Hey Guys. I can't believe that this story has been going on for this long and that so many people are actually reading it. Anyways remember to comment and I hope you enjoy the story.

Chapter 18

AMERICA

I guide Emily's hand across the paper. When she walked in all she wanted was a pencil so she could color. Her hands are small and clammy, like most little kids.

"I knew you still loved Maxon," she says in a whisper.

"Really?" I take a glance at Maxon who's standing awkwardly, looking at the pictures on the walls.

"Yeah. Every time we talked about him during class you would tense up. It's what mommy does when I ask about my dad," she says. I smile down at her. She is much more clever than I give her credit for. I touch one of her brown ringlets of hair around her face. The corners of her tiny lips twitch a little like she's trying not to smile. I turn to look at Maxon who's looking at us with a grin plastered on his face. He blushes when he sees me look at him and holds out a painting. I stand and walk over to him, leaving Emily to draw by herself.

"Whose is this?" he asks. The painting is of a horse and a horse trainer with bright red curls. I squint at the name in the corner, then I figure whose it is.

"My father painted that when I was little," I say. I point at the trainer. "I wanted to be a horse rider when I was younger. Obviously I couldn't but I was so sad so my dad painted this. I watched while he painted it and he said 'art will let you be anything and everything. You can be an ordinary artist or you can be a chef, teacher or even a horse rider.' I brought it here to remember that." Tears start to spring in my eyes as Maxon pulls me to his chest.

"I'm sorry I know how much you loved him," he whispers into my hair. I nod into his chest, inhaling his scent. I pull back and smile up at him.

"I'm sorry I don't mean to be so emotional." I wipe at my eyes with the backs of my hands.

"It's okay not to be over his death. After all the aftermath of it wasn't the best," he says stroking my hair. I look into his chocolate eyes and say something I never meant to say.

"I love you." He sucks in a breath and I cover my mouth. "I'm so sorry I never meant to say that. I'm so sorry." He looks frantically around. I turn and see that Emily has disappeared somewhere.

"Where's Em-" I roughly pull his mouth on mine. Emily would be fine playing with the other kids outside. She left to give us privacy not to make us search for her.

Maxon responds late but when he does it's with a force he's never used before. If I didn't like it so much I might say that it hurts but it doesn't. He whispers my name against my lips before pushing me back against the wall.

"I love you America Singer," he gasps into my ear before walking to the other side of the classroom. I'm left gasping and clutching my chest. That was so random and unexpected but amazing at the same time.

"What are we doing?" I ask in a low voice. His back is to me but I can recognize the shake of his head. It's not like we can end up together. He has Kriss and a kingdom to look after.

"I know but the kingdom and Kriss would do better if I wasn't constantly thinking about you," he replies. I didn't realize that I said that out loud. He turns to face me, leaning against the opposite wall. "When I'm not with you, you are all I think about. I think everyone is starting to notice. I don't just love you; I need you."

"I-I-"

"If you say that you need more time I'm not listening. I gave you time. I proposed. I am ready for you but I will not wait for you to fall in love with Ben. I fell for you that first night. I should've proposed after our first kiss but you needed time. I would've proposed before that. I can't keep waiting for you. As much as I need you, I need reassurance as well and if you won't give tha-"

"Be quiet," I say so softly I'm surprised he could hear. "I know I made you wait but I didn't know. I was coming off heartbreak. I waited for you too. I would've married you that day on the roof. I was ready to marry you that last day. You were the one who didn't understand. I'm not saying I won't do it," I add quickly when I see his face fall. "I just need reassurance too."

"He looks straight into my eyes when he says, "If that's what you need that's what you'll get."

ASPEN

Lucy carefully unbuttons my shirt with the hands of an expert. "You do this like you've done it before," I comment. She pauses while she presses her head to my chest and giggles. She did this a lot. I loved the feel of her laughing against me and the sound of her laugh. It was moments like these when I wondered what I saw in America. I mean America is perfect and secretly beautiful but Lucy… I can't even begin to explain how Lucy makes me feel. It's like I wasn't living until she came around. It hasn't been long since we've become physical with each other but I'm glad we waited. She is worth waiting a million years for and I would wait all over again for Lucy.

"What are you thinking about?" she asks. I look and see that my shirt has been discarded and is laying on the floor. I give her a quick peck on the lips before grinning at her.

"You are so beautiful." She whacks my shoulder but blushes. I pull her lips to mine.

No more clothes come off, even as the kiss deepens. I could kiss her lips all day without getting bored. The kiss is consuming so much of my energy that I don't hear the door open. I start to push her sleeves off of her shoulder when I hear a throat being cleared. I pull away from Lucy hastily and look to where the sound came from.

Maxon is standing in the doorway looking very awkward. I look over at Lucy who is staring at Maxon in shock. Her lips are swollen and her hair is pulled out of her usual bun and hanging messily at her hips.

"Your Highness, we can explain," she says holding her hands up. Her voice quivers and tears form in her eyes. I know what she scared of. Marlee was whipped and stripped of her caste. There was no news about her since she left. She could've died for all we knew.

"There is no need. I just had to talk to Officer Leger for a few minutes. Miss Lucy, is it? Could I borrow him for a few minutes? I promise I will return him so you can continue your…activity," Maxon says with a smirk on his face. I breath out a sigh of relief. I don't bother grabbing my shirt from the ground as I follow him into the bathroom. He starts to laugh as soon as the door is closed.

"You should've seen your face when I walked in," he says gasping. I whack his shoulder. He straightens up and faces me.

"Well?" I ask. He came here for something didn't he.

"I'm going to marry America but I need your help," he says. We hear a gasp from outside and I go to the door. Lucy stumbles into the room. She starts to blush. She's so cute with her half unbuttoned shirt, messy hair and barefeet. It also makes her shorter. She stares at us with wide eyes.

"If you are going to make a plan to marry her you'll need my help," she says.

Guys it's a long chapter. Yay. And I know that a while ago people were asking about Aspen and Lucy so here they are. I hope you liked it. I know the past few chapters have been so boring but I'm upping my game. Who do you think will win America's heart? Happy Reading!