I DO NOT OWN THE SELECTION SERIES. SHOUT OUT TO AVA NAVA AND NIKT WANZY FOR CREATING THESE CHARACTERS.

Schreave Palace. Province of Angeles. 1 month and 1 week into the selection.

Teddy Madden had just finished breakfast with the other selected. Now that there were only 12 selected remaining in the competition, the gender segregation had been uplifted and everyone was allowed to take their meals together. Teddy ate a majority of his meals with Rana. On this particular day, she had been telling him a story about a mountain she had climbed near Salt Lake City. To his surprise, teddy was actually interested. Maybe it was just the way she told it.

After the morning meal had finished, Teddy wrote to his parents as he usually did every few days or so. After he gave the letter to a servant to have it mailed, he saw crown Princess Melody Schreave hugging her nanny goodbye as she went into the game room. The thought of the princess being a legal adult at 18 years old and still having a full time babysitter baffled Teddy to no end. She still acted like such a sheltered little girl, he shuddered to think of what might happen if King Maxon II and Queen Jessamine died before she did. Someone people were just born to be leaders and Melody Schreave was not one of them. Against his better judgement, Teddy decided to join the princess in the game room. He found her setting up a game of chess.

"Are you planning to play by yourself?" he asked as she looked up at him with a small smile.

"It is not like I have not played myself before." Melody replied as she finished setting up the pieces. "My mother and father are always too busy with matters of state to play with me and I can not bring myself to play with nanny Alma."

"Why not?" Teddy inquired.

"She is simply no good at it." she replied with a giggle. "Every time that I do challenge her to a game of chess, I simply wipe the floor with her. Her spirit is willing, but her flesh is weak." Teddy groaned as the scripture quote but decided to keep his mouth shut.

"Can I try my hand?" he asked as Melody motioned for him to sit down.

"Hopefully, you can provide me with more of a challenge." she replied as the two began to play. Melod had just had to elminate another selected: Samson Polk from Atlin, so she was grateful for the distraction. True to his word, Teddy was a better player than Alma and he eventually defeated his opponent. The princess took her loss in stride, but Teddy was thinking of how it would amuse Rana to hear that he had beat the princess at chess.

"Good game Theodore, you sure gave me a run for my money." Melody said.

"Oh, sorry, what was that?" Teddy asked.

"Didn't you hear me?" the princess giggled.

"No, I heard you, I just wasn't listening." the student replied as Melody's face fell. She was used to such rudeness from her mother and father, but to take such rudeness from a potential spouse was a sting she had not yet endured.

"Well...good game." Melody said as she gave Teddy a customary shake of the hand and made a swift exit from the game room.

Meanwhile, Noah Addington was in the royal garage of the palace. After pleading with a servant, he had been allowed to see the collection of custom made vehicles that King Maxon II kept for his personal enjoyment on the condition that he not touch any of the vehicles. Despite his personal opinion that his majesty was a douche bag of the highest order, he had to concede that the King had splendid taste in cars and trucks. As he eyed the machines with envy, he saw Princess Melody sneaking into the royal garage looking distressed. It pained Noah to see her in such a state.

"Are you all right Melody?" Noah inquired as she turned in surprise.

"Oh, I didn't see you, I'm all right." she replied with a weak smile that Noah could see right through.

"Serious, what happened?" he asked as she sighed.

"I was playing chess with Theodore Madden and he was rude to me; I don't even know what I did wrong." Melody explained as Noah squeezed her hand.

"I'm sorry, maybe he was just having a bad day or something?" Noah offered. He didn't want to say that Madden was an asshole even if he was because he didn't know the guy well enough to make that call.

"Maybe...I'm just glad that you aren't rude." the princess said with a smile as she leaned against the mechanic.

"Me rude, never!" he exclaimed as they smiled at each other. A few moments passed and nothing was said. All of a sudden, Noah leaned in and kissed Melody on the lips. She returned the kiss for a few seconds before he backed away.

"I'm sorry..." he gasped as Melody shook her head.

"For what, I didn't push you away did I?" she asked as Noah gave her a wide smile. He kissed her deeply as the two wrapped their arms around each other. Melody loved feeling Noah's strong arms holding her. Noah peppered her face and neck with kisses as they both held onto each other and enjoyed being in that moment.

NOAH AND MELODY ARE GETTING CLOSER AS TEDDY DRIFTS TOWARDS ANOTHER. REVIEWS NEEDED AND APPRECIATED.