The Arrival

Hi guys so I hope you're enjoying the story :D Please review so I can improve my writing, and tell me your favourite girls so that I can keep them in the competition for longer! I will try to update at least once a week.

The girls arrived in groups of four, after getting welcomed by the mayor of their province and saying goodbye to their loved ones they got on the plane and did one of three things, sized up their competition or socialised with their competitors. Some even did both.

Renee Clarkson and Melina Jefferson were easy friends because of their supposedly detached state of mind. Allay Vema and Saffron Young spent the whole time singing together and laughing whenever another was out of tune, much to the disgust of Queenie Reynolds who glared in disgust whenever they would collapse in laughter. April Shaw spent the entire flight fixing her make-up and giving the odd sideways gland to Riley Williams who had never bothered with make-up in her entire life and stared at April for most of the flight seeing if it really made a difference. Kiva Griffin and McKenzie Johansson got into a heated argument about the caste system and whether or not it was fair, Rosie Shuster hid in the corner for most of that flight while Joanna Lee tried to moderate the argument and get both sides to agree on an easy non-violent alternative.

The flights were staged at 30 minute intervals so the crowd waiting at the airport and the people at home could see every selected girl arrive, and how they would act in front of the public. Verity Mage joked her way down the line of fans, making them laugh at silly faces she was pulling in the photos. Courtney Wilson went bright red as soon as the fans started screaming her name; she almost ran into the limousine about 30 metres away. Others such as Sadie Price laughed and talked with almost anyone in line taking pictures signing posters, the security guards had to usher her away because the next plane was arriving. Damon watched intently as he got his first glimpse of the woman he was going to marry. He tried not to admit it to himself but he was already making decisions about who he may send home first and who he could see on his arm for the rest of his life. But he tried to remain un-bias while watching the footage.

Once they arrived many of the girls looked expectantly thinking that they would see the Prince or even a sight of the King! But they were obviously disappointed when an obviously pregnant woman ushered them into a large room covered in mirrors, couches and vast amounts on colourful beauty products lined the walls behind the many people in the room.

"Girls, girls please I know this is exiting and new but you need to remain professional!" the pregnant woman said, failing to get their attention. "Come now ladies, its make-over day we need to take your before photo's. Girls…GIRLS! If you do not quieten down immediately I will be forced to tell the prince about your behaviour"
That got them all quiet. One girl almost started crying, whilst others payed close attention to what she would say next.
"I knew that would work" she said with a satisfied smile. "Now my name is Sophia, I will guide you through this process, teaching the basic rules of being a princess. Today is make-over day, to get you ready to see the prince and make you all more… royal. If you could all line up over here for your first photos then a beauty team will take you to a station" there was a pause as all the girls looked around, seeing who would be brave enough to make the first move.

"Oh my god seriously I'll go first if you're all going to be like that" Queenie Reynolds said pushing through everyone to get to the front of the queue.

After that everything moved very quickly. The makeovers were a luxury for some, and a nightmare for others. Holly Margon got her hair dyed completely brown with bright red nail polish, she didn't look very happy as she was thinking of the girls back home she occasionally saw with red lip-stick and red nail polish walking the streets late at night looking for a rich 2 or 3. Camera crews came around and stopped for a while at some girls station, clearly choosing favourites because they only stayed for a few seconds at other girls stations. The smug look on Vanya O'Kelly's face showed that she knew more air time would mean more fans, and they could result in a longer stay in the palace.

Some of the girls that were finished with their make-overs were in the process of getting their 'after' shots taken and were getting interviewed. Dani Lawrence was smiling and laughing with the interviewer. But her stomach was in knots because she knew this interview would be part of her first impression to Illea and to Prince Damon.

"So, Dani after this brief glimpse at the palace, what are you most impressed with so far?"

"Well… I live the way people are treating me, everybody's so nice. The sixes, the maids, are treating me so well. One even told me a little secret, to help my chances of winning!"

"Oh, do tell"

She leaned in and put on a stage whisper, hoping that people wouldn't actually listen in.

"She told me that…Damon loves the scent vanilla, so she covered me in it! Here smell my wrist" she held out her hand for the interviewer and giggled.

The interviewer laughed with her and smelled her wrist "Oh that's so nice, I'm sorry but that draws our interview to a close. It should be plenty of footage and a great first impression"

The rest of the interviews were very similar, however every other girl held back on mentioning the prince. Dani and the interviewer were the only two people who started conversations about the prince in that room, that day.