AN: Alright guys! So the news from Kiera Cass was that we could unlock the first three chapters of the Queen, we got a bonus chapter to The One, and there will be a novella about Marlee...AND WE ARE GETTING MORE BOOKS! GUYS WE ARE GETTING FULL LENGTH SELECTION NOVELS! AT LEAST TWO OF THEM! I don't know about you, but I'm pretty flipping excited. :) However, they will be in a new character's perspective so we will have to wait and see who that might be.
Second, I feel so lucky from the amount of reviews that I've gotten. I'm so glad that you all are looking forward to the ending of this story and I'm going crazy with how close I am to 400 reviews. If possible, I'd love you guys forever if you could get us to that limit with this chapter. You rock!
Third, I promise that this is the last chapter of "filler". From here on out, it'll be the conclusion, isn't that exciting? I'm still estimating that there will be about 7 chapters left! :) So please stick with me until the end! Enjoy!
America's POV
Daniele had briefed me endlessly for almost nine days straight while Celeste spent her days in Carolina entertaining my siblings. Watching her with them was the only breaking Daniele allowed me to have and I had to wonder how much of it was really for his own benefit. I knew that sometime soon they would be getting engaged and now I knew that Celeste would make a wonderful mother. I wished that I could go back to the simpler times when I could just be outside instead of having to work like this, singing and making music so that I could earn my share of profits for the week. I had always preferred that job to this one but I didn't want to give it up either. I wanted to be at the forefront of change in my country, even if it meant having to give up peaceful breaks. I worked through another folder that Daniele left for me while he made a phone call back to the palace. We were supposed to have left for New Asia in five more days but we had received news earlier in the week that Prime Minister Li had approved our request to come in ten days instead of the initial fourteen. We would be leaving Carolina tonight and turning around almost immediately to go to New Asia until the agreement had been reached. I knew, however, that it meant we would be on the plane for almost twenty hours with King Maxon. I had no idea how that was going to go and I couldn't help but be nervous.
"It seems that there is a special Report being broadcasted tonight," Daniele said as he sat down at the table in front of me, picking up some of the packets I had pushed away after completing and looking through them to give me pointers and an overall score. "So it will have to be rearranged that we leave here in about an hour because they want the guards to be able to greet us getting off our plane before we go down and wait for the announcement. I'm sorry that you didn't get to spend much time with your family, America, but such is the job," he finished, leaving far less scribbles on my work than he ever had. I beamed with pride for a moment. At least I was improving at this job and that was something I didn't know if I was ever going to be able to do.
"It's alright, just being away from the palace for a few days has been enough of a breather."
"Hm." He replied quietly as he went back to reading my packets. "You've done a very good job, you're ready for this trip to New Asia by my standards." He said as he began to pack up the documents. "I'd go start to say your goodbyes and get your belongings together. Celeste and I will do the same."
I nodded and started to pack up the few outfits that I had brought with me. I had forgotten that Maxon's New Asia bracelet was amongst those things and I quietly buried it at the bottom of my suitcase. Someday, I would have the strength to get rid of it. I just hoped that day came quicker so that I would be able to watch him marry Kriss sometime in the future. I looked around my small room and remembered the conversation that I had with Aspen the last time we were here. I remembered the time before that, before I had won the Carolina bid to be a part of the Selection that I laid in bed hating every moment of every day from my broken heart. I remembered hiding in here for hours after I had been announced and not wanting to go be a prize to be selected by Maxon. So much had transpired in such a small room. There were so many memories that I wished would fade away and several that I wanted to try and cling to and never release. I would never admit it but I couldn't wait to get away from this place again. I had grown so much in the last year and this place wasn't as happy as it was in my childhood anymore.
After hugging my family goodbye, we were rushed in a car to a small jet that had been sent to gather the five of us. Celeste cuddled into Daniele for the flight and slept most of the way, while I took to looking down at the clouds. The first time I had been on this plane, I had been freaking out. I was so nervous to be flying and wasn't sure how it actually worked. Now, I found the aerial view of the world calm and it offered me serenity that I wanted to last. However, we had to land and go back to the point of all the drama—the palace in Angeles. I sighed as I felt the plane start to descend. Somehow amongst doing my duties as a delegate, I would have to sort out the kiss that I had with Maxon as well as explain to Scott that my feelings for the King of Illea had never went away and now I knew that they probably never would. Part of me found myself wishing that the announcement would be that Kriss decided to go home. I knew it was wrong of me to wish her engagement doom but I knew it was the only way that I would feel comfortable getting back with Maxon. Why couldn't he have sent all the other girls home? Why couldn't he have kept Celeste or Elise that day and left himself engaged to one of them instead? If he had picked Celeste, she probably would have said no and I would have ended up with him. I could have gotten him back from my friend and she would have given me her blessing. I knew that would be far from what Kriss would wish me if I walked through those doors and tried to claim Maxon back over one kiss.
"You've been rather quiet," Daniele whispered to keep from waking up Celeste. He looked over at me with concern and I tried to downplay every emotion that was flying through my head.
"If you wanted to make a choice that could end up hurting other people but get you something you wanted, would you do it?"
"Of course not, America. And I know you wouldn't do something like that either. It can be hard to let go of the past but you have to do it." He replied, looking out the window. "We're almost about to touchdown," he whispered in Celeste's ear but looking over at me. I knew that I had to make my decision about how I wanted to play things and I knew exactly what type of person I was. I wasn't going to act on what had happened with Maxon at the wedding unless he brought it up first. If Kriss was gone, then maybe we could get back together when I had apologized and ended things with Scott. There were a lot of maybes to all of this and I felt overwhelmed with every single one.
We were rushed almost immediately from the airport terminal to the backstage of Gavril's set. I guessed that there was no time to go and change and I wondered how urgent this message must be if they wanted everyone present for it. I looked at the screens and saw Maxon sitting there alone and my heart skipped a beat for a moment. Was Kriss actually gone? I was lost for breath and could only sit there looking up at the screen, waiting for Gavril to begin.
"Good evening Illea! Tonight, we have a special announcement from King Maxon and then a few matters of state to attend to." He smiled and turned over to Maxon, leaning on the edge of his seat as he smiled. "So tell us what your plans for the wedding are?"
My heart shot right out of my head as the people cheered for Kriss to join Maxon down on the set. How had I missed her in those chairs? Did I really want her to be gone this badly that I had completely erased her image from existence as I had searched the screens? Of course she was still here, she was in love with Maxon. She joined him on the sofa, her hand on one of his thighs while the other entangled itself in his own.
"We have set our wedding date as May 12th, Gavril," Maxon said with a smile as he leaned over and kissed Kriss softly. I rushed from the set, not wanting to hear or see anymore. I couldn't deal with this heartbreak all over again. I knew that I needed to go find and break up with Scott because of my feelings for Maxon but I didn't want to do it tonight. If I didn't see him, then it could wait until after I got back from New Asia. It was the fair thing for both of us, I rationalized as I went and collapsed on my bed, locking the door for the evening.
Maxon's POV
I woke up groaning as I went to get ready for the plane. As King, I had to be completely dressed and presentable for almost the entire ride there, which I already knew was going to be uncomfortable. It didn't help that after my announcement on the Report that I had rushed out into the gardens and drank most of the night away. I hadn't had much to drink but it was enough to give me a little buzz. Kriss didn't seem to care what I did after announcing our wedding date. This was all about commitment now and I was beginning to accept that I was going to lock myself in a marriage that wasn't filled with love and laughter. I just hoped that we would be able to get our friendship back to make some part of our years together enjoyable. I rubbed my temples as I remembered that I would be on the plane for twenty hours with America. This whole trip was going to be a long mess. I hoped that she would let me talk to her and apologize for kissing her at the wedding. I wanted to make up some ground with her before we landed, especially out of the fear that we wouldn't be able to cooperate and this whole plan would fall apart. I slid on my nicest polished shoes before heading out of the room, my butler carrying my suitcase down to the car. I had arranged for some flowers and a short note to be delivered to Kriss in the later hours of the day and wished her and my mother luck on their work while I was away.
Already waiting at the car was Daniele and America, who was resting her head on his shoulder and complaining about how tired she was. I figured they must be close friends now that he had become so involved in her life and Celeste's. They were talking quietly amongst themselves after he got her to realize that once we were on the plane, she would be able to sleep for a little bit. Aspen was talking to the driver and I looked around realizing that we were only waiting on Emmett as Emery was tucked in the back seat of the car, looking over some files as he made a phone call. I could only assume that he was speaking to someone in the New Asia embassy, alerting them of our upcoming departure and reminding them of our upcoming arrival in their country. I leaned on the other side of the car from America and Daniele, not sure that I wanted to make our trip anymore uncomfortable at four in the morning.
Emmett headed down the stairs quickly, looking like paler than a ghost and almost as terrified as he had just seen one. Once he got closer to the car, I realized that the panic had all but disappeared from his face and I wondered if I had imagined the whole picture. We loaded into the car once we had all arrived and the driver took off. The ride was silent except for Emery talking into his phone while he waited for a final response from the embassy. Once the okay was received, we walked out of the car and boarded the plane.
"Are you alright, Emmett?" I asked as I settled in a seat across from him while Aspen sat on my left. Emery joined us in our little square and Daniele and America took their own two seats towards the pilots' pit. The rest of our guard filled in the empty seats and we prepared for take-off. He looked up at me as if he was confused about the question.
"Just tired like everyone else, your Majesty," he replied as he buckled his seat. "I think perhaps we should all try to get an hour or two of sleep and begin to go over the packets and agenda of this trip." He replied as he leaned back his own seat.
"I agree," I responded as I mimicked his action. We relaxed as we enjoyed the quiet of the take-off and drifted off for those few extra hours of sleep. I found myself unable to truly fall asleep and rather had bouts of falling in and out of consciousness. I looked over at America who had a small flashlight in her hand and looked as if she was reading something. Perhaps now would be a good time to talk to her about what had happened at the wedding and hopefully be able to move on. I got up slowly and reluctantly, nearly sitting myself back down on more than one occasion. I finally found the courage I needed, reminding myself that we all needed to have a clear mind if we were going to get this treaty signed.
"America," I whispered, tapping her on the shoulder. She looked annoyed to see me but let me continue anyway. "I was hoping that I could speak to you in the cabin room before we start this meeting." I suggested, pointing to the solid door at the back of the room. She followed my finger to what I was pointing at, looked back down at what she was reading, and then back at me. Finally, she removed her seatbelt as we walked back to the end of the plane together. I opened the door and locked it behind us, not wanting to be disturb. "I wanted to talk to you about the wedding."
"All of Illea knows about yours and Kriss' wedding. I don't need to hear any more details that will simply be revealed to us on the Report." She shot back, venom filling her voice. I took the blow, knowing it was what I deserved. I didn't understand why she was so mad though. She had took off after Aspen's wedding. She was the one who ran off from our kiss. She was the only person in this room that didn't want us to get back together and I was giving her what she wanted. I just wanted to be able to apologize.
"I meant Aspen's wedding," I whispered back, trying not to get irritated with her temper. "That's what I wanted to talk to you about. The kiss. America, we have to talk about it," I said, looking her straight in the eyes.
She pulled away her gaze from mine. "No, we don't. Now if you'll excuse me, Maxon." She said, looking as if she was ready to turn around and go. I had to keep her here. We had to talk about this and work it out. Something had to come out of this conversation, not her pushing me away like she used to when something was bothering her. We couldn't have any type of successful relationship if we continued to act like this with each other.
"America, don't leave." I told her calmly. She didn't stop and reply or even look up from the doorway that she was headed towards. I had to keep her there, somehow. Without meaning to, I found my temper finding the best of me. "Look at me!" I shouted, a little louder than I had intended to. Surely, the guards and the rest of the people on this plane would come rushing back here in a moment if my voice got any louder or irritable. I threw the paperwork that I had been holding tight to in my hands, letting it fall all around the back room of the private plane. Thank goodness for wealth for a change, or else we would have a certain or nothing at all separating us from everyone. The walls at this end were partially sound-proof and the door to the cabin was locked. Her blue eyes searched up from the ground up at mine.
"Why should I?" She whispered back to me, fire and ice directed at me from those soul piercing eyes. Her hands found her hips and I could tell that she was both angry and exhausted of this back and forth that was going on between her and I. Friends to lovers to enemies to friends to lovers again. I couldn't blame her. It was a terrible circle we found ourselves in. "You're marrying Kriss, Maxon. You announced your wedding date on the Report before we left for this trip! Obviously that kiss was a drunk mistake."
"You ran out before we could talk about it America. What else was I supposed to assume?"
"Why are you always so instant on assuming things? You assumed when you saw me with Aspen that morning and look where it got us." Without another word, she turned her back to me and I heard her fingers undo the lock on the cabin door. She paused for a moment when she had the door handle turned in her hands, only needing a small push to open. "Are we going to be able to work together or not, Maxon? Because I can quit my position after this trip if it would be easier for you. It's you're decision, just make one and stick to it for once."
She exited the back of the cabin and left me alone to my thoughts. I knew that I had to quickly pull myself together so we could go and talk with the other members of our party about our plans and agenda in New Asia. Yet, in that moment all I wanted to do was pull her back into the room once again. I wanted to push her on one of these beds and kiss her like crazy with all the love in the world, the way I did before our relationship found itself in hell. I'd give anything to have that night replayed right here, no matter who else heard what was going on and would try to walk in and check on things. I sighed, giving in once again to the fact that it would never be like that again.
