After lunch, I spent around fifteen minutes messing around on my piano. I hunted through all the sheet music that I had been supplied, for once. I wanted to play something new, I guess. To distract me. As if I wasn't distracted enough lately. Maybe there was something wrong with me.

I picked up a piece that had caught my eye, and stretched out my fingers in preparation before laying them gingerly on the keys.

It wasn't a quick or uplifting tune, like the songs I usually played. It was a kind of sad and dreamy. I liked it. I scanned the lyrics once I had the chorus down, and sang along.

"We could make believe

I love you.

Only make believe that you love me.

Others find peace of mind in pretending

Couldn't you?

Couldn't I?

Couldn't we?"

Her voice softened.

"Might as well make believe I love you..."

"For to tell the truth..." Came a strong voice from behind me. I whipped around and found Maxon standing in the door way.

"I do." He smiled at me. "Hello, America."

I just blinked at him. He could sing?

"You can sing?" I asked. He chuckled.

"Mother encouraged it when I was young. I haven't sung in a very long time. But that song used to be one of my favorites." He came to sit beside me on the bench.

"You sing it much better than I did." He laughed again. Then his face grew serious.

"How are you, America?"

I sighed and looked down. "I'm fine Maxon, really."

"You are an awful lier America. Tell me."

I shrugged, and tried to look nonchalant.

"I 've just been thinking about the rebels lately."

"What about them?"

"Well, just them in general. You know, why they are taking books and if they are trying to get the diary. But if they are, what would they use the diary for? No one in Illéa would believe them if they claimed it was the real deal. So what could they use it for?" I placed my elbows on the keys of the piano, and it made a loud crashing noise. I rested my chin in my hands. Maxon looked me over.

"Well, it isn't your responsibility to worry about it, America." He said. I gave him a startled look.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that you are a girl in the selection, so it isn't necessary for you to worry about it."

"But Maxon, what if-"

"America." He gave me a stern look. Why was he being so difficult about it? He never seemed to have a problem with it before, so what was the bug deal now? I decided not to push it.

"Is that all that was bothering you?" Maxon asked. I thought about the fact that he had 5 dates with Kriss in the four days I had been back for good.

"Yes." I stated, and turned back to my music.

"I'm sorry I haven't been able to be with you yet thus week." Maxon began. He could see right through me. I decided to act like I hadn't noticed.

"No, no, it's fine," I said, waving the comment away. "I really don't mind at all."

It came out a little tighter than I had hoped.

"No, it isn't." Maxon said, taking my hand. I felt a jolt up my arm, a jump of electricity. Could he feel it to?

"Fath- er, the King finds Kriss to be a good choice for the crown."

Meaning, 'he thinks she's a better choice than you.' I tried not to be affected by it. It wasn't anything I didn't already know, right?

"But I'm all yours till lunch." Maxon said as he reclined against the piano. "What would you like to do?"

I thought for a moment. Considering I was in a bad mood, we should go to the place where I feel most at peace if we're going to have a decent date.

"The gardens." I said. Maxon nodded, and held out his arm for me to take it.

"After you, M'lady."

I rolled my eyes at him and slapped him playfully in the chest as we left the room, making him laugh again. Well, he was certainly in a good mood today.

On our way out to the gardens we passed Kriss, who waved at Maxon enthusiastically. Then she noticed that he had his arm around my waste and her smile faltered.

"Good morning." She said, coughing slightly. Maxon nodded back in greeting, and she hurriedly passed by us. Maxon was unaffected by it and we exited the palace, and entered the garden.

"We haven't been here for a long time, have we?" He said, as we both sat down on the bench.

"No, we haven't." I said. I gently slipped off my flats and wiggled my toes in the ground. The earth felt good on my feet, and I let out a sigh of happiness.

"You look wonderful in that dress, by the way." Maxon said, looking me up and down.

"My maids really are amazing, Maxon." I gushed, and fingered the soft material.

"You know, I don't believe any of the other girls have ever said anything to me about their maids."

I shrug. "They are one if a kind. Although, I bet the other maids are wonderful, too."

"I'll have to make sure to keep them on your staff." Maxon said. My eyes snapped up to his, and he seemed to catch himself.

"I-I mean, if father allows and you are sure and everything works out and-"

I cut him off with a soft kiss. "It's okay Maxon."

"I wish things were simpler. I just have to be sure. There are only four girls left, and this is the only chance I'm going to get. You can understand?"

I thought about Aspen. Yes, I did understand.

"I just need..." He trailed off.

"Time?" I finished, and leaned back on the bench. "It's okay Maxon."

He took my hand in his. "I know you understand. You always understand don't you?" He scratched the back of his head with his free hand. "I'm sorry I haven't had the chance to speak with you much lately. I can't draw attention to you now that father is breathing down our backs." He looked me in the eye. "He really doesn't want me to choose you America."

I searched his eyes. "What do you want?"

He stared at me with a strange intensity and he placed a gentle hand on my cheek.

"America..." He whispered. I placed a hand on his chest, and he pulled me towards him.

There was a cough behind us and we sprung apart, and I blushed. A guard was standing behind us, looking uncomfortable.

Maxon cleared his throat. "Yes?"

The guard blinked. "Your mother, Majesty. She says it's urgent."

Maxon nodded and stood. He looked down at me, and straightened his jacket.

"Sorry we have to cut it short. Maybe we could finish this later?" He asked. I nodded, which made him smile. Then he and the guard disappeared.

I sighed and plopped backwards on the bench. I really needed to stop making things so complicated.

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