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" Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like."

- Lao Tzu

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"Percy, it is already noon you asshole."

Someone kicked the door of the Prince's room open and Percy, even without caring to look towards it in his half-asleep half-awake state knew who it was. No one but his personal guard, Jason Grace, would dare to enter his room without permission; let alone kick his door and damage the latches for possibly the fifth time this year.

Percy groaned and he felt the starting of a headache. He'd spent too much time yesternight pondering over telling the council to get lost from his life and cancel The Selection. At one point he almost marched to the king's room in hope of explaining that he wasn't ready.

Because.. because.

He wondered if he would ever feel ready.

But, he knew that with the council pushing the king over his limits, with the neighbouring countries' sensitive border issues, with Estelle's constant attention need, his drama with something he knew was coming for months - isn't something he can dump on the king, on his step-father, he had thought, at the eleventh hour.

Would they even care about what he says?

Now waking up in the morning (noon actually), just 3 hours before The Selection officially commerced, he wished he had been tad bit more bold from the start with everything.

Which start? His mind asked. He just jumped out of bed trying to zone into Jason's words.

Last minute philosophy gets you no where.

"... thought you left the palace you idiot. I am responsible for your ass you know? You seriously got me scared one minute there Percy. Why don't you understand that this isn't just..."

"Okay okay shut up. I get it, I overslept, my mistake, forgive me" Percy scoffed, almost emotionless.

Jason pressed his lips, unsure of how to handle the sudden change of mood. "Look man, I know there is a lot in your head right now but you need to be presentable to the country in a few hours. So, please, get your shit to the restrooms and stop panicking your stylists more than you already have. The maids have rung your room bell at least thirty times now. You should be up before they decide against my opinion and tell the king."

I know.

Percy sighed and nodded.

......

It had been a week since Percy spent time with Annabeth. He was so busy with all the rules and regulations regarding his selection that he couldn't give enough time for his best friends. They talked a little during breakfast, spared glances in the hallways and that's it. Jason had insisted cancelling capture the flag but Percy had told them to play without him. He didn't even get around enough to know if they actually did play without him.

Now that Percy was standing in front of a hundred cameras and his kingdom's scrutinising eyes, he wished he had got some last minute advice. Annabeth was always the better strategist among his friends. It was like she just knew how to handle situations. She always boasted of having a plan in her head, something Percy seldom did.

That said, Percy, for the last half an hour has been intentionally avoiding Annabeth.

Annabeth had agreed to be one of the helpers of the event. She had dressed up in a beautiful white silk material that flowed out in a umbrella just under her hip till just below her knee. The ends had small while feathers attached to the dress, making her look soft. So un-annabeth-ly soft. Percy knew from he moment he saw her from his side vision that he couldn't concentrate on the cameras if he actually did see her.

Why is she here? He wants to ask.

The trumpet announced the beginning of The Selection and each royal traditionally splits the number of candidates they can pic from the lot. Paul, Percy's father and ruling king; Sally, Percy's mother; Percy himself; Tyson, Percy's younger brother; Estelle, Percy's younger sister; Miranda; Paul's mother and Edward, Paul's mother's brother were the 7 royals who would pick 5 girls each to compete in The Selection.

They were traditionally supposed to pick 5 from each caste (marked as numbers) but there were no rules on how they divided the picks. Usually when five people have been picked from a province, rest of the poll is taken away to avoid confusion.

To the kingdom and press's eyes, age was the only criteria but percy knew better than that. He knew that each girl whose names were currently written in bits of paper and put into 7 different lottery pools, arranged elegantly right in front of the camera - representing 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s, 6s, 7s and 8s respectively - were all carefully scrutinized for criminal records, misconduct, academics, family background and as much as percy would like to say no, appearance too.

It wasn't enough if someone is worthy enough a queen at heart. She had to look worthy enough too. She had to win the press', the family's and the prince's heart afterall.

The king selected the first girl. He put his right hand inside the first box allotted for the 2s and seemed to pick a few papers before he settled on one. Percy didn't really understand, it wasn't like they could see what was written inside before they pulled it up. Maybe his father was leaving it all to his gut.

"Rachel Elizabeth Dare of Effla", he called out.

.....

A beautiful redhead's photo is displayed on the huge projector screen to the left. Annabeth noticed that the girl was slightly younger than Percy (based on the discription that appeared on the screen) and a few inches shorter than him. Her skin was white as silk and figure curvy.

Everything that I'm not. Annabeth thought.

Then, they projected a close up photo where her piercing green eyes seemed more prominent and it alone captured the audience's eyes.

Gosh, what was I even thinking when I agreed to do this?

Annabeth tried hard not to look at Percy's reaction from where she stood (next to the king). She had the duty of collecting the names of all the Selected in a transparent jar (designed with golden threads and colourful feathers). The jar was plastered to a golden square plate and it was her job to hold the plate out to the royal after he or she read out the name.

The king then moved on to 3s pile and this time, he picked out a card without a second thought. A girl named Stella Werner appeared on screen. The girl had neatly curled dark brown hair which were bleached at the ends.

Annabeth felt her heart squeezing. One down, four more chances.

She didn't want to zone out in such an important event but she found herself doing just that. Percy stood with the other six royals at least 15 feet away from her. He wore his official uniform: A dark blue coat with all of his medals and family emblems, a light blue shirt underneath which looked too tight to be comfortable and a gold tie matching all of his other accessories. His dark hair was waxed into side to give him a boyish look, contradicting his other features.

He was a sight today.

She tried to not linger on to it for long.

He is your best friend. Her mind tried.

He is also my crush. She argued.

She knew it was the Prince's duties that kept him away for the week. That made her worry about their future. They were friends and she didn't want to lose that no matter what throws itself onto their life.

No matter what.

I just hope he feels the same.

Two days ago, they had unintentionally bumped into each other in the corridor next to his room. Annabeth had been so busy trying to run away from Tyson that it never crossed her mind and they had entered Percy's side of the castle.

She tripped from the sudden collision and Percy instinctively wrapped one hand around her waist which made her pin herself to his chest.

"Wise girl?"

Annabeth was flustered for one moment and Tyson happened to grab her just then. "Hey hey! You lose! Your turn now!! Byeeeeeee" He shouted as he ran away.

"P-Percy..hey".

Percy scratched the back of his neck. Gosh why was this so awkward?

"Hey... wassup?" He moved his hand away and awkwardly put it next to the wall. Annabeth smacked his shoulder trying to look confident but it came out shy. She needed some distance between them NOW. This was too awkward.

"Having the time of my life being chased by your brother", she said sarcastically.

Percy laughed and just like that they were back to normal. They walked towards his room talking about random things and forgot all about Tyson. Just before Percy entered his room, he turned around to her. "Hey um... Wise girl... about the Selection... Would you maybe..."

"What is it, Seaweed brain?" She smirked.

Percy took a deep breath before replying. "I would like it if you were there. Just please be there as one of the helpers. You don't have to do anything. If you would like it, I could ask a few more maids to dress up and have you all standing behind us just for a show."

Annabeth blinked, not because she didn't want to be there, but, because she really didn't want the press scrutinizing a sudden change in routine. "Percy I'd rather dress as a maid and stand than attract unnecessary attention to me."

Percy nodded, not really caring what she chose to be but rather just needing a friend beside. "Is that a yes?"

She nodded.

When Annabeth focused back to the present, the king had finished picking from three more polls (one 5, one 7 and one 8). Then, Paul's mother's brother, Edward came forward. He picked two from 6 and one each from 3,4 and 8. Cheers erupt when Clarrise la Rue gets picked, well known for her athletic abilities.

She felt her heart break another time.

Paul's mother, Miranda, picked Piper Mclean from 3 and when her picture appeared on screen, Annabeth was taken back. Unlike any other girl, she looked simply beautiful. There was no makeup on her face whatsoever. Her hair appeared as if she had chopped it off herself but she looked so friendly on the exterior. Her eyes seemed to change colour.

Another time.

That is not at all logical.

Then, another picture of the same girl came up and she looked gorgeous. This one had her hair braided beautifully in golden thread. She was in a white dress with a deep v neck. She looked uncomfortable in it though. Annabeth catched Percy looking at the screen too.

But, she didn't really look close enough at every photo so she wasn't sure if this one looked too different from the last 10 beautiful girls who were selected or if Percy was looking at her in any genuine interest. Maybe that's the look he gave for all of them? She hoped.

......

Soon, the elder royals finish their picks and it was the Prince's turn.

Percy stopped abruptly for a second when his gaze landed on Annabeth. Their eyes locked and she smiled at him. She was attempting to assure him but Percy's cheeks felt hot. Annabeth looked like a goddess in that dress and he wasn't sure if the moment was appropriate or not - considering he was standing in front of so many cameras and picking girls from the pools for his Selection. He didn't want the whole world - or the kingdom - to know about his crush/friend who stood right next to him. As fast as he lost his composure, he gained it back, praying the press didn't notice.

I wonder what she thinks when she looks at me.

Percy made it easy for her though. He didn't even spare a glance at her again. He wordlessly picked from 2s and a girl named Zoe Nightshade appeared on the screen. He gave a neutral look to the screen before going to the 3s lot. He then picked another paper and read out the name on it. It felt like a routine.

I wonder if the camera can tell I'm blushing. (Thinks Annabeth)

A girl named Calypso came on screen and Annabeth suddenly felt self conscious. Of course she had felt insecure since the start of the ceremony but she was sure this girl was the most beautiful. There was only one way to describe her - pure. If anyone had thought Piper looked like a goddess in her dress, this girl was a goddess naturally. Annabeth noticed Percy looking at the screen with interest too.

Is he blushing?

Even Percy who doesn't usually look at girls thinks she is pretty.

Gosh Annabeth don't be so petty. He is your best friend. Let him choose his life.

You are F-R-I-E-N-D-S. If you couldn't change that fact in years, how can you now?

He needs you here. This is about him, not you.

Then why did your heart break three times already?

Percy, on the other hand, was trying to battle his instincts and NOT look at Annabeth. A beautiful girl appeared on the screen for his third pick and that's all he could really tell about any of them beautiful, beautiful, beautiful... He didn't even know what he looked for.

All he knew was that he was blushing ever since his heart skipped a beat when he saw Annabeth Chase.

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Thank you everyone for reading the story. Healthy criticism welcome. I want to improve.

Stay safe guys.