Fun fact: I'm half Italian but have never visited nor speak Italian.

Oh yeah, and there is a new cover for this story. I made it with my bad photoshopping skills.


Photo #25: The Lady and Her Tramp

Eadlyn grew up with many different movies. Most of the movies the palace's cinema had consisted of sappy romances which didn't please her at all (especially when the romance was over-played and cliché). Now that she's in the middle of her own Selection, she's supposed to - or expected to - find a story similar to any love story out there, but more importantly, similar to her parents. With that pressure riding on one shoulder and her mother's current state on the other, she finds it hard to concentrate without her mind entering a whirlwind of emotions.

She looks at the next photo which causes the corner of her mouth to rise a little. Her parents are young and playing with one of the most over-used romantic gestures. The photo takes place in Italy. Her parents sit across from each other at a small, circular dining table right at the bottom of The Leaning Tower of Pisa. On their table was a satin red table cloth with a basket of sliced baguettes, a plate of spaghetti, and a small candle set. Her parents share the plate of spaghetti, specifically a certain noodle. One end is in her mother's mouth and the other is in her father's.

Eadlyn realizes that her parents aren't doing that for the cameras or even for each other, but for fun. They love each other so much that they can be immature without worrying about their public image (in fact, that got the public to like them more).

The photo was cut out of a newspaper with the headline, 'The Lady and Her Tramp'. Eadlyn knows her father isn't anywhere near the dictionary definition of a tramp, but she understands the angle the newspaper was playing at.

-o-

King Maxon and Queen America were visiting Italy to discuss the import and export relationship between the two countries. Lucky for them, Italy was already an important ally to Illéa and Queen Nicoletta was rather fond of America during Maxon's Selection. The two women have kept in touch ever since and when time came for this meeting, Nicoletta opened her palace doors for the royal couple. Although Nicoletta's kitchen staff was already the best of Italy, Maxon and America requested one night out in the town. Nicoletta couldn't refuse their request, so she made the arrangements herself.

"Italy is so beautiful," America comments from their dinner table.

Maxon smiles as he hears his wife sigh heavily out of pleasure. A light breeze from their outdoor table brushes against them, making the night a tad more chilly, but still bearable.

"And the food is amazing," America adds, beaming at the pasta and bread set before her. "We need to get our chef to make our food like this."

"Whatever you want, my dear," Maxon says.

America takes a deep breath. "You know what this reminds me of?"

"What?"

"A movie I watched this one time as a kid. It had these two dogs - a boy and a girl - and I remember them eating spaghetti."

Maxon laughs. "Dogs eat spaghetti?"

America holds back a smile, realizing how ridiculous that sounds. She wipes her mouth with a napkin and takes a quick sip of water before getting back to her point.

"Anyways," America continues. "It was the middle of the night and they were eating spaghetti from one plate. Everything was romantic, the stars were shining - it was beautiful. While they we eating, they avoided eye contact, until they ended up sharing a noodle, and they accidentally kissed."

America gushes as Maxon scrunches his eyebrows. She nods her head as she shakes his.

"That is the weirdest thing I have ever heard," Maxon comments.

"It was romantic," America argues. "C'mon, let's try it."

"No."

"Please, Maxon," America reaches across their table and takes his hand with both of her. She looks at him with pleading eyes and Maxon looks away, knowing he won't be able to stay resistant to those blue orbs.

"Alright, fine."

America claps her hands together excited as Maxon sits back in his chair. She cleverly uses two forks and twirls the pasta around at once. Maxon takes one fork and she has the other. Both of them take a bite at the same time and see the single noodle stretched out between their two mouths. America laughs a little and Maxon is a bit surprised that this actually worked (also, he's impressed). In one fluent motion, America pounces forwards to kiss him. He smiles wildly, taking her into his arms.

Sure, there weren't any wild paparazzi to spoil their night (nor would Nicoletta have let them gone out alone without any kind of security), but all pictures taken by peeping reporters were sure to hit the papers the next morning.


If there are any mistakes, I am sorry for a multitude of reasons: it's late at night and I'm tired, my laptop is almost done updating, and I'm not wearing my glasses.

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