Hey! I'm so sorry guys. I can't even express how sorry I am. I now have constant access to a computer, so I will be updating more frequently. Once again, you have no idea how sorry I am. I've had an amazing summer, and now that it's time to start school again.

:( Oh well. So anyways, I will be updating far more than I normally do, so yay! By the way, I just realized that in the first chapter/summary I said that Maxon was the only son of the King and Queen, but later I said that he has America's original siblings. He has those siblings, and I did not see that mistake at the time. He is the oldest, rather than being in the middle as America was. And without Kenna and Kota. So yeah, I hope that this clears up some things! See you at the bottom of the page, and once again, I'm so sorry.

America's P.O.V.

As the door shuts in my face, I feel the door for Aspen close as well. Despite realizing this fact, I can't help it as I slide down against the hard wood of the door.

What did I just do?

Unshed tears burn at my eyes and my throat as my hands come up to cover my face instinctively. A single tear falls.

My whole world is falling apart, piece by piece. I mentally check myself to make sure that I'll be okay for tonight, but I'm no longer sure of anything. Not my social standing, not my ability, and definitely not my romantic standing. But I know that I have to go on.

I have to.

I stand, realizing that my dress is becoming wrinkled with every second I am sitting down. How silly and insignificant it seems, now, trying to meet someone new and impress the prince with a dress.

I manage a small giggle, trying to hold it all together with a smile. I catch a glimpse of myself in the glass of a window and see how broken I look.

How can I even consider presenting myself to a crowd like this?

Alas, I have no choice. This is just another paid gig, and I can't let my personal life interfere with my professional life. And now that there is no Aspen to connect the two, I have no excuse for being less than perfect tonight.

None.

I practice and get used to the piano with no emotion, steeling myself for

providing entertainment for this party without thinking about my problems at all. Instead, I focus on the music.

Note turns to note, and problems fade into nonexistence. I forget about Aspen and Lucy, winning the prince, and publicity. Everything fades into these few hours of gentle chords and strong vocals.

Everything.

Too soon, it is time for me to begin playing for the public, and not just myself. A maid walks up to me as I starkly realize that I am no longer alone. There are maids and butlers preparing for tonight circling the room placing the finishing touches on the elaborate dining hall, and I look up, embarrassed as I blush with realizing this.

She smiles bashfully at me as she hands me a note and says, "You have a beautiful voice, Ms. America. I am such a fan!" I smile back at her as I respond with a simple, "Thank you. That is very kind of you." She walks away, practically skipping with happiness and humming as I recognize the tune as one of my own.

I smile even wider as I try to compose myself before reading the note. It is clearly important, as it is on the palace stationary. I open it carefully, trying not to rip the delicate paper. I gasp as I realize who it's from and then smile even wider as I read it:

From the Desk of Prince Maxon Schreave:

Good Evening, America. As the time of the celebration approaches, I would like to kindly suggest beginning the entertainment. Guests will be arriving shortly, as well as the Royal family, me included. Thank you once again for agreeing to come and enjoy this time of celebration with us! I look forward to hearing you and meeting you in person, America.

Sincerely, Maxon.

I begin to do as suggested, though I cannot get my mind off of the note. The PRINCE looks forward to meeting me. Come on, America. Get it together, I think to myself.

But still, I am smiling.

Guests begin arriving shortly after I begin playing professionally, and I thank the prince mentally for having the foresight to prepare me for the sudden onslaught of people. After about twenty minutes of playing, I hear the announcement of, "They're almost here!"

A total silence falls over the room, and I stop playing for fear of ruining the surprise. The fact that the prince is near causes my breath to hitch in my throat and my heart to pound practically out of my chest. The words, "Ooh someone has a crush!" enter my head and I immediately silence the voices in my head, though at the same time I am suppressing a smile.

Is it true?

No. I can not become starry-eyed over some prince, especially after Aspen. It's too risky.

It's too much.

But a part of me doesn't care anymore. I mean, what do I have to lose anymore?

Nothing. Exactly.

Just as I am clearing my mind of these thoughts, the doors swing wide open. In walks King Clarkson and Queen Amberly, both of their eyes wide in shock and hands interlocking with each other's.

I focus on them and how much love each individual holds for the other. It honestly astounds me the after 15 years of marriage and struggles, made even harder with the pressures of royalty, they are still together. They still love each other.

A flash of movement behind them catches my attention, and I gasp quietly as Prince Maxon Schreave walks in behind them, followed by his remaining siblings. I briefly take in his sister, Princess Madeline, and his younger brother, Prince Gerad, before I take in the sight of Prince Maxon.

He is, in a word, handsome. Honey colored hair, tailored black tuxedo, and those deep blue eyes. But then, the only reasons why he wouldn't want to talk or even look at me, walk in.

The Selected girls.

One by one, girls in similar red dresses parade in with arrogant smiles painted on their faces, as fake as the perfection of their faces, which are all covered in make-up. They sit at their designated tables, waiting to meet Prince Maxon and fixing their already perfect hairstyles and dresses.

I try to control my jealousy of these girls, as even the worst of them has a bigger chance of marrying Maxon than me.

Wait a minute.

Did I just say marry? Why in a million years would I ever think that I could marry Maxon Schreave? Now I know that I've gone way too far from reality, and this truth saddens me because I know that no matter what happens or what I do, he'll never be mine. I mean, if that is what God wants for my life, then that is what will happen.

But for now, I wait.

I realize that I haven't been playing for a while now, so I play and sing one of my songs that I had decided long ago I would never sing in public. It is, honestly, the most personal and sad song that I have ever created, and I never made it public for those very reasons. It speaks of a young woman who loses everything and has nothing left anymore, but still goes on.

I know it by heart, and suddenly everything overwhelms me to the point that I go on instinct, not even focusing on the notes or perfecting my vocals. Eyes closed, I let everything pour out through my voice. Aspen, the Prince, everything. I sound raw, but passionate, and I play the somewhat simple but elegant song with ease.

I run the song until the end, and as the final note fades out I realize that everything is silent around me. Not a single glass clinks; there are no longer high bursts of laughter overlapping loud, deep voices to form the, by definition, party atmosphere of the wealthy.

I open my eyes to find hundreds of eyes focused on me, holding onto every note with awe. A random burst of applause sparks the entire room into uproar, but I barely even notice as my eyes meet that of the eldest prince.

He stares at me, not clapping but instead gazing at me in awe and confusion. He seems to have forgotten the girl he's talking to, and she looks between me and him, getting more frustrated by the minute until she just walks off in a cloud of perfume and see-through red fabric.

Despite how exhilarating it is to have his attention, I break away from his gaze and survey the room, everyone eagerly praising me for my unintended performance. I look over once more to see if his gaze is still locked on me but he is no longer there, and is instead socializing as he was before I briefly gave him my attention.

I focus on the music for a few minutes more before I look up again and realize that Maxon is gone, along with all of the Selected except for a few, who sit in a nervous huddle of about five or six. They all look close to tears, though some of them are already crying. I assume that they are going home, because surely he wouldn't dismiss thirty or so girls at one time.

As I am watching, I see Maxon come in and begin to speak to them all, and a striking girl I remember as being named Celeste bursts into tears. I assume that my prediction is correct until suddenly, they all look very hopeful, and then excited. They jump up, looking relieved, and walk elegantly out of the room, probably heading to their own rooms as I am now assuming that they are the chosen few Elite.

I can't stand looking at them.

I know it's wrong, because I as a Christian I am called to love all people, but I am so close to the end that I can't even focus on anything anymore.

Why is this happening to me, God? Why is all of this coming now?

I begin playing simple songs that are what I normally play at parties, though I admit that I am now distracted. Already, I'm giving myself over to the stresses of life rather than to giving them to God, and I can't stand that.

I can feel that invisible chord between my private and professional lives strengthening and bringing them closer together until, eventually, they will collide and mess up everything that I've built up and everything crumbles around me.

I can't let that happen.

I keep repeating in my head the words, "Don't worry, everything will be okay and work out for your good, God has you."

But then the scariest thought of all enters my mind, and no matter how I look at it I can't will it away or make it untrue.

I've already allowed it to happen.

Hey guys, so in this chapter and really in this story I'm not saying that God isn't perfect and that He doesn't have us in His hand forever. I am merely showing and telling you guys that life as a Christian is not perfect. Once you become a Christian you are not just suddenly going to be perfect, and everything in your life will not be perfect. But we are called to give those problems, temptations, and stressful situations to Him. Some people see Christianity as if there's a problem in our lives or if we are having a bad day that we aren't really Christians or they see God as imperfect. But this is not true! Everyone has bad days, and the difference between me and everyone else is that I try not to fix my problems by myself but rather give them to God, because He is the only way that I will ever get through them. Alone, I can do nothing, but through Christ all things are possible! If you guys ever want to talk or need someone to pray for you, I'm here for you! Also, if you ever have questions, I would love to answer them the best that I can using God's Word because everything question we have about life or anything, including our problems, are in His Book! Love y'all, and I'll see you in the next chapter!