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Chapter 13

On Saturday morning, I tried to sleep in as much as I could. But nearly at dawn, I heard soft footsteps in my room, and someone climbed in my bed. I groaned.

"Maggie, do you know what time it is?" I mumbled, my face buried in my pillow.

"No. But I can't sleep." she whispered.

"Fine. Come here." She cuddled herself against me and I wrapped my arm around her. Thankfully we both fell back asleep until Anna came to wake me up.

"Good morning, My Lady." She said with a bright and happy voice.

I groaned again, and felt Maggie stir beside me. "You sure seem happy, today, Anna. What's the good news?" I said, my eyes still closed.

"Oh. None actually. I'm just happy, that's all." She smiled widely.

I eyed her suspiciously. "Yeah right. You're hiding something from me, aren't you?"

She laughed. "Of course not! Can't I be happy, just because I want to be happy?"

"Hm, sure. Suit yourself." I kicked the covers away but Maggie grabbed them and pulled them back. I sighed and climbed over her to get out of my bed. I headed for the shower and yawned.

Breakfast was uneventful, as was the morning with Father. There was nothing new coming from the strikers, so we let it go. Lunch was loud, like every meal. The sun was shining bright, high in the sky and it was yet again a perfect day for a pool party. But I wanted it to be a bit different from the first one.

"Gentlemen, I'll be working with Father again for some time this afternoon, so please feel free to use the gardens and swimming pool as you wish. This is your home, for the time being, so just make yourself comfortable and do whatever you want. I may or may not be joining you later on in the afternoon." I smiled mischievously and walked away, listening to their reactions. I heard the words soccer, baseball and swimming. Good.

I headed for Father's office and worked for a few more hours. When I thought my head would explode from the load of words mixing together on the page in front of me, I kissed my Father on the temple and went to my room. Anna undid the thirty small round buttons of my dress and I put my bathing suit on. I needed the sun and fresh water on my skin in order to feel better. The heat was killing me, and the tight dresses didn't help.

I put my flipflops and my sunglasses on, and pulled on a light beach dress over my swimsuit, and I headed for the gardens. As I came closer to the closed doors – we try to keep the heat outside – I heard splashes, laughter and shrieks. I smiled because I recognized Maggie's laugh. To hear her, she was having a good time. I opened the door and took the scene in.

Some of the boys were in the pool, cooling off, and some were kicking a soccer ball nearby. But what made me grin and my heart melt was to see Maggie blindfolded, and running after the boys playing with her. I haven't played Blind-Man's Buff in ages! And she was having a great time. Caleb, Evan and Markus were calling her, trying to make her change directions. Michael was laughing and couldn't seem to stay on his two feet: he fell on the ground, laughing uncontrollably. Adam and Alec were running around Maggie, trying to confuse her. Kenan and Andreas were chuckling together, waiting for Maggie to come back their way.

Hunter was snapping pictures of the whole scene. I silently walked beside him.

"I'd like to see those pictures later, if you don't mind." He jumped and turned around.

"Your Highness! I mean... Rosaline. I didn't hear you coming." He smiled shyly. "Yeah, I'll show you the pictures, if you want."

"I'd like that very much." I smiled and kissed him on the cheek. He blushed beet-red and I quickly walked away. I couldn't believe I had just done that. I let my dress fall to the ground near a lounging chair and descended the pool steps in the refreshing water.

I saw Alisdair sitting on the lower steps, water all the way up to his neck, his head leaning on the pool edge and his eyes closed. "Are you all right, Alisdair?"

He opened his eyes. "Yeah. I just hate the heat. I'm trying to cool off a bit."

I laughed and sat next to him. "I totally understand."

"Oh, by the way, you can call me Al."

"Al. Okay." I slipped my head under the water and came back up. It felt really good to have fresh water stream down my face. I swam away to talk with others who were in the pool.

"Hi Fed!"

"Oh, hello Rosaline. You finally decided to join us?" he said teasingly.

"Yeah, I thought I could make an exception for you guys." I answered with a straight face. But then I burst out giggling. "No, seriously, I just wanted to get my work done before taking the rest of the day off to see all of you."

"So now you're free?"

"Yep. What is it you do, already? You're so muscular!" I said looking at his upper body that was over the water line.

He flexed his arms. "Ha. Thanks! I'm a bodyguard actually."

"Oh, yeah, right! For who?"

"Zell Martla. You've heard of her, right?"

I frowned. The name did ring a bell, but I couldn't put a face on the name. "The name, yes. But I can't remember where I heard it."

He rolled his eyes. "Seriously? Everyone knows about her. I can't believe you don't. She's an actress."

"Oh! Of course! She played in that super-hero movie with the Aliens, right?"

"Yes! Ugh, you almost got me there."

I laughed. "Well, I'm afraid I can't be perfect in every aspect of my life. My erudition in movies is not as good as I wish. I don't have a lot of time to watch movies."

"I didn't think about that. We'll have to change that, then." He smiled and wiggled his eyebrows.

I chuckled. "I'd like that. I'll arrange for a movie night together. Soon."

"Is that a date?"

"Might be." I winked.

"Good." he grinned and dived in the water, emerging a few feet away. I shook my head and got out of the water.

I wrapped myself in my towel and called for one of the maids. Judith came and I asked her to bring ice-cream for everyone. I sat on my chair, taking in the summer Angeles sun and closed my eyes. A few minutes later, I heard some commotion and I knew the ice-cream was here. I didn't move, though. I opened my eyes behind my sunglasses to observe them. They lined up and chose their ice-cream. There were so many flavours; it took some time for all of them to decide what to have.

"Would you like some ice-cream, too, Rosaline?"

I smiled and nodded hungrily. "That's very kind of you Tristan."

"What flavours?"

"Uhm... mango, lime and stracciatella."

"All right. Be right back." he left and stood at the end of the line. Ugh. Those boys were so beautiful to look at. Then I saw one with tattoos. I looked at his face. Huh. Nigel. I can't believe I didn't see that last time. I wondered what they meant. I decided to ask him some other time. Tristan came back with two ice-cream cones and handed one to me.

"That was a good choice, I took the same." he said, sitting on the chair next to mine.

"I know." I chuckled. "I always take those three, they're my favourites!"

The rest of the afternoon wore on in a very good mood, splashing, playing ball and laughing. It felt like a vacation. I wished everyday was like this.

One hour before dinner time, the cooks came out with barbecues and plates of raw meat to grill. I widened my eyes. They never did this before! I saw mom coming out of the doors and walking towards me, a grin on her face.

"Mom, whose idea was this?"

"Mine." she said proudly with that grin still on her face. "We used to do this a lot with my family, before my Selection. Barbecue times were always my favourite times during the summer. And with so many boys here, I thought they'd enjoy it, too."

"Mom, this is such a great idea! I can't wait to eat. What did Father say?"

She tilted her head. "Well, he said it would a good occasion for the King and the Queen to have a little alone time."

"Like a date?"

She blushed a little. "Yeah. While you enjoy your barbecue with your boys, we are going to-"

"Please don't say anymore, I can imagine, thank you. Ugh!"

She laughed and kissed my cheek before walking away.

Footmen installed a couple tables and maids put a white tablecloth on them. Others came out with all sorts of food: ten different kinds of salads, beverages, sauces, and anything that the cooks had prepared. We didn't have plastic plates, so a huge pile of china plates was stacked at one end of the table – it must have been the fanciest barbecue the boys had ever had! When the meat and sausages were cooked, we started eating, sitting wherever we wanted: on the lounging chairs, on the grass, on stone benches,…

After that awesome dinner, I asked one of the footmen to get out one of the braziers and to light a fire. He obliged, of course, and in no time we had a huge fire burning in the middle of the gardens.

"Rose! This is soooo cool!" Maggie danced around me.

I laughed and hugged her close. "I'm glad you're happy, Mags." I whispered in her ear. She wiggled herself out of my hug and ran away to talk to the boys. I shook my head and grinned.

"Rosaline."

I turned around. "Julius! Did you enjoy your meal?"

"Very much, yes. Um. I was wondering if, you know…" He showed me his guitar case.

"Oh! I didn't know you played the guitar. I thought you were a Chess player?"

"I am. But I am a man of many talents." He grinned. "Are we going to do campfire songs?"

I lifted an eyebrow. "Campfire songs?"

He shrugged. "You know. Singing silly songs around the fire."

I laughed. "I've never done that before. But that would be an excellent idea!"

"Okay." He grinned and walked away. I went to sit near the Brazier and one by one, the boys came, too, sitting in a wide circle around the brazier. Kate was here, too, and Maggie was pulling Adam's hand. She made him sit and she sat in his lap. I found that was so cute. I'd have to get to know Adam better, if only for Maggie's sake.

Julius tuned his guitar and started playing a few chords.

"Hey! I know this song!" Hunter said.

"Yeah, me too!" Caleb replied.

A few started singing along. I had never heard that song, so I listened. But it was an easy tune and the words were so silly, I had no problem singing along, too. As soon as this song was over, Julius started a new one. I saw Alisdair stand and run away, only to come back a few minutes later with his fiddle! This was going to be interesting. We sang one song after the other. I was glad to learn new ones. Well, all of them were new to me, actually! Maggie was clapping her hands and bouncing up and down on Adam's lap who was laughing and trying to sing at the same time.

The sky was getting darker, and the flames danced in the middle of our circle, illuminating our faces with yellow and orange streaks of light. Suddenly, I had an idea. I called for Judith, who was on the bench near the door, waiting to see if I needed anything.

"Yes, My Lady?"

"Two things, Judith. First, would you mind getting some marshmallows for us in the kitchen? And second: would you get Anna for me, please?"

She curtsied. "Of course, My Lady."

"Thank you!"

I turned my attention back to the boys.

"Rosaline?"

I search the face who was talking. And I saw Theo waving his hand. "Yes, Theo?"

"I noticed you always say 'please' and 'thank you' to your staff. Why?"

Now that was an odd question. "Um, because I was taught to say 'please' and 'thank you'?"

"With all due respect, Rosaline. I'm myself a housekeeper, and my Masters never say it."

"They must be terrible masters!"

"Oh no, quite the contrary! They just don't want to waste time saying it one hundred times per day. It's implicit."

"Oh. Well I guess I don't say it every single time, though. Like when I'm angry or in a hurry or something." I shrugged.

Judith came back with three bags of candy and sticks for everyone, which we passed around. Anna also came, too. I told her what I wanted from my room and she hurried away. She came back as we were roasting our marshmallows over the flames. Maggie's candy burst into flames, but Adam gave her his and took a new one for himself. I took what Anna had brought me: I slipped on my harem pants and light sweatshirt. Evan, who was sitting next to me, laughed.

"What are you laughing at?"

He chuckled. "Nothing. I'm just still not used to see a princess wearing pants."

I shook my head in amusement and smacked his arm playfully. "Try wearing heels and dresses every single day. Pants are a true relief for me."

Everybody laughed. "Ugh, guys. You are making this Selection the hardest there will ever be. I can't seem to find one of you better than another one, you're all just great. I hope you'll help me choose."

"Why don't you kiss us all, one after the other, and eliminate the bad kissers?" Alec wiggled his eyebrows and everyone burst out laughing. Except me.

"Oh, gosh… I couldn't do this."

"Why not?"

I mumbled something I hoped they wouldn't hear.

"What did you say?" Andreas leaned in closer.

I straighten my back and, well, better be done with it. I closed my eyes and talked real fast. "Because I have never kiss anyone or been kissed before and I want my first kiss to be special." I exhaled and kept my eyes shut. There, I said it.

"Oh." That's all the reaction there was. "Why?"

I sighed. "Because I always knew I would have a Selection one day, and that it was no use falling in love before that. So I never got the chance to kiss anyone or be kissed."

"Not even Prince Philippe?" Kate asked with a mischievous smile on her lips.

I glared at her. "Of course not."

"Wow." Nigel said, amazed. "You actually kept yourself for us?"

I was so glad night had finally fallen, because I felt my cheeks redden. "Yes."

There was silence for some time, the crackling sound of the fire filling the night.

"Well, I think it's only fair that we each tell a secret about us, now that Rosaline revealed one of her own." Markus said, on my right. "I'll start." He exhaled. "I have a really loud laugh that I hate more than anything. I'd do anything to change it."

I wanted to laugh. That wasn't really what I would call a secret. But if it was for him, I would respect that.

"Even though I'm a Seven," Evan continued, "I speak four languages fluently and am in the process of learning two more." Wow. That could come in handy in a Prince Consort. Wait, what?

Westley was next. "I'm terribly afraid of thunderstorms." I smothered a laugh. Focus, Rose. Don't laugh! These guys are telling things that are serious and real problems for them. Empathy!

"Dying alone." Was that Alec? The dancing flames made if harder to see who was talking now.

"I have a very strong faith that Nutella was perhaps the greatest creation on earth. And my best friend mocks me for it. Don't laugh." Adam said playfully to Maggie in his lap, who had started to giggle.

"I can whistle a wide range of complicated songs!" Said Kenan.

"I've had a secret relationship with Zell Martla. I'm her bodyguard, so yeah." Fed. Seriously?

"Even though I'm an actor, I'm a real introvert." Aaron's small voice made no mistake.

"Well," started Julius, "I'm very clumsy on things that need daft hands. I can't hammer a nail straight."

"I was born as a five, and so, even as a basketball player, I have a secret passion for art. Nobody knows. So please keep that to yourself." Justin? The 6'5'' tall guy loves art? Now this was getting interesting.

"Since my fiancée died in a plane crash, I'm aviophobic. I had to come here by car." Tristan.

"I'm afraid of the dark. I sleep with a small light on." Caleb.

"I can't swim." Andreas.

"I'm very bad at cooking. I almost killed my stepfather with my cooking. I wish I had, though." Jerad quickly added.

"I've have several girlfriends in the past, and they all broke up with me. Now I'm afraid of getting close to anyone and have my heart broken. Again." Hunter.

"If there is only one bee in the vicinity, you'll see me running like a madman. I'm allergic to them." Micheal.

"I love to take long baths, up to three hours long." Matt. I didn't have three hours for a bath. Lucky him.

"I'm deaf." Theo said, out of the blue. "I had a accident when I was little, and now I'm deaf. But I lip-read very well. It gets harder in the dark, though." Huh. This totally makes sense. Like he's always intently looking at me when I talk. He's looking at my lips, and not my eyes – or whatever else.

Axel cleared his throat. "Um. I have never told this to anyone. I've had a crush on Princess Rosaline since I was thirteen years old." Silence. I wanted to laugh so hard, but I forced myself to keep a straight face. I was pretty sure hundreds of boys across the country had had a crush on one of us at least at one point in their lives.

"I'm afraid of large, dangerous animals. Although I don't encounter much of those." Daxton.

"I often have to give my food to my siblings. I'm their sole provider and, as a construction worker, I don't make a lot of money." Kurt's voice quivered at the end. My heart broke for him.

"I'm a War Veteran and I have PTSD. I also have frequent nightmares. So I'm afraid to sleep." Poor Logan. I wish I could do something to help.

"Well, my secret's not as dark as others… but this is a rarity in my family: I can bake very decent cakes!" Seriously, Al? Cakes when others had PTSD?

"My dream is to find love and settle down to start a family." Logan's voice was so small. Aww. I can help with that! Huh? Did I just think that?

Silence filled the night again, letting the fire die down on its own. This was pretty intense. One by one we silently stood and headed back to our respective rooms, not wanting to break the spell of this amazing night. How on earth was I going to choose only one?

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Hope you liked this chapter ;-) sorry for the lenght, though. I couldn't stop writing, and I didn't know where to split it in two, so yeah *shrugs* ;-)

Who's your favorite Character, so far? ;-)