The Choice

48

*** 

I only sat up when Fiona's breaths had reduced to a steady beat and I was sure she was deep asleep. It was a little past midnight and we'd been talking for hours, rekindling our friendship. I certainly felt guilty leaving to see Carlos again but I couldn't stand him up. I didn't know why, I just...couldn't find it in me to leave him waiting. 

Despite the fact I was only dressed in my white night dress and my hair was a mess, I didn't think Carlos would care. I slipped my feet into my slippers and crept out of the tent. 

The camp site was dead silent, meaning everyone had gone to sleep. The forest was alive, the buzz of insects could be heard loud and clear. 

I breathed in the grass-like forest smell before walking on. As I had no sense of direction whatsoever, I knew I would get lost quite a few times before I would eventually find the lake. 

*** 

"Madeline?" Carlos called. 

"Sorry I'm late," I sighed, I'd spent a good 10 minutes wandering around the forest looking for the lake. "Your little note could have come with a map, you know." 

"I didn't want to risk you choking on more than a small piece of paper," Carlos' lips pulled up in a smile, his green eyes glinting. 

He was dressed more casually than usual in just an undershirt and loose-fitted trousers, which somehow made him look even more attractive. 

I cleared my throat, "So, what did you summon me here for, Your Highness?"  

"A date," Carlos replied. 

I raised an eyebrow. "A date?" 

Carlos nodded, smiling. 

"Carlos, I know you grew up in the palace without too many other kids. I don't think you know what a date is," I shook my head, laughing nervously. 

"Trust me, Madeline, I know what a date is- and what it implies," Carlos winked. "That's besides the point- I want to show you where our 'date' will be holding." 

Carlos led me along the lake's shore and I couldn't help but marvel at how the moon reflected off the water's surface. 

"I've been coming to this lake since I was a kid," Carlos explained. 

"Unfortunately we don't have any lakes in Colgate," I sighed. "But I've always wanted to go to the beach in Panshaw but now that I know that's where Esme resides, I'm not too keen on that plan anymore." 

Carlos chuckled. "We're almost there." 

Carlos and I walked on in a comfortable silence for about 5 minutes before he stopped near a boat. It wasn't just any ordinary boat, it was a boat lit up by a bright orange lantern with a blanket and all sorts of treats and delights. 

I couldn't pick up my jaw from the ground. "Carlos...what is this?" 

"This is our date," Carlos smiled sheepishly. 

"You did all this...for me?" I asked, my heart beat increasing rapidly. 

Carlos nodded, before helping me onto the boat. 

*** 

"So you peed on yourself?" Carlos almost choked on his wine. 

I couldn't help but blush as I told Carlos the story of how I peed on myself when I was 10. 

"My mother clearly wasn't going to let me go to the bathroom. Plus, I hated my dress," I popped a grape into my mouth. 

"So because you hated your dress, and your mother didn't want to let you use the bathroom- you peed on yourself," Carlos echoed. 

"What, like you've never peed on yourself before," I rolled my eyes playfully. 

"Not at 10 years old in a carnival's circus tent," Carlos shook his head. 

We reveled in the comfortable silence and the gentle rocking of the boat for a few minutes until Carlos spoke again. 

"I actually brought you here to ask you something, Madeline," Carlos said. 

"You...did?" I raised an eyebrow. 

"Yes. Madeline, I don't know how to explain what I feel. I just know I feel something. And I know this might be hard to believe, taking into consideration how I treated you at the beginning of this competition. You're so...different from everyone in this palace. You actually seem...human. You're not a perfectly trained robot that does whatever's asked of you. 

"You also don't care what anyone thinks and you say the truth regardless. You're driven and have proven to be incredibly compassionate," Carlos started. 

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. 

"Carlos...what are you saying?" I asked. 

"I'm saying that since we kissed, something changed. I don't just see you as just one of the Ladies anymore. I mean, it's not love yet but I think it could be. What I'm saying is that...I want you to be my choice, Madeline."  

The chapter we've all been waiting for, am I right? Don't think this is where the story ends because there's A LOT more in store. I finished my bio test and it was actually pretty good. Thank God it's Friday- and my birthday is in 5 days- I'm so excited. How was your week? 

Don't forget to stay safe and wear your masks. Please vote, share and comment. XOXO.