Chapter 37

Ray's POV

Ray dressed in one of his finer suits to see off the Italian Prime Minister and Rosalina. Ray made his way down the halls of the palace to the front doors. Rosalina was wearing a long black dress with a slit down the side to expose her tanned legs. Christian was talking quietly to Rosalina, and Ray almost wanted to go over, but he sensed the two of them didn't want to be bothered.

Ray instead joined his father by the Prime Minister, his father was in the middle of a sentence when Ray joined them, "...so I feel it was a very good visit."

"As do I Stewart, it was very beneficial, I trust our exports will increase ten-fold by the time next summer rolls around." The Prime Minister said, grinning and rocking on his heels.

Ray smiled at the fact that the Prime Minister still acted quite childlike with some of his mannerisms, but he admired it. With so much power and responsibility, to still remember to enjoy yourself was something not every world leader could afford.

King Stewart turned towards Ray, "Did you enjoy the visit?"

Ray knew this was some sort of trick, obviously he wasn't supposed to answer: No, it was stressful, and there was a rebel attack in which one of my Selected was killed.

So he smiled, and said, "Of course, it was nice catching up with Rosalina, all her social work is certainly admirable."

The Prime Minister smiled proudly, "And she organizes it all herself too, she holds many rallies and parties to promote awareness for the LGBTQ community, or well, however they call themselves now."

Ray's eye twitched, but he chuckled along with the Prime Minister and the king. Eventually a servant told them their luggage was packed in the limo to take them to the airport, so the Prime Minister bid everyone goodbye, calling for Rosalina to follow.

Rosalina hugged Christian tightly, and kissed his cheek, before whispering something, and leaving him. Christian's expression seemed pained, but he watched Rosalina approach Ray. Rosalina smile sweetly, and kissed both of Ray's cheeks before walking a step away and turning back.

"Goodbye Ray, one day when you're king, contact me, we can do wonderous social work for the world."

"Of course, until then, Rosalina," Ray said, bowing to her.

Rosalina chuckled, cast one last glance to him, then over his shoulder to where Ray assumed Christian was standing, then followed her father out of the palace.

No sooner had she left that Ray heard Christian let out a sigh. Ray turned to him, "Okay, what's the deal with you two? Why do you act so weird around her? Do you like her or something? Because I thought that you and…..well, it doesn't matter, since when were you Team Rosalina?"

Christian stiffened, "I'm not Team Rosalina, I'm my own team."

Ray scoffed, "Yeah, right, I know that look, something happened between you two."

Something flickered in Christian's eyes, but he frowned, "I don't know what to say."

Ray shook his head, "If you don't tell me, I can't help you."

"I don't need help." Christian snapped, glaring at Ray.

Ray was taken aback by Christian's tone, he'd never really gotten mad at Ray. He'd always been the one who was the nice sibling, the sibling that listened when you had a problem, the one that everyone could rely on. Maybe Christian was done being the strong one….

"Yes, you do. Now, when you're ready to talk, I'm here. But I suppose you'd rather bury your face in a book and forget about emotions until someone else notices your strange behavior, and gets yelled at for asking." Ray stated, crossing his arms.

Christian scowled, but turned away, and stalked off, leaving Ray in the middle of the empty entrance hall. Ray sighed and looked around, wondering why he'd been cursed into being born royal. He'd give anything just to be in a cozy log cabin, rather than the cold, empty halls of a too-clean palace.

Ray had another date, this time with Spencer, and he'd worked out with security the details to allow him and Spencer to go to the beach. Ray remembered how fond Spencer was of the beach, after all, the mini group date Spencer had created was all his idea.

Ray waited for Spencer by the front doors so they could go out to the limo. Ray felt odd wearing his red, sunset swim trunks, but upon seeing Spencer in his blue, palm tree swim trunks he felt better. Spencer smiled, holding up two fingers in a peace sign, and nodded.

"Spencer, hey, how are you?" Ray asked, walking with him down the front steps.

Spencer grinned, "Great! Now that I know I'm going to the beach two days this week. I really needed it last time, so this'll be nice too."

Ray smiled, "Good, I'm glad. I figured it would be good for me to get out more too."

Spencer nodded, "The beach has something for everyone, whether you just like to sit and read in the sun, or you like to surf, anyone can enjoy it."

Ray smiled again, this time softer, "I guess that's true."

Ray and Spencer talked the whole time the limo drove to the beach, and they spilled out of the limo, holding their sides laughing as they finally arrived at the beach.

"So, wait, you really said that to a teacher?" Ray asked, wiping tears from his eyes as he giggled.

"Well, yeah! But I was in high school, we all feel invincible at that age." Spencer concluded, his laughs subsiding as he looked fondly out to the sea.

Ray grabbed two towels from the limo seat, and led Spencer down to the water. Spencer stood, the water lapping at his feet, and Ray joined him, staring out at the relatively calm water. Spencer frowned, "It's a good thing we're not surfing, the water's far too calm to get any good waves."

Ray snorted, "Yeah, I'd bet, there's hardly any movement at all. You could probably only sit on the board, maybe get a nice tan."

Spencer glanced to Ray, and bit back a smile, "No offense Your Highness, but can you even tan?"

Ray gasped, feigning hurt, then shook his head, "No, actually, I burn, then go back to being pale."

Spencer snorted, "I tan, it compliments my curls."

Ray nodded, "Lucky. My curls don't get anything to compliment them, they're just kind of limp excuses of curls, no doubt they'll barely be curls by the time I get the throne."

Spencer nodded sympathetically, "Somehow I feel my curls are here to stay."

Ray chuckled, "You know, your hair was wild, and one of the things that made you stand out in the photos."

Spencer raised a brow, "Really?"

Ray nodded, "Yep, a few of you stuck out to me, and most, if not all, of you are still here."

There was a moment of silence, and Ray cleared his throat, "So, do you have any siblings?"

Spencer smiled, "Yeah, two, and a niece."

"Really? What are they like?" Ray asked.

"Well, my niece is a baby, but she's so cute. My brother is kind of a 'take life as it comes' person, and is pretty much my opposite, but he's a great guy. My sister is my twin-"

"Wait, you're a twin?" Ray asked, genuinely shocked.

"Oh, yeah, I guess I never brought it up, huh. Yeah, well, she's like me, but more extroverted, we get along probably the best out of us siblings." Spencer replied, smiling at Ray's shocked face.

Ray shook his head, "I couldn't imagine what it's like having a twin."

Spencer shrugged, "Like having any other type of sibling, you just share a birthday."

Ray hummed in thought, "I suppose of the three of us Endra is more like a twin to me than Christian."

Spencer glanced curiously to Ray, "Really?"

Ray nodded, "Yeah, Christian and I are close, but we're just not twin material, you know?"

Spencer snorted, "Yeah, I know."

Ray chuckled, and they stared out at the water before them, Spencer sighed, "Man, I wish I could really be out there."

Ray glanced over to Spencer in thought, then smirked, and shoved Spencer into the water. Spencer let out a cry of surprise as he crashed into the waves. Ray bent over in laughter, and before he could react, Spencer shot out a hand, pulling Ray into the cold water with him.

Ray cried out too as he hit the water. It was so cold, his teeth started chattering upon impact. He laughed though, and splashed Spencer in the face with water, and stood, racing back to the safety of the beach. Spencer quickly followed, laughing.

A guard stood there, and cleared his throat, "I'm sorry Your Highness, but it's time to return to the palace."

Ray sighed, but nodded, "Of course."

Spencer picked up his towel, "Hey, thanks for bringing me out here, I had a good time."

Ray smiled, "Good, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I had fun too."

The boys shared a smile, then went back to the limo, quickly drying off and stepping inside so the driver could head back.

Ray sighed happily, knowing his thoughts of keeping Spencer had been solidified by their date. Ray knew who he had to eliminate though, so he took a deep breath, and made his way to their room. To Ray's surprise he found Finn and Endra walking down the hall in his direction.

Endra noticed Ray first, and stopped walking, "Ray, what can I do for you?"

Ray took a breath, "I actually need to talk to Finn."

Something flickered in Endra's eyes, and she turned to Finn, "Can I stay here?"

"Endra I don't know if-"

"Please?" Endra asked.

Endra never used that word. Please. She must really want to stay. Ray gave a reluctant nod, and turned to Finn. Finn was unsettled by the interaction, but glanced to Ray.

Ray took a deep breath, and glanced to Finn, "Finn, I'm sorry, but I sense there's just nothing here, and I think it's clear why." Ray cast a glance to Endra who cast her gaze down to the floor. "I'm going to have to eliminate you."

"What?" Endra and Finn asked at the same time.

"Ray, no." Endra pleaded, taking a step forward, "Eliminate someone else, Finn, well, we…" she trailed off, and glanced back towards Finn.

"No, Endra. I'm sorry, Finn isn't an option for me, and well, I'm not going to eliminate someone I could marry for someone you like for a little while." Ray retorted.

Endra gasped, and her eyes started watering, but she turned to Finn, "I'm sorry, Finn, you heard him."

Finn exhaled sharply, "Endra, but, that means we can't see each other often."

Endra shook her head, "It's Ray's Selection, I can't-"

Finn turned to Ray, pleading his case, "Please, Ray, you don't even have to take me on dates, I can pretend, I can say that we do. Just let me be with Endra."

Ray glanced to Endra, who wiped away a tear, and shook his head, "No, my decision is final, I won't stop you from seeing each other, but you're no longer part of my Selection, and you can't stay here."

Finn turned ot Endra, "So I'll get a place in Angeles City, we can still see each other."

Endra shook her head, "No, I'm sorry Finn, the media will talk, we'll both be ruined; and it's not like I can sneak out every day."

Finn's face fell, "What-what are you saying?"

Ray suddenly wanted to sink into the floor. Endra had broken up with people before, but Ray had never witnessed it.

Endra let loose another few tears, "I'm sorry Finn, I can't do this. You….we…..we can't see each other anymore."

Finn let out a disbelieving laugh, "What about all the promises we made to each other? Promises for forever, that we'd find a way, and we'd get married and move to the country?"

A broken sob broke from Endra and she wiped away more tears, "I'm sorry Finn, I just, I can't."

"Endra, please, if we really love each other we can work through this."

Endra shook her head, "No! I can't, it's too much, I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I led you on, only to lead you here. I'm sorry!" Endra whirled around, and took off down the hall, and Ray turned cautiously towards Finn.

"I'm sorry Finn, a limo will be here to transport you to the airport within the hour, collect your things and say goodbye."

"There's no one for me to say goodbye to now." He replied, glaring at Ray, tears filling his eyes, silently accusing him for the breakup.

Maybe it was partially Ray's fault, but Ray had never known Endra to be in a serious relationship, he figured this was just another fleeting flirtation. Could he be wrong? Well, only time would tell.

That night at dinner, Ray stood, and some of the Selected looked curiously up at him, he cleared his throat, "Your attention please! I'd like everyone to take a look around."

He gave them a moment to observe the room, the royals, and the remaining Selected. He then smiled, "I'd like to congratulate each and every one of you, my Elite!"

There were some gasps of realization, smiles, and shocked faces. Brendan and Kara glanced to each other in seemingly genuine surprise. Jed smiled softly at Ray, and Akio and Spencer high fived each other subtly, but not subtly enough for it to go unnoticed by Ray. Ray chuckled, and lifted his glass.

"To the Elite! One of you is going to be my future spouse, and either Queen, or Prince Consort of Illea." Ray announced, "May the next few weeks be filled with good hearted competition." He drank, and the Selected drank directly after, a few of them cheered, and Ray sat back down, smiling out at his Selected; his Elite.

Hey guys! Another new chapter for you guys. I hope you enjoyed the beach date, I don't know how to write them, so it was just kind of chill. Then the elimination, oof. Endra breaking up with Finn, I wonder if it's permanent? And we're at the ELITE! We did it! Whoo! We're almost there guys, we got this. Okay, see you in the next chapter!