Hello! I will be updating more often this week because I'm on Spring Break!
To answer some reviews...
bja133 Review:
"the are so cute!"
WriterQueen123 Response:
I agree! Maxon and America are perfect for each other. Thanks for your support!
Virtue01 Review:
"Great filler I would say love that Marlee is pregnant and Maxon took the time out to worry about and be with America. It was so cute when he say "We can't go all the way" and "Just a few more weeks of waiting" and then "We can do anything" lovely thank you for the update"
WriterQueen123 Response:
Thank you for commenting! I'm so happy you enjoyed reading the chapter.
Guest Review:
"I liked! It was funny and romantic. Everything the selection should be like."
WriterQueen123 Response:
I'm glad you are liking the story. Thanks for reaching out!
Guest Review:
"I think since America lost her father she can understand half what Maxon is going through. Goodbye Queen Amberly and King Clarkson!"
WriterQueen123 Response:
I definitely agree that America and Maxon can bond over their losses, because they've both had such a hard time. Thanks for commenting!
Guest Review:
"I thought Aspen only called her Ames? I'm so confused"
WriterQueen123 Response:
Actually, Aspen is the only person who calls America "Mer." Her family and close friends, like May or Maxon, call America Ames.
Guest Review:
"Lucy got together with Aspen and isn't a maid anymore"
WriterQueen123 Response:
I like that you are trying to make my fanfiction perfectly stick to the story, but that's not exactly how it goes. I like to have a little elbow space so that I can be creative with this story. I know that Lucy gets together with Aspen, and I can make their relationship more clear, but she's going to stay a maid until after the wedding. I'm very aware that they move out, etcetera, so please just roll with the story and you'll see that it all makes sense later on...hopefully! 😁
Thank you all for commenting and speaking your mind!
By the way, I understand that this next chapter is a little out of character. I wanted to keep it fun and light, because if you didn't know from the title, it's about a bachelorette party. Everything coming together may not make complete sense, but I really wanted something entertaining and amusing to happen for the party. Now for the eleventh chapter...
The wedding was tomorrow. It was seven o'clock and I was playing violin in the music room, letting my fingers automatically play a sweet melody while my mind wandered.
Suddenly, all of the lights in the room blinked out. I heard shuffling behind the door and immediately stood up, my heart pounding. What could it be? Were the rebels attacking again, the day before the wedding?
"Surprise!" Marlee yelled, sprinkling confetti around the room as the lights flashed back on. May, Kenna, Natalie, Nicoletta, Marlee, Anne, Lucy, Mary, and other girls who I'd been friends with from the Carolina province, my hometown, rushed up to hug me.
"Time for your bachelorette party!" Nicoletta hollered, wiggling her eyebrows hilariously.
"You guys gave me a scare!" I laughed, putting a hand over my heart.
"Sorry," Kenna, my eldest sister, giggled. "Your expression was priceless, though." She imitated my shocked appearance, eyes wide and mouth agape. I couldn't help but laugh. "Anyway, back to the plan."
"We're taking you to the hottest club in Angeles!" Marlee told me excitedly. "May is only sixteen, but we got her a special pass that will let her in. It has her age written on it so that nobody can offer her alcohol or anything."
"Perfect," I smiled. "Are you okay with this, May?"
"Of course!" she beamed. May really had grown up.
"Here," Nicoletta handed me a deep purple gown with an off-shoulder neckline. Little rhinestones sprinkled the bottom, making it give the illusion of floating on a cloud.
"Wow," I said breathlessly. "This is gorgeous."
Nicoletta nodded happily. "It was made by the best Italian designer in the world! I brought it all the way over here from my home."
"Thank you so much, Nicoletta. I love it! Let me go change."
After changing, Mary came in to do my makeup. "We're pretty much going undercover," she explained. "Of course, anybody who sees May's pass will know who she is, but the public doesn't know her as well as they know you. We're going to have to put a lot of makeup on you so that no one recognizes you."
"Okay," I said, a little nervous. Was this too risky to do the day before my wedding?
"You're going to be safe either way," Mary promised. "It would just be annoying to be surrounded by press and fans while we're trying to have some fun."
"That makes sense. It's fine," I agreed.
After we'd all dressed up and put heavy makeup on to conceal our identities, we headed out in two cars. My closest friends went with me in an old truck, so that no one would think of us being royal, while the others went in another understated car. Mary and Anne drove, because they had decided not to drink.
When we arrived at the club, we stood outside in line for about ten minutes before the host finally let us in. The inside was crowded with people mingling by the bar and dance floor. Marlee had reserved a table for us in the VIP room, so we went inside. There were only five groups inside and it wasn't as packed as the main area.
"What do you want to get to drink?" Nicoletta asked, pulling out a bottle of champagne with flourish. Bubbles erupted from the bottle with a pop as she opened it.
"I'll have a dry martini, please." We ordered sazeracs, negronis, and martinis while May got sparkling apple cider. Nicoletta went to the bar to get our order while we passed around champagne glasses.
"So, America, how do you feel?" Marlee asked after Nicoletta returned with the drinks. "Excited, nervous?"
"More excited than nervous, but I definitely feel both," I shared honestly. "This a huge life milestone that will affect me and our family, of course, but also the whole country. I have no doubts, but it's still a big commitment."
"That's very understandable," Anne said, patting my shoulder.
"Now for the games!" Kenna yelled, taking a big gulp of her drink.
"We have a set of dares for you to do," Marlee explained excitedly. "Each one has to be done in five minutes maximum. Are you ready for the first one?"
"Okay!" I agreed, pumped.
Marlee glanced at her list of activities and then explained, "First, you must get a hug from a bald guy."
"What? How the heck do I do that? I don't even see any bald guys here," I protested.
"Then you better get moving," May giggled. I scanned the VIP room for bald men, but didn't find anyone. I walked outside to the main area. The first person that caught my eye was the bartender. His hair was thinning and he had a bald spot. He wasn't completely bald, but it had to be good enough. My friends followed me to watch the interaction.
How would I get a hug from this man? He was clearly busy making drinks. However, I knew that bartenders were usually social people. Maybe if I could get him to feel sorry for me, he'd hug me to make me feel better or something.
"Hello," I sniffled, shuffling up to the bar, pretending to be miserable.
"What can I get ya?" He asked, not noticing my demeanor at all.
"The strongest drink you have," I mumbled, trying to stay in character.
"That would be a Long Island Iced Tea," he answered, starting to make my drink. "You good?" He glanced at me, squinting.
"No," I whined. "My boyfriend just left me." I tried to burst into tears, but I simply couldn't. I was already shaking, trying to contain my laughter.
"Well, I've seen that happen a million times; it's nothing new." He passed me my drink and went on to the next person in line without giving me so much as another look.
"You have one minute," Marlee whispered to me. "Do something!" I didn't know what to do. This man clearly didn't care about my fake relationship problems. I started to wail, causing the whole line of people to look at me oddly.
"Hush!" The bartender shook his head, exasperated. "What do you want?!"
"A hug," I whimpered, squeezing my hands into fists to keep the fit of giggles at bay. He rolled his eyes and came around to me.
"Just stop crying already. You're making my customers leave." I nodded and quickly threw my arms around him. A second after we embraced, I shrugged him off and ran to my girls.
"Time's up!" Marlee sang. "You did get it, though. I'm impressed!"
"Me too! I can't believe you actually hugged that weird old guy," May laughed.
I shook my head, chuckling. "It was not pleasant," I assured them.
"Now for your next task," Nicoletta said. "You have to get phone numbers from five different guys."
"This would be easy if I could just say I was the queen," I groaned, making sure to keep my voice low.
"Definitely not an option," Lucy laughed.
"You have ten minutes for this one. Go on the count of three," Nicoletta said. "One...two...three!"
I walked onto the dance floor, trying to find people who looked social. One guy was dancing alone. He kept longingly glancing over at a table where three couples sat, as if he wanted to be there.
"Hey, I'm Mer," I introduced myself, using the name I had given to Paige when I first met her.
"Nice to meet you," he smiled. "I'm Alex." After a couple minutes of small talk and me completely fibbing about what my life was like, I asked for Alex's number.
"Maybe we can hang out sometime," I said, flashing a fake, flirty smile. I felt a little guilty about playing games with guys and pretending to like them while really I didn't care, but I dismissed the thought and pocketed the slip of paper he gave me. I had only gotten a phone after I won the Selection, as one of Maxon's random, generous gifts.
I got two more guys' numbers, and then my time was up. "I only got three," I told my group.
"That's fine," Lucy said. "It's not nothing."
"It's okay," Marlee teased.
"Are you up for the last challenge?" Kenna asked.
"Yep," I agreed.
"You have to dance on a tabletop," she said. "We'll all join in, but you have to start the groove!"
"Okay!" There was one counter with some drinks on it to one side of the dance floor, so I pushed some to the sides and climbed up. "Come on!" I said, beckoning to my friends as I swayed my hips to the beat. They all joined me on the counter and we laughed together. Dancing with my friends, I felt free and excited. After ten minutes of having fun on the counter, we were spent.
"I'm ready to go back," I said, exhausted from the thrilling night. Everyone agreed and after downing the last of our drinks, we stumbled to the cars. Anne and Mary drove us back discreetly, and we were back in no time.
"I hope you had a fun night," Marlee said, hugging me.
"That was the best bachelorette party ever," I said. "Thank you, everyone. You're amazing friends. I'll see you tomorrow!" We said our goodbyes and I finally made my way up to the Princess Suite. I had to sleep in my own bed for the night so that Maxon and I wouldn't see each other in the morning.
After such an exhilarating night, I fell asleep easily, more sure than anything else in the world about the decision I was soon going to make.