I rubbed my eyes as I felt myself being shaken awake. I cracked open my eye to find that Rysand was shaking me, concern written on his face.

"What is it Rysand?" my voice cracked, from only just waking up. I sat up slowly.

"There's some Selected here to see you. Hurry." I looked at him confused before getting out of bed and heading towards to the hall where three Selected girls stood crying, their maids trying to comfort them but not being able to do anything.

"Are you okay?" I asked them, trying to get them to concentrate on me but they all started crying harder.

"... home..." was all I could hear one say. But that was the only tangible word I could make out from the crying girls. I looked to Rysand for help.

"The maids said that they all want to go home." He whispered in my ear. I regarded the three girls and sighed, pushing my hair back. I didn't think I was thatbad that it would warrant three girls crying. I looked them up and down. They were all still in their pyjamas but tars streaked down their face.

"Go home, I will not force anyone to stay." with this, Rysand ushered them back to their rooms. To pack or to sleep for the rest of the night I don't know. But when they were gone I retreated back into my room.

Sitting on my bed, I watched the full moon slowly move in the sky. Its light filled up my room, casting shadows where the lights path got interrupted. The garden below looked as it was coated in silver. The odd beauty of the night mixing together with knowing that the Selected were crying to go home because they thought they were trapped made my mind spin. Soon I was looking at the ceiling, replaying the girls crying over and over again.

Eventually Rysand came in but stayed close to the door.

"I have told the staff to inform the girls that if they wish to go home and leave the Selection they can."

"What time is it?" Was all I asked.

"3.23 am, sir." I thought for a moment before getting up and changing into a pair of jeans and a plain t-shirt and leaving my room. If Rysand followed me I didn't notice. I made my way to the front of the palace. There was a window on one of the floors that oversaw the front entrance and gate. Once I found it I looked down.

A few Selected stood at the top of the stairs by the door, watching as some others made their way down the drive to some cars that had been parked. And I just watched. I watched as they all got into the cars. I watched as they all drove away. I watched as the other Selected headed back inside. I watched as the sun rose above the horizon, turning the whole world gold. I watched until I had to face reality.

Breakfast that morning was quite. A sadness had settled over the girls that I didn't know the source of. The dinner hall felt incomplete. 5 girls had left during the night or didn't come to breakfast. I looked at their empty seats as I pushed the food around on my plate aimlessly.

"Hey, brother, you are supposed to eat the food, not play with it." William said in my ear. I snapped out my daze and looked down at the plate. The food looked a mess, the smell of waffles and syrup filled my nose but the sight made me push it away.

"Sorry, I'm not hungry." I said to him before I got up and left the hall.

I spent the day playing video games. Staff brought lunch in but I ignored it. I kept switching between 5 different fighting games. That was until I got a message from Mizz2cool4u.

I looked at the time, it was roughly 5:30pm, wouldn't they all be in the woman's room?

Not all of them I reminded myself.

It took my a few moments to decide if I wanted to open it or not. But I did, like I always do.

I know this might be an awkward situation for us so I'm going to ignore what I found out. But all the girls are worried about you.

Please visit them soon.

I read the message. Then reread the message. She knew who I was. I felt my heart pound against my chest, the noise almost deafening. I leaned back on my chair before leaning forward and typing back.

Who are you?

I watched as the minutes passed. Having stopped playing I felt hungry. So after grabbing some of the sandwiches that had been left for me I sat back at the desk, waiting. I seemed to do a lot of that recently. Just waiting for something to happen. Eventually I got a reply back.

Meet me in front of the kitchens in 30 minutes.

The pounding came back, only louder. Before I knew it I had put shoes and a jacket on and headed downstairs. Getting to the kitchens wasn't hard, but as I got closer, the more I wanted to retreat back to my room. Did I really want to know who Mizz is? 10 years of friendship, of never truly knowing each other over in a few seconds.

I walked toward the kitchen hesitantly. Each step felt like a chore until I was outside the door. I looked at it like it held all the secrets in the world.

"Edward?" I heard a female voice behind me. I know I was early but could she have been as well? I pushed my hair back as I turned around slowly.

"Luana? What are you doing here?" I looked her up and down before looking back at her face. She looks shocked before putting a smile on her face.

"Actually I'm here to find you." Was Luana Mizz? I wasn't sure. She did win the tournament. From when we used to play together, Mizz was very good at Mario Kart.

"Oh really?" my voice cracked. Of course it would I'm a nervous wreck. I felt like a ship about to sink. I locked my knees to stop hem from shaking.

"Yeah, you okay? You look really pale..." Concern crossed her face. I tried to lean against the wall but I seemed to miss, so instead I just scratched the back on my head.

"I'm fine, you were saying?"

"You seemed distracted this morning, considering what happened I couldn't blame you. So I wanted to take you on a picnic. As our date." She said the last words in a whisper. I had to strain to hear her. I looked at her again and noticed that indeed she was holding a basket.

"Yes. I mean. Of course. Lead the way."

she took me into the kitchens first, the staff helping her with sandwiches and other foods even though they were busy getting ready for the next meal. I never really went into the kitchens. I didn't need to. The last time I remembered being in here I was 9 and just had a nightmare. I had ran into my parents bedroom and mother took me here to get a snack. I looked at the counter where she sat me down. Oh I could still smell the cookies that she gave me. I smiled at the memory, only being pulled out of it when Luana linked her arm in mine and led me towards the garden.

Apart from a few guards on patrol the hallways were empty. It was still late summer so the sun beat down on us as we found a quite spot away from the palace. I helped set the blanket out whilst Luana laid out the food that was just packed into the basket.

We sat down and I picked up a sandwich. I seemed to be eating these a lot recently.

"Is that sandwich really interesting?" Luana questioned. I looked at her and back and it before sighing and taking a bite.

"Its been along day."

"Yeah, it looks it. Listen..." She turned her body towards me, probably trying look at me better. "Its not your fault they all left. Trust me."

"I know its only been a few days but I didn't think I was that bad."

"You're not. We are all here because we want to be. I don't think you would have had a Selection if no one wanted to be here." She took a bite of her own sandwich before facing forward again. I looked at her again. But really looked at her. She was wearing she was wearing a bright pink skirt and a turtle neck black top. Her legs were also covered in black that seemed to blend into her black heels. Her dark brown hair seemed to fall around her face that seemed to make her look younger than she was.

"Do I have something on my face?" Luana asked.

"Oh, no. I'm sorry. I was just thinking." I mumbled. She must have heard it anyway because she turned to me again with a light in her eye.

"Do tell." Was she Mizz? She did meet me where she said she would be, even if it was early. I looked up at her again. She took an excited bite out of her sandwich and looked at me expectedly.

"You ever have a secret? That you just want to tell someone but your afraid that everything will change after?"

She stopped chewing for a few seconds before continuing.

"Are you the illegitimate heir or something?" she said eventually, seeming to give me a quick once over. I laughed.

"No, my parents love each other too much." I looked towards the horizon. The sun had just started to dip, casting a golden glow across everything the light touched. It was still to bright to look at so I turned my attention to the blanket we were sitting on, drawing idle patterns with my fingers.

"We all have secrets ed. Don't feel too burdened with them okay?" I looked up to find her smiling at me. It was hard not to join in.

"Does that mean you have one too?" she looked away for a second before looking at my legs.

"Since when did you wear jeans?" I looked down to see that I was still wearing the outfit from this morning.

"Oh, I was in a rush and these were the quickest to put on." she just nodded.

We sat there for awhile. We talked about nonsense, ate the snacks that the staff helped Luana pack as well as watching the sun disappear behind the horizon.

Eventually I led Luana back inside. It was defiantly getting late so I led her to her room.

"Thank you, for today. I think I might have just spent the night playing video games otherwise."

"Its my pleasure your highness." she did a small curtsy and beamed up at me. I felt my cheeks heat slightly.

"Just call me Ed or Edward. I don't really feel like a prince."

"Well then, Edward, ill see you tomorrow." she seemed to hesitate for a second, her eyes flicking down for a second before she disappeared into her room.

I tried to wave before she went back in but was too late. So I just pushed my hair back as I made my way to my room.

As soon as my head hit the pillow I drifted off into unconsciousness. I didn't realise I was this tired. So I let myself drift. Ignoring the message that had just popped up on my computer.

A/N: sorry for the late update! It was really busy at uni with learning lines within a week for a show. (I only messed up one line so its all good!). But its here, finally. I hope you enjoyed it! And ill see you in the next one!