Hello everyone! Excited for chapter 10? I am! so lets get right into it!
Chapter 10: Ambers pov
"Amber, so nice of you to join us." my mother said as I walked in late for my meeting about the selection.
"I know, I know I'm sorry, I got carried away talking to the boys." I said as I took my seat. The meeting began and the advisors started reading off some stats.
"So far the public has been reacting well to the selection." an advisor that was sitting to my left told me.
"Approximately 73% of the population likes the selection. That's incredibly high considering all the rumors spread about the reason there is a selection." I knew he was referring to the magazine article I'd read.
I nodded and they proceed to read off more stats. All of them were good, the people seemed to be very pleased with the selection overall. After a while they stopped reading statistics and an advisor to the right of me spoke.
"Princess Amber, we think it would be best for you to go on your first date soon." He told me. I nodded, I had known this would be coming. It was just hard, especially since I would have to ask, which was tradionally done by the man, but what I was learning from this selection, was that tradition is thrown out the window.
"You may ask any suitor you would like, but we would advise you to go with one of the well known young men, such as sir Alistair or sir Zanark." I had to stifle my laughs at calling them 'sir' it sounded really weird.
My mom bumped my knee, as if to remind me where I was, and I stopped laughing. I cleared my throat and I agreed with the advisors.
"Yes... Um I will get on that." I replied. The meeting dragged on a while later and I sort of zoned out. It got really boring. Finally it was over and I headed to my room, I had a tough decision to make.
I knew I wanted my first date to be with one of the suitors I put a check mark next to his name on the first day. I also knew it being the first date would be a big deal. It was like the official start of me dating all these young men, which was still an awfully alien concept to me.
I've never really done the whole dating thing before. I've never had the chance to. I mean sure I kissed the Prince Nolan of Ireland one time in a closet during my stay in Ireland during a ball. But that hardly counted, I was only 15. And sure last year during the Christmas ball that we held, someone spiked the punch (which I didn't know) and I drank a little to much and kissed Michael (which I claim I don't remember) but I don't really count those. They were just kisses.
I'd never been allowed to 'date' someone like a regular person, because I'm not a regular person. The only boy I saw regularly enough for that was my little brother.
I laid down on my bed with all the forms and the list of names as I shuffled through them all. I narrowed it down to either asking Elias, Austin, or Brooks. I didn't go with a celebrity, I don't know why it just didn't seem right, like they already have the spotlight for something.
The three of them I'd really hit it off with in the interviews and they were all really nice. Finally I decided I would ask Elias to go on that walk through the gardens with me during his interview.
I smiled at the thought then decided I should probably do it now. Get it over fast. I got up off my bed, my really comfy bed that made me want to sleep, and put all the papers back.
After I cleaned up all the papers (which I took an extra while to do because I was procrastinating) I walked downstairs. First I thought I would knock on his door and see if he was down there, but upon reaching the suitors rooms I realized I had no idea which room he was in.
So I walked to the men's room and I knocked on the door. A butler walked out, and I asked him if I could come in. He slipped back inside and there was some murmuring before he came back out. It seems silly that I would have to ask to come in to the men's room. What were they doing in there that I couldn't be a part of?
The butler came back out, and he told me I could come in now. I walked in and saw all the boys staring at me. I was a nervous wreck. The room was so quiet you could've heard a pin drop, which didn't help my anxiety.
I shifted all the way around the room and I felt all their eyes on me. Finally I saw Elias in the corner talking to Heykanga. I walk towards him and he smiled as I approached. My hands were shaking so bad, and I knew everyone could tell.
Quickly I tapped his shoulder, and asked him if he would come into the hall with me. He kindly obliged. As we exited the room, all the boys watched. Some held jelous expressions, while others had sympathatic faces. They couldn't seem to decide if it was good or bad.
Once me and Elias made it into the hall, I heard quiet murmuring through the door. We walked around the corner, to get some privacy.
"I was wondering... Well what I want to ask you was, what I'm trying to say is... Would you like to go on that walk we talked about during the interview?" I questioned.
Elias smiled brightly, which made me feel better. I don't know what I was really afraid of, these boys cant really reject me. Still there's that lingering fear.
"Sure, I would love to." Elias replied smoothly. I wish I could have been that smooth while asking him. But alas, I was awkward as always. It was what I did best. Mom was good at being queen, Stella was good at singing, and I was good at being awkward. I think I got the short end of the stick in this situation.
It was so awkward because I wasn't sure if we were supposed to hold hands, or what so we just sort of walked beside each other as I lead the way to the garden gates.
It was quite a long walk from the men's room so we just walked in silence for a while. I opened my mouth to say something twice, but both times I decided against it. Finally I decided to ask him a question, to try and get the ball rolling.
"So whats your family like?" I asked. He smiled so kindly and warmly and my heart started pacing. I'm getting nervous.
"I have the most rambunctious twin little sisters, Callie and Hayley. They are always getting in trouble." He stopped and smiled, probably thinking about them, before he continued.
"Then there's my parents, they seem to be a classic love story. They met and six months later they were married. It's sorta impossible to believe sometimes." He said. I could tell he was done. We kept walking side by side, but it wasn't quite so awkward anymore.
"That's nice, I know what you mean about your parents being a love story." I told him as we continued to walk. I felt a deep hurt in my heart for bringing up my parents but I felt it contributed to the conversation.
Elias smiled and our hands brushed. He clutched my hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. It made me feel better and I was glad he did it.
We arrived at the garden gates and I felt so refreshed as I walked into the blowing breeze. It was a comfortable cold outside, not so much that I was freezing, but just enough to keep me on my toes.
I stopped walking and just closed my eyes for a minute. I let the breeze blow my hair and brush against my face. It felt so good after being inside for the past day.
Elias stopped as well, and I was certain he thought I was crazy but he was grinning from ear to ear when I opened my eyes. I blushed a little and I could feel the heat on my face.
We began walking again and I looped my arm through his as we walked. We kind of swayed a little and it was fun. Suddenly it came to my mind that this was a real actual date. I realized I should've prepared more for it. I was wearing the same outfit from earlier and I probably should've changed into something more fitted for a date.
Great job Amber, you've already screwed up and it's the first date. Typical me. As I was absorbed in these thoughts Elias was still walking next to me.
I almost tripped (to be fair I could blame the horrible heels I was wearing) which pulled me out of my thoughts. I caught myself and then I started to laugh it off. I often just laughed something off because I've fallen so many times, weather it's out if trees if just tripping, so I've just gotten used to it. I'm not a very graceful for a princess.
We started talking again and after that we didn't stop. There was no more awkward silence.
At one point I saw Stella walking Jasper from across the gardens and I thought Elias would really enjoy meeting Jasper, since he loves animals and such.
"Stella!" I called out as I ran across the lawn. My heels were impossible to run in so I stopped in the middle of the lawn and unbuckled them before I continued, then I proceed to run the rest of the way to Stella and Jasper.
I knelt down on the ground and petted Jasper while I waited for Elias to walk over. I stood up again and waved him over like a mad person, even from here I could see him laughing. He walked over and before he got here I leaned over and warned Stella.
"This is Elias, keep your head down so he can't tell. It'll be fine." I whispered as Elias jogged up. I had been told to keep Stella away from the selected as much as possible, so they didn't find out. She was good at hiding her secret but sometimes things slip.
I smiled as Elias walked up and I crouched down again to Jasper. From the ground I looked up and talked to Elias.
"This is Jasper." I said as I ruffled my golden retrievers ears. Elias crouched down next to me and smoothed the fur on Jaspers back. Jasper seemed to like Elias because he jumped up and licked his face. Elias just laughed, he seemed to like Jasper too.
Jasper was an old dog, but he thinks he's a pup. He acts like he can do anything, he's still so energetic. Sometimes I'll take him on runs with me and he keeps up just fine.
After a minute I stood up and so did Elias. I went over and stood by Stella as I introduced her, even though he probably already knew who she was.
"Elias this is my twin sister, Stella. Stella, this is Elias." He smiled kindly and said hi. After a minute Stella said hi back. He studied us for a minute before commenting.
"Not exactly identical twins I suppose?" I laughed at this, it was so true. We looked completely different, me with my brown eyes and dark hair, and Stella had blonde hair and pale green eyes. We were like polar opposites. I have my fathers eyes and my mothers hair, and Stella has our fathers hair and our mothers eyes. It was funny how that worked out.
After a bit we said goodbye to Stella and Jasper and continued our walk, I didn't bother going back for my heels, they were uncomfortable anyways.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to drag you to meet my sister, but since you told me you like animals and stuff I though you might want to meet my dog." I said. Elias smiled (which he seemed to be doing all the time) and we looped arms again.
"It's okay, it was fun." I grinned and he looked down at my barefeet. I laughed upon seeing them myself.
"What kind of a princess am I?" I said in between laughs. He laughed along and we spent the rest of the date talking about his home province and stories form our childhoods. It was so fun.
Finally it was getting close to lunch so we headed inside. We filled the halls with laughter as we noisily made our way to the dining hall, all the meanwhile I still had no shoes on.
When we walked into the dining hall our arms were still looped and everyone turned there heads. We were late. Oops. I had a tendency to be late.
"Sorry." I said as me and Elias sat down. Elias sat on my right and Nick was seated on my left. I was pretty sure everyone saw my barefeet but nobody commented on them.
"You are one strange girl." My mother laughed as she said this. So she had apparently noticed my feet, but she didn't care. My mother was very lax on being prim and perfect, which I was thankful for.
"You raised me!" I laughed, everyone at the table chuckled. My mom was smiling, we were just having some good natured fun.
We ate the delicious meal as I engaged in conversations with everyone. Today was a very good day. I had successfully survived my first date with one of the guys. That was pretty big in my book.
We finished the meal and I retired to my room for the day, I figured I'd done enough for one day. I started planning out my next date, which I promised myself would be more professional.
Ok thanks for reading! Yay chapter 10 complete! Look guys we are already in double digit numbers for chapters! Yay! Also I posted another story (don't worry it won't interfere with this one) called Illean Prep about the selection set in modern times, so if you checked that out it would mean the world to me. Thanks! Now questions!
1.) What'd you think of Ambers first date?
2.) Who do you think is getting this new date she's planning?
3.) What do you think of Amber as a character? Anything you want to see from her?
Ok now reviews!
more. than. just. a. story- lol thanks for reviewing! I totally know what you mean about the balance thing, I have absolutely no balance. I just fall over whenever I even try to walk on a beam lol. Yeah Caspia will be introduced in full sometime soon ;) don't worry. Don't worry about being biased, they are your babies you have a right to love them. Also my second story is about what the selection would be like if America and Maxin were in our times, and it was about college instead of a selection, it's explained in bulk of you go and read it! Thanks!
XOStarbrightXO- Thanks for the awesome review! Lol when Amber was like "Jack the suitor" I kinda imagined how tris was on the amity serum and that's what I based it on so she was sorta lopey and silly, I thought it would be really funny especially since it was Jack and he's so serious lol. I'm glad I got you laughing ;) I thought it was pretty funny as well. It's cool if Jacks your favorite even if you created him, he is pretty awesome. I'm glad you have other favorites as well though! Lol I did post it, in fact you inspired me to so thanks!
Deeptha13- HAIS! Lol hey June! Haha I just love your reviews! They fill me with so much joy I could explode! Lol I'm not usually in trees a lot either (I play soccer as well) but when I am I always fall out. Lol! I thought it would be a funny way to show she's not graceful (Amber is legit me Exocet I'm less cool and ya know... Not a princess lol) Haha I'll work on longer chapter just for you ;) lol I'll also work on dramafying it because I love me some drama as well. I published my other story, so yeah... Lol thanks so much! Love ya June! See ya soon!
MABubbles- thanks for the sweet review! Lol I loved it! Haha it is funny to imagine Jack just being like "you fell out of a tree." So casually especially since he's so serious. Lol, I always wondered what the difference between jam and jelly was and since I base most of ambers crazy antics on my own I figured I'd throw that in there. Lol I actually had to look that up and once I found out I was like "ohhhhhhh" lol. Also don't worry, I have a special date in mind for one of your guys (not telling you which) lol I'm sure you will love it! I'll give you a hint: we talked about it in our pm's. Im sure you'll be like "ahh" when you read it lol I'm excited for that! Lol I fell like writing in a girls perspective is so much easier cause I am a girl and all and gahhh Connor! I'm sad all over again and I killed him! Lol the struggle of being an author, missing your own character you killed. Lol it's cool your brothers name is Connor too! I have two friends named Connor, which I based Connor Schreave off both of them lol. They don't know it though ;) so yeah! Thanks!
Thanks everyone!