Hey guys. Usually I do my little talking at the end (recently I haven't been but oh well). So about ten minutes ago I was just checking to see if any more reviews had been posted and I came across this one by OdeliaLovesBooks. Honestly thank you so much. It was a very long review but I read and loved every second of it. It almost made me cry.
I am so glad that I can make you guys feel this way about my story. Honestly reviews like these keep me going. I only continue to write, continue to feel good about what I'm writing because you guys seem to, for some crazy reason, love my writing and my story. And I wasn't planning on writing a new chapter today until now. So thank you. And I am so glad my story makes you guys happy and makes you guys smile.
Now onto the chapter!
Chapter 11
AMERICA'S POV
I sit at the piano, attempting to play the song Maxon taught me yesterday. He said it was the first 'real' song he'd ever learnt and I've made it my mission to perfect it. If my father catches me here he would be furious. He'd say I should be seeing to my suitors.
A knock on the door makes me pull my hands back from the keys immediately. The door creaks open and Aspen steps in.
He smirks and raises his eyebrows, walking towards me.
"Was that you playing, Your Highness?" he asks. I don't know why my hands are shaking like mad. I look up and nod curtly. I stand up and brush down my skirts. He smiles thoughtfully before jumping into one of his many stories.
"Do you remember the neighbours I told you about?" he asks. I nod. "Well I remember when I was young, I would visit because I was friends with May's older brother, Kota. I remember Mrs. Singer trying to get May to choose a specialty. Mrs. Singer wanted May to be musical but May would bang the keys, making awful noises until Mrs. Singer gave up. It was quite funny to watch." He looks up at the ceiling. I laugh at his story. This May girl sounds amazing. A part of me yearns to meet her, to get to know this girl that reminds Aspen of me.
I walk towards the door slowly, knowing that Aspen will follow.
"Would you like to attend a movie with me Mr. Leger?" I ask, attempting to sound formal. I look back at his face which is lit up like a Christmas tree. I smile to myself.
"Y-yes, Princess," he stutters, "that sounds great." I laugh at his excitement.
"As long as we don't want any romance movies," I say jokingly. I wag my finger to add to the effect. He bends over laughing. I skip backwards, watching his reaction and start laughing hard myself. I feel like a child. It reminds me of when I would run through the halls with Daphne when we were children.
"I swear that I will not subject her majesty to watching a ridiculous romance movie," he pledges with a hand held in the air.
"Good." I summon him to follow me and we make our way down to the 'cinema'.
The seats are red and plush, the light dim. I can see Aspen staring with his eyes wide at the concept of what's in this room.
"You pick a movie and I'll make popcorn," I say to him. His eyes get wider, almost bulging out of their sockets and he goes to the thousands of movies we have to offer.
I pour the kernels gently into the machine, followed by the oil and butter and watch as the kernels fly around and turn into the fluffy white popcorn.
I scoop the popcorn out of the bowl and put it to the side. The bowl is large, large enough that both of my hands are required to carry it. I take it towards the seats where Aspen is sitting, flapping a disc around. I put the popcorn down in between two seats and lean over to see the movie Aspen chose.
It's a movie based on the Gregory Illea. I smile and nod for him to put the disc in.
He's very attractive from the back, and, to be completely honest, the front as well. I watch the muscles in his back move as he moves his arms.
He comes back to his chair and throws himself down, grabbing a handful of popcorn as he sits.
The movie starts and we're forced into silence. I can only hear Aspen as he munches on his popcorn, quite noisily if I must say.
MAXON'S POV
I walk back up to my room, my shoulders hunched and my camera hanging carelessly from my neck.
I walked down the to the Great Room to take a photo of America playing the piano but instead found her skipping out of the room with Aspen in tow. I did get a photo of them together though. They looked happy and I didn't want to waste an opportunity for a great picture.
I push open my door and drag myself over to my bed, collapsing with my face pressed against the bedding. I shouldn't even be feeling this way. She's made it clear that we're just friends. But those moments we had in the garden and during the photoshoot. To me they weren't 'just friends' moments. They were special, things to cling onto when I'm feeling sad.
I push myself off of the bed, disturbing the neat folding and placing of the blankets and storm out of the room, with my camera clutched tightly in my hands. I need to leave this palace. I can't stay here because it's making me think things and do things that I shouldn't be doing.
I need to find America and tell her I have to go. I make my way down to the cinema where she is probably cuddling with Aspen. Just as I'm reaching for the door a hand on the centre of my back stops me.
"Don't," the voice warns. It's a smooth, calm voice. It's a voice I briefly recognize.
I turn to face Marlee. She looks shocked and out of breath. Did she run after me?
"Sorry," I say, not daring to meet her big brown eyes. She must think I'm crazy, pounding down here like I can.
"Don't be sorry," she whispers. She turns and walks back up the stairs. I follow silently. I feel like a child getting told off. My head hands low and my arms are just hanging from my body like pieces of string. We reach the top of the stairs and she grabs my chin to pull my head up. A lot of people seem to do that these days.
"You're in love with her," she accuses, after examining my eyes. My eyebrows come down hard onto my eyes and I wrench my chin out of her grip.
"I'm not," I defend. I turn my head away but in the corner of my eye I see her smirk.
"I don't know you very well Maxon Screave but I know when a man is in love with a woman." She giggles a bit, reminding me of a child.
"I'm not in love with the princess," I repeat. I can feel defensive anger rising. I am not in love with the Princess. How could I be? We've known each other for a few weeks, a month at most.
"Tell yourself that," she spits back. I glare at this maid who thinks she can tell me how to feel. She looks twice as angry as I am. She pushes back a stray strand of hair.
"Even if I was in love with her, which I'm not, it's none of your business, Marlee," I hiss. She flinches at my harsh tone. I should feel apologetic but I don't.
"One day we're going to laugh about this," she tells me, tears filling her eyes. She turns quickly and shuffles out of the room. I want to run after her and say sorry. She's only a maid servant, I shouldn't take my anger out on her.
"Kriss is safe," I yell, hoping she can hear me. It's the one thing she wanted me to find out.
I let my shoulders fall once more and drag my feet back to my bedroom where I can sulk.
Why is being friends with one of the most powerful women in the world so hard?
AMERICA'S POV
The movie was boring and it took every inch of my soul to not fall asleep during it. Aspen enjoyed it, yelling out at particularly intense parts.
At some point, when both of our arms were resting on the arm rest, he reached over and took my hand. His was warm against my ice cold one. The warmth filled my whole body, sending a shiver through my spine. I didn't let go of his hand though until the end of the movie when I stood up. It felt nice to let someone hold me, even if it's just my hand.
"That movie was great," Aspen exclaims as the credits roll on. I nod and push myself off of the chair. The room suddenly feels too small and like there isn't enough air.
"I need to go," I tell Aspen before rushing out of the room. I run up the stairs and gasp for air. Sweet oxygen fills my lungs. I blink away the tears that began to fill my eyes. I need to get a grip on myself. I spend two hours in a room watching a movie with a guy and I'm a wreck.
"Princess," a voice calls. I find Marlee sweeping the floor. I smile and walk over to her. Her cheeks are flushed like she's exhausted. She's probably been cleaning all day.
"Do you need any help?" I offer, reaching for the broom. Her eyes go wide and she shakes her head.
"I can't ask you to do that," she says. I roll my eyes and reach for the broom again. She shows little resistance. I begin to sweep around where she's been sweeping. It's easier than I thought it would be. I begin to laugh.
"Isn't this a sight," I tell her, spinning around with the broom. She giggles and goes to get another broom. I continue sweeping before realizing heels and sweeping don't match. I slide off my shoes throw them to the wall. They land messily in front of the pure white wall and I laugh at the contrast of my bright pink stillettos against the boring wall.
I slide around the floor sweeping and when Marlee comes back I've swept half of the floor. She smirks and then laughs. I look at her like I'm surprised she's laughing then bring the broom to my mouth and pretend it's a microphone. I sing one of the only rock songs I know and spin around, acting crazy.
Imagine if someone from the public saw their high tempered princess dancing around with a broom and no shoes on. What a sight!
Marlee joins my silliness, jumping in at the chorus. We laugh and soon we're on the floor laughing our heads off.
Why is it that when I'm supposed to be most sensible, I become so childish?
MAXON'S POV
After dinner, I look through the photos I took today. There are the boring ones of random rooms in the palace and then the ones of Aspen and America heading to the cinema.
I smile when I come across the photos I took of America and Marlee. They both look like they're having so much fun in the photos.
I fall asleep with the photo of America pretending to be a Rockstar right in front of my face.
How'd you like it? No there were no actual Maxmerica moments but we did get a tiny glimpse of Maxon being a creepy photo taker (jokes jokes I love you Maxon). I really wanted to incorporate the fact of America's youth in this chapter because she's had to be so serious. And I know she was never overly silly in the book but I want to make her have a silly streak in this because I can imagine her not having time to be silly when she was a kid living in the palace so she's getting that time.
Please comment your thoughts and I will get back with a new chapter soon!