A/N: So I wrote this while in the hospital basically, so I'm so so sorry for it taking so long! I meant to get it out a lot quicker, but things kind of got in the way. I did make it extra long, and I was going to leave you at a cliffhanger, but I trudged on.

I normally try to respond to all of the reviews, but I totally lost my place and I couldn't wait to publish this. You guys are all amazing, and you have no idea how much these reviews and your kind words mean to me. You guys seriously rock, and I am beyond thankful for each and every one of you!

I have to catch up on my reading of other selection fic, so I'm not ignoring you, I just had to put it at the end of my list.

I hope you enjoy :) Get ready for angst and some sexy :D Maybe? Yes? No? Perhaps?

Maxon's POV

I put the last grade on the final test, a huge smile on my face. America had scored the highest by far. Kriss was next, and then Celeste and Elise were tied. That gave me the option of who I wanted to send home, but it wasn't really a big decision. I knew Elise was my least favorite of the girls, regardless of what my father thought.

"Your father will be home Tuesday," my mother warned. "He phoned earlier this evening. Apparently France is not cooperating as we would have hoped."

My thoughts immediately turned to Daphne. Would she really be so petty to cause problems because I didn't return her feelings?

"Did father say why?"

My mother shook her head, reading over America's test with a smile on her face. "You know, she's worked really hard."

"Yes, she has," I sighed. All I wanted to do at the moment was see America. I knew she might be asleep, but I had to try. "I'm going to bed, okay?"

My mother waved her hand, and I decided to take the servants' stairs instead of the grand staircase. It was about twenty minutes or so past midnight. I knew America would most likely be asleep, but I couldn't wait to tell her that she had passed with flying colors. I walked down a hallway, and I stopped in my tracks.

America was emerging from one of the rarely used rooms. I swear she saw me, but I darted behind the corner. What was she doing walking around this late? Was she looking for me? What was she doing in that room? I was so confused. I peeked around, but America was gone. I tried to tell myself that I was imagining it, that it was just wishful thinking, but I knew better. A second later the door creaked open, and the guard from her province stepped out. Leger, I thought his name was.

My stomach dropped. Was America seeing him, doing the exact same thing that Marlee did? Anger swelled within me. I had given her another chance, and this is how she repays me? I always knew America had something wild in her; it was one of the things that I loved best about her but this….it was too much.

Don't assume. You don't know that anything has happened. They could just be talking. They were friends back in her province.

The rational, not jealous side of me tried to see reason, to see all the possibilities that could explain this. I wanted her to earn my trust, and she was working on that….

Maybe I needed to learn a little more about Officer Leger.

-America-

I was sulking. I knew I was sulking.

I had laid on my bed, picked up my violin, and tried reading. Nothing would work at distracting me. My maids were busy, so I didn't even have their good temperaments to help. I thought about going to the women's room, but they had all been happy enough that Maxon and I were fighting. The last thing I needed was to see Celeste gloating. I thought about going to see Marlee, but I didn't know if she would even be busy. Instead, I decided to go walk in the gardens. It looked like it was about to rain, but I didn't care. Honestly, I felt like I was in the middle of a storm anyways.

I walked out of my room, and I saw Kriss walking towards the stairs. She looked truly beautiful today. Her hair was in a braided up do, and the pale pink of her dress brought out her complexion.

"Kriss, you look lovely," I murmured as we both approached the stairs. She smoothed her dress out, looking at me with a peculiar expression.

"Oh, thank you, America," she simpered as we started down the stairs. It was quiet for a second, and I knew what she wanted me to ask. I also knew I didn't want to hear it. I just wasn't in the mood to play these games at the moment.

"Where are you going? Dinner doesn't start for another two hours," she pointed out.

"I just want to walk about the gardens, clear my head."

"Yeah, things looked a little tense between the two of you this morning. Did you do something to upset him?"

It was the same thing I was wondering. I don't know what brought on Maxon's cold attitude, but I hadn't done anything to lose his trust. I needed to tell him everything with Aspen, but I wanted to wait until after the elimination. I was a coward, but I couldn't bring myself to do it before then. There was no hiding the tensions between us, but I knew better than to open up with Kriss.

"I don't really know, Kriss, and I don't want to talk about it."

Kriss stopped in front of me, a disbelieving look on her face. I tried to move around her, but she just stepped in my way.

"Is there something you need to say?" I snapped. My patience was past thin at this point. I tried to take a deep breath, to calm myself, but Kriss might as well have been Celeste right now. In fact, she was acting exactly like Celeste. Maybe today was just bipolar disorder day or something.

"What's going on between the two of you, America?"

"Why do you care so much?"

"Because I thought I had him. I thought this thing was over. Sure, he may be more attracted to Celeste, but I would be a better Queen. You were the only thing that stood in my way, and you had kicked yourself out of the competition. But then he let you stay. I hear the same rumors the rest of the castle hears. You supposedly save him, and the king magically agrees to let you stay against his better judgment. Things were thawing between the two of you, and now they are ice cold again. Is that your game, to lure him in and then make him angry?"

"Kriss, I'm not playing any games with him."

"Sure you are, America. We all are. We want to win. I don't believe your story about the safe room. Something happened between the two of you, and I'm not going to let it get in my way."

"What exactly do you think I did?" I questioned her in a firm tone. Kriss deflated a little, looking a little scared at the moment.

"I think you did something against the rules to make him want you to stay," she rushed out. I felt my mouth pop open. "And now, things are getting rocky again. I saw him sneak out of your room the other night. I thought better of you, America."

"Are you suggesting…are you really accusing me of…" I couldn't finish. I was so mad; my words wouldn't even come out correctly. Kriss looked ashamed but resigned.

"I thought you were more like me, that we could be friends. That maybe we could get through this thing and help each other get what we wanted."

I took a deep breath and squared my shoulders. Part of me wanted to slap Kriss, but I knew better now. She may think I'm classless, but in that moment, Kriss's true colors were starting to show.

"You know, Kriss, I thought we were friends, too, but friends don't make baseless accusations out of fear. I'm sorry that you feel the need to act this way towards me, but let me assure you of one thing: I care deeply for Maxon Schreave, and I wouldn't want him to pick me unless I was the girl that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. I want him to pick the girl he truly loves, and if that happens to be you, then congratulations. Jealousy isn't a very good look on you."

Kriss's face turned red, and she opened her mouth the snap a retort back at me, but she never got the chance.

"Am I interrupting something, ladies?"

Maxon stood at the bottom of the stairs, and our eyes immediately locked. Kriss turned around, the look of rage hurriedly replaced with a charming smile.

"Of course not, Prince Maxon! Just a little polite conversation before I met you for our movie date."

I had a feeling that was what she was hinting at, but I just rolled my eyes at her lies. Maxon's face remained blank for a second before he looked at Kriss. "My dear, why don't you head on down to the theater? I just have to have a quick word with Lady America, and I will meet you there."

Kriss kept the smile on her face, way too bright to be real, and looked quickly between Maxon and me. She nodded her head and gave him a quick curtsey, before leaving us alone on the stairs.

"I thought you were busy all afternoon," I accused.

"I had a private meeting, a meeting with the advisors, and then my mother. I only just left her, and I needed a few hours to relax."

"With Kriss?" I stuttered disbelievingly. I shook my head, my hands balling into fists. "Are you even planning on telling me what I have done to offend you, your highness?"

Maxon caught the sarcasm, and his blank face, the mask he carefully constructed, broke into something cruel and calculating. I never realized until that moment that Maxon looked like his father when he was upset or angry.

"There isn't anything you'd like to tell me? Nothing you are hiding from me?"

My stomach dropped. I needed to tell him, I knew I did.

"There are a few things I need to discuss with you, yes, but on the stairwell in the middle of the palace where even the walls have ears is not the time or place for it. Since the safe room, I have been honest with you, Maxon. I've meant what I said, every word of it."

Maxon's face went back to the mask, and he narrowed his eyes at me, like he was sizing me up. "So the guard you were with last night, who was it?"

"Officer Leger," I said in exasperation. I had nothing to hide from Maxon. Nothing inappropriate happened between Aspen and I since I made my decision, and nothing more would happen between Aspen and me. I wanted to tell Maxon the truth, now just wasn't the place for it. He nodded his head and looked down at his feet.

"Officer Aspen Leger, you mean?"

The world stopped for a minute. My breath was long gone, and my body felt like it was getting dragged through the pits of hell. Maxon looked up at me. I knew he was waiting for an answer. He knew. I didn't know how he knew, but the hurt and pain was there in his eyes. I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. I was trying not to panic, to keep my composure. I bit my lip, and I nodded my head.

Maxon didn't say anything. He just turned around and left.

I hadn't cried. Even in the gardens, where the grief and panic threatened to engulf me, the tears wouldn't come. It was almost like it was past that. Tears and sobs weren't enough to convey how I felt.

I knew this was it. I wouldn't get my chance to explain, and I would be sent home. I kept my composure through dinner. Maxon hadn't even looked at me. I didn't eat much, and I could feel the other Elite's eyes on me. They knew I was dead, just like I did.

They were finishing up their dessert, and I halfheartedly participated in the conversation, just enough that they wouldn't say anything to me. The Queen had been very quiet, stealing glances in my direction, but I refused to meet her gaze. I felt like a disappointment, that I had let her and everyone who believed and counted on me down.

"Ladies," Maxon began as he stood up at the dinner table. I knew I should look up, that I should continue to play my part of potential future Queen, but I just couldn't do it, knowing that it was over. "We will adjourn to the women's room, and the scores will be announced there. I will make the final elimination, and then you will be free to go for the evening."

The chairs shifted back as the remaining Elite got up from the table. I followed them out, but I felt a tug on my arm as we entered the hall. Maxon was standing beside me, his finger on his lips. He pulled me into the conference room before any of the other Elite saw. He quickly shut the door, and I looked at him completely taken aback. He seemed flustered and unsure of himself.

"Stay in here. I will be back in a minute."

"What-"

"Just listen to me for once, for the love of God, America!"

All I could so was stare at him. He looked at me with an expression I couldn't quite decipher, and then, he left the room in a rush. I fell back into a chair, twisting my finger together in worry. I knew he was going to eliminate me. Why else would be break me off on my own?

All I could do was stare at the clock. One minute passed…. Five…. Ten… then twenty. And still, Maxon had not come back.

Finally after almost thirty minutes, the door opened, and Maxon came marching in. He walked over to a wall and slid out a panel to revel a keypad. He quickly punched in a code, and a hidden door slipped open.

"Come on," he ordered. I looked at him with a weird look, staying right where I was in my chair. Maxon groaned in agitation and gave me a pointed look. "I'd rather not be overheard, you know."

Maxon wanted me to trust him. I got up and entered the tunnel as he closed the door behind us. He stormed past me, and I followed him down the tunnel. After a minute, the twists and turns began to feel familiar.

We were heading towards the dance studio, the secret room where he had taken me the other night. The light from the night shown through the windows, reflecting off the mirrors on the other side of the room. I stopped about halfway in, and Maxon began to pace in front of me. He was beyond agitated. He kept grabbing his neck, sending glances in my direction. He opened his mouth a few times, but nothing ever came out. I just stood in front of him, my hands clasped in front of me. If he was going to send me home, I wish he would just do it already. He finally stopped, looking at me with his hands on his hips.

"I know," he informed me with a harsh tone. I nodded my head. I expected as much. "Do you know what Kriss offered me when we were watching the movie?"

I shook my head, completely lost at this change in direction.

"She told me to kiss her, that she didn't want to wait anymore. She knew she loved me, and that's all she needed."

My stomach dropped for the second time today. I was jealous, mad, angry, and hurt. I didn't know what to say. The words were like a storm in my mind; I couldn't think clearly.

"Did…" I choked on my words, and I swallowed and took a deep breath. "Did you?"

"Why didn't you tell me, America? Why didn't you say something the minute you saw him?"

Then it was a flood. Everything came pouring out. I told him everything, every fear I had, everything I had told Marlee. As I told him everything, he took a few steps back. I could see the pain he was attempting to hide. I knew him too well to miss it now. He turned towards the window, his shoulders and back hunched over.

"Did anything happen between the two of you? Anything more than hugging and talking?" he questioned. I bit my lip. This was the real moment of truth. I could not tell him, take that secret to my grave.

"We kissed," I blurted. Maxon's frame sagged, and I saw his hands grip into the stone window. He laughed, a harsh and bitter one. I had to explain. "I thought I was going home, that you wanted Kriss, and I was running. I was scared out of my mind, and I acted stupidly. When you came to me, I told him we had to stop, that this wasn't right, that I wasn't sure who I wanted."

I reached out to him, but he pulled away, walking to the other end of the room. He turned to look at me, anger etched into his face.

"I trusted you, and time and time again, you have betrayed it."

"And I am sorrier for that than you will ever know. I meant what I said, Maxon! I have tried so many times to tell you, to explain everything. How was I suppose to tell you something like that after what happened to Marlee? What would have happened to Aspen if I had told you my ex, whom you knew I was still in love with, was now stationed at the palace? I was angry and confused and, my god, I'm seventeen Maxon! I was overwhelmed, and I know it's no excuse for what I did, but I promise you, I have not betrayed your trust since I chose you."

"You haven't chosen me, America! How could you say that after what you've done? Kriss kissed me, and you know what I felt? Nothing! I broke away before I could even properly kiss her, to even see if there was even a possibility of feeling like that towards her, to know if there was anything like that between us. All I could think about was you, and now I find out you have been kissing your ex-boyfriend in my home, behind my back? Did you ever even love me? Was it all a lie, America? Where you just trying to make him jealous?"

"You know I care deeply for you! I never wanted to hurt you, Maxon! All I want is you! I want you to be happy!"

"How am I supposed to trust you America?"

I looked at Maxon, the anger in me at a boiling point.

"Maxon Calix Schreave, I didn't plan this. I didn't ask him to come back. So what!? I kissed him. You were kissing the others at the same time, or did I just imagine you teaching Celeste a crash course in French the other night? How is it any more hypocritical? He was my first love, Maxon. I thought I was going to marry him, and then everything went to hell. I ended up here, and I met you-"

"So I was a mistake?" He retorted angrily.

"NO! I fell for you! You made me feel things I had never felt before! AND THEN YOU LEFT ME! You didn't talk to me, and I didn't talk to you, which is my fault. Aspen wanted to get back together, and I thought you wanted Kriss. You still do!"

"America-"

"No! Listen to what I have to say!"

Maxon raised his eyebrows angrily, but he kept his mouth shut.

"This whole Selection threw me off. I didn't think I could be a princess, and I was so scared that you would toss me to the side. Kriss would make a better princess. She'd know how to act like one. Celeste is beautiful, and Elise had connections I could never hope to have. I was falling for you, and I was terrified that I was going to get my heart broken again. Aspen was safe, he was something that I knew, something familiar. I was so confused; I didn't know what I wanted, anymore! How could you tell me those things and then completely ignore me? You asked me to basically marry you, and then, nothing! I thought I was getting sent home, and he told me he wanted me back-"

"Then take him back America!"

"I don't want him!" I screamed.

"What do you want America?"

"I want you!" Maxon flinched back, disbelief on his face. "When I thought I was going home, he came to me, ecstatic that we could finally be together again, but do you know what I told him? I told him I needed time to get over you, that it wasn't that easy for me. Because the thought of losing you was ten times worse than what I had felt when he broke my heart. That's when I knew. I had been lying to myself, trying to believe I still hadn't made a choice in all of this. You asked me to choose Maxon, and I did. I could have left, but I don't want that. I wanted a chance to win you back, to prove that I could do this-"

"Why?"

I groaned in frustration. How could he not understand the position I was put in. How could he still doubt how I felt about him? I know it wasn't very lady like, but I hit the wall in anger. I turned on him, and the words were out of my mouth before I could stop them.

"BECAUSE I LOVE YOU! I fell in love with you! You are the one I want, the one I can't be without, and I don't give a damn if you are a Prince or not! I want you! I choose you!"

"W-what?" he stuttered, his eyes wide.

"Because I realized when I lost you that…that I had already made my choice a long time ago. Love is forgiveness, Maxon. I messed up. I messed up so bad that I thought there was no way you could ever forgive me. I still care for Aspen, and I was scared at what would happen to him. He's one of my best friends, and he is a good man. None of that matters anymore. Things can never be the same between us, and that's because I met you. I broke his heart because I couldn't ever live without having a chance with yours. I'm not in love with him anymore, and I know I am the worst choice for you. I'm stupid and irrational and stubborn. I keep messing up, and I've done everything wrong. You are right, you have no reason to trust me, and I am trying so hard to earn that back. I've got nothing more to hide from you, Maxon, and I don't want to hide anything from you anymore. I never did. I let fear hold me back, and it was the absolutely stupidest thing I have ever done in my life. But, you have to know how I feel. I've never, ever lied about that. I-I lov-"

But I didn't get to finish. Maxon stormed towards me, taking my face in his hands and crashing his lips to mine. This wasn't like our normal kisses. He was always so gentle and loving with me, but these were hungrier, more passionate. It was like he was trying to crawl inside of me, and to be honest, I wanted the same thing. I wasn't thinking anymore. My hands were acting of their own accord. I pushed his jacket from his shoulders, and he released me just long enough to let it drop to the ground. I felt my back hit the stone wall, and I was pressed between the cold stone and Maxon's heat. He broke away for just a quick breath, and I realized he was whispered something softly on my lips between our kisses.

"I love you. I love you, too."

His lips trailed down my neck and along my shoulder. At some point, the top of my dress had become unzipped, and the straps and fallen down, but I didn't care. All I wanted was to feel him against me, to taste his lips on my own. His shirt had become untucked, and I ran my hands underneath it, feeling Maxon's skin against my fingertips. He groaned against my neck, and his lips met mine again. He was consuming me from the inside out, and it was all I wanted.

He pulled away, laying his forehead against mine. Our breaths mingled together, panting slightly for lack of breath. I held him to me, like I would surely drown if I ever let him go, and he did the same. He planted soft kisses along my cheek, whispering tender words in between.

"I forgive you, and I understand. I know this whole process hasn't been easy, and I have behaved childishly. I believe you, America. If I want your trust, I deserve to give you the same." He cradled my face in his hands, his warm brown eyes lighter than ever in the moonlight. We were so close to each other in the dark that only a few precious inches separated our lips, and it was like an unstoppable force was pulling me towards him. "You are all I have ever wanted. You are the one, America. You always were."

"So you didn't bring me up here to eliminate me?"

"I thought about it. When I learned who he was, I was so mad. My mother walked in on me, and we had a talk. She actually spoke in your defense. She said this competition made girls do stupid things, and that people do crazy things when they're in love."

"She said-"

Maxon nodded his head, a small smile just touching his lips. His thumb brushed my cheek, wiping away the few tears that had finally escaped from my eyes.

"She said it was obvious. She knew you were the one after I stood up to Father."

"Then what-"

"You had the highest score by a good amount, darling. I told them that you didn't need to hear this. If they wanted to be the next Queen, it was important that they learn all the protocols and what it takes to run this country. Being Queen isn't just about looking lovely and wearing a crown, at least mine will not be. I spoke to them one on one, and then when it was Elise's turn, I sent her home. She and Celeste had the lowest scores, and there would never be anything between us, anyways."

"So I still have a chance?"

Maxon chuckled, kissing the tip of my nose and then my lips. "Of course you do. Something will have to be done about Leger, but I'm not going to do anything rash. I'd never hurt you like that. This isn't over, not by a long shot. There is still my father to contend with, but we will find a way, America. I'd do whatever it took to keep you safe. I love you."

His eyes lit up when he said that. I couldn't stop the grin on my face. I had heard the words before, but they had never sounded as good as they did coming from his mouth, in his voice.

"I love you, America Singer. I can't stop saying it. I love you, and I will always love you. I can't imagine a world without you in it. I've wanted to tell you that for so long, and I let fear hold me back as well. I promise you I won't anymore."

"Me neither. I want you, Maxon, for the rest of my life. I love you."

He pulled me to him, wrapping his arms around me. I breathed in his scent, finding comfort in it.

"Say it again, please," he whispered in my hair.

"I love you, Maxon Schreave. You are my best friend, the most wonderful man I know, and I love you more than there are stars in the sky."

Every time it got easier to say. He pulled my hand to his lips, kissing each fingertip and then the back of my hand. He pulled my strap up on my shoulder.

"Sorry, I got a little carried away," he murmured shyly. I leaned up on my toes, pressing a tender kiss to his cheek.

"I didn't exactly mind," I whispered as I was fighting a blush. I knew my cheeks were the same color as my hair. He cleared his throat, motioning for me to turn around so he could zip my dress back up. I pulled my fallen hair around to one side of my neck and did as he instructed. I felt his fingers brush the skin of my back, and he tugged gently on the zipper.

"Uhh, America, its stuck. I, um… I think I may have broken it."

I reached around, and it was down low enough that I knew the strap of my bra was exposed. I felt something get draped around my shoulders. It was Maxon's suit jacket, and he was biting his lip, fighting against laughing.

"This isn't funny, Maxon! Do you know the gossip that will spread!? Your father will have me kicked out!"

"I know! That's not what I'm laughing about."

"Then what in the world is so funny?"

He leaned forward, his lips brushing my ear. He may have never kissed a girl before me, but he didn't realize how dang sexy he could be without even trying.

"Blue, especially light blue, has become my favorite color lately," he whispered as he planted a kiss below my ear.

My eyes widened. I hadn't realized until that moment that the bra that my maids had put me in today was a sheer, blue lace, the exact same shade as my dress. I wasn't exactly thinking about that when Maxon's hands were running over the bare skin there.

"That so? What made that your favorite color? Kriss?" I teased him. He laughed, pulling me closer to him so he could wrap his arms around me.

"You are crazy," he whispered. "And I am out of my mind in love with you. Now, let's get you something decent to wear and back to your room before they start getting suspicious over where the Prince has run off too."

Maxon took my hand, and together, we walked back to reality.

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