Now I can see a grand audience from the top of the stairway. There were so many girls in front of me. I quickened myself up. I looked at Maxon and Daniel standing on either side of a bowl. That bowl contained something. Perhaps, paper.

The first girl went down the stairway. The stairway had the red carpet all along. The first one was Elise. She went and picked up a piece of paper…whoa…it wasn't just a piece of paper but a chit. She opened that chit and spoke, "Maxon."

The crowd cheered and she went on towards Maxon. Maxon hugged her and she moved further. Then the next girl and it happened so. Not a single girl had gone into the group of Daniel. Soon, it was my chance to stroll down. God…please give me strength.

I strolled down and there was silence in the hall. Not even a whisper or cheer. I moved towards the bowl and sighed. For once, did I glance at Maxon and then at Daniel. They both seemed hopeful. I picked the chit feeling nervous. I opened it and my eyes widened in surprise.

I didn't speak anything for a moment.

"What is it?" Daniel asked.

"It's you." I spoke.

He jumped with happiness and hugged me so tightly in front of the whole crowd and even kissed me on the cheek. I wondered why he was so happy. I didn't want to hug him, at least not in front of Maxon. This was getting really pathetic.

"Hey…calm down." I spoke.

"Yes…darling, of course." Daniel spoke.

I looked at Maxon who looked a bit upset with what was happening in front of his eyes. Was it my fault? No, surely not. I couldn't handle or control any of this. It was luck to go in his team.

Daniel suddenly woke me out of my dreams and took me to sit in the corner of somewhere.

I sat there and suddenly there was an announcement.

"I request all the girls to move to the dance podium and begin the dancing with their partners." A man spoke standing on the top of staircase.

"What? About which partner are they talking about?" Daniel heard me speaking this.

"It's me." He spoke.

"You what?" I asked.

He was grinning at me like he had a huge conspiracy planned behind the walls of his mind.

"Your partner." He said plainly and I can see his eyes crinkling.

"No way. You aren't going to be…. I would not dance with you." I spoke irritatingly.

"You have to. It's your fate. The destiny wanted us to be together. And so, after all of which has happened between us, we stand on the same track. Doesn't this surprise you a bit?" he spoke smiling at me.

I wanted to punch him in the mouth and break his teeth for the stupid and silly expression which he was giving. I wish I knew what was written in the chit. I would never have gone for his name. I mean, all the other girls are so lucky to have Maxon and I am the only stupid girl who is going to perform a dance with this idiotic person. I never did imagine that this dance evening is going to be so bad and unfortunate for me.

"So, Lady America, shall we proceed." He spoke lowering his hand.

I took his hand and shot a fiery look at him at which he smiled again.

"What if I don't dance with you? Then, what could you possibly do?" I asked grinning at him.

"Well, I don't think so the situation will ever come because you have this chance to increase your points and be superior in front of the audience. The more people will like you, the more they are going to promote you to be the queen of Ilea." He spoke.

He took my hand in his and we kept moving. I knew that I couldn't plan a conspiracy because all my shots would be aimed back at me. As we reached the dance podium, I looked at Maxon and Celeste. Celeste laughed at something which Maxon whispered in her ear. I was getting jealous of Celeste.

"Hey…where are the other girls?" I asked Daniel.

"Disqualified." He spoke.

"What?" I said.

"Yeah…eventually, Maxon has to choose a single girl amongst all of them because he couldn't dance with all of them. So, I guess, you are at a big advantage." He spoke.

"Yes…I am." I whispered.

Soon we reached the podium and the crowd cheered with our entrance. Maxon stopped laughing as I reached there and his expressions became serious with every step that I took on the podium. The podium was sinning like glass and I felt so cold and chilly here but I liked it anyway.