I DO NOT OWN THE SELECTION SERIES. SHOUT OUT TO AVA NAVA, ABIZEAU, AND NIKT WANZY FOR CREATING THESE CHARACTERS.
Schreave Palace. Province of Angeles. 3 months and 1 week into the selection.
2 days after the execution of Yesenia Avalos and the flogging of Theodore Madden and Ranamaya Bhattachan, King Maxon II and Queen Jessamine decided that they needed to continue the selection. Contrary to his belief, the king discovered that the flogging of the lovers had rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. There were already protests in Dakota and Belcourt and he didn't need or want them to spread. He needed to get the people's minds back on romance. The elites would take the first day to perform charity work as a PR stunt and then it would be right back to solo dates with Crown Princess Melody Schreave. The elites had been photographed by the media doing all sorts of charity work in an attempt to get the public's mind of off the brutal punishment they had witnessed. Princess Melody on the other hand, had stayed in her chambers, still upset over the previous days events. The severed head of Yesenia Avalos still ingrained in her mind. On the bright side, now that the whole sordid affair was over, the high alert had been lowered and everyone was free to move about the palace once again. Now that the princess was allowed relative freedom, she knew exactly what she wanted to do with it. When Nanny Alma arrived for another day of work, Melody was prepared.
"Nanny Alma, could you please take this note and give it to Noah Addington?" She asked as her nanny's eyes grew wide with excitement.
"Planning a rendezvous with your lover?" She teased as Melody blushed.
"Maybe I am and maybe I'm not." She replied in an attempt to be cheeky.
"I shall deliver it without fail." Alma replied as she took the note and quietly left the room.
Later that afternoon in the royal garden. Princess Melody was waiting patiently for Noah to arrive. Eventually, he came out of the bushes and revealed himself.
"You came!" Melody exclaimed as she embraced Noah and kissed him deeply.
"I got the note, I haven't seen you since we made love." Noah replied. "I was worried that you regretted it."
"No, I don't regret it at all." She insisted as she caressed his cheek. "I just wish that we had done it under different circumstances, like when Teddy wasn't being a douche bag." Noah sighed as he kissed her forehead.
"I understand and I am so glad that you don't regret it...but it was a big thing." Noah replied as he looked her in the eye.
"Do you?" the princess asked.
"No...but I think I need some space." the mechanic replied as Melody's heart sank.
"Why?" Melody asked as Noah rubbed his temples.
"I didn't think it would be like this." He admitted as Melody glared at him.
"Like what, having to compete with other people?" She asked incredulously. "You know that's how this works. You signed up for this!"
"No!" Noah exclaimed. "I thought I was just going to ride this out for a few weeks and get some cash to keep the lights on. I didn't think..."
"You didn't think what?" Melody asked as Noah couldn't hold it in anymore.
"I didn't think that I would fall in love with you!" He yelled as his words shocked himself and the heir to the Illèan throne.
"Noah..." Melody whispered as she reached out to touch him.
"I'm sorry Melody, I just need space." Noah said as he walked off, leaving the princess all alone in the garden.
Later that evening.
While Princess Melody was having romantic troubles, Theodore Madden and Ranamaya Bhattachan were having more serious ones. They had been allowed to share a cell and they had both been washing each other's wounds. The two were determined that they would remain together, regardless of the punishment and stigma that they now faced.
"How's your back?" Teddy asked as he held Rana's hand.
"It's a little better, how are your eyes?" Rana asked in return.
"I can see everything close up, but long distances are a challenge. I might have to get glasses or contact lenses." Teddy admitted.
"I'm so sorry." Rana replied as she kissed him tenderly. All of a sudden, their cell was unlocked by a guard.
"Listen up, for your offenses against the crown...you have been eliminated from the selection." The guard explained as the lovers rose to their feet. "I must also inform you that, for your offenses...you will be required to pay back the money you received from the crown and you will be forbidden from ever contacting each other again; under penalty of death." Teddy's and Rana's hearts sank simultaneously at this news as guards came in an drug them off separately.
"No, let me go!" Rana exclaimed as she tried desperately to get back to Teddy.
"Rana...whatever happens...I love you!" Teddy yelled as he reached out for her.
"I love you too Teddy!" Rana cried as the lovers were taken out of the dungeon and put in separate limos which would take them to separate planes and separate lives.
WILL TEDDY AND RANA EVER GET BACK TO EACH OTHER? REVIEWS NEEDED AND APPRECIATED.