- AN these characters don't belong to me they belong to the wonderful kiera cass. all rights go to her.
"Ow" I winced a little as I held ice to my bruise. I so wanted to tell my family and have them help me but this is one secret i have to keep to myself. The only reason I haven't told my family about Aspen is they will make me break up with him. As appealing as breaking up with him sounds I know him. I know if I break up with Aspen he will hurt or even kill my family.
"America come down for dinner" my mom called. As I walked down stairs I sensed a change from the normal mood of my family. There was more excitement than usual and I didn't know what it was about. As soon as I got to the table the reason was revealed to me. Mom pulled out a letter from under the table and I immediately tensed. It was a notice for the selection of Prince Maxon.
I really didn't want to enter the selection. I knew if I did and I got chosen Aspen would take it out on my family and I couldn't have that. Prince Maxon also looked stiff, stuck up, and shallow. Those were two very good reasons for me not to even enter the selection.
"America honey look. It's the notice for the selection." Mom announced to the table. I knew she did this on purpose because if my dad or May asked me she knew I would be weaker. "America! You have to enter." Yelled May. She was 14 and incredibly boy obsessed. She would only see the romantic fairytale part not the issues.
"I don't want to sign up and you can't make me." I said as stubbornly and strongly as I could hoping mom would let it go. Of course she didn't and pressed the issue. "America, think of all the good things that will come of it. We will get compensated, you will get to meet the prince, you might even get married." Like May mom only saw the good things and don't know that Aspen would hurt them.
"I don't like the prince and won't fall in love with him." I complained "I probably won't even get chosen." "If you won't get chosen what's the harm in signing up." Mom replied. She did have a good point but if Aspen found out that I'd even applied I would have a whole extra round of bruises to tend to.
I was done with this conversation. "I'm not signing up and you can't make me. Good night!" I yelled as I stormed from the table up to my room.
—page break—
The next morning I was woken up with "America honey wake up." "Nooooooooooo. It's to early," I moaned into my pillow. "Sweetie get up dad and I have a deal for you." This was interesting I wanted to hear this. I couldn't think of what they were going to offer me, but I sat up anyway. "Last night your dad and I were talking" mom began. "We decided that you are old enough to start taking your own jobs." While that didn't sound so appealing mom didn't look like she was done so I let her continue. "We also decided that you can keep half of your earnings, but only if you enter the selection." She knew this was an offer I couldn't refuse. The idea of that money made me forget about aspen for just a minute. "Deal" I replied. Mom looked triumphant and I couldn't help but smile. It was done and I probably wouldn't get chosen so what's the harm.