Chapter 7
Jolene heard the whispers as she walked by. "She eliminated 10 people!" It was only the first meetings, and she'd eliminated 10 people, it was true, only 25 remained, practically halfway to the Elite. It was harsh to some, but logical to her. If they didn't make a good impression, or at least seem decent, how could she ever have a future with them? Besides, she needed these boys to know she was serious about this if she was going to do this.
She sat at the head of the dinner table, she was wearing leather pants with a tight red tank top and leather jacket. She wore dramatic red lipstick and dark eyeliner, and her hair was curled, ironically framing her face like an angel's aura. Marcus was holding back a laugh at the nervous looks on the Selected's faces. Jolene shot Marcus a glare, and turned to the servant who was placing the first plate to her, nodding.
She turned to the Selected and stood, clasping her hands together in front of her. "Gentleman, as you are now aware, I have no intention of taking this Selection lightly. I am not one to dally about. You are here to win my heart, I am here to find someone to marry per the rules of ascending the throne. If I find you a match, then I will consider the Selection over, and if we fall in love, that's just a bonus."
There was silence as the Selected glanced at each other, unsure about how to take the news that the Princess was essentially using them as a tool to climb the throne. Jolene nodded, about to sit down when Rustin raised his hand. She was surprised.
"Er, yes?"
Rustin lowered his hand, looking around at the others, "Yeah, uh, so what if none of us fall in love either?"
Jolene blinked. "Oh. Well, I guess then I'll choose whoever would be the best work partner, granted you also agree to the workload you'd be taking on."
Rustin grimaced, and the others avoided both his and Jolene's gaze. Jolene sighed, "But," she looked to her fathers, Brendan was staring intensely at his drink, probably wishing it was bigger. Ray was rubbing at his temple. "I'd like to think that maybe, just maybe I could find love like my parents have."
Both Brendan and Ray looked up at her, then at each other, smiling softly. Jolene turned back to the boys, "But for now, know that I will be closely guarding my heart." The boys slowly nodded, leaning back in their seats more. "But congratulate yourselves for no being one of the 10 eliminated, you've made it into the Selection."
Some of the boys raised glasses in a toast and tossed the drinks back. Others began lifting forks to their mouths. Jolene sat again, slowly digging into her own food. Lord help her, these boys were just learning about her personality, this would be a rough journey.
Jolene was sitting in on the first etiquette lessons the boys were having. She didn't think they would have this much trouble. They were just trying to stand! All they had to do was stand still with correct posture for 15 minutes straight. That was on the short end of the requirements during royal life!
Everytime a Selected slouched or left the correct position the whole group had to restart. Hence the growing resentment towards each other in the hot hall. Jolene sighed as another "Restart!" was called out by Ian.
"I think they need a break, Mr. Miller." Jolene called out, Ian looked to her, then nodded.
"10 minutes! Then you're back in line or it's a lap around the castle!" Ian declared, and the Selected sighed in relief, some immediately sitting on the floor, not caring about proprietary or dirt or anything else.
Ian walked over to Jolene and she sighed, glancing out across the sea of boys. "So?" She began, "Who do you think needs the most work?"
Ian hummed, "Probably the 4's, 6's, and 7's."
"Fours?" Jolene asked, surprised, she hadn't expected that.
"Yes, while many of them are in business, a good deal are average workers and never need proper posture or etiquette." Ian replied, grimacing. He turned back to Jolene, "On the bright side, you have some very promising young men. Sirs Alexander, Chad, Leander, Auden and Rhys are all very polite. Granted in different ways, but considering the vast differences in background, I'm pleasantly surprised."
Chad? He'd seemed too relaxed, so carefree, she supposed his family must've been one to attend many formal events if he knew how to behave. As for Rhys, being a Seven she hadn't expected him to know very much, so either he had a refined childhood, or he was keen to listen and repeat, and either was possible.
"The rest definitely need work, but I'm hoping to whip them into top shape soon enough. After all, the Crown Princess deserves someone who knows etiquette like the back of his hand." Ian continued, smirking at her.
Jolene rolled her eyes, "As long as they don't find a way to ruin every event they go to, I don't care if they wear underwear and dance backwards."
Ian chuckled, and clapped his hands, calling the attention of the boys. "Time to get back to work!" The boys groaned, but got back in line, and Jolene huffed a laugh as she walked to the doors. She had work to do, but she glanced over at the boys again. Her eyes raced over them, catching on Elias's gaze. He offered her a smile, and she smiled back quickly before ducking out into the hallway.
Jolene zipped up her leather jacket, well, her entire outfit was leather, but she made her way to her bike, and her hands grazed over it. She hadn't been out riding in a while, far too long for comfort. Even though it had likely only been a week or two. She sat on the bike, but when she tried to start the engine, it sputtered and stopped.
Jolene sat back, groaning, "Come on, really?" She got off the bike, and examined it closely. She saw a loose belt as a result of missing bolts. How had that happened? She rolled her eyes, this is why she didn't let Damon use her stuff. She went to the workbench and searched through boxes of bolts.
Eventually she found a few that would fit, and reattached them. After the last bolt made a satisfying creak saying it was tight enough, she sat up and tossed the wrench to the side. She got back on the bike, and turned on the engine. The bike roared to life, and she smiled.
"There we go, good job." Jolene murmured.
A voice called over the noise, "I hope you plan on wearing a helmet with that."
Jolene looked to see who'd spoken, it was Martin, the Selected with the dog. However, the dog was nowhere in sight, and Martin's eyes were fixed on her. He walked closer, and she smirked, revving the engine.
"I always wear a helmet." She nodded to the pouch on the side of the bike. "Besides, I'm a good driver."
Martin grimaced, "And so was every biker accident I'd ever attended." That's right. The EMT.
Jolene looked away, clearing her throat, "I do wear helmets, promise. Here-" she pulled the helmet out and clipped it on. Then she pulled out another, tossing it to Martin. "Put this on, I'll show you the fun side of motorcycles."
Martin looked to the helmet, then her, and slowly put it on. He sat on the bike behind Jolene, placing his hands beside him to clutch the seat. Jolene snorted, "Look, I appreciate the chivalry, but you need to put your arms around my waist to stay on."
She looked over her shoulder, and Martin slowly wrapped his arms around her, scooting closer. "Now, hold on tight, I like to go fast."
Martin paled, "But not too fast, right?"
Jolene laughed, revving the engine again and releasing the brake. The bike sped off, and Jolene smiled at the immediate rush of cool wind against the hot Angeles day. Martin clung even tighter to her as she sped up, and she had to chuckle at the idea of him being so frightened of the bike. Yes, he knew the damage they could do, but she knew that she would be taking back roads, less likely to be around big traffic areas.
She knew exactly where she wanted to go. She turned corner after corner, minutes seemed to stretch into hours, and eventually Martin's grip loosened a bit, and he sat up to observe the scenery around them. The city was giving way to large forests and grassy areas.
Eventually they pulled into a nature preserve, hiking trails, but she turned down a small road that led to a cliff. She stopped a while before the cliff, but enough where they wouldn't have to walk very far. Jolene took off her helmet and set it on the seat, and Martin followed suit. She walked to the cliff's edge, standing about a foot back, and closed her eyes, allowing the sounds and air to surround her.
It was so nice being out of the castle. Sometimes it seemed to suffocate her, being there, doing all that work. She knew it was her duty, and she would never give it up, but something about riding her bike out here was so freeing.
Jolene turned to see Martin still trying to gain balance after getting off the bike. His legs had gotten used to sitting and riding. Jolene laughed, and he walked over to the edge as well, sitting down in the dirt. Jolene tapped the ground around her, satisfied it was safe, then sat, swinging her legs over the edge of the cliff. She looked to Martin, "So, Martin, tell me, what's your story?"
Martin raised a brow, picking up a rock beside him. "Well, there's not much to say. My mom is a doctor and dad's a nurse, heck, my entire family is in the medical field in one way or another. I always knew I wanted to be a part of it. I'm currently trying to get into medical school, but working as an EMT until then. I have a beautiful niece and a wonderful dog. Experienced some nasty stuff, and now I have nightmares and attacks."
Jolene frowned, she didn't want to risk bringing up anything awful, so she took a breath and smiled, "Med school? Do you know what you want to specialize in?"
Martin smiled at this, leaning back on his hands, "No, not yet, either emergency room or psychiatry."
Jolene raised her brows in surprise, "Those are two very different things."
Martin shook his head, "Not really, the way I see it, both are very important. Emergency rooms require calm and collection in the face of an emergency. And psychiatry requires calm and collection in the face of someone who feels they can never have that sort of calm themselves. We get them treatment, or sometimes give them treatment ourselves. Rather than talk about problems, we help them find an immediate solution."
Jolene hummed in thought, staring at a rock on the ground. Martin cleared his throat, "But I'm sure you're more worried about your own work."
"No!" Jolene looked up, "No, sorry, I just- I just get distant when I think sometimes. I was considering what you'd said."
Martin smiled softly, "Thanks, but, what about you?"
Jolene frowned, 'What about me?"
Martin shrugged, "What do you wanna do?"
Jolene scoffed, "I don't really have much of a choice. Become Queen, take on my father's workload, do my best to run this entire country."
Martin was quiet, watching her carefully, flipping a rock over in his hand, "You always have a choice." Jolene looked up to him again, waiting for him to elaborate. "Besides, I'm sure whoever you choose in the Selection will help you with the workload if you let them."
Not if they ask- if you let them. That was how he phrased it. And in that moment Jolene had never felt so shocked and vulnerable around a stranger. He'd known her for all of a day, not even- and he had analyzed that part of her already? Perhaps he was supposed to be a psychiatrist.
Jolene stood suddenly, looked away, "I think we need to head back."
Martin sighed, and tried to stand, but as he reached almost full height, the ground beneath him shifted. Both of them gasped, and Jolene's hand reached out to grab him close to her as he lurched forward. A small patch of rock and dirt fell away and down the cliff.
Jolene sighed in relief, but noticed that Martin's chest nearly brushed her nose. He smelled like a freshly finished shower, it was quite an interesting smell and she was perhaps most shocked he didn't wear one of the obnoxious colognes the palace provided. She jumped back, and bit her lip. Snickerdoodle, Sugar, Double Chocolate-
"Thank you."
Jolene turned back to Martin, and nodded, "Of course, can't have my Selected just falling off of cliffs."
"At least we know our survival instincts work." Martin replied, walking towards the bike. Jolene chuckled and followed closely. Martin grabbed his helmet and Jolene took hers. They climbed onto the bike, and Jolene started it up, revving the engine before speeding off, Martin's arms wrapped around her tightly again.
Jolene parked the bike, and Martin slowly got off, his legs uneasy again as he took off the helmet. Jolene took her helmet off, and fluffed her hair. She loved the feeling the wind gave it after a ride. Martin set the helmet in the bag, and turned to her.
"I'm going to go check on Luna, thank you for the afternoon." Martin hurried off, and Jolene watched him go, leaning against the handlebars.
She didn't want to get attached to the Selected, especially ones with outside ambitions, but today had been nice. Would this count as a date? She hadn't considered it one when she was out, and they didn't kiss or anything. But, then again, she didn't exactly let go of him as soon as he was safe from the ledge. She'd noticed his scent, and she had identified it with him. She scowled and got off the bike.
What was she doing? She wasn't supposed to be liking any of these boys. They were Selected, intruding on her home and time, and she wasn't going to let them cloud her judgement. She wanted to be Queen, she had to be. And partner or not, the country would rely on her. If you let them….Martin's words were still ringing throughout her head, and she sighed. She hated to acknowledge that he was right….so she wouldn't. Why did it matter if she did things alone? And it certainly wasn't for him to tell her how to run her future.
She shoved the helmet into the bag and marched inside. Her boots squeaked on the waxed floors, and another voice called to her, Marcus. She turned her attention to her cousin on the floor above her, gazing down at her from the overhang.
"Yo! Captain Red! Get up here and tell me the tea! Were you out with that gorgeous genius?" Marcus called down to her.
Jolene rolled her eyes as she climbed the stairs, unzipping her jacket. Now that she wasn't riding, it was much hotter. She was glad she was wearing a tank top underneath. "Can you maybe not refer to all my Selected as a different type of sexy?"
"At least he's not 'musical twink', that's Danny by the way." Marcus replied offhandedly.
Jolene snorted, and coughed, if she had a drink she surely would've choked on it. "Marcus!"
"What?!"
"Oh my god, yes, I was out with him, but I don't really think it was a date." Jolene answered, "There, happy?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because you didn't give. me. details!" He got louder with each word, shaking her, and plopping her down on the little couch there. "Spill!"
Jolene sighed, folding her jacket on her lap. "I told you, there's not much. We talked briefly on his past, then I asked what type of medical profession he wanted. Then he read me way too easily, and when we went to leave he lost his footing, and well I…."
"Yes?!" Marcus asked, leaning forward, eyes bright.
"I just pulled him away from the edge."
Marcus groaned dramatically, "Jo, I love ya, but you seriously need to get a more spicy life. What tea am I supposed to get from this? It's bland!"
Jolene rolled her eyes, "You're not going to hear everything about my Selection."
"Bet."
"I'm serious!"
"Did you even kiss?" Marcus asked, exasperated.
"What? No!" Jolene replied, a slight blush creeping into her cheeks.
Marcus gasped, "No! But you totally thought about it!" He squealed and shoved her, "Oh my god! Why didn't you?"
"Marcus! I can't just be kissing the guys left and right!" Jolene whispered harshly, looking around for potential listeners.
"Why not? It's your Selection! Sleep with every single one of them if you want!" Marcus shouted, waving his arms. Jolene blushed even more, trying to shush him. "Who cares if you kiss someone?"
Jolene groaned, "I do!"
Marcus blinked, "Girl, what? You always ask me what it's like flirting overseas. It's like this. I pick one person, flirt with them for a while, get a kiss, maybe more-" he winked, and Jolene wrinkled her nose, "then we go on about our separate ways."
"But- I'm just- I'm worried, Marcus. What happens if I actually end up liking one of these guys? I can't do that."
Marcus stared at her like she was crazy, and maybe she was, she couldn't explain her fear of falling in love, but, she hoped he might at least try to talk it out with her. "What does that even mean?"
"I can't- I can't rely on another person, feel like without someone I'd be incomplete. I can't let myself fall for someone and suddenly they're my world, when I have such a bigger world to take care of." Jolene replied, moving her hair to cover her face.
Marcus sighed, "Look, Jolene, falling in love isn't easy, it's odd, and confusing, and hurts sometimes, but being in love is also really, really nice. It may not be your whole world, but it will be an important part, and you'll have to work to find the balance that works best for the two of you. And you wouldn't be reliant on them, come on, I know you, you wouldn't be even if you thought you were."
Jolene chuckled dryly, "I guess. Thanks." She stood, and Marcus grabbed her hand.
"It'll be okay."
Jolene only nodded as she walked away. It would be okay. She hoped more than anything that he was right.
Hello everyone! I have another HSC chapter for you! Whooo! So, we have smaller scenes in a larger chapter. So, Jolene talking to Ian about the guys who are absolute wrecks so far, we'll see how quickly they learn lolll. Then a small...date? Maybe? Jolene isn't sure and neither am I. But then we have some cousin time! Possibly my favorite pair of people in this story, they're so chaotic. Welp, let me know what you think!
See you in the next chapter~!
