Hey everyone! There are a few more chapters of this story left so pleae, I put up a new poll for you to vote on! I'd like your opinion on who should win the Selection and I would let some ideas for boy names for Pierce and his future wife's son! Thanks! Here's the chapter!

POVs...

Pierce, Calista

CHAPTER FIFTY ONE: ROSES ARE RED

Pierce

I'm walking toward Calista' room, totally worn out from all the days I was told to get myself in line by girls wanting to leave and all of the days that rebels knocked on our doors wanting to ruin everything. I really wanted a break. And Calista seemed to be the perfect person to help me forget everything.

"Prince Pierce?" She asked when I knocked on her door. She was wearing a knee length blue dress and flats. I hadn't thought that she'd have somewhere to go. Or maybe she didn't have somewhere to go. Maybe she was just getting ready for dinner earily.

"Hi Lady Calista," I smiled.

"Calista is fine by me you know," she said opening the door up more for me to come in. I nodded, "Then Pierce is fine by me."

We were both silent. I find it hard to believe that after weeks of the girls being here, I still knew next to nothing about any of them. How was I going to get to know them and choose one in the next week or so?

"I'm sorry," I murmured and she looked up at me, "About all of this. It's crazy. I hadn't even expected there to be rebels attacking us during the Selection. We haven't had a threat like this for...I don't know, forever. I felt that it was hard to believe that they'd come after me."

She came and sat next to me on her bed. She smiled, "I don't think any of the girls here blame you Pierce. You didn't know. It's not your fault at all."

"I guess," I muttered and she took my hand.

"How about we do something," she said and I frowned.

"Do something?" She rolled her eyes at me and got up. I followed her. She spoke, "Do something, like go on a walk, or watch a movie. I mean, isn't it your job to ask me out on dates? How come I'm doing it?"

"I have no clue."

She only giggled and walked out of her bedroom. I had nothing to do but follow.

Calista

Pierce followed me, though it wasn't as if I thought he wouldn't. I hoped he liked me. I knew he liked Janis, and Audrey and probably every other girl here, but I really hoped he liked me. I really wanted to be the one, even if it meant having hard times. I saw the way his father looked at his mother. And I saw the way Pierce looked at them. He wanted t o be like them. And honestly, so did I.

He caught up to me eventually. He took my hand in his, which, because of my feelings, made my heart flutter with joy. I looked at him, only to notice him staring at me.

"What?" I asked, realizing that I don't remember ever having a boy look at me the way he was looking at me. He shrugged, "I don't know, your pretty, that's all."

He said pretty like he really meant to say something else. What did he actually mean? Gorgeous? Beautiful? Ugly even? I hoped I didn't look ugly. Maybe he didn't mean ugly. Maybe he meant unique. That was a better way of saying things, right?

I brushed my hair behind my hair and sighed. Whatever, it wasn't like it mattered.

He put his hand on my shoulder and I winced, turning suddenly. Gosh I hated that. I hated when people snuck up on me. It freaked me out, even if I knew he was there, and probably knew he'd do that.

He noticed my flinch immediately and took his hand off. I found it strange that when his hand left my shoulder, I shivered a little, like I missed it even though it hadn't been on there long. I usually hated people touching me. My father would sneak up behind me and startle me, same with my brother. How come when he did I all I felt was honor or pleasure?

As we walked I noticed Janis walking with a book in her hand. Pierce didn't notice, he just glanced out the window. He was very oblivious. I liked that.

When I looked at Janis, I had just then realized, how many girls were left. Selected were dropping like flies, and part of me worried that I'd be next. What if this date thing went terribly and he hated me after it? We passed the library Janis was in front of and stepped outside into the autumn air. What if I turned out like autumn? She's wasn't in the castle anymore. Neither was Jestelle, or Ria, or any of those girls who had been there before.

I hadn't even realized that I had started crying until Pierce looked at me and his eyes widened.

"Calista are you okay?" He asked rushing to my side.

That made me cry more.

"Am I going to turn out like them Pierce?" I cried and he frowned, "Like who?"

"Like them! Like the other Selected. Like Saisha and Sara and Scarlett and everyone else! Am I going to be eliminated?" I was crying full on now and he was staring at me, like he either couldn't believe I was crying, couldn't believe I was saying these things, or couldn't believe I was crying over these things. If this didn't make him want to kick me out, then I didn't know what would. Maybe, hopefully, nothing would. Maybe I was just what he needed. A fresh breathe of crazy town.

"Calista what are you talking about? What have you ever done to think you'd be eliminated?" He asked, confusion clear on his face. I swallowed. I didn't know what to tell him. I had expected something different to come out of his mouth. I hadn't even expected the typical answer to something like what I'd said.

"I-I..." My voice was breaking, broken, I wasn't even sure, and I was a giant mess.

We were sitting on a bench now, only because I had forced myself to walk towards it and sit. And that forced him to do the same. He was staring at me. Those intense crystal blue eyes. They reminded me of the sky at times. Crystal breaking skies, probably from all of the pressure. I sighed.

"I don't want to leave Pierce. I know that sounds really creepy and weird, but I don't. I really, really like you," I said and put my head in my hands. He wrapped his arms around me, surprising myself and probably himself too.

"I like you a lot too Calista. And I don't want you to leave."

Yet. I didn't once hear that word slip form his mouth. I was waiting for it. He had to get rid of me sometime didn't he?

But that word. Yet, didn't come. And soon I fell asleep on the bench in the dark afternoon autumn air. In Prince Pierce's arms.

Thank you all for reading and reviewing and being wonderful! Please tell me what you thought of the chapter! Thanks again and I hope you all have had a great time since I last updated. Sorry for the kind of late update, I've been busy.

Questions:

Did you like this chapter?

Did anyone realize the connection?! In the chapter it says something about Crystal Skies!

Thanks again, again and I hope you guys have a sparkly day! Keep on rocking! And stuff...

P.S. wish me good luck I have an orchestra concert tomorrow! :3