Chapter no 15

The One (The Selection, 3)

I WOKE WITH A HEADACHE. I moaned as I rubbed my temple, then yelped when the action sent a sharp pain across my arm.

โ€œHere,โ€ Mary said, coming to sit on the edge of my bed. She held out two pills and a glass of water.

I slowly pushed myself up to take her offering, my head throbbing through all of it. โ€œWhat time is it?โ€

โ€œNearly eleven,โ€ Mary said. โ€œWe sent word that you werenโ€™t feeling well and wouldnโ€™t be at breakfast. If we hurry, we could probably get you ready for lunch with the other Elite.โ€

The thought of rushing or even eating didnโ€™t sound appealing, but I thought it was wisest to get back into a normal routine. It was becoming clear just how much weโ€™d risked last night, and I didnโ€™t want to give anyone a reason to suspect anything at all had happened.

I gave Mary a nod, and we both stood. My legs werenโ€™t quite as reliable as Iโ€™d have liked, but I moved toward the bathroom anyway. Anne was just outside the door, cleaning, as Lucy sat in a wide chair sewing sleeves onto a dress that had probably been designed for simple straps.

She looked up from her handiwork. โ€œAre you all right, miss? You gave us quite a scare.โ€

โ€œIโ€™m sorry. I think Iโ€™m as good as I can be.โ€

She smiled at me. โ€œWeโ€™re ready to do what we can to help you, miss.

You only need to ask.โ€

I wasnโ€™t completely sure what she was offering, but I would take her up on any help that might get me through the next few days.

โ€œOh, Officer Leger stopped by, as well as the prince. They both hoped you would let them know how you were feeling once you were up to it.โ€

I nodded. โ€œAfter lunch, Iโ€™ll take care of that.โ€

With no warning, my arm was in someoneโ€™s hands. Anne was looking closely at the wound, gingerly peeking under the bandages to check my progress.

โ€œIt doesnโ€™t look infected. As long as we keep it clean, I think it will heal nicely. I wish I could have done something better. I know itโ€™ll leave a mark,โ€ she lamented.

โ€œDonโ€™t worry. The best people all have some kind of scar.โ€ I thought of Marleeโ€™s hands and Maxonโ€™s back. They both held permanent marks of their bravery. I was honored to join them.

โ€œLady America, your bath is ready,โ€ Mary said from around the bathroom door.

I took in her face, then Lucyโ€™s, then Anneโ€™s. Iโ€™d always been close to my maids, had always trusted them. But something changed last night. It was the first time those bonds were tested; and in the light of day, they were still there, strong and holding.

I wasnโ€™t sure there was a way to prove that I was as loyal to them as they were to me. But I hoped an opportunity would show itself.

If I focused, I could lift my fork to my mouth without grimacing. It took an extraordinary amount of effort, to the point where I started sweating in the middle of the meal. I decided to stick to nibbling on bread. I didnโ€™t need my right arm to hold that.

Kriss asked how my headache wasโ€”which I guessed was the story circulatingโ€”and I told her I was fine now, though my head and arm were impossible to ignore. That was the extent of the questioning, and it looked as if no one had guessed that anything was out of the ordinary.

As I chewed a bite of bread, I debated how well the other girls would have done if they had gone in my place last night. I decided the only person who would have fared better was Celeste. Without a doubt, sheโ€™d have found a way to fight back, and I was a little jealous for a minute that I wasnโ€™t more like her.

Once our trays were carted out of the Womenโ€™s Room, Silvia came in and asked for our attention.

โ€œItโ€™s time for you ladies to shine again. In a week, weโ€™ll be having a small tea party, and you all, of course, are invited!โ€ I sighed to myself, worried about who we were meant to entertain this time. โ€œYou wonโ€™t be in charge of any preparations for this particular party, but you must be on your best behavior, because this will be filmed for the public.โ€

I perked up a bit. I could handle that.

โ€œYou will each invite two people to be your personal guests at this tea party, and that will be your only responsibility. Choose wisely, and let

me know your two contacts by Friday.โ€

She walked away, leaving us all mentally scrambling. This was a test, and we knew it. Who in the room had the most impressive connections, the most valuable ones?

Maybe I was being paranoid, but it felt as if this task specifically targeted me. The king must be searching for ways to remind everyone I was useless.

โ€œWho are you picking, Celeste?โ€ Kriss asked.

She shrugged. โ€œNot sure yet. But I promise theyโ€™ll be spectacular.โ€

If I had Celesteโ€™s list of friends at my disposal, I wouldnโ€™t be nervous either. Who was I going to invite? My mom?

Celeste turned to me, her voice warm. โ€œWho do you think youโ€™ll bring, America?โ€

I tried to hide my shock. Even though weโ€™d had a little breakthrough in the library, this was the first time sheโ€™d addressed me the same way she would a friend. I cleared my throat. โ€œI have no idea. Iโ€™m not sure I know anyone who would be appropriate to invite. It might be better if I bring no one.โ€ I probably shouldnโ€™t have been so open about how disadvantaged I was, but it wasnโ€™t as if the others werenโ€™t aware.

โ€œWell, if you really canโ€™t find anyone, let me know,โ€ Celeste said. โ€œIโ€™m positive I have more than two friends who would like to visit the palace, and I could make sure you at least have an idea of who they are. If you want to, that is.โ€

I stared at her, tempted to ask her what the catch was; but, looking into her eyes, I didnโ€™t think there was one. Then I was sure of it when she winked at me with the eye that Elise and Kriss couldnโ€™t see. Celeste, the consummate fighter, was pulling for me.

โ€œThank you,โ€ I said, feeling truly humbled.

She shrugged. โ€œNo problem. If weโ€™re going to have a party, might as well make it a good one.โ€ She leaned back in her chair, smiling to herself, and I was sure she was picturing this event as her last hurrah. Part of me wanted to tell her not to give up, but I couldnโ€™t. Only one of us could have Maxon in the end.

By the afternoon, I had the rough outline of a plan, but it was dependent upon one big thing: Iโ€™d have to get Maxonโ€™s help.

I was sure we would find each other before the end of the day, so I didnโ€™t let myself worry about it too much. For the time being, I needed to

rest again, so I headed back up to my room.

Anne was there, waiting with more pills and water. I couldnโ€™t believe how calm she was about it all.

โ€œI owe you one,โ€ I said, downing the medicine. โ€œNo,โ€ Anne protested.

โ€œYes! Things would have been a lot different last night if you hadnโ€™t been there.โ€

She gently took the glass from me. โ€œIโ€™m just glad youโ€™re okay.โ€

She started walking to the bathroom to dispose of the water, and I followed her. โ€œIsnโ€™t there anything I could do for you? Anything at all?โ€

She stood there at the counter, something clearly on her mind. โ€œReally, Anne. It would make me so happy.โ€

She sighed. โ€œWell, thereโ€™s one thing. โ€

โ€œPlease tell me.โ€

Anne raised her eyes from the sink. โ€œBut you couldnโ€™t let it slip to anyone. Mary and Lucy would never let me live it down.โ€

I creased my forehead. โ€œWhat do you mean?โ€

โ€œItโ€™s . . . itโ€™s very personal.โ€ She started fidgeting with her hands, something she never did, and I knew this was important to her.

โ€œOkay, come talk to me about it,โ€ I encouraged, wrapping my good arm around her shoulder and ushering her to the table to sit with me.

She crossed her ankles and put her hands in her lap. โ€œSee, itโ€™s just that you get along with him so well. He seems to think so highly of you.โ€

โ€œYou mean Maxon?โ€

โ€œNo,โ€ she whispered, a wild blush filling her cheeks. โ€œI donโ€™t understand.โ€

She took a deep breath. โ€œOfficer Leger.โ€

โ€œOoooh,โ€ I said, more shocked than I could express. โ€œYou think itโ€™s hopeless, donโ€™t you?โ€

โ€œNot hopeless,โ€ I insisted. I just didnโ€™t know how to tell the person whoโ€™d promised heโ€™d always fight for me that he should pursue her instead.

โ€œHeโ€™s always speaking so kindly of you. I know if you maybe mentioned me to him, or could even find out if heโ€™s got a girlfriend at home โ€

I sighed. โ€œI can try, but I canโ€™t promise anything.โ€

โ€œOh, I know. Donโ€™t worry. Iโ€™ve been telling myself it wonโ€™t happen, but I canโ€™t stop thinking about him.โ€

I tilted my head. โ€œI know how that is.โ€

She put a hand in front of her. โ€œAnd itโ€™s not because heโ€™s a Two. If he was an Eight, Iโ€™d want someone like him.โ€

โ€œLots of people would,โ€ I said. And that was true. Celeste noticed him, Kriss said he was funny, and even that Delilah woman sounded like she had a crush on him. That wasnโ€™t even taking into account all the girls back home whoโ€™d chased him. Hearing things like that didnโ€™t bother me so much anymore, not even from someone as close to me as Anne.

It was one more thing that made me sure that my feelings for Aspen were gone. If I was happy to suggest that someone else should take my place, then I really didnโ€™t belong with him.

Still, I wasnโ€™t sure how to broach the subject.

I reached over the polished wood and put my hand on hers. โ€œIโ€™ll try, Anne. I swear.โ€

She smiled but bit her lip anxiously. โ€œJust please donโ€™t tell the others.โ€

I held her hand tighter. โ€œYouโ€™ve always kept my secrets. Iโ€™ll always keep yours.โ€

โ€Œ

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