Hey girlies! :) Thank you soo much for your wonderful response to my last two chapters, thanks for all the reviews, follows and faves. I need to apologize for not updating for a few days though. We just had a crappy internet connection I basically lost an entire chapter and I couldn't post the other one. I'm sorry for keeping you guys waiting. But here's a new one. I promise to update as much as I can today. :)

Before I forget, I also want to thank my guest reviewers to whom I could not PM my thanks. Thank you so much for your wonderful reviews guys! Love you all.

Have fun! :)

I lie in my bed, still thinking of Maxon and our date. It has been two days since and yet I feel like I'm still there in the garden with him, having the time of my life. His last question, or the lack thereof, still bothers me until now.

But I feel like my world finally started working right that day. I was finally able to tell Maxon about Aspen. He took it better than I expected.

Oh Aspen. I wonder where he is. I can't shake this feeling of worry towards him though I don't even know why it's there. I mean, I know it has been days, weeks even, since I saw him but he's probably just around the palace somewhere, I think.

I glance at the clock in my bedside table and see that it is still a quarter to six.

I have changed a lot, I suddenly realize. I'm not, or wasn't, the type to swoon over Maxon, ignore Aspen and wake up early. Though weirdly, the third was the one I thought most unlikely.

But I know I'm still me. I have to be. I still love my family above all else, I still don't look at people and think in numbers, I still ache for our crumbling country. I'm still America Singer.

After getting dressed, I walk to the dining hall for breakfast. It's still a bit early so I'm the first one in.

In a matter of minutes, the room starts to fill up. I immediately feel the nervous tension fill the room. Everyone just bows their heads, gives the polite greetings, no happy chatter.

I turn to Kriss just as she is taking the seat beside me. "Did something happen?"

Kriss looks so sad and gloomy. "He's letting one go."

OH. So, that's why. Now, I'm starting to feel so nervous myself. I'm still not sure if I have done enough to prove myself to Maxon and King Clarkson.

Everyone suddenly falls silent. I follow the direction of everyone's eyes and see Maxon entering the hall. He's walking in my direction. I look at the other girl's faces. Elise looks sick, Kriss is still so gloomy but Celeste looks confident. She has this smirk on her face that I just want to slap off. I revert my eyes back to Maxon. He's moving towards me fast.

"May I have the honor of eating breakfast with you privately, Miss America?" He then holds out his hand, which I take a little too reluctantly. He senses my hesitation and gives my hand a soft squeeze.

We walk out to the garden and I say our breakfast table laid out on a patio I haven't noticed before. Everything looks gorgeous but I'm still dead scared of being sent home. We sit down and start eating.

This is excruciating. I look up at him. "Maxon, are you sending me home?"

He stops, his spoon frozen midair. "What? Where did you get that impression America?"

He looks shocked and curious at the same time. I try to sound calm even though I'm anything but. "Well, everyone thinks you're letting one of us go today and since you singled me out, I assumed it woud be me."

I look down at my hands, hoping that I am wrong.

"Well, you're wrong. I'm not sending you home America, not if I can help it." I nod and we continue eating. I feel a weight coming off my shoulders.

But almost immediately after I relaxed, I tense up again.

"What's wrong now, my darling America?" Maxon noticed and he looks concerned. Am I that obvious?

"Who are you letting go then?" "Maxon takes my hand and traces circles on it with his thumb. "Kriss, unfortunately.

He looks sad about it. So am I.

"Kriss?" I'm shocked. "Why? Weren't you two getting along well?"

"I though about that too but after we kissed, I realized we had no genuine connection, no spark, nothing. I simply care for her. And she does for me. But that's the most I can say."

"Why did you single me out then?" I ask with my eyebrows furrowed with curiosity.

"Felling chatty this morning, aren't we? Can't I choose to eat breakfast with my darling America? I'm the prince, you know."

"Yes, I know. You never really fail to remind me." I tease him. He laughs. This feels better. But I still feel bad for Kriss though.

After breakfast, I walk happily back to my room. I'm even looking forward to studying budget handling. I'm really not myself today. I don't care though. I'm just glad I'm still here.

When I reach my room, I sit at desk and start reading my reading for Illea Economics, writing important details down. I go about this for an hour or so, feeling proud of myself for doing so.

A knock breaks my concentration however. "Come in." I turn around and see Elise, Kriss and Celeste glaring at me.

"Hey girls. What brings you here?"

I try to keep myself calm despite the confusion I'm going through right now. I've had a lot of practice so I come off calm as a lake. Of course, Celeste speaks first.

"How the hell do you do it?"

"Do what Celeste"

"Oh no, don't you act innocent with me, Five. Did you sleep with him? Did you blackmail him with that stupid book you have? What?"

I look at each and every one of their faces, each expecting an answer from me.

"Believe it or not, I didn't do anything. I even thought he was letting me go this morning."

This time, Kriss speaks out, obviously trying to stop her tears. "But he didn't. Why America?"

I can't take this any longer. "Because he loves me Kriss. And I love him. We have made so much sacrifices for each other, more than any of you know. I don't to bribe him to make him want for me to stay."

"We all made sacrifices too, America. Every rebel attack, we risk our lives just to be able to stay with him. We've done everything you did for him too. And what has he ever done for you that he didn't do for us? He couldn't even care less when you came back after two nights of being lost who knows where."

I broke my first love's heart for Maxon. I started doubting my dad because I trusted him more. I changed. For him. Completely. And he let his dad hurt him for me. He decided to stand up against his dad for me. He's changing for me too. Nothing they said could change that.

"I think you should all leave. I need some time for myself. Please excuse me."

I stand by the door, motioning for them to get out. And they do. Celeste leaves last and before she does she squeezes my arm painfully.

"Two can play at this game America." And she shuts the door behind her, leaving me trembling.

They hate me. They hate me and I know Celeste well enough to be scared about it.