A/N: To Virtue01: Yes! This story is about Kaden Schreave from The Selection canon. For better context, I must refer you to my previous stories: To Build a Home and Princess, Interrupted.

The Thing About Rivalries

The thing about rivalries is, they're not as exciting as they seem.

Montagues and Capulets. Hatfields and McCoys. Schreaves and Illéas. History was marked by these families at odds, scandal and mistrust peppered throughout generations in order to keep the feud alive. And in the end, no one ever seemed to know nor care what started all this mess in the first place. At some point, the rivalry became boring. The children grew tired of a hatred they didn't know why they were carriying. Eventually, the urge to lay down arms and let the past go became insurmountable.

Hayden was still waiting for that last part to happen to her family.

Still, that didn't stop the butterflies from fluttering in her stomach as she unfolded and read the same, taboo invitation she had been obsessing over since she found it on her nightstand when she woke up that morning.

Our place, tonight, ten p.m.

The cursive lettering seemed to lift off the page and tattoo themselves onto Hayden's heart. It was stupid, she knew. Stupid and risky to be seen reading this particular note, the skip in her step a dead give away, but she could not help herself. Every nerve in her body was humming, waiting impatiently for time to tick by until it was dark enough to slip out.

Hayden's romanticizing abruptly ended when Kase came barreling down the foyer with a duffel bag slung over his shoulder. He wore a leather jacket over a ratty tee and a pair of comfy jeans - traveling clothes. Thankfully, he was too focused on pushing full steam ahead that he did not see Hayden shove the note into the pocket of her skirt. In fact, Kase was too focused to see her at all.

How rude!

"Hey!" Hayden called after her brother's retreating form. "Where are you going?"

There were only two places Kase ever stormed off to: St. Petersburg to see his girlfriend, or Paris to see cousin Gen. Given how angry he was, Hayden's money was on Paris. He always left for Paris when he was at his lowest, something about how 'Gen and Neelam are the only people who understand me' or something like that. Hayden had been watching this pattern for years; Kase would be gone for a few weeks, then come back like nothing happened. For as much time as he spent with Uncle Ahren's family, Kase should have just moved there by now, though Hayden could have felt that way because she was tired of her brother hogging the royal jet.

"Paris." Right on the money. "Thought I'd get away for a bit."

"Shame. You're going to miss all the fun."

"Yeah, Dad said something about a Selection?" Kase scratched the back of his head, arching a brow. "Don't tell me you've gone and drank the fruit punch."

"Nope!" Hayden said, popping the 'p' as she swayed on her heels. "That's all Delia."

Kase was struck speechless, blinking slowly as if the information did not compute. "Wow, yeah not sorry to miss that. Are you sure she wasn't high or something? Because she was definitely high when I saw her before breakfast."

"She was dead serious. I've never seen her look like that."

"Knowing her, it's just an excuse to sleep with thirty random strangers."

"Kasey Declan Schreave, there shall be no slut shaming in this house!" Hayden pulled out his full name, slapping him on the arm for good measure. Her high and mighty act was hindered by the laugh she was trying and failing to suppress. "In all honesty you're probably right, but she has full autonomy of her body and it is not up to anyone to tell her what she can and cannot do with it."

"Alright, alright, I concede to the winning argument," Kase held up his hands and started backing away. "Does the victor want anything while I'm away? Perhaps another Louis to add to the collection?"

"Please, Louis is so last season. It's Chanel or nothing." She flashed her Chanel-insignia bracelet just to emphasize the point. It was her favorite accessory at the moment, and went so perfectly with her pearl studs.

Kase rolled his eyes and performed a mock bow. "What Her Highness wants, Her Highness gets."

"Get out of here," Hayden shoved at Kase with a laugh. "Fly safe, and please send the jet back in time for Auden and I to fly to Portugal!"

Kase waved a hand over his shoulder, the best thing to a goodbye Hayden was going to get.

Hayden rolled her eyes and continued on her way. Some things never changed.

If only she could convince the things that were changing to remain the same.

Her room was an absolute disaster when she pushed open the double doors. Clothes and shoes were strewn over the vanity, all the furniture in the sitting area, even on the posts of one of the beds. The other was spotless, sheets pressed and neatly made, a plethora of throw pillows decorating the comforter.

At least Auden was respectful enough to keep her mess to her side.

It may have been stereotypical of twins, but Hayden had always shared a room with Auden. Not because they weren't allowed to have their own rooms; the palace was plenty big for that. No, it was because they genuinely could not stand to be without each other's company. Life without Auden was going to be so...dull. Hayden didn't know how she was going to bear it.

"Nearly packed?"

"I think so," Auden said pensively, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth. She stood in front of what remained of her closet, the picture of indecision. "How exactly does one pack up their entire life in one suitcase?"

"Easy: buy another suitcase," Hayden said as she cleared a space on the couch and gracefully lounged across it. "Or you could just forgo this crazy idea altogether and stay here with me."

"Please, not you too," Auden groaned, a little bit of misery slipping through her placid mood. "I already had to deal with the wounded puppy eyes from Mom. I can't handle it from you right now."

"Fine, I'll just be direct," Hayden compromised, knowing full well that wasn't what Auden meant. "I don't want you to go get married to a total stranger because you feel like you have to."

"No one is forcing me to do this. I want to do this. It was my choice."

There it was, that tired resignation that colored Auden's response since she first announced her arrangement. It was a sure sign that Auden was hiding something. Hayden could not help the tinge of hurt that wound through her at the thought that her other half was keeping secrets. Of course, Hayden was in no place to call Auden out on it, because that would make her a hypocrite. It wasn't like Auden knew anything about the note in her pocket.

"So you say, but I've shared a womb with you. I know you better than anyone. And this...this is the least you decision you've ever made," Hayden argued, crossing her arms over her chest. "You're the most rational, cautious person I know, and now you want to elope in some foreign country? It doesn't make any sense."

"Maybe I was tired. Maybe I wanted a change."

"Okay, so you dye your hair. Go buy a Porsche. You don't get hitched for life!"

Auden turned from the closet to face Hayden head-on, looking so much older than twenty-two.

"I don't expect you to understand Hay, but please respect me when I say this was my decision. You can't change my mind about this one."

"I just wish you weren't going so far," Hayden pouted, feeling tears sting at her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She had spent far too long applying her mascara to ruin it. "I mean, Portugal, Aud? That's a whole freaking ocean. You couldn't have picked a Governor or something?"

Auden snorted and covered her mouth, humor making this conversation a little more bearable. "Every Governor in Illéa is easily twice my age and spoken for."

"Not every Governor," Hayden corrected, leaning in as she always did when she had something particularly juicy to spill. "I heard Elodie talking on the phone earlier with the new Governor of Allens - Jordan Reinhardt."

"Oh, it's been forever since we've seen him!" Auden exclaimed, a smile taking over her face as she thought of the family friends. "I hope he's well. Wait - why is he Governor? What happened to his father? Is Miss Josie alright?"

That wasn't the reaction Hayden was going for, but Auden was too naive to think of any ulterior motives. Hayden, on the other hand, was always trying to look for the scandalous, and it was no secret that Elodie and her former BFF were close back in the day. By the sound of Elodie's voice, that closeness could easily be rekindled by this impromptu visit. Not that Hayden was a regular supporter of infidelity. It was just that Elodie deserved some happiness in her life, and if she found it with Jordan, then it was what she deserved.

"Sounded like everything was roses," Hayden shrugged, studying her nails. It was far past time to touch up her french tips. "I think I heard them planning a family trip this way."

"That'll be nice," Auden agreed. She and Hayden had both missed Miss Josie dearly; the woman was like a second mother. "What's not nice is you spying on Elodie's conversations."

"She shouldn't talk so loudly."

"More like you shouldn't press your ear to her door."

Hayden shrugged again, but much more mischievously. "What can I say? I get it from Mom."

"I don't think Mom ever once intentionally invaded our private conversations."

"To-may-toe, to-mah-toe."

Another laugh from Auden and she went back to facing her half-empty closet. The indecision returned just as soon as Auden set eyes back on the mess. Hayden let out a long-suffering sigh and got up from the couch. Honestly, how did Auden expect to survive without her?

.o.O.o.

There was a down side to sharing a room with your twin/best friend. And that was that it made sneaking out of the house nearly impossible.

Hayden was by no means a Delia. It wasn't like she was spending her weekdays figuring out ways to sneak off to clubs or parties. But from time to time, Hayden did enjoy taking a night to herself, which made slipping out unnoticed a pain. Auden was the lightest sleeper in the entire world, which made every single noise an opportunity for Hayden to be busted. Once, Hayden had dropped a pillow on the floor 'too loud' and Auden was bolt upright the next second, asking who was there. Honestly. Hayden hoped Auden's husband-to-be didn't snore, or it would be a short lived arrangement.

Auden also went to bed precisely at nine-thirty, like a grandmother. It made Hayden's meeting at ten a little harder to make, but Hayden was a pro at quick changing by now. She made sure to wear the little black dress underneath her robe, slipping out of the pink silk as soon as she thought Auden was asleep and quickly shuffling out of the room. She would put her shoes on in the hall, and she had a case of make up stashed in the bathroom nearest the main foyer.

Okay, maybe she had sneaking out down to a science. Maybe she had learned by watching Delia. So sue her.

When Hayden opened the door to the bathroom, she found that her hiding place had been compromised.

Delia was sitting cross-legged on the toilet seat, her upper body swallowed by a giant pink fur monstrosity of a jacket, and her bottom half covered in a metallic miniskirt and fishnets. A pair of platform wedges were discarded on the ground. A circle of glitter surrounded the fashion monstrosity. A circle of glitter that could have only come from Hayden's limited edition glitter palette that was created specifically for her. And Delia was wasting it on her over-applied eyelids. Combined with the teal eyeliner, she looked like a cross between Woodstock and a washed up drag queen.

"Well well well, look who we have here. Little miss priss breaking the rules," Delia crooned, already a bit spacey. It was hard to tell what she had already consumed through the overpowering scent of floral perfume.

Hayden was already running late to her rendez-vous. She did not have the time to deal with this. She crossed her arms over her chest and frowned. "What do you want, Cordelia?"

"Nothing," Delia shrugged, snapping the palate shut and giving Hayden a sublime smile. "Hey, I'm no snitch. I didn't see a thing if you didn't."

Hayden rolled her eyes and snatched her palate back from Delia's glittery fingertips. "Get out of here. And try not to get yourself killed."

"Your concern is touching," Delia said with mock gratitude, clutching her hand to her chest, smearing the glitter all over her crop top. If a crop top was the right word for the bit of fabric that was just enough to cover her nipples and a bit of underboob. Christ. Were they even related?

Delia got up off the toilet seat and grabbed her shoes. Her movements were a little uncoordinated, but not enough to be worrisome. Hayden had seen her sister worse; she hoped that Delia would cut down on this type of behavior for the Selection, but the likelihood of that was becoming less and less.

Delia brushed close to Hayden on her way out, the fur of the pink monstrosity tickling Hayden's bare shoulder.

"What's his name?" Delia fake whispered into Hayden's ear. This close and Hayden could smell the liquor on Delia's breath, perfume unable to hide it. Hayden prickled. Tipsy or not, Delia was far too close for comfort.

"Good night, Cordelia!" Hayden snapped, pushing her sister the rest of the way out the door, unable to see Delia's pout as she firmly shut the door. Hayden wished she could slam it, but that would ruin the purpose of sneaking out for the both of them.

Alone, Hayden let out a long breath, bracing both of her hands across the sink.

Tonight is going to be amazing, Hayden told her reflection, taking in the sophisticated young woman who stared back.

The black dress she had chosen matured her a few years, modest yet hitting her curves in all the right places. She had decided to wear her hair loose, dark curls falling over her shoulders. On second though, maybe she should pull it back and leave a few pieces to frame her face. It would fit the ensemble better. Besides, she did so love to show off her pearls.

A few hair pins and a swipe of lipstick later, and Hayden was ready. She was practically bouncing with anticipation as she left the bathroom, shutting the door quietly behind her and heading out the foyer.

Per usual, there was a car waiting in the drive, unmarked and turned off. The driver was familiar, however: an older man with white hair smoking a cigarette. He looked oh so bored to be picking a young lady up this late at night, but said nothing as Hayden approached, merely reaching to open the passenger door for Hayden to slide in. He did not ask where she wished to go, either. He already knew.

The drive was spent in silence, but that was fine. Hayden was much too nervous to participate in small talk anyway. She tried not to ruin her cuticles as she watched the Angeles lights pass her by. The city was always alive at night, so many people out and about, living their glamorous, unhindered lives. No one gave a second thought to another Range Rover; it was just another amongst the mix of Maseratis, limousines, and Hummers that graced the streets of the rich and famous. So many Angeles denizens used to be Twos. So many Angeles denizens still lived like being Twos still mattered.

The store front the driver dropped Hayden off at was less than glamorous. The neon sign flickered "open" in the grimy window, the awning overtop the front door reading "Flipp's Fine Cleaning". But this was the right place.

Hayden thanked the silent driver who sped off as soon as she was out the car. It was chilly out; maybe she should have taken a page out of Delia's book and brought a jacket. It was too late to fix that now, though. She would be inside soon enough.

The door chimed when Hayden walked inside, the musty smell of laundered clothes wrinkling her nose. Thankfully it was a short walk to the back of the store. In front of what would have been the manager's office sat a stoic-looking older man with dark, discerning eyes. He lifted his head when Hayden approached, looking her up and down, seemingly uncaring as to the royalty in front of him.

"Lovely night for a drive," the man said.

"Only if the big man's driving," Hayden replied.

The man nodded once in approval before stepping out of the way. Hayden smiled her most winning smile and went inside, minding her step as the stairs wound down, down, down into what once was probably a dark and narrow basement.

Instead of a dark, cold cellar, Hayden was met with soft, warm lights and the sound of laughter. The narrow hallway opened into a large space crafted of dark wood floors and black leather booths. Chandeliers hung low over intimate table tops. A bar lined the back wall, stools spotted with singles looking to get lucky while couples danced to the big band tucked away in the corner. Half the guests were just as famous as Delia, the other half even richer or more infamous. But in places like these, hidden corners and speakeasies tucked away in unexpected niches, everyone was anonymous.

Which made it a perfect meeting place for rivals.

Hayden didn't have to look far to find him. She would recognize him anywhere: tall, dark, and handsome dressed in an equally dark, handsome suit. His back was to her, staring at his watch as he stood at the bar, unable to see that she was behind him. Yet, he always seemed to know when she was around.

"Ten oh four," he drawled, his voice low and teasing as it always was when he spoke to her. "You're late."

"Oh no, how will you ever forgive me?"

Just as Hayden reached out to wrap her arms around him, he turned around. And oh, would she ever stop getting butterflies at the sight of him? Of those mischievous eyes? The errant curl across his forehead? The way he smiled when he saw her, the way it lit up his face?

"Let me buy you a drink? Or two?"

"I think I can manage that."

A wink and then he had the bartender concocting something with whiskey and bitters. He knew her so well. Just another thing that had her stomach flipping pleasantly.

Their fingers brushed when he handed her the glass, a thrill running down her spine at something so innocent and yet not. She hoped her hand was not shaking as she held the glass by the delicate stem. It would be a shame to shatter such a lovely glass...a lovely moment.

They stood at the bar, elbow to elbow but not quite touching. They were rivals after all. To be seen as anything else, even in such a discreet setting, would ruin everything. Or, at least that was how everyone else would see it. The world would always have its eyes on them, even in private corners. Fame - or infamy, in his case - was a curse that way. Still, even in silence, not quite touching, it was hard to pretend that this meeting was platonic.

"You're quiet tonight," he commented idly, his gaze fixed on the band ahead though she knew that his real attention was on her.

"Suppose I have a lot on my mind," Hayden replied, fingers tracing the rim of her glass. The whiskey was fire sweet and strong, though not quite strong enough to wash down the day. "Cordelia announced she is going to have a Selection."

"Ah, is that so?" He took a sip of his drink, that teasing smile on his lips. "And you think I should cast my bid, is that it?"

As much as she knew he was teasing, Hayden couldn't help but feel her hackles raise just a little. "I don't think you two have the same...tastes."

"Not to worry. They'd probably see my name and toss my application right out," he said. He was still smiling, but his mood sobered, all teasing vanishing as something serious took its place. Serious and intense that had Hayden holding her breath. "Besides, there's only one Schreave I'm in love with."

"Rhys," Hayden chided, fear shooting down her spine, casting a glance at all the people who could have heard. "I really wish you wouldn't say that."

"Why? I'm not ashamed of it."

There was nothing more Hayden wanted to do in that moment than lean up and kiss him. Her stupid, caution to the wind lover boy who so desperately wanted to pretend that they lived in a fairytale where there was nothing wrong with what they had. Who so desperately wanted to ignore years of bad blood. And Hayden wanted that too. Of course she wanted that. What little princess didn't want her happily ever after with someone just like Rhys?

It just wasn't fair that her Prince Charming was an Illéa.

"It's dangerous."

His smile fell, shifting into something resigned and bitter. Not at her. Never at her. At the intangible and unfair circumstances they were born into.

"Dangerous," he repeated, face twisting like the word was sour on his tongue. "And yet, you still came."

"I always do," she said with a shrug, being as honest as she dared though she dared not make eye contact. "I always will. You know that."

"I do."

Hayden looked up, and some of the ache had been soothed from Rhys' face. He looked more melancholy than angry, but even that was a drop in his mask of suave indifference. That was another thing Hayden loved about Rhys. He always looked so cool even when he wasn't.

"I don't want to fight," Hayden said, a hint of begging in her voice. "Can't we just...stay? Like this?"

"Forever?" Rhys asked, arching one manicured brow. Maybe it was a curse as well as blessing that he knew what she meant without her saying it. "We aren't persevered in amber, Hayden."

"No, but tonight can be," she implored, daring to touch him. A hand on his cheek, so gentle. He leaned into it, finally not pretending that he was looking anywhere but at her. "One night. A perfect night to treasure."

"Any reason for tonight?" he asked, curious. His outright denial had Hayden holding onto hope. "Any reason to start hoarding memories now?"

"No reason," she lied, smiling through red lips. "No reason at all."

I'm so scared, is what she should have said as he turned away. Auden's leaving. Delia's evolving. I'm so scared that everything's changing. I can't lose you too.