Hi thank you guys again for reading! Sorry that these two have been short! I'm just trying to build the story of each character, then I'll start going to different PoV's. Again review, you don't have to have an account to create a guy! Lol I'll only take the first five so again thanks and enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 2

Eli's POV

I stood there, over the hot stove as chopped onions were being fried over a bright flame.

"Eli, were's that pasta, it was ordered ten minutes ago," Jim shouted.

"It's coming, you can't rush perfection," I yelled back.

"I can and I will. We don't need anymore angry customers."

Sighing, I drained the pasta, plopped it in a bowl, and dumped sauce over the top.

"Order up."

"What is this, crap on plate?"

"You can't rush perfection," I added before he stormed away.

"Hey Eli," Katherine purred to me, "Order, table seven, and um. . . Maybe a date with me?"

Katherine was my co worker. She had blond hair, big hoop earrings, and bright red lips. Compared to my scrawny figure, sandy blonde hair, and freckle dotted nose. . . I was nothing compared to the wanted girl sitting next to me on a wooden stool. Yet, I had to deny. I was still holding out for, Her. To Katherine I was just another prize to claim.

"Sorry, Katherine, I'm a little busy tonight. My family always likes to watch the report together."

"Well then I could just come over and watch it with you."

God, she was persistent. "No, fine, I'll tell you the real reason, my parents don't want me dating till after the Selection. Or until they know I won't be attending."

"Oh, you have. . . those parents," she said annoyed.

You could say that my drunk parents were those parents, because

when they were sober they were. When they were not hunger-over, they were strict. So yeah. . . They were those parents.

"Sorry Kat."

"No prob, we can just try to meet up in a couple weeks," she said perking back up. With that, she got up, took the plate of fried onions, and sashayed out through the door.

After work, I collected any tips I had and headed towards home. My family lived where the sixes used to. Our home had a screen door, a holed roof with black tarp to cover it, and the exterior was leaning inward.

"Michael," my mom shouted to my dad.

"Michelle," he hollered back as I stepped through the door.

"The, Report. . . Is on," she slurred.

"Is Eli home yet?"

"Yep," I said walking to the dirty carpet on the floor.

"Eli," my little sister called running to me, then plopping down into my lap. her blond pig tails bounced as she settled down. "Hey Railyn," I said tickling her.

"Eliiii, stoooop," she laughed.

"That's enough," my mom snapped.

I stopped as my dad cranked up the T.V. as Gavril appeared. "Hello Illea," he shouted. In response, the crowd cheered and hollered as he sat down. "I have some very exciting news," more cheers, "The princess turned eighteen yesterday! And you know what that means!"

"The Selection," the crowd chorused.

"That's right! All young men from seventeen to twenty-one get to enter and try to woo the princess!"

The cameras cut to the princess, who looked like she would want to be anywhere else but there. She was still stunning tonight though. Draped in gold cloth and a red broach pinned on her chest. Her hair was pinned up with soft curls framing her pale face. She gave a small smile that left her as soon as the cameras weren't focussed on her.

"So, Illea, if you think that you have what it takes to be Illea's next king and win over Princess Maddy,s heart, then fill out forms for your province, and submit them before the next Report. Thank you, and goodnight Illea!"

The T.V. cut to black, leaving the living room silent.

"You're signing up," my mom said, almost to herself. "And you're going to win."

"Yeah, and you're gonna be sober tomorrow," I smarted.

"You shut up boy and go to your room," she said, smacking the back of my head. "Get to bed, both of you!"

I stood up, carrying a crying Railyn in my arms and left to our room. Which is just down the hall.

"Shhhh, Ray, stop crying."

"Eli, you gotta sign up. Sign up and make mommy and daddy stop." "I will Ray, I will.