The selection <<reader insert>>

Part 1 - the start

I was the only one in my family with dark eyes. When I was little I wanted blue eyes like my mom. My features were plain, my eyes were big and brown. My hair dark and natural having blonde tips, my face always pink, and my nose not too big or small.
I was the best known painter in my in my small city and I was content. I was also the middle child of six. The oldest sibling, Carter was married to my (favorite) sister in law, Ashton. Jax was next, he is married to Carmen, but loves to play piano. Then me, Julia who lives for art, my twin James plays violin. They had Carter who paints. Then my first sister, Astrid who's too young for a job. Yet she was sick, we couldn't afford the best medicine.
They all had blue eyes, then me. That's not the point, my mom was being controlling. She wanted me to put my name in for the selection. If I got in, I'd have to talk to a prince. I can't even talk to a guy I thought was cute.
Not that I'd ever get in, it's the whole concept that I protest. Besides I could never be away from James that long. We were joint to the hip.
"Julie, come on we'll be able to save the family," my mom insisted.
"I won't," I crossed my arms.
She looked at me, "don't do it for you, or even for me, think of Astrid, we'd be able to afford her treatment."
That guilt burned in my heart. Not only would the money go to that, but James could buy a better violin, and better art supplies for Carter.
"Julia needs to make her own choices when it comes to love," my father defended.
I hid a smile, always putting me first.
Then I slowly nod, "it's not like I could get picked, besides I want that little squirt around for a long time."
"Excellent, we'll register you as soon as you're ready," my mom told me.
"I am ready," I responded.
She shakes her head and lets out a tired sigh. "I heard rumors their might be pictures, dress up nice, use some of that makeup we save for party work."
I nod, head to the room I share with Astrid and look through my clothes.
"So you're going to be a real life princess," she gasps!
I smile, "not necessarily but I am to take a picture, fill out some information, and 35 girls are going to get picked. They go to the castle and meet the prince, once he falls in love he picks one."
"He's going to pick you, I just know it," her face lights up.
I want to gag at the thought of finding love that way. "I haven't even been picked to go to the castle and their are a lot of girls."
She seems to ignore this and starts helping me.
"You need to look like a princess, in case you're picture is on tv."
"Fine what do you have in mind?" My voice holds none of the worry I feel.
She looked through my things before pulling out a goldish white dress. It went down to my knees and had spaghetti straps.
"This." She insisted with a certainty.
Time skip***
I was wearing my white flats that matched with the dress and my hair hung in lose waves. My sister insisted I put on light eyeshadow and mascara, then the slightest amount of pink lip gloss. I looked pretty, girly, yet young. I looked like a girl, who could never one day be queen.
The one negative was I looked princess-y, yet that was the most I could be. I'm reading too much into my outfit.
As we pull up a ton of girls are lined up, some knowing of the picture, some obviously not.
I was actually ecstatic, I was going to help save my sister. With that thought on my mind I smiled.