--AMERICA--
Since the end of the Selection, so much has changed. I've realized that being a royal isn't all dresses and makeup. It takes intelligence and bravery, and tons of responsibilities. I wasn't always sure that's what I wanted the rest of my life to be, but now I'm so glad I decided to do it for Maxon.
Not everything has been perfect. Maxon and I still fight; after all, it's what we do best. And people have died; so many, too many people. The provinces have been fighting recently; but after a chat with some of the people of Illea, everything has calmed down.
But as long as I live, I will always remember what I went through to be where I am today. And I'll enjoy my life until my last breath. With Maxon by my side, and Gerad Jr., Amberly Jr., and Logan there to support me, I can't go wrong.
May, Kenna, and my mother are my best friends now, along with my maids, of course. Though my mother and I had our differences, I couldn't wish for a better parent now.
I miss Aspen. I miss Celeste, I miss Gerad and Queen Amberly. I miss my dad. I miss them all. But I know they're watching over me, protecting me, believing in me; even when I don't believe in myself.
Now that Gerad Jr. is eighteen, his Selection will begin soon. I'm so proud of him. He's grown to be such a great man, just like his father. And Maxon has been the best parent in the world; gentle, caring, loving. Even when my temper gets the best of me, he's always there to save the day. He doesn't believe he's become his father anymore.
And our children will never hear about King Clarkson. For their own good.
But I tell them stories about Queen Amberly, and about how beautiful and perfect she was. All my children love hearing my stories about the Selection and how I fell in love with their daddy.
Gerad Jr. has been coming to me a lot for advice about the Selection. And I'm worried for him- he's so nervous. I try to tell him that he'll be fine, but when I do, he just says, "Okay," and ignores my words. When I pass by his room at night, I hear him practicing what he'll say to the girls when they arrive.
But he'll do amazing. I know that.
And his family is right by his side the whole time.
Will I be the next Queen Amberly? Will everyone view me as the most ellegant and beautiful queen there ever was? I almost laugh. I can't imagine myself being thought of like that.
Whether or not I'm the queen everyone wants to be, I'll be there for them. Just like I was the daughter Amberly never had.
So let the Selection begin.
---MAXON---
My life with America is perfect. I always dreamed about having a girl I loved so much I couldn't live without. Well, that's America. Ever since the Selection, my life has finally been worth living. And my three children are beautiful, just like America.
And now the time has come where Gerad Jr. will be hosting his own Selection. He's been getting more and more nervous; he comes to me every day to ask for what I did in certain scenarios. And then, yesterday, he had finally asked me how I knew America was the one. All I could do is smile and say, "I just knew, Gerad. She was just so perfect and I knew she was the one. It was a gut feeling. And even though so many things got in the way of us, I never gave up on her."
He continued to ask me questions, and I answered them all as best I could. Some of them made me want to cry from the memories that I was asked to bring up, and some actually made me laugh. Sometime I must talk with America and remember all those times in the Selection I spent with her.
I, however, am not nervous at all. I know Gerad will do wonderful and find his true love. Though he may not believe in himself, I believe in him one hundred percent.
And I'm ready for this Selection to begin.
--GERAD--
I have never been so nervous in my life. My Selection is days from starting and I still feel unprepared. My mother and father have tried their best to help me, but there is nothing I can do. It's just this feeling I have, that I will send home the one I love. My mother's response to this was that I would never send her home because I wouldn't send someone home that I felt a connnection to. My father said that it would never happen because fate wouldn't let it.
Their kind words do help me feel better. But Amberly and Logan have been the greatest help to me. They're still little. Even though Amberly is a teenager, she still has a little childish side that brings out the best in her. The fact that she believes in me shows that she still doesn't know about the world; that she still has hope for the world.
And then there is Logan. He is quite a bit younger than me, but somehow he seems to know how to lift my spirits. Everytime I start to get nervous and tense up, he reaches for my hand and tells me it's okay. I'm almost sure my father wasn't this nervous when it was time for his Selection. He seems so sure about everything.
I've already seen some of the girls, but no one has shown me who's getting picked. Tomorrow, the Report will be shown and the girls will be projected on live television. And I will have to react in front of everyone.
My parents seem more than ready to start my Selection.
But am I?
--1 DAY LATER, GERAD--
"Hello, Illea! Welcome to the Report," Gavril says excitedly. "Today, as you know, is a huge day for our Prince, Prince Gerad!"
I smile and wave as the cameras turn to face me. My face is already heating up and we've only been broadcasting for a few minutes.
The cameras then turn to my parents.
"Queen America, King Maxon," Gavril says. "How do you feel about this Selection? And about the girls that have been picked?"
Wait. My parents know about the girls but I don't?
My mother grins. "Oh, I'm so excited. The girls all look absolutely lovely and Prince Gerad is definitley ready for this." She shoots me a reassuring glance.
"I agree with America," my father exclaims. "Gerad is ready and the girls are gorgeous."
Gavril grins. "Great! Then let's announce the girls now!"
My heartbeat quickens. I try to control my breathing, but I fail. And then the first name is called.
"Tatum Fosterman." I grin as her picture appears on the screen, not knowing what to do.
"Peyton Eckerson." I blush. She is quite pretty. And a redhead.
The list goes on and on. Each time I try to move my mouth into a different kind of smile, not wanting to hurt anyone's feelings or look like I've already picked someone because of their looks.
But then, someone really pops out at me.
"Breanne Willow." She has beautiful, curly dark brown hair. And light blue eyes, almost icy. But her smile really stands out. She looks so... happy. Hopeful.
For the first time on the Report, I smile. I really smile.
I don't care if they think I'm judging based on looks.
She's gorgeous, but not only that. I feel something. She's not just pretty, but she looks real. She had no makeup on, she just looked like she would any day. Natural.
The list of girls finish, and Gavril turns to me. "Prince Gerad, what do you think about the Selected girls?"
I grin. "Gavril, they're all so beautiful. Lovely girls. How am I supposed to choose just one?" I laugh softly.
"You're going to have a hard time with that one," he says, laughing. "Thank you for watching the Report. Congratulations to the Selected girls."
Maybe this won't be so bad after all.
-
OMG. I am so sorry. I haven't updated in weeks. And... sadly, this will be my last chapter for a while. This fanfiction is finished. :'( So be prepared for a long thank you to all of you:
Thank you.
You are the reason this fanfiction went so well, the reason I kept it going so long.
All of you are my best friends! If you read any of these chapters, thank you SO much! It means the world to me. And all those people who commented such nice things, you make me smile. I love hearing from you and hearing your feedback. Even negative! That's what helps me make this better.
This was my first fanfiction, and I didn't think it would go so well. But you proved me wrong! I guess you guys liked it!
I am not sure if I'm going to write about Gerad's Selection. I want to, of course, but I have ZERO time to do anything. I have school and soccer and then homework and studying, and by then I am so tired I just fall asleep.
Plus, I am starting to write my own book. Not a fanfiction, an actual book. I wrote one before, and I want to try again!
So please don't give up on me, because I still love The Selection and I still love you guys.
BTW thank you for 15,000 reads! I remember when I got 100 reads and I was so happy. And then I started getting 100 reads a day. Then 500. And it just makes me so happy when I check my Wattpad and I find I've gotten another 1000 reads.
But reads aren't very important to me. YOU are important to me. Without you, this story would be nothing! What is important to me is that you like this story. And I hope you do.
I love you all. I'm almost crying right now because America and Maxon's story is beautiful I don't want my version to end here.
MAYBE it won't end here. Stay tuned because one day I might throw in a bonus chapter or something. Hint hint. But i can't promise anything, just don't give up on me.
Stay awesome,
Eve.
*cries*