Chapter 14

God, Silvia is being SUCH a control freak. There is one month until my wedding to Maxon and she literally spends every waking moment quizzing me about it. 'Are you sure you don't want Tessa Tamble to sing?' Yes. 'Are you sure you want to have a twelve-year-old Five sing?' Yes. I was having Annabelle sing at my wedding. We became pen pals after she sent me a letter and I replied. I went to hear her sing at a recital a few weeks ago and she truly has the voice of an angel.

I have chosen my bridesmaids dresses already: lilac with a white lace frill and a white satin belt. May and I are going to choose my wedding dress in a few weeks. I am so giddy with excitement I can barely hold still.

I have been trying to lose a bit of weight in the past few months (if I've learnt anything from the palace it's that pastries are surprisingly bad for one's figure) and I was very pleased to see that when I weighed myself this morning I had dropped two dress sizes. I was going to be criticised enough, I didn't want to add any more fuel to the already roaring fire.

Maxon is so stressed out at the moment, what with the wedding and all, but he still finds the time to see me at night when the palace is quiet. He comes and lies down next to me and we talk about our days and fall asleep. Nothing more than that.

I'm very happy at the moment because, as per Illéan tradition, the honeymoon of a couple is to spend three nights at the house of the bride's parents house and then go for a week somewhere relaxing. I am really looking forward to Maxon meeting my parents properly so they could see the real him. Not the stiff, formal man on the television; but the bubbly, enthusiastic boy. My Maxon. It is like they are two people: the man the public see is the man the King wants him to be and the one I am marrying is who he actually is. I hope that when we come to the throne as a couple I will help change the view that all royals are machines. I hope to bring a more mundane side to power.

"Penny for your thoughts?" A voice interrupts me from my daydream.

"Oh, Maxon!" I giggle, "You surprised me." He spins me around and plants a kiss on my cheek. Even though it is completely appropriate and acceptable it still sends a sort of thrill through me.

"So," whispers Maxon in my ear, "I'll see you tonight, okay?" Ahhh! He is always so busy...

"Not dinner?" I ask, visible disappointment etched on my face. At least he looks genuinely pained when he speaks.

"I am so sorry America, I have been neglecting you lately, haven't I?" I nod at him. "I tell you what, to make up for the time I have spent away from you, why don't we go somewhere his weekend? Just the two of us."

"Really?" I sigh, getting excited, "where too?"

"We could go camping?" he suggests. I have never been camping, so I don't know whether to feel excited or anxious.

"Sounds brilliant." I say, planting a kiss on his cheek. "I'll see you tonight, and don't be late for whatever meeting you should be at right now."

"You know me too well." he says, grinning, "I love you."

"I love you too, Maxon. Now go!" I watch as he turns around and strolls confidently off. God, I love him.

I am beginning to worry as to Maxon's whereabout when he bursts through my bedroom door, clad in blue silk pajamas.

"You look pretty..." he stutters out, noticing my night clothes.

"Thanks," I whisper as he comes to lie down next to me. The weather is warming up but still has a bitter chill to so there is a draft that is getting through the window and giving me goosebumps. I climb under the covers, pulling Maxon with me. "I'm really scared for the wedding." I whisper, finally voicing my concern.

"What?" he says back, rolling me over so I face him. "What? Why?" he demands. "You don't to marry me?" he asks.

"No!" I shout forcefully, reassuring him with a quick kiss. "No, it's not that. Of course I want to marry you. It's just, well, I'm not sure I'm ready to have such a massive amount of attention focused on me. I mean, just a few months ago, I let a six year old insult me about my caste and now I bet it'll be on everyone's mind during the wedding. They'll all be thinking: 'The Prince is such an idiot for choosing that Five. Why not that gorgeous Two.'" I am surprised to look up at Maxon's face and see annoyance.

"Hey!" he says, lightly hitting me on the shoulder, "look at me, America! I chose you. That doesn't make me an idiot, it shows that I don't let other people's opinions shape my entire life, And you are much more beautiful than Celeste." Maxon says, kissing me on the cheek.

"No," I protest, "no, I'm not. I'm certainly not as attractive. More striking, maybe."

"Okay," he whispers. "O'striking one."

My bag is packed, the tent is ready. They only thing yet to arrive is Maxon himself. Just as this thought passes my mind he arrives by my side, kneeling over from running.

"Sorry," he pants, "I'm ready now. Are we good to go?" I nod and pass him his backpack with a smile. We are going camping in the extensive palace forest; it is still in the grounds so we won't need a guard! But I bet Maxon could fight off any attacker, he's so strong. I take his hand and together we walk out the door.

The sun is shining and the sky is clear; I couldn't imagine a more perfect day to be out and about.

"So," says Maxon, swinging our hands, "Guard Leger and Kizzy, huh."

I'm glad he's noticed. I am pretty pleased with my matchmaking, it's my return favour to Aspen for saving May and since Kizzy is the only other 'suitable' girl in the palace my age I have been seeing her a lot lately. I saw how much she and Aspen are alike and now he has been promoted to a Three for his services to the Royal Family he is suitable enough for her as well. I set them up on a blind date, and, as far as I can tell, it went really well. I saw them on a walk in the gardens yesterday, really engrossed in a conversation. I am surprised by how little jealousy I feel towards her being with Aspen. I really am over him. And I know that he won't break her heart, if he does I will kill him. Just joking! Or am I?

"It's good, isn't it?" I say back.

"Yep. She always deserved someone. She used to have a crush on me, when we were little, you know? After that we stopped playing together because we couldn't risk what might happen if I fell for her. I didn't though."

"Did you ever have a crush on anyone?" I ask.

He shakes his head. "No, but this one girl, the heir to the French throne, Daphne her name is, had one on me. She had the cheek to tell me that I loved her. I said I didn't, and she got really cross."

"I've met her!" I exclaim, remembering the girl from the drinks reception the palace held. "The day the rebels came, I spoke to her. She was really rude."

A/N I apologise for always writing author's notes, you can skip it if you want.

Firstly, can I say thank you for the amazing reviews the last chapter got! And please review this one... I checked today and this story has a truly awesome 5,555 views! Wow!

Secondly, does anyone want a brief change in POV? Maybe Maxon, Aspen, Kizzy, May or Celeste adjusting to life after? Or perhaps I could do that last suggestion as a spin-off one-shot maybe... Or if anyone has an idea for any type of Selection one-shot I could do, I would happily oblige.

So, thanks to the following for reviewing Chapter 13: BestFan00(Thank you so much for reviewing, and I just wanted to say, in answer to your question, 'Now,' but I couldn't tell you that because it was a guest review. In future guest reviews, I can edit them before I add them to the reviews, so I will put in my answer with the review, so you can check it to see what I say), Sajna 18, Lady Guest, AnimeStarC2, britylyn1996, Ainzo, The Rashinator, livingtodance and Reader the Fish.

Next chapter up in a few days...