it. Two weeks ago, I found a valuable piece of information that could have been very helpful to finding the cure to cancer. I proposed my idea to Dr. Fitzgerald, the head scientist at the lab I worked at. He and the staff loved the idea, but as much as they tried, they could not find a way to support my project. There just wasn't enough money.

After another two hours, I finished work for the day and said goodbye to the people in the lab. My best friend and lab partner Leo met up with me at the door to the lab. He was currently working on a project about the bonding of atoms.

"How'd work go?" I asked him. His eyes lit up and he started talking to me about his new discoveries. Our friends Moria and Orien, who were both security guards at the lab, were waiting for us outside.

"What did Dr. Fitzgerald say?" Moria's silver eyes looked hopeful.

"Still nothing," I said, frowning.

"Don't worry Jenna," Orien smiled at me. "With a project as good as yours, they'll find the money somehow."

"Thanks Oreo," I smiled back, using the nickname I had called him since we were 8.

When I finally got home, Mom was preparing dinner. I changed out of my lab coat and helped her make the hamburgers.

"Jenni, Jenni!" Jade, my 10 year old sister ran up and hugged me, almost knocking the spatula out of my hand.

"Hi Jade," I smiled lovingly at her. "How was your day?"

"Great! Sierra came over and we watched a movie in the theatre! It was great." Jade then explained the entire movie to me.

After we finished dinner, Dad walked in, looking as tired as normal and his hair messed up. He set his briefcase on the floor and started eating from the plate I gave him.

"Hi honey," Mom greeted him. "How did the case go?" Dad was an amazing lawyer, and he won almost every case he was in.

"We won," Dad said. "But not without a fight. The jury was out for almost 7 hours. How were your patients?" Mom was a doctor at the local hospital, and was rarely ever home on time.

"Great, one of them canceled, but the others went pretty fast. I came home about three hours ago."

"That's great!" Dad directed his attention to me. "What did Fitzgerald say?"

"No luck," I said. "But hopefully soon."

"I'm sure they'll find a way," Dad smiled sympathetically.

"Oh Jenni," Jade said. "You got a letter today! It's for the Selection!"

"Oh cool, you can recycle that. I'm not going to enter."

"Why not, you could be a princess," Jade couldn't imagine why anyone would not want to enter.

"I don't know Jade," I said. "I'll think about it."

"Oh honey, you should enter," Mom cut in, tucking a strand of ginger hair behind her ear. "Maybe you could raise enough money to fund your research."

"Mom, you're a genius!" I surprised her with a hug that almost pushed her to the ground. "I'm going to enter immediately! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Mom and dad smiled as I filled out the form, Jade right by my side. I quickly finished resealed it into the pristine white envelope.

"Jenni, do you want me to take you to the post office?" Mom asked.

"Thanks Mom," I smiled gratefully at her and jumped into the passenger seat of the station wagon. We drove to the post office, which was on the opposite side of town. I kept thinking about the Selection. Even though I wasn't a huge dress person, I could get used to them and I would probably enjoy wearing them. The palace would be great, with all of the food, the swimming pool, the stables, the gardens…

Mom cut into my daydream. "We're here."

We got out of the car, and the line wasn't too long, thankfully. After about half an hour, we entered the post office and I handed my form to a postal worker. I sat down on the stool and smiled, thinking of being famous after I discovered the cure to cancer.

We left the post office, and returned home. I changed into my most comfortable pair of pajamas and crawled into bed. I fell asleep dreaming about being in the Selection.

I really wanted to be Selected. It could be my opportunity to achieve something great.

Avery Lane Kingston, 7, Clermont

I was relieved beyond belief when it was time for a break. I worked at The Howlin' Wolf, the most popular bar in all of Clermont. My friend Ansley, who was a burlesque dancer at the club, pulled up a seat at the bar.

"Hey Lane," she greeted as I gave her a glass of water. She flipped her long blonde hair over her shoulder and pressed the cool glass of water to her forehead.

I started drumming my fingers against the table, a habit I had picked up ever since I learned to play the drums.

"So, did you get your form for the Selection?" Ansley asked.

"Yeah, it came in yesterday night." I replied.

"Are you going to enter?"

"No, are you?"

"Yes, and you should too, come on it'll be fun."

"I don't think so," I replied.

"Isn't the prince sooo cute?" Ansley asked as a dreamy look passed over her face. "When we get married you can be my maid of honor."

I rolled my eyes, but Ansley was too busy imagining the Prince in a tuxedo to notice.

"But anyways," Ansley snapped out of her daydream. "I dare you to enter."

Unfortunately, Ansley knew my weakness. I rarely passed up dares.

"Okay fine," I agreed, knowing I wouldn't be Selected.

Ansley probably sensed what I was thinking. "The prince would definitely pick you. I mean, you're gorgeous, plus your eyes are so cool."

"Not all the time, I used to be teased a lot in school," I replied. I had heterochromia, which meant my eyes were each different colors. My left eye was bright green, while my right eye was a light caramel brown color.

"Break over!" My boss called out. Ansley and I groaned simultaneously, and she left for another performance.

After a few more hours of mixing drinks for incredibly drunk people, it was finally time to go home. Ansley and I walked back to our houses, tired from the long day of work. At home, I took off my strapless dark red shirt and high waisted jeans, which my sleazy boss made me wear. I changed into my pajamas, and went downstairs for dinner.

"Hey Mom," I hugged her and sat down at the table.

"Hi Avery," Madalyn greeted, adjusting her favorite butterfly headband on her head.

"Hi Maddie," I smiled at her. "Hey Jacob."

My younger brother merely smiled and waved, he wasn't much of a talker. I practically inhaled my food, and quickly did the dishes.

"Dang it," I said aloud, remembering the dare from earlier.

"What sweetie?" Mom asked.

"I told Ansley I would enter the Selection," I frowned.

"Oh that's great honey! You have no idea how much I appreciate this! This will really help our financial situation. Mom kissed me on top of my head and immediately grabbed the form for me. She handed it to me with a pen, and I quickly filled it out. Since it was so late, I decided to take it to the post office tomorrow.

"Goodnight Mom," I said as I walked into the bedroom I shared with Maddie and Jacob. I set the form beside the bed I slept in with Maddie, and turned off the lights. Maddie and Jacob were already sound asleep, but I found myself unable to sleep. I was too nervous about the Selection.

The next morning, I got up way earlier than I normally did, my nerves still on overdrive. I didn't even know why I was so nervous, it wasn't like I was going to be Selected anyways.

I got out of bed and put on my usual outfit, which consisted of my tattered, ripped, jeans, combat boots, and my red long sleeved shirt. After realizing how comfortable I felt, I thanked my lucky stars that I didn't have to go to work today. Normally, I would go anyways to get some extra money, but I just wasn't in the mood today. I grabbed the form and quietly crept out of the house. At the post office, only five girls were waiting in line, so I didn't have to wait outside like I saw the girls do yesterday.

The line went by in about 3 minutes, and I sat down on the stool to get my picture taken. I put on my best smile, which wasn't hard, since I was thinking about my memories with my dad. My dad and I were as close as we could possibly be. We did everything together, we were both bookworms and we were interested in the unknown. He died in a car crash. The only thing that made it worse was that I was in the passenger seat. I cried for a straight three days after his death, but by now I've sort of gotten used to it. Even though I still get sad whenever I think about him, I don't cry anymore.

I got up from the stool and walked back home. I crawled back into bed, finally able to sleep peacefully.

Maybe being Selected wouldn't be such a bad thing. It would help out my family.

Thank you to everyone who followed, favorited, reviewed, and/or submitted characters! You have no idea how happy it makes me feel :)

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Also check out HIAtriplets new story, A New Journey SYOC.

~Demigod18