The following morning was Zed's birthday and, as he'd said the previous day, they'd be no training as he was having breakfast with his family to celebrate. Although I'd hoped to have another lie-in, I still woke up early. I squinted in the darkness. My maids were not yet here as I'd told them to have a lie-in themselves. It felt strangely lonely without them though and I rolled my eyes at the irony; I'd not wanted to undress in front of anyone nor had I wanted to let anyone help me dress or do my hair or make-up when I'd first joined the competition. Now it just seemed like part of the daily routine. But these girls weren't just there to help me ready myself for the day or to keep my room clean. They'd quickly become close friends, confidantes- they knew every inch of my skin and would recognise the slightest blemish, but they also knew my personality too and I was beginning to open up to them, knowing that they would keep their word. They were the girls who kept me healthy, mentally and physically. They listened to my secrets and dried my tears when I was upset. They fed me vitamins and kept my diet in-check and they weighed me every day. My body had filled itself out now and I was now a little underweight but my face was less gaunt, my figure less bony and more womanly.

I reached out for my clock on my bedside table, wondering what the time was as light was barely moving through the thick curtains. I stretched but could not reach in my sleepiness that still captured by body. I stretched again. 'Come on, body, wake up.' I murmured and then the clock moved the final 30cms into my hand. By itself. 'What on earth?' I hissed and I rubbed my eyes as I looked at the clock. Was it possessed? Was there a hidden string or thread? Some strange kind of magic trick? I was going mad. I put down the clock, not even checking the time, and decided to take myself for a jog around the gardens. Maybe that would stop me from hallucinating.

I was surprised to run into Diamond, who was doing exactly the same.

'Good morning!' She said as she headed towards me. We paused by the fountain together. 'Long time no see!'

'It's been really busy,' I replied as I caught my breath.

'Tell me about it,' she sighed. 'And we've been planning our wedding too!'

'Have you set a date?'

'April next year.' She smiled. 'Who knows, you might be on your way to being a princess by then?'

'I don't know… some of the girls in here would be far better than me.'

'I'm not sure,' she replied. 'Besides, Zed seemed very happy when he came in last night.'

I blushed and looked down at the floor. 'Some of the girls bought him birthday presents to give to him later but I can't afford anything.'

'You could make him something?' She suggested. 'It would mean far more.'

She was right; making something would be worth more than another tie or a new watch. More personal. And I had an idea.

'Can you help me with something?' I asked her.

'Sure.' She smiled. 'I can meet you after breakfast?'

'In the music room,' I replied, 'I have an idea.'

I didn't tell the girls over breakfast what my idea was and I spent a good hour or so with Diamond sorting it before I headed back to the women's room, which had been made into a beauty parlour. I'd forgotten we were being glammed up for photoshoots and interviews before dinner and I cussed myself in my head as Lady Evelyn gave me a look of disapproval. I looked flustered in my plain deep purple dress, but I didn't have time to catch my breath as a stylist ushered me to a chair and got to work.

My hair was trimmed, highlights updated and then curls smoothed over as stylists buzzed around the room. Tina, Zoe and Amelie looked relaxed as they read gossip magazines and I wished I'd remembered my copy of the Great Gatsby. I caught the attention of a maid and thankfully she returned a few minutes later with my book to keep me entertained. My eyebrows were reshaped and make-up was applied in record timing as some of the 'ready' girls headed off for their photoshoots for the magazines and papers and interviews, all of which would be recorded for Friday's first full-hour programme of the selection. As they dressed me this time, I noticed that the girly lace and frills were gone and I was thankful for that. Instead I was dressed in a red off-shoulder ballgown which clung on the top half and to the top of my thighs before flowing out in a mermaid-style dress. Paired with a simple necklace with a single diamond and matching earrings, I felt gorgeous and I suddenly wished it was this dress I was wearing to Zed's party. They dressed me in silver heels, not that you could see them, and then I was pulled off to a photo area they'd set up in one of the reception rooms with a plain background but a cream chaise longue to sit on.

'That's it, perfect darling!' The photographer called as I stood with one freshly manicured hand on my shoulder and the other around my waist, just like he had directed. It was the third pose I'd been in and I was hoping the photoshoot was nearing its end. 'Right, let's take it outside.'

'Outside?' I whispered and I knew Amelie had heard from the giggle.

'Don't like cameras?' She asked with a smirk.

'I'd rather be left be.' I replied.

'Don't you want the whole world to see you dressed up like this?'

I wrinkled my nose. Only one person mattered and he was busy celebrating his birthday somewhere. Amelie didn't get a reply because we were ushered outside, where we each were dragged in different directions to pose in front of flowers and fountains and on terraces before we were rounded up for group shots.

'It's like prom!' Tina gushed but I had no experience of prom. My school had never done it but I'd seen photos in newspapers of other schools in wealthier areas. I guessed in a way she was right. We were all positioned posing side-by-side with our hands on her hips. Then we all posed in positions on the steps to the terrace. And then in V formations until the heat got too much and we were excused, but that wasn't the end for me.

'So Lady Sky, how are you finding the selection process?' The interviewer asked me. We were sat in a reception room on the comfy, antique furniture and I was still wearing a ballgown, which seemed somewhat ridiculous.

'Well it is certainly a change to back home.' I replied, sitting up straighter in the chair and resisting the urge to cross my legs.

'Of course, you're from Whitebridge.' She smiled a smile that was somewhat sympathetic. 'What are your favourite things about living in the palace?'

'The silk sheets…' I said and she laughed. 'Dessert is pretty good too.' Cue more laughter. 'And it's lovely having so many supportive people around me. The Royal family are lovely, my maids are brilliant and incredibly talented and then there are the other girls.'

'How are you finding the other contestants?'

'I'd like to think we get on well,' I replied. 'We have movie nights together and spend our free time together too.'

'You seemed to be good friends with Lady Tina and Lady Zoe quite early on.'

'They are wonderful girls,' I said, 'and they both deserve their place here.'

'And then you saved Lady Amelie the night of the terrorist attack in the palace.'

'I did what anyone else would have done,' I replied as my heart thudded and my cheeks blushed, 'I got us to safety as quick as I could.'

'Lady Amelie said she considers you one of her closest friends now and I hear you're working on a project together?' She leaned forward in her chair and I wondered if she was trying to get some gossip out of me.

'That is true.' I said. 'We are renovating a children's home in the city and I think we make a very good team.'

'And how are things with Prince Zed?'

'Things are very well.' I said with a small smile.

'Just well?' She pried. 'I heard the two of you were looking quite cosy at the beach yesterday and you looked like you had fun at Ed Sheeran's concert.'

'It is very nice getting to know him,' I replied, 'and I hope to learn more about him.'

Realising she wasn't getting any juicy gossip, she soon gave up and the interview was well and truly over.

That evening, after a light dinner with the girls, it was time to get ready for the evening and I decided I'd invite some of my friends to get ready for the party with me. It should have been squashed with Tina, Zoe, Amelie and their maids, but our rooms were huge and we fit together easily as we sat down whilst our hair was styled and our make-up was done with precision. This wasn't a formal Royal Event so it was nice to be able to experiment with different looks as we sipped a glass of red wine and nibbled on some posh chocolates.

'So tell us about your date with Zed yesterday,' Zoe said and I tried to fight the grin that was threatening to creep onto my face.

'It was… nice.'

'From your face, I'd say it was more than nice,' Tina teased. 'You went to the beach, right?'

'I hate the beach,' Zoe murmured, 'the wind always ruins my hair.'

'The beach was beautiful,' I replied, my voice soft as I remembered swimming in the ocean with Zed and the kisses… I swallowed.

'Something happened!' Tina gasped and Amelie gave a sly grin but kept quiet.

'Nothing happened,' I choked out, my voice a higher octave than usual.

'I don't believe you.'

'These strawberries are divine,' Amelie said, suddenly, 'you have to try them.' I gave her a grateful smile as the subject was changed from my date with Zed.

The ballroom had lost its formality that I'd seen before. Instead of elegant flowers and fairylights draped around and matching the palace gardens, it looked very masculine and more like a club than an 18th birthday party; navy and blue curtains and cloth was draped with the occasional bit of silver mesh. It looked Royal and despite the 100-odd people in attendance, the colours made the room feel cold, even with lights spinning around and making it every bit the disco. Some of the other girls had already arrived and we watched as they sipped champagne and chatted away to some of the boys in attendance- some of which were celebrities and others I assumed to be nobles from the way they were dressed as the medals on some of their suits. I didn't miss a few heads turning, male and female, as we moved through the crowds towards the bar and it made me uncomfortable. Wearing black should have allowed me to disappear but the dress was tight and figure-hugging and it was starting to make me feel self-conscious.

'Smile,' Amelie murmured in my ear. 'The cameras are here.'

She was right. They panned the room, capturing the party for the two-hour long show on Friday night, the one that would also include mine and Zed's date and any work with our charities we were doing this week. My stomach flipped but I masked it with a smile and Amelie laughed as if we'd made a joke to each other. She ordered us each a glass of champagne and clinked it against mine before we took a sip. It tasted expensive but delicious as the bubbles moved down my throat.

'One now and one with the toast later,' Amelie said. 'Anything between has to be non-alcoholic.'

'Bossy, much?' Tina teased as she sipped her champagne.

'Lady Evelyn's etiquette rules.' Amelie reminded. 'Just because it's a more laid-back occasion, it doesn't mean we're not being watched.' She nodded to where the Royal family were sat, Diamond and Phoenix included. They all chatted away to each other but their eyes scanned the room, especially the eyes of the King and Queen.

'This tastes just like the stuff from my aunt's wedding.' Zoe sighed. 'It's really good.'

'Probably far too expensive to be the stuff from your aunt's wedding.' Tina teased and I looked at the liquid in my glass. It looked like the cheap, fake stuff I'd seen Sally and Simon drinking when they'd been given a promotion. I had no doubt it tasted differently, though and I was sure the price tag reflected it. Who would pay a fortune for a bottle of a drink? Anyone that could, I reminded myself. Like the Royal family.

Zed walked down the stairs into the room with two of his friends at his side. One I recognised from the papers and knew him as a Lord Nelson, named after a heroic leader in history. The other I did not recognise, but from the look of his suit it was clear he also had money and was probably noble. Prince Zed wore a navy tailcoat with matching trousers, a silver tie and smart brown shoes. It all hugged his figure and I didn't miss the swooning from the girls as he walked down the stairs, chatting to his friends and laughing. I couldn't hear the sound above the music but the sound still rang in my ears as I thought back to our time at the beach and his laughter at the Ed Sheeran concert when we were both trying to do an Irish jig. His eyes looked out across the room and they met mine with a warm smile but I wasn't sure if it was just for me or the group of us. I didn't have time to think about it. The song changed to one I was more familiar with and Tina was pulling us to the dancefloor before we could even stop her.

For the first time since I'd moved into the palace, my feet actually hurt. But I supposed that was because I wasn't used to jumping around and dancing. The DJ had everyone going wild and Amelie kept saying he was some famous DJ from a club in the city. Not that that meant anything to me. Bodies jumped up and down, moving against each other and some of the girls were dancing with guys in a manner that I knew Lady Evelyn would definitely disapprove was. Zed was somewhere in the crowd but for once we didn't search for him. We were having a good time ourselves, drinking our lemonade as we made up ridiculous dance routines.

'Looks like all the fun is over here!' Phoenix and Diamond walked over to us, both smiling. I looked at the ex-contestant, who looked dressed to the nines in a long, backless navy dress. She'd come a long way and she'd somehow found a soulmate.

'Our dancing is terrible.' I said and Tina gawped in mock horror. 'Completely terrible.'

'I wasn't going to say anything…' Diamond said and we laughed. 'Seriously though, you look like you're all having fun so we thought we'd head on over.'

'And join the loon party?' I grinned.

'If you think your dancing is bad,' she said with a smug look, 'then you've not seen anything yet.'

The party went by quickly, quicker than I had imagined it would. Prince Zed blew out the candles as the 100 or so guests sang him happy birthday. He made a speech and we sipped our second and final glass of champagne. And then the dancing continued. Despite not trying to seek him out, I did end up spotting him through the crowd and I then wished I hadn't- he danced with Lucie, his arms around her waist and their bodies pressed together. I wanted to look away but I couldn't. My stomach twisted with nausea and then the dagger struck me in the heart; Lucie brought her lips to his and he did not pull away.

'I… I need to go to the bathroom.' I lied to my friends as a dizzy wave overwhelmed me.

'Want me to come to?' Amelie offered, completely oblivious to what I had just seen.

'I'm okay.' I replied with a small smile. I headed back into the hallway and walked along, aware of my guards at my heels. Then, instead of turning towards the bathrooms, I walked through the French doors and onto the terrace. The air was humid and the sky was cloudy, as if awaiting a storm. I kicked off my shoes and walked down onto the grass, the cool greenery feeling refreshing on the burning balls of my feet. I paused at the footsteps behind me and turned around. 'Can you wait here?' I asked the guards. They glanced at each other.

'Lady Sky, we're supposed to keep you safe.' One replied.

'I assure you I am perfectly capable of looking after myself.' I said.

'We're under King's orders.' The other said.

I sighed and rolled my eyes. 'You can still see me if I sit by the fountain, yes?'

'Of course.' Guard one said.

'Then please just stay here and I promise not to go farther than the fountain.' I fluttered my eyelashes in a hope it might help persuade. 'I'd just like to enjoy some peace and quiet by myself.'

'Yes, my lady.' The guards bowed and I walked over to the fountain, sitting myself on the edge of it. A few pebbles and pennies were inside I noticed and I wondered who would wish upon a fountain in the palace gardens. I reached into the water to grab one but flinched at the cool water I touched.

I thought back to that morning when somehow I'd made my clock move without touching it. That had all been in my mind, hadn't it? I held my hand over the water, stretching my palm out and my fingers, with their perfectly-manicured nails, along with it. And then I looked at the coins in the water. I focussed on them, stretching for them, but nothing happened.

'I'm going crazy.' I murmured to myself. I wiggled my fingers and then a coin shot up out of the water. I grabbed it quickly and turned it over my hand. 'What on earth…?'

I looked up at the stormy sky and sighed, letting the coin fall back into the water. What kind of mess had I let myself get into? Seeing colours and now moving things without touching them? And then there was Prince Zed… I'd promised I was only here to help my family. That was the plan. And now I had feelings for him. I thought about his lips on Lucie's, their bodies dancing together… yesterday that had been us and now… I blinked and a tear rolled down my cheek. This is why I'd always locked my feelings away. Why I'd always kept my heart tucked well out of harm's way. Another tear fell and then it began to rain and I lost track- which were raindrops and which were salty tears, pieces of my heart? They all blurred and blended together.

I didn't move. Even when the rain became heavy and the lightning lit up the sky in an incredible display over the city. I stayed put and sobbed as the emotion I'd tried so hard to control burst out of me.

'Are you not going to training today, Sky?' Abby asked me the next morning when I rolled over in my bed as my wake-up call sounded.

'No,' I replied. 'They're cancelled until further notice.'

I didn't need to look at them to know they were exchanging nervous glances at one another. They'd fussed over me when I'd returned to my room soaking wet and shivering, long after the party was over. They'd made me have a warm shower and they'd dressed me in warm pyjamas before forcing tea down me. And despite asking questions, I'd blocked them out and had put myself to bed. I'd pretended to sleep whilst they sat in silence, the thunder and lightning battling in the sky outside, and then eventually they left, as did the storm.

'Shall I send a message to Prince Zed?' Chloe asked, seeing right through me.

'No,' I shook my head.

'Lady Amelie will be here in just over an hour. Shall we request breakfast to be sent to the room?'

'Please.' I nodded. 'And find me an outfit for today.' There was no backing out; we were helping paint the children's home and sharing our ideas with them today.

An hour and a half later and Amelie and I were riding in a carrirage in silence, heading for the children's home, dressed in plain floor-length gowns, Amelie's a deep shade of green and mine a deep shade of blue. We looked almost coordinated in our outfits, having chosen bland dresses so that it did not matter if we got paint on them.

'What happened last night?' Amelie asked as the driver turned a corner. Her eyes looked concerned.

'I didn't feel too well.' I replied. 'I felt dizzy and sick.' Not completely a lie.

'You should have said,' she said. 'I would have walked you back to your room.'

'It's okay.' I gave a weak smile, 'thank you, though.'

She nodded and I wondered if she believed me or if she was onto me. 'Should you be going out today?'

'I had a little breakfast in my room and so far so good.'

Amelie didn't pry. Instead she gave another nod and then turned to look out of the window.

She didn't mention the party or anything to do with Zed the rest of the day and part of me wondered if she knew why I was upset. Had she seen it too and shrugged it off? Was she stronger than me? Or maybe her feelings for Zed weren't the same? Instead we chatted away about films, television programmes and joked around with each other, splashing each other in paint as we covered the dull walls of the children's home with brighter, happier colours. In fact, Amelie kept me distracted until we got back to the palace that evening. Before we turned off for our separate rooms, both covered in paint, she grabbed my hand.

She turned to me, her eyes soft, 'I know we all get jealous when Zed chooses one of us… but I hope that doesn't turn us against each other because I think we've all made some good friends in here.'

'You saw Lucie and-'

She nodded, confirming my earlier thoughts, 'it's a competition, Sky,' she reminded me, 'and only one of us is going to win.'

Her words stuck with me that evening when dinner was delivered to our rooms as the dining hall was being used for a 'private' function. Or perhaps a date with the prince.

I found myself in the music room, alone, and I sat myself at the piano, my fingers running over the keys.

'She's new and she's beautiful
You've never been in a fight
Yeah it's awfully perfect now…' I paused as I looked at the mix CD sat on top of the piano, waiting to be given to Zed. 'But you just know deep inside

She's not me
She's not me
She's not me
Baby
She's not me.'

I thought of our time on the beach.

'Thank you for making me forget I'm a prince.' Zed has said about our day together. Did Lucie make him forget he was a prince? Did she make him feel special, like he was more than just a crown?

'Does she make you feel wanted like I did
Make you feel like you're the one thing that matters
You let her head rest on your chest.' I closed the piano lid and threw the mix CD into the bin before walking from the room before anyone could find me.