SO, SO SORRY I DIDN"T GET THIS IN SOONER! I FEEL I'VE DEPRIVED YOU OF THIS! Sorry had to get that out! I am posting this late because of scheduling issues and am terribly sorry it's late! But when I checked my email I was so happy to see the new followers and favorites! theselection-divergent-thehost thanks for the review and I am going to bug you every day until you update! You're killing me here! Mockingjay04 you gave me a heart attack! You can't stop reading my story! I'm glad you love it and will do anything to make you not stop reading! Panda-Crazy-19 that's awesome because then you don't have to wait to find out the next thing haha! I've been placing breaks in the page to notify changes in views. If they are still confusing just tell me again. Gilmoregirls1197 I'm glad you like it and I didn't update fast enough today I feel awful! Reading your review made me feel like I failed you guys. But thanks for the review and I hope you read on! MackenzieLifebl thanks for following my story and I hope you continue to read! ClaireMoneith I'm happy to see your review and please don't die! I love reading your reviews and knowing you find ways to read the story! Please keep reading and I hope you enjoy this chapter! Meg-sters52 I'm glad you liked this chapter and how I've twisted Daphne a bit! Please continue to read and enjoy this chapter! lifeofdreams thank you for following my story and I hope you enjoy! Ihave1secret I am so happy to see you favorite my story and are also following it! You also followed me and I'm touched! Your review was awesome and I hope you read on!

That was a really LONG author's note! But thank you everyone!

Love Smashleigh

Chapter 21:

I wobbled a bit unsteadily on my feet, just waiting for Maxon to make the announcement already. All the cameras for the Report were almost literally glued to him so they could learn who the winner was. To be honest I was just itching to just stride out there and announce it myself. But he seemed to be enjoying holding out on the impatient audience.

"Shall we bring her out, Prince Maxon?" Gavril asked as the audience broke into a thunderous applause.

Maxon smiled and glanced backstage at me. "I believe she's ready Gavril." Maxon said standing up.

"I believe we've all been itching to know your new fiancée." Gavril said. "I wasn't even allowed to see her!"

I giggled at Gavril's mock pout. "Oh but now you will know." Maxon said. "Ladies and gentlemen, I give you your new Princess of Illéa!"

For a moment I froze and watched the blurry movements of the audience. But I snapped back into reality and strode confidently out on stage. Immediately I was met with silence. The audience stared at me shocked and I could do nothing but smile. This was just slightly awkward…

There was silence as I took her hand. She was trembling and I wish I could do anything to make her stop. But seeing as we were in front of the entire population of Illéa I refrained from leaning to whisper something encouraging in her ear.

"Lady America." Gavril said suavely, trying to fill the awkward silence. "Congratulations my dear!"

She blushed a deep scarlet as he kissed her hand. "Thank you Gavril." she said. "It's truly quite an honor."

Gavril chuckled. "Of course my dear! And how does it feel being the One?"

She took a seat beside me and fanned out her skirts. "Well it certainly is a lot quieter without thirty-four other women." she joked. A few people in the crowd chuckled.

"Did you not get along with them?" Gavril asked.

"No, no!" she exclaimed. "Everyone was sweet and I wish some of them could have stayed with me!"

"But you just enjoy the…privacy, with our Prince?" Gavril asked wiggling his eyebrows.

I barked out a laugh. "Gavril where do you get these questions?" I asked.

He smiled. "Experience Your Majesty. It just seems natural now."

That couldn't have been any worse! Immediately after the Report I walked upstairs to my room. My maids prepared a tray for me, knowing full well I wasn't dining with everyone. The Princess's suite had a separate dining table on the balcony and I ate alone under the stars. At least until May burst into my room.

"America!" she exclaimed. "Oh my God that was horrible! Are you alright?"

She came over and sat in the chair opposite mine. The look in her eyes was suite but I was hardly in the mood to speak. Even to her.

"Oh May." I cried letting the first of the tears fall. "It was awful! Just awful!"

Her chair scrapped against the balcony and I felt her arms wrap around me. "Shhh." she said. "It'll be alright! I'm sure Maxon has everything planned out already!"

I wrapped my arms around her and buried my face in her small shoulder. She rubbed my back and whispered assuring things in my ear but I was too frazzled. I knew they wouldn't accept me! It was too God damn obvious and I couldn't accept it! Marlee's the favorite! Elise has connections! I'm just another passing face! Just like Daphne said!

"Miss would you like to get ready for bed?" Mary asked when my sobs quieted a bit.

I nodded. "Yes, thank you." I untangled myself from May. "Sorry about the mess."

She gave me a sympathetic look. "No need to apologize to me miss."

I slipped into a pair of shorts and t-shirt, the pajamas I brought from home, and buried myself under the mountains of covers. It was only ten o'clock but I didn't feel like staying up.

"Goodnight." my three maids said in unison.

"Goodnight ladies." I said weakly from my mound of plush bedding.

The door clicked shut and I rolled over to look out over the balcony. I could smell the cool air blowing sweet smells from the garden below into my room. The smell settled my rattled nerves a bit and I sank deeper into the plushy heaven of my bed. But only to be awaken by a key turned in the lock to an adjoining room.

Maxon stepped in through the door that connected our adjacent rooms. He was wearing a gray t-shirt which hugged his muscles and a pair of black sweat pants. Never really seen him look this informal.

"America are you awake?" he whispered softly. I turned around and met his concerned brown eyes. "Oh my darling!"

He swiftly took my hand and sat on the edge of my bed. All over again the tears seeped down my cheeks and I buried my face in the soft linen pillow. "Maxon what have I done?" I cried. "This is worse than I imagined!"

His hand rubbed up and down my back as I let the tears flow. A few times he mumbled something softly but I couldn't make out what he was saying.

"It'll be alright America." he said. "They'll warm up to the idea."

I looked up into his eyes and shook my head. "No they won't!" I exclaimed in frustration. "No one would ever want a Five to rule a country! I'm not Marlee or Elise! I'm just some stupid red headed Five!"

The look of shock crossed his face. I didn't mean to burst out at him really but it's what everyone was thinking and I needed to get it out.

"I had no idea you-" he began.

"That's not my opinion Maxon!" I cut him off. "That's what everyone thinks of me!"

"That's not true." I told her. "Sure they're shocked that I picked you but that's because they don't know you like I do."

She let out a frustrated sigh. "Maxon don't you see?" she said sadly. "I'm just not cut out for this. I knew it the moment I stepped out into the spotlight tonight. No one likes me."

I grasped her hands and pulled her closer to me. "America listen to me." I said. "Whatever they say or do cannot change your mind. We will go through with this and I will marry you."

She sighed again. "But I'm no one's choice." she cried. "Never have. Never will."

I cupped her face in my hands and kissed her fiercely. She was stunned by my sudden force and hesitated before kissing me back. At once I felt her melt and I wrapped her in my arms.

"You are my choice, remember?" I told her pulling back from the kiss and leaning my forehead against hers. "That is never going to change as long as I'm here."

A cold breeze swept through the room and I saw the goose bumps run up her arms. "Promise you'll never leave me!" she said quickly.

I kissed her again. "I promise."

Alright I need your help! I may start another story soon and I want to know how many people would be interested. It's sort of similar to this but not quite. It's complicated to explain but I want to know if anyone would like to read my mystery story!