Hey, hey everyone! Alright so a few things to take care of before we begin our wonderful journey with Maxon and America… A review from a guest (LoveLoveLoveThis) I really was happy to see you liked it and I hope you read on! (btw love Peeta too!) thank you for adding the story to your favorites! RaJang I am glad to see your review and aren't they just perfect for each other? I've also read your story: Schreave Boarding School and I absolutely enjoy it so far! Gilmoregirls1197 thank you for following my story and make sure you read on! Funracheal thanks for the review and I'm so glad you liked it! Meg-sters52 I'm happy you like where this is going and I hope you find it more intriguing as we continue! Annette Windell I am extremely happy you are following me, my story, and for also being another person to favor it! Enjoy this next chapter!

I hope you enjoy this interesting new segment and like some new characters I added into the twist!

Love, Smashleigh

Chapter 9:

It's been almost a week since I've managed to escape the rebels and there has been this tense feeling in the air since then. The King of France's daughter was the brunette I saw kissing Maxon. Ever since then she's been doing anything and everything to make my life a living hell.

"I see you have a new opponent." Marlee whispered during dinner one evening.

Our eyes trailed to the table seating both royal families. She was decent enough but I didn't see anything that would want Maxon to choose her over me. Her brown hair was flat and lifeless, her eyes no different, and she had that arrogance of all princesses. I must've said the last part out loud because Elise and Marlee were trying to stifle giggles.

"Lady America!" Maxon called over to our table. "What is so funny down there?"

I turned my eyes to him and saw his eyes twinkle. He and I haven't had much time alone since I returned back but we manage to sneak a few meetings here and there. Last night after the Report he came to my room and he relaxed a bit while listening to me play the piano. I rarely see him relaxed anymore. He's always so tense when I see him but tonight he seems unusually happy.

"Oh I was telling the girls how atrocious your dancing was the other night." I teased him.

He let out a laugh but all the other members of the royal family were appalled at my bluntness. "Ah but Lady America it was you who kept stepping on my feet! Don't you remember?" he teased back.

I remember the night perfectly but we actually didn't dance much. There was one moment when he spun me around so I faced away from him and we swayed to the delicate music. But he wouldn't stop whispering in my ear or let me turn around. I silenced him with turning my head and he brought his warm lips onto mine.

I watched as his eyes danced with amusement at the memory as well. Then as casually as ever he tugged his ear. At first I hesitated only to see his reaction and when he gave me a challenging stare I tugged my ear. It was amusing to tease him and I knew he felt the same way when he teased me back.

Other than that dinner went on without a hitch. Princess Daphne, as I now learned her name from Marlee, was not very pleased at seeing me and Maxon so close. And after dinner I learned that from her personally.

I was walking from the infirmary from getting my bandage on my arm changed. The wound actually was pretty deep and would occasionally bleed and I was lucky no one noticed the stain on my white gloves. She was standing in the shadows near the ladies hall when she pulled me to the side.

"What is wrong with you?" she snapped at me.

I stared at her in mock incomprehension. "Whatever do you mean, Daphne?" I asked her trying to hide my smile.

"Excuse me but I am Princess Daphne and you will address me properly." she said snottily.

I shrugged. "I don't have to address Maxon properly." I teased.

She smacked me hard across the face. It stung a bit but it wasn't the worst I experienced. Celeste broke a teacup over my head once.

"I want you to leave Maxon alone." she ordered, "He's mine."

"Was this before or after he and I kissed for the last few nights?" I asked smartly.

She grabbed my shoulders and pinned me against the wall. Her strength shocked me and I tried struggling but she wasn't breaking. "Listen here smartass." she said. "I loved Maxon first and I know he still loves me. You're just a passing face. He knows where his loyalties lie."

I snorted at her arrogance. "Oh please." I said, "You just need to get over yourself because Maxon will never, in a million years, choose some normal brunette over me."

I turned the corner just as Daphne nailed America in the jaw. America staggered a bit and then Daphne lunged at her. I rushed over to them just as Daphne dug her nails into America's right arm. America screamed in pain and I pulled Daphne off her.

"Daphne!" I exclaimed, "What the hell was that?"

I kneeled over America and helped her up. She was holding her right arm in a vise-like grip and turned away from me.

"Are you alright?" I whispered to her.

She shook her head. "Excuse me." she and walked to her room, leaving me alone with Daphne.

Daphne had tears in her eyes and I pretty sure she remembered the time I use to crumble when girls cry. But now I knew how to deal with crying girls because I dealt with thirty-one crying girls and one jealous one so far.

"Do you really love her Maxon?" she whimpered.

Without hesitation I nodded. "She's something you'll never be Daphne." I told her. "America is someone capable of greater things, one of them being a lady."

"Are you saying I'm not a lady?" she snapped.

"You did not act very lady-like or like a princess at all." I told her sternly, "I'm sure your father will not be happy to hear that his only daughter was being rude."

"You wouldn't dare!" she exclaimed.

"Try me Daphne." I warned her, "You don't know me anymore. I'm not the Maxon I was months ago. I've gone through more than you'd imagine."

"I agree." she said sharply, "You aren't the Maxon I knew. He would've defended me and comforted me. But I see this little tramp has snuck her way into your heart."

With that she turned and went up the stairs to the third floor suites. I watched her without any emotion as she sauntered off thinking she got to me.

As soon as she was out of sight I walked over to America's room. I heard a muffled cry from inside a peeked through the door. From this view I could see her leaning over her bathroom sink. Her face was very pale and she held something red in her left hand.

"America?" I asked as I shut the door behind me.

She turned her head quickly and tried hiding what was in her left hand. Her right arm was pinned behind her back and she looked at me with red rimmed eyes.

"I'm sorry about that Maxon." she said bowing her head. "It was very foolish of her to get to me like that."

I came over to her and tilted her face up to look at me. A shadow of a bruise was exposed on her jaw and I looked in the mirror to see her arm stained with blood.

"Let me see it America." I sighed.

She dropped her eyes and brought her right arm around her. I was shocked but seeing this seemed like nothing compared to last week.

"Come here." I said pulling her over to the tub.

As I cleaned up the wound she wouldn't meet my eyes. She thought it was her fault for the fight did she? Did she think I was mad at her?

"America do you think I'm mad at you?" I asked her leaning down to look into her eyes. She looked at me and I saw her eyes gleam with laughter. "Why Lady America! Are you teasing me again?"

She smiled and leaned down to kiss me. "I could never be mad at you Maxon." she said.

I tilted her head up and kissed her again. "You have been in such a happy mood this past week." I told her. "Should I be expecting something? A surprise perhaps?"

She tightened her lips together and turned her head away. "Why would I tell you if it is supposed to be a surprise?" she said from the side of her mouth.

I wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer. She looked at me out of the corner of her eye but wouldn't turn her head. "Fine then." I told her. "I guess I'll have to rely on something else."

I turned her head and brought my lips down on hers hard. She keeps her mouth shut and in that moment I'm not thinking anymore. All I think of is her and not of anything else. I trace my tongue over her lips and she shivers. Final she opens her lips a little and I don't hesitate. She's overcome by my sudden force and wraps her arms around my neck to keep from falling backwards.

"Maxon!" she exclaims and turns her head. I let my lips trail down her neck and she giggles. "What has gotten into you?"

I pull back from her and look into her eyes with all my heart. "God I love you." I whisper softly. "I wish I could send everyone else home and marry you next week."

"Then why don't you?" she presses.

"It's not that simple." I sigh. "My Father thinks I'll fall in love with someone else and by sending the others home he'll think I've rushed into things."

She sighs and presses her forehead against mine. "But you know I love you too, right?" she asks.

I kissed her softly. "Of course." I told her. "How could I ever forget?"

Chapter 10:

That night I couldn't sleep. Daphne's accusing words rang through my head. Could he still love her? Was I another passing face like she accused me of being? It was weird how I couldn't sleep as often as I use to. Things were just getting tenser than before. But if Maxon still loved her why would he love me? After the intense kisses he gave me tonight I felt sure he loved me so much. I was so close to spoiling his surprise too.

After several attempts at trying to fall asleep I gave up. I slipped into my robe and slippers and walked out of my room. The guard was asleep (typical) so I went passed him towards the garden doors. I was relieved that Maxon gave me permission to go out into the garden anytime. The fresh Angeles air was refreshing when I needed it.

Outside it was a little cold and I gathered my robe around me for warmth. This garden was easy to maneuver around now. I could make my way around it with my eyes closed. Slowly I made my way over to the bench where I first talked to Maxon. I let myself smile at how foolish I must've been when he met me.

Suddenly I felt a soft kiss on my neck. "What were you thinking of that made you smile?" he asked in my ear.

Maxon scooted down next to me and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. He was still in his suit pants and white linen shirt. At some point he lost his tie and his shirt sleeves were rolled up and I couldn't help but notice how defined his arms were.

"I was thinking of the first time you found me here." I told him leaning my head on his shoulder.

He leaned his head on mine and we sat in silence. At some point I felt myself doze off and being able to dream peacefully without any worries.

Lucy opened my door to come wake me up. She tried to move silently but I was already awake. I sat up in bed and watched Lucy get my outfit ready for breakfast.

"Oh good morning miss!" she said noticing me.

"Good morning Lucy!" I said slipping out of bed.

She smiled at me and continued her work. Usually she was more open in the mornings but something was obviously eating at her. "Lucy?" I said. "Are you okay?"

She paused for a second and sighed. "It's about Officer Leger." she said. "He insists on seeing you right now."

I sighed. "Alright." I said. "Can you ask him to accompany me to the infirmary after I change?"

She nodded. "Of course miss."

After I slipped on the light blue day dress and white flats, I opened the door and motioned for Aspen to follow. "What is it Aspen?" I asked softly as we walked towards the infirmary.

"America I can't take this anymore!" he exclaimed softly. "My mind had been filled with you ever since you corrected me, which you had every right to do, but I can't get you out of my head!"

I stopped outside the infirmary door and glared at him. "Aspen please believe me when I say that I love him." I told him. "You were and always will be my first love. But I have Maxon now. I love him with all my heart and you have to see he makes me happy."

Aspen looks down at me with his emerald green eyes. For a moment he looked like he was about to kiss me but I turned away. "Mer?" he asked softly. I turned around and glanced at him around my shoulder. "Are you really happy? Truly?"

I nodded. "With Maxon it's different." I told him. "He makes me feel…I don't know. Different? It's difficult to explain."

He nods. "Goodbye Mer." he says and leaves.

The doctor says that the new puncture could delay healing for quite some time so I was advised to take it easy. That didn't seem too much of a problem as long as I avoided Daphne.

On the way down to breakfast I ran into Marlee. She looked delicate in her pale pink dress. The long sleeves added elegance to her look. "Marlee you look fantastic!" I exclaimed as I linked arms with her.

"America so do you!" she said and in a whisper said, "So has he found out yet?"

I smiled at her and shook my head. "He has no clue!" I giggled.

"How much longer are you going to keep him waiting?" she asked.

"Oh not much longer." I assured her.

Breakfast was dull, as usual. But we had a new face at the table. We were told he was Prince Fredrick, Daphne's fiancé. To be honest I don't know how such a strikingly handsome young man could be stuck with a plain looking princess. Neither of them seemed to enjoy one another's company so it was obviously an arranged marriage.

"So Prince Maxon," Fredrick began, "how did it feel with thirty-five gorgeous women in your home?"

Maxon glanced at me before answering. "It was quite an experience I'll say that much." he admitted with a laugh.

"How so my friend?" he asked.

"Well you see that girl with the fiery red hair down there?" Maxon asked motioning to me. I felt a blush spread across my cheeks as I looked up at him. "She was not afraid to show me who she really was the first night we met."

"That sounds quite delicious." Fredrick said looking at me. His black eyes were so hypnotizing I couldn't look away. "Care to elaborate?"

"Oh no, no." Maxon said. "That's between me and her."

"Keeping secrets from me my friend?" he asked in mock pain.

"Not from you. But for her." he said giving me a wink.

A deeper blush spread across my face and I had to look down to hide my smile. Maxon was openly complimenting me and me alone. It was odd for him to be so blunt.

"Well I shall have to get to know this mysterious beauty." Fredrick said flirtatiously.

I sneaked a glance at Maxon and saw his eyes rage in fury for a second. "We should have a double date then!" he exclaimed cheerfully. "Her and I with you and Daphne!"

Maxon was only trying to cover his rising temper. Apparently we shared the same jealousy when one another were being targeted by others. Isn't that something that happens when you realize you're in love? You can't stand when the other person is with another?

"It's a deal my friend!" Fredrick said. "I'm sure the ladies will have a splendid time!"