Hello readers, so the only things I need to say are thanks for the reviews, they mean a lot, and the song you will be reading about is mine, very original and written by me. Sorry if it sucks. If it does just don't even talk about it I tried, I'm not a musician don't judge me. Anywho... Enjoy~
America's POV
We finally landed at the palace. This one was much, much grander. It was at least twice as large as Maxon's castle and the architecture was stunning. I looked at Killian as we walked to the main doors and said, "You live here?"
"Yeah." he said simply. I looked at him with wide eyes and he said, "What?"
"You could fit a billion of my old houses inside this one." I said softly. The thought of home made me miss everyone so much, especially Kenna. The fact that she died made my heart ache. I wanted to be home so bad, to see my family, even for a minute. Killian must have sensed something was wrong so he tugged my arm when Queen Amberly called for all the elite to join her. He kissed my hand good bye and left to his room I suppose. Or to do princely things that had to be done here.
"Ladies, your first mini challenge starts now. But here is the catch ladies, every week at the report and end of each mini challenge, we will tally up the amount of votes you get. Over the next three weeks there will be three mini challenges and whoever can rack up the most points wins. The prize has not been decided yet but the loser will be sent home. Maxon will have a small say in who goes home only if he disagrees strongly to who would be leaving. Now for the first challenge. You will prepare a project about various things in your life, your caste, your family, jobs you do, hobbies, your relationship with Maxon, the selection's impact on you, all about you. You will present this project however you like. I do recommend making it unique though." Queen Amberly said. "Your presentations are due by the report. Good luck." With that she walked away and Silvia led us to our guest rooms which had convenient little cards on the door stating who's room was who's.
I walked into the grand room and dropped my bag when I walked in. My room alone had a king sized bed, a little fire place with a sofa and chair around it and a TV, and balcony as well as a little table for eating meals or having tea. The bathroom was the size of my living room at my old house and it had a shower, tub, toilet, sink, all the necessary items but the tub was a Jacuzzi and the shower had little pockets that let out steam, like a sauna. I was amazed. Someone knocked on my door and I said, "Come in!"
Killian strolled in and said, "Is the room to your liking?" He sounded worried, like I wouldn't like it all. "Are you kidding me? I love it! This is the fanciest place I have ever stayed in. You call this a guest suite?"
His face lightened up, happy with my response and said, "Well, no. Yours is much nicer than the rest of the elite but since I have connections being prince and all I wanted to treat you to something really nice." I hugged him and said, "This is beautiful Killian, but you didn't have to do this for me. I shared a room the size of that bathroom with two sisters for years! I could have lived with a normal guest room."
"Like I said, I wanted to treat you." he said sweetly. I tilted my head to the side and said, "I know this may sound stupid, but... how do you light a fireplace?"
He laughed and said, "Really?"
"Stop it! I lived without one for countless years then my maids always did it and their plane is late and now I'm getting cold." I said like a little kid, stomping my foot on the ground. He laughed again and turned a little nob on the side of the fireplace and flames lit up inside. "Now I feel extremely stupid." I walked over to my suitcase and pulled out a piece of paper and pencil and sat down in front of the fire and Killian said, "Do you want a hot chocolate? I am gonna go and grab one from the kitchens real quick."
"Ooh yes please and a cookie if possible?" I asked. He nodded and jogged out of the door. I shut it and quickly changed out of my fancy dress into long sleeved flannel pajamas. I kept on my undergarments since Killian was here and tied my hair in a big bun on top of my head. I saw that my piano, violin, and guitar made it over seas and I grabbed my violin. I began to warm up my hands and played an old song I wrote a couple years ago. It played itself easily and I sighed in relief, happy that I still remembered it. "That was great. I didn't know you could play like that. I always saw the instruments in your room but, man. That was beautiful. " Killian said in the door frame. I smiled at him and thanked him. I took a sip of my cocoa before returning to my violin. "Do you mind if I stay? And listen. It is very soothing."
"Sure." I said. He laid down on the couch and closed his eyes. I began to play the slow song again, trying to perfect it. I played it over and over, until the calluses on my hands started to get irritated. I set down the violin and walked over to the couch. Killian was sleeping, his chest rose and fell in steady movements. He looked so peaceful, so cute when he was asleep. There was a boyish look to him that I usually didn't see when he was asleep, his dark hair fell over his eyes and long legs stretched over the end of the couch. I sat down on the chair and began to write my song. I tried incorporating my family, my caste, Maxon, and Killian into my lyrics. It was tough, it took me hours of singing out, writing and erasing lyrics to try and make it all make sense. The fact that my presentation was a song already showed my job, hobbies, and it made my presentation unique. It was perfect. My door opened up and Maxon walked in and smiled at me. "You sounded beautiful. I heard you through the door. Oh..." he saw Killian asleep on my couch. I waived my hand as if it was nothing and kissed Maxon's cheek. "Thank you. I am trying to figure out my presentation for the report. It's going to be a song I figured out."
"Really? Wow, that's a little ambitious for a mini challenge."
"I really want to show them what I got. Don't worry I wrote the violin piece years ago and have had much time to make it sound flawless. I am writing the lyrics down now. I can't really sing and play violin at the same time yet so I was thinking of doing a voice over on a video with the violin. The video would be pictures of me, my family, my house, things I do, love, Killian, all my other friends, and maybe even you if you let me. I think I would play the violin's music in the actual video and sing live for the audience. It will show them two talents at once without actually multi-tasking and it would show all about me. Wow that's a lot to do. Can I borrow a camera?" I said quickly.
He put firm hands on my shoulders and said, "Of course you can and the idea sounds lovely. I can't wait to see how it all comes together. But darling, chill out. It's only the first day and you still have a whole week left to film and edit this. You are doing fine." he looked around at my room and said, "This room is much nicer than the rest of the elite. It is almost as nice as my room in fact. Are you in the right room?"
"Yeah, Killian said being prince here, he made some connections and gave me a nicer room. Nice right?" I said.
"Really nice." he said. "Wait, I don't even have a fireplace! Ugh. Well I guess it gives me an excuse to visit. To snuggle up together at the fireplace. Well I just wanted to drop in and check on you. I better check on the rest of the elite. Night my dear." He kissed me softly before leaving the room. I shut my door and Killian shot up at the noise. "Who's there?" he said fiercely.
"Just me. Sorry, I shut the door I didn't mean to wake you." I said. I had never seen this fierce side of him and he must of sensed my fear because he immediately said, "I'm sorry. I was having a night mare and I woke up in a place that wasn't my room I got a little freaked out." I shook my head and hugged him, "It's okay. I'm sorry you had a night mare. I think you need rest Killian you look awfully tired." I suggested. He nodded rubbed his eyes then said good night. He seemed weird as he left but I shook it off and went back to song writing. It was going to be a long night.
America's POV DAY OF THE REPORT
I was dressed in a dark purple gown nearly the shade of maroon. It had long sleeves a deep neckline in the shape of a 'u' and the fabric was velvety. It was very tight along my corset area and then fanned out at my hips. My jewelry was a simple golden chain necklace with a singular pearl pendant hanging off of it. I had pearl earrings, a pearl bracelet and pearl hair pins that held my hair up in an elegant twist. My makeup was minimal and I had on heels but you couldn't see them because the dress was so long. My maids touched up my hair before I took a seat on the couch where the report was being filmed. I sat next to Kriss, away from all the other girls. I didn't even want to look at them after what they said about me.
Celeste was up first and she presented about herself through a mini play. It was really unique and I was kind of mad her presentation was so good but the content was bad. She talked too much about the modeling industry and her life being a two and how much Maxon loved her. When she finished I clapped softly but was more nervous than anything for my own presentation. Elise walked up to the podium and made a small speech with a poster to guide her along. It was a nice and sweet but so boring. Kriss finally went up and showed her story of getting here and her life now through a little book she made. It was creative and cute.
After each presentation Gavril, who had flown up with us to host the Report in Scotland, he would talk to the girl who presented and would ask about the process of making it and the story behind it in simpler words. "America. It's your turn."
POV SWITCH TO KILLLLLLIAAAAN!
America looked stunning as she walked up to the little microphone. I was seated in the audience with my family and a large screen was lowered behind America. She then looked out at the audience and said, "Hey guys, for my presentation I will be singing my story through a song. Now bear with me because it won't be a word for word translation of a story into a song but more of a metaphorical piece. Enjoy. She nodded at some man offstage and a slideshow started behind her. The sound of her sweet violin played as pictures of me, Maxon, Kriss, her family, and her played. She then began to sing;
"I know it's hard,
To get through all these rocky situaaaaaations...
I know it's hard,
To have faith in something,
when the woooooorld, is crashing down...
Just keep your head up,
And don't you worry,
I am right here,
Lean on me...
Because baby, you kno-ow,
Sometimes...
The Sun Shines through the rain. Her violin sped up the tempo and began to play from a slow tune to a happy and upbeat one.
Ooooooh, you will make it by,
Just hold on my hand,
and take a leap of faith,
hold on to me,
hold your head up high,
just know, just kno-ow...
I am right here,
lean on me,
take my hand,
and just believe,
cause baby,
don't you knoooooooooow.
sometimes,
The sun shines through the raiiiiiiiiiin."
The audience all stood up and clapped and cheered. She curtsied to the audience and made her way back to her seat. "Wow." Gavril said "That was amazing Lady America, please tell us how you go the idea to do this."
"Well, when Queen Amberly said to have a creative presentation I immediately thought music. It's what I'm best at."
"Obviously." Gavril said. He and the audience shared a laugh before America moved on, "Well I also knew that singing a song wouldn't send across the message the Queen wanted us to. She said to make it personal, make it about us and the people in our lives. So I decided that my violin would do nicely as music to accompany the pictures of the people I love the most."
The audience clapped and then Gavril said, "Yes, well I did see one person in particular quite a few times, is it Prince Killian?"
"Yes it is-" she began but Gavril interrupted and said, "What relation is he to you?"
"Well, Killian is my best friend. My right hand man and my shoulder to cry on. We met when he came visiting Illea and the Royal Family and we have been close ever since. I couldn't of ever asked for a better friend to have by my side."