Chapter 2- Confessions

Thank you so so so much to everyone who read, liked, favorited, or reviewed! I appreciate it so much. This is a bit longer than Chapter 1. Enjoy! :)

White Horse Golden- Thanks so much! Here you go!

Camio- Thank you!

Ziaoi- Thank you so much! It was always a problem I had with America in the books. I felt like she knew she loved Maxon the entire time and just wouldn't admit it to herself. I'm so excited to keep going.

Disneygirl15- To be honest, I have no idea where this is going, but I'm excited to see what I do with it.

Guest- Thanks for the comment. I will definitely be adding conflict of some kind.

*All Rights to Kiera Cass*

Maxon's sarcastic laugh echoed throughout the room.

I looked up, alarmed. "What? What's so funny?"

"My dear," I glared at him. Laughing again, "The last time I saw you, you said and I quote, 'I don't understand anything, and I just need to sort it.' As well as 'Can you not kiss me until I figure it out?' Can you really blame me?"

I stared at him blankly. "But I just told you I figured it out."

Maxon seemed to see the pain in my eyes and took my hand. "I'm sorry, darling." I melted at that word.

Darling. Always and forever, I would be his darling.

"Why would I lie to you? When have I ever lied to you before?"

Maxon tensed at those words and his hand tightened on mine. He spoke quietly, as if anything louder would hurt me more than his laughter still echoing in my ears. "I am sorry," He repeated. "But you were the girl that said she came for the money. And for the food. And then told me she just wanted to be my friend."

I yanked my hand from his grasp. "I was also the girl who was honest from the start. The girl who promised to be your friend, who promised to help you. I was the girl you first kissed." I stood up, making to leave. "And I am the girl that just told you that I loved you."

The tears were coming quickly, and I didn't want to be in front of Maxon when they spilled. My heels clicked, as I walked to the door and left my love calling my name behind me.

I was tired of crying. I was tired of the stress. I was tired of the Selection.

When I finally reached my room, tears were spilling down my face. The faceless guard outside my door, opened it before I could touch the doorknob. I made for the bed before seeing the piano resting in the corner of the room.

I couldn't remember the last time I played. Sitting down on the glossy black bench I poised my fingers above the keys. Years of piano practice came hurtling back to me as my fingers flew over the notes. I started with familiar songs: age old songs I learned a lifetime ago. I quickly transitioned to darker harder chords until I was letting my emotions reign over the keys I pressed. They played the Selection.

They played the rising crescendos before an elimination. The staccato beat of the Reports and the slow relieving notes after I found out I would stay another day. I played a sweet, hopeful melody for Maxon and I's first kiss. As the piece went on, I transitioned an octave lower and the music became similar to the requiems I was hired to sing sometimes at the funerals of Twos. The soft, mournful tune represented my last few weeks at the palace wonderfully.

I stopped the music in the middle. I couldn't finish the piece before finishing the Selection. And who knew when that would be. Applause from behind me startled me from my reverie.

I turned to see Maxon standing near the door. He looked as if he were waiting for an invitation to come in more. My head gave a quick bob and he walked up to me. He stopped a few paces away from me before he started speaking.

"Listen, America. I'm not going to say I'm sorry again because I know that won't help." I ducked my head. "So I'll say this. I love you. I think I have since the moment I laid eyes on you. Then, I met you and you were honest and fiery and you weren't afraid to put me in my place."

I smiled remembering my first night at the palace I had once referred to as a cage, but now as a home.

"I fall more in love with you everyday and I laughed because I thought you were joking. I wouldn't - couldn't - let myself believe that you might actually love me back. Because what if you were joking or decided you wanted leave this place. Or if you didn't want me enough to take the burden of the crown. And you had told me so many times that-" He paced around the room, throwing his hands in the air, clearly looking for a word to describe our relationship.

"That we could never be an 'us' because the man I just met in that hallway is the man you couldn't get over. And I couldn't take the heartbreak."

Big fat tears rolled down my cheeks. But I liked these tears. These were happy tears. I stood up, rushing into his arms.

"And I know I said that I wouldn't say it again, but I'm sorry. I just-"

I pulled out of his embrace and looked into his familiar brown eyes. "Stop talking and just kiss me already."

His eyes widened a whisper before his hand cupped my cheek and leaning down, he pressed his lips to mine.