I walk into the Great Room and the decorations are spectacular, Kriss is going to love it. There are light colored daisies and tulips all over the room, matching the glittery garland stranded everywhere. The string quartet is setting up and getting ready to play. A huge cake in the middle of the room causes me to salivate. Of course, since I am a photographer, I won't be getting any of it. But still, I can dream.
My camera clicks as I take a few photos of the beautifully decorated room.
Girls start to wander into the room. My black dress swooshes as I walk around taking photos of their dresses. As more girls start to come in, little groups form and their members talk light-heartedly. The room has an extremely happy atmosphere, devoid of the intensity that the Selection brings to these girls. For once, they can be friends, not competitors.
If only it weren't for Celeste.
Speaking of Celeste, she strolls in with a look on her face that seems innocent, but I catch the devious look in here eye. I scowl.
Soon, America walks in holding a violin case. She stares around in wonder and I snap a few photos of that. Her face drops or a moment when she sees the string quartet, but returns to its care-free version quickly.
She walks up to Marlee near the window sill and the two of them chirp in conversation. Marlee seems to be buzzing with excitement. America makes brief eye contact with me and I wave. She smiles and waves back.
Everyone's attention is soon drawn to the front of the room where Kriss is walking in. A few jaws drop at her floor-length gown of an elegant crème color. The Jealousy in the room is palpable. Even I'm jealous of her gown.
Celeste walks up to America and Marlee and starts talking. I make my way closer so that I can eavesdrop on their conversation.
"It was fantastic," Celeste exclaims, "Gourmet food, dramatic lighting, and the music! We flew in Tessa Tamble. You've heard of her?"
"She's my favorite!" Kriss says excitedly, joining in the conversation. I turn and walk away thinking that America is probably much better at singing than Tessa Tamble will ever be.
After about fifteen more minutes of mindless chatter, the big moment, in my opinion, has come. America, looking flustered, is pressure by her friends to play the violin. She stands in the front of the room while all the other girls take a seat. "For you," she says before beginning to play. I'm soon awestruck. Her music had been described as amazing in the book, but I never knew how much so.
Her bow glides across the sting and I marvel at the sound. When I was younger, I did violin for a few years. Let's just say in the beginning, it sounded like a screeching cat, nothing compared to the elegance coming from America's bow.
She soon finishes and the audience begins to clap. I realize I've forgotten to take pictures during her performance, darn. She looked truly astounding then.
All eyes turn from America to Maxon, who is staring dreamingly at the violin-holding girl. His eyes stay focused until it happens.
Celeste intentionally spills her drink. Kriss screams and begins to sob. Celeste gives a fake apology. Red stain's Kriss's dress and I'm tempted to cry for her. My finger slips and I accidently snap a picture. I delete it instantly.
Kriss runs out of the room with tears streaking down her cheeks, and Maxon furiously follows. I feel sincerely bad for her, and not just because Celeste poured that drink onto her dress. She's never going to actually be with Maxon, like America is.
The rest of us stand around awkwardly in the Great Room silently. Some girls start to shuffle their way out of the room and into the hall, escaping the awkwardness. Unsure of what to do, I still stay standing. It isn't until America walks fiercely out of the room after talking to Marlee do I exit. I follow her a little ways instead of going back to my room because I'm interested in how she will react. We never saw in the book how she reacts to this situation immediately after.
It doesn't take her long to realize that I'm following her. This was an idiot idea of mine to follow, because America probably isn't very happy right now, she'll think I'm a stalker.
She whips around. "What are you doing?" she yells. I cringe inwardly before answering.
"I th-thought you might need somebody to talk to."
"Come back when you don't have that camera!" she screeches. I turn to walk away and leave her alone when I hear a sigh.
"No," she says, sounding defeated, "stay, please. Sorry, Celeste just makes me so angry."
I give her an understanding smile. "I completely understand, I used to be her photographer. Not fun times."
She laughs. "I can't even imagine. She needs to be out of here, I don't know how long the country would survive with a queen like that." I nod my head in agreement.
"If only she weren't so mean to the other girls," I foreshadow, thinking of how Celeste actually turns nice. Her transformation seemed like one of those 80's teen movies.
"I'm telling Maxon about her tomorrow," America states. I purse my lips, unsure what to say.
"Of course he needs to know, but since it's kind of late don't just rant off at him," I suggest.
She scrunches her eyebrows, thinking. "But he'll listen to me, because I'm his friend." I choke back a laugh and have to cover my face with my hand. Just his 'friend'. Yeah right.
She looks alarmed. "Is it that obvious?" she exclaims.
"I'm your photographer, I see all," is how I answer.
"I guess that's true," she laughs. I laugh along with her. Our stress leaks out as we laugh hysterically at something that wasn't even that funny. America has been feeling really high strung most of the time and needs to relax a bit.
Her face suddenly goes serious. "He'll listen to me because he trusts me. He should trust me." I sigh.
"If Maxon hated Celeste as much as you do, then she would clearly be gone already. He must like her at least a little, so if you go on saying bad things about her, he might get really angry." She looks to think this through before stiffening her gaze.
"I'm doing is anyways," she states sternly.
"I expected nothing less," I say. Stubborn America is being stubborn, no surprise.
"I should probably get back to my room," America says. I agree and as we part ways, I wonder. Even if I do attempt to change the story line, will it? Or is it unchangeable, set in stone? I'm tempted to do an experiment, a small one. I'm not sure when or how but it seems like a good idea, as long as I don't royally mess anything up.
Still walking down the halls, I hear crying from one of the door ways. I lean against that door and eavesdrop. My curiosity is overwhelming.
"She didn't mean to," sniffle, "do it," a feminine voice says.
"I know, Kriss. But you did have a good time, right? America sang for you and you ate some good food," the calm voice of Maxon explains.
The crying stops for a moment. "Yeah, you're right."
I hear shuffling movements and silently jump away from the door then speed-walk down the hall, far away from their moment.
Last Friday, after a few months of social isolation(online school) I went to the local high school for a writing club. I was early, so I sat in the library and read for about ten minutes. Keep in mind, I went to the middle school and would have gone to that high school if I hadn't moved.
Now, of course, the first person who saw me and started talking to me was one of my old crushes! The one that I happened to name a guy character after in this fanfiction. As in, I used his name for this fanfiction because I thought it was a rather… nice name.
Needless to say, I was quite awkward whilst he was so chill. Then, when I had to leave abruptly for the club, he was all confused. That was not how I expected my day to go.
I thought I'd share a little story with you about my life that can somehow relate to this fanfiction.
ARoseAndrews: I KNOW RIGHT! It's completely frustrating! The entire book while reading it I just wanted to slap him. Ugh. Also, thank you! :)
Ilona18: I kinda fixed # 1 and 2. In this chapter I actually wanted to have Sky comfort Kirss but that would be awkward and Maxon was already doing a pretty good job. And, oh yes, expect mischief.
TwinkleTwinkleHaHa: Let me start off by saying your name is amazing. Anyways, yea, that's a good idea. I would like to learn more about their lives. After the caning, Marlee will be down in the kitchen, so maybe some worthy Sky-Marlee chat time there.
EuriteAbnegationMockingjay: Thanks!
Question of the week:
On a scale of chocolate cake to cactus needs in your eyes, how much of an evil b**** is Celeste in the Selection/the Elite? Get creative with these responses.
As always, thanks for reading, I will (most likely) see you next Monday!