I sit in a tea parlor with Gracelyn. After the date, she wanted to know everything other than if we did anything. I assured her that we didn't and she was much relieved.

Now we are sipping our tea as I tell her about the date.

"So you guys just sang and played piano and ate? Where's the fun in that?" She whines, throwing back her head.

"Yes. But it meant something, you know? Anyway, we wanted to get to know each other to make sure we weren't wasting the other's time. I wouldn't want to be stuck here if I hated him." I explain, my mind drifting off into daydreams. I sure don't hate him.

"If I like a guy, I'll kiss him. If I don't, I won't. Just kiss him if you like him." She reasons with a sigh.

"Well... we kind of did." I giggle, holding back a blush.

"You kissed?" Gracelyn shot straight up in her seat as if she sat on a pine cone.

"On the cheek, but it was romantic." I smile, my mind flashing back to my lips on his soft cheek and both of our defined blushes.

"Ew, barf. That's my brother you're talking about. He's gross." I snort at this!

"I don't think so." I exclaim, taking another sip of the fruity, hot drink.

"Ah, well, how is the Selection going?" She asks, brushing back her golden curls.

"Well so far, nothing has really been going on. I have been exempt from all of Miss Jenkins lessons so far because I - and I quote - 'am of an elevated status and the lessons are only for the incompetent'. Can you believe that?" I growl, thinking back to the old bat.

"That's Dolly for you. You're lucky you're her favorite, those girls are going through a whole different level of torture. And if you don't want to be separated, just join in. Then the other girls won't hate you." Gracelyn mentions nonchalantly as my mouth gapes.

"They hate me?" I squeak out. I hate being treated specially, and if others don't like me for it - heck, I would hate me for it - I'm in the dog house.

"There's been talk." She states, keeping her eyes away from meeting mine.

"Really?" I say, joy of the afternoon quickly descending.

"No!" She scoffs as a joke, "But they might if you don't spend time with them and suffer too."

I nod along to her words, understanding every bit. Soon, they would think of me as a selfish girl who's 'too good' for them. It's what most people think of ex-twos anyway.

"Should I leave now?" I ask with a frown. Spending time with Gracelyn was always so much fun.

"I suppose. But tell me soon about what's going on with all the Selected. I want to hear the drama." She shouts as I make my way out the door.

"I promise that I will!" I giggle before the door shuts behind me.

Slowly, but surely I make my way to the Woman's Room. Navigating throughout the Palace is easy enough, everything is symmetrical.

As soon as the large doors open, I walk into chaos.

Girls are shouting from across the room. Some even have their feet propped up on furniture. The worst thing is a small girl screaming at Erica.

Amelia is sitting on the sofa next to Erica, smirking. Aurora has told me that Amelia is now her number two. And I'm guessing that one of them changed the mixture for the-yelling-girl's spray tan. In other words, she's orange.

"How dare you make me into a pumpkin!" She screeches, pointing a long, manicured finger at her.

"I did nothing. I - of all people - understand the needs for spray tans." Erica retorts.

"But my maid said -" The orange girl was cut off by Amelia.

"Honey, I can vouch for Er. We were together the whole day. And besides, you can't trust the help." She says in a sickly, sweet tone, but that was a low blow. I am sure that at least one of the Selected girls is a nanny or maid of some sort.

"You could have done it at night. That's when I was on my date with Hunter. You're just jealous that not only did we go on a date, but he also kissed me." The pumpkin crosses her arms with smug and now I almost feel like smacking her.

"Honey, you wish! Della, here was also out in the gardens that night. She told us that your date was only one step up from complete horror. I mean, you spit your tea on him!" Erica purses her lips to keep herself from smirking as the pumpkin turns into the tomato.

Out of nowhere, the pumpkin lunges at Erica, flipping over the sofa causing Amelia and Della to fall backwards as well. As those two complained about their heads hurting, the pumpkin was pulling at Erica's blonde highlights.

"YOU EVIL BITCH!" The pumpkin screams, smacking Erica's face.

To my surprise, Erica takes every blow without hitting back. I'm about to mentally congratulate her when I remember the rules. The pumpkin will be kicked out for injuring another Selected. Erica did a sneaky job of making the girl orange to get a rise out of her so she would attack her and get kicked out.

What a snake!

In seconds, guards rush in and separate the pair while one rushes to inform Hunter.

It's been a few days since our date and I am slightly worried that he is no longer interested in me. Our date for horseback riding is yet to happen. He even has stopped looking at me during dinner. Did I do something wrong?

"What?" A gruff voice yells from behind the door.

"May I have permission to enter?" He asks in anger.

"Permission granted." I pipe up, but then want shove my foot in my mouth. I sound like an idiot.

Hunter bursts through the doors and tries to glare at the two of them but ends up trying to cover a snort.

"What happened?" He asks the culprits.

"Oh! Your Highness, she lunged at me and started pulling my hair and smacking me. Everything hurts!" Erica fake-whines as she picks herself up off of the floor, hobbling on one leg as if her ankle hurts.

"What? No! This girl changed the color of my spray tan and then was making fun of me. Technically she started the fight." The pumpkin tried to cover up while sitting on the marble floor, guilty faced.

"Is there any proof of her making you... that?" Nice choice of words, Highness.

"Well - no." The pumpkin looks as if she would rather sink into the floor and disappear.

"Then I am sorry. Maddy, you are eliminated from the Selection." Hunter says in a calm voice which doesn't exactly help the sobbing girl at his feet.

Without much else of a care, he stalks out of the Woman's room to wherever he came from.

One of Maddy's friends picks her up off of the ground and takes the cowering girl out of the room. I feel sorry for her, but if she ever wanted a chance in this competition, she should have remained composed and brought up her dilemma with the royals. You can't act rashly in a game such as this.

Erica also leaves, complaining about having to go to the infirmary. With her gone, everyone starts to gossip.

I make my way toward London, Aurora, and Bianca who are sitting at a tea table near a fireplace.

"What was that about?" I ask while sitting down in a chair next to Aurora.

"That whore just got another Selected kicked out." Bianca explains with a glare in Amelia and Della's direction.

"That poor girl was more orange than my house cat." London murmurs looking down at her tea.

"I understand that this is a competition, but that doesn't mean we have to act like animals." I add with a sigh.

"Exactly. Why is it so hard for some to understand that we should be on our best behavior?" Aurora questions looking relatively stressed from the whole situation.

"Ladies!" Miss Jenkins calls, interrupting our conversation.

We all turn out heads to the short woman who sports a navy business suit and skirt. To my surprise, her usually contorted face is in a brilliant smile.

"You have all been invited for a Wednesday lunch picnic with the royal family. It is just a way to have the Prince and his family get to know you in a happy environment." She explains loudly to talk over the whispering girls.

As soon as she leaves, we erupt in a tizzy. Each one of us taking turns talking about what we'll wear and do.

"This will be so much fun!" Aurora smiles and we all nod our heads vigorously. For once, I won't completely dread having to hang out with all of the Selected.

Hey my lovelies!

How are you all liking the story so far? Are you excited for the picnic? I know I am!

Please vote and comment❤️