Hi! This is THE longest cchapter I have ever written, so I hope you enjoy. :)

All rights to Kiera Cass, the writer of the Selection Trilogy.

Chapter Ten

(America's POV)

Within minutes I was on the third floor. I knew the repercussions of being in the royal family's quarters, but I couldn't help myself- I had to get to Maxon. Then I remembered, I had never been to his room. I mentally scolded myself. How was I supposed to get to Maxon if I didn't know where to find him? I hung my head, feeling defeated.

"Lady America?"

I looked up. A maid was standing in front of me.

"Lady America, you can't be up here. This floor is off-limits to the Selected." she said, trying not to show her nervousness about me being here.

To be quite honest, I was nervous myself. How much trouble would I get in to if the King saw me here? I shivered at the thought.

"Oh...I know. I-I need to speak with Prince Maxon. Is there any way that you could show me to his room?" I asked hesitantly.

This was an awful plan. No maid would allow me to see him. The third floor was only for the royal family.

She looked at me with sympathy, "I'm sorry, miss, but I cannot." she pursed her lips, "But I could go fetch him for you if you'd like. As long as he says its okay, you can stay up here with him."

"That would be great, but while you're asking him for permission, could you tell him something?" this was my only shot, "Could you tell him that I'm pulling my ear? He'll know what it means."

She looked at me quizzically, "Of course, miss. I'll be back with an answer shortly."

While she was away, questions were milling inside my head.

Would he say yes to the maid? Would I get another chance to explain everything? Could he forgive me for the awful things I had done? Would I ever regain his trust if he did?

The maid was back.

"Prince Maxon says its okay. You can stay. Please follow me, he'd like to see you in his room." she quickly turned around in place and started walking down the hall.

We made a few turns and walked up several hallways before finally arriving in front of a large french door. The maid knocked on the door, and then turned towards me.

"You have a lot of courage, Lady America. No one else in this competition has been up here without a request from a member of the royal family. I know that your reasons for coming here had to have been important, but you must remember- the next time you try this, you may not be so lucky. A maid won't always be here to help." she looked at me, trying to send me a warning with her eyes. I understood loud and clear.

As she started down the hallway, the door to Maxon's room opened. I turned around at the noise, and saw Maxon, clearly in pain, in front of me.

"Maxon? Are you alright?" I asked shyly, thinking that this may have been a bad idea.

He opened the door wider, allowing me room to walk in. As soon as I was through the threshold, the door clicked shut. Soon after, Maxon was next to me, taking my hand and leading me towards his bed. He sat down, and I followed suit.

"America, why are you here? If anyone else, especially my father had found you in that hallway..." he shook his head. We both knew what the King was capable of.

I swallowed, remembering the jagged scars running up and down Maxon's back.

"I needed to see you." I said meekly, trying as hard as I could not to cry, "I wanted you to know that I still love you, and to tell you that what I said to you in the hospital was true. Everything that I've said to you, all the moments we have had together, they all still mean the world to me. You make my heart beat faster every time I see you. When you speak, I get butterflies in my stomach.

"I know that what I did was terrible, unforgivable, even. It was wrong, and I never meant for it to go on for so long. I had stopped seeing him in October, right when we were getting closer. I didn't speak to him if I could help it. I remember feeling so happy when I was with you. I would forget about Aspen in those moments. I didn't think that you were a bad guy anymore. I actually thought that you were the nicest and most sincere man I had ever met. But then Marlee's caning happened, and I couldn't bear to look at you. My best friend was caned, and I watched as you did nothing to help her. Your actions infuriated me, and I was distant again. I was so angry at you. Just the thought of you frustrated me.

"I reverted back to my old ways. You did something I couldn't forgive you for, and because of that I leaned towards Aspen again. For weeks I met with him, but something was different. I didn't know it when I was with him, but now I can see that my love for him had changed. When he kissed me, I didn't feel sparks anymore, I just felt normal. I guess I mistook that as just being used to our kisses, but I was wrong. I had changed-had fallen in love with someone else, and it was too late for Aspen to change that.

"Then, when you and I were on good terms again, I saw you with Celeste. Needless to say I didn't take that well. That was when I decided that I was done. If I couldn't have you, and if you didn't want me, I was going to leave with a bang. The new challenge gave me that opportunity. I prepared everything. I had flashcards and books and a poster. I was ready.

"Of course, you know what happened next. Your father stopped the cameras, and I panicked. The look he was giving me made me want to run as far away as I could. I couldn't seem to move though. It was like he was slapping me with every malicious word he said. I guess he would have done the real thing if there wasn't a room full of people around us." I shivered, averting my eyes from his.

"I was upset when I got to my room. I couldn't believe what I had just done. I wasn't expecting my maids to be there after the report. When I saw them they burst into applause. They told me how wonderful I was, that they agreed with my idea. I couldn't bear listening to any more compliments on the awful thing I had done. I excused myself and fled the room. I took all of the back hallways, trying to get to the gardens unnoticed, but then I bumped into you, and the rebels attacked.

"I had contemplated telling you about Aspen when we were in the safe room, but the thought of you hating me in our last moment together was too much for me to handle. I didn't want to lose you.

"When the attack was over, I prepared myself to leave. Aspen was there waiting. He came over to me and kissed me, but I pulled away. Your choice to send me away had broken my heart, and Aspen's lack of sympathy annoyed me. I told him that I loved you. I said that it would take a long time to get over you. He was so angry at me. I could tell that he knew that I was over him. I could almost see his heart breaking. I felt bad, but what was I supposed to do? I couldn't lead him on forever. My heart was yours.

"When you told me I could stay, I was overcome with relief. I had a second chance. I was going to prove you wrong. I was going to be trustworthy." I started to sob.

"And I broke my word. I was in agony when you walked away. It was like the one thing that kept me breathing was gone." I finished.

I couldn't believe I had just said all of that. I had revealed all of my emotions to him. I had finally let my walls down.

I looked over to Maxon, and my breath caught in my throat. The look on his face was one of complete shock. I didn't know what to do.

"Maxon?" I asked, "Max-"

He cut me off with a kiss.

"I love you, too America." he said, wiping the tears away from my eyes, "I forgive you."

You're welcome, Maxerica fans. That was for everyone who annoyed me about writing an apology from America. Just so you know- I was going to do that anyways. haha. I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. It took a good two hours to write. Keep on sending me PMs, reviewing, following, and favoriting. I love it when people give feedback on my writing, or suggestions on what I should do next, so don't be shy to contact me. :)

-Property of Illea