Hi! I hope you weren't too upset about the last chapter. This one will be interesting. Maxon is back on the clock! I think everyone deserves to see the hell he's going through. After all, America did just admit to cheating on him. The other girls in the Selection might or might not appear in the next few chapters. I'll let you decide. ;)

So here's what went down last chapter:

America was so sad and was stricken with grief and guilt. She ran to the gardens, and when Maxon showed up, she...

I told him about my boyfriend of two years, of how we would sneak up in my tree house at night. I told him about Aspen wanting me to join the Selection, not thinking that I would actually get in. I described how I felt when I realized that Aspen was a guard at the palace. I recalled every meeting we had together, in detail; and finally I finished with our last meeting before Aspen's death. The one where I told him that I was in love with Maxon, the one where I broke his heart.

After everything was out, it was like a weight lifted from my body. I stopped crying and began to shake. The enormity of what I had just confessed hit me like a ton of bricks. Maxon didn't respond to what I had said, and without a word, he got up and left me with my tears.

Once again, all rights to Kiera Cass, the writer of the Selection Trilogy. I am not intending to copyright (is that how you spell it?) anything from The One, but if I do, it's not my fault I understand Kiera's characters so well.

Chapter Seven

(Maxon's POV)

I chased America through the palace, eventually stopping when she had reached the gardens. Immediately I knew that she was hurting more than she was letting on.

"America, love, what's wrong?" I asked her, wondering how someone so strong could cry as much as she did.

Before I had the chance to reach out, she had fallen to the ground. I carefully settled myself next to her as she cried, hoping my presence would calm her down, but it only seemed to make things worse. Suddenly, I caught her eye. There was pain written all over her face. I didn't know whether to attribute it to her loss, or to something else entirely. Then she the words flew from her mouth, like she couldn't bear to contain them anymore, and my world came crashing down. I couldn't think, I could hardly breathe. The one girl that I loved in this competition had just hurt me more emotionally than my father ever could physically. It felt like I was getting stabbed repeatedly in the heart with every sentence that left her mouth. When she was finished, I couldn't handle being near her. I had thought that she had loved me, but how was that possible if she was with someone else this whole time? I got up in a hurry, turned towards the doors, and walked away.

On my way to my room, I spotted a few guards.

"If she doesn't come back inside in ten minutes, go up to her and escort her back to her room please." I said to them, trying hard not to show how much pain America's confession had caused me.

They both nodded their heads and continued on towards the gardens. As I was walking up the steps to my room, I heard a small part of their conversation.

"Wonder what she did this time." said one of the guards, sighing.

If only they knew.

When I entered my room, I went straight to the window overlooking the gardens. She was still there. I watched as she wept. Her whole body convulsed in on itself, like she was in complete agony. She was shaking so hard, I thought she would have a seizure at any second.

I could tell that she was sorry for what she had done, and her turmoil made my heart break apart, piece by piece. What could I do though? She had lied to me. I had finally started to trust her again, only to have her betray me.

My thoughts were so confused and irrational. I didn't know what I was going to do, but one question was eating away inside me.

Could I ever forgive her for this?

That was a short and sweet chapter for you guys. Sorry if you wanted more, but Maxon's mind is a confusing jumble of emotions and thoughts on a good day. Since he's so mad, its almost impossible to write everything he is feeling. *sighs*. Oh well. Next chapter will be up late tonight if we're lucky. Keep on reviewing and PMing me. I want your suggestions on what should happen for the next chapter! I have some ideas of what needs to happen, but I want it to be a longer chapter, so please message me if you can! If you've liked this story so far, feel free to favorite or follow. I update this every day, so watch your alerts! :)

-Property of Illea