The Selection - Aarmau

Chapter Eight

Aaron was exhausted. He'd spent the entire day meeting with people. Particularly the Selected. For some reason, instead of making it a daily thing for 35 days, his father wanted to get it all done in one day. It would be two, though.

He had an hour with every girl, starting at breakfast, and ending at curfew at 8.

12 girls and 12 hours.

The day was quite beautiful, but there was pressure on him.

The sky was blue, as it always was, with fluffy clouds floating in it. Peaceful. No breeze.

By 7 o'clock, Aaron was nearly asleep. He was exhausted, but there was still one meeting to go. He didn't know who, but he was told to meet her in the garden.

He sat at one of the stone benches, by a rose bush, and it was quiet. The sun was going down, and he was alone. Completely alone.

Then, he heard the sound of shoes clacking against the cobble path, he looked up, and there was the same girl from yesterday.

The girl that sent him running to his mother, to tell her he felt what she had described when she entered the Selection. Love at first sight.

The girl was in purple, the colour of lilacs that hadn't fully bloomed yet, dark yet vibrant all at once. It worked for her.

The gown was halter, and she had a ribbon tying her hair back. She knew that a camera would be around. They'd only have so much privacy, so she smiled. It made his heart race more.

He also recognized her as the girl that had bumped into him last night.

"Hello." she said, bowing a bit, as was customary when in the presence of the prince.

He put his hand out, offering her up the seat next to him. "Good evening," he hesitated, realizing he didn't properly know her name.

"Aphmau."

Right. The girl with the name he nearly mispronounced on live TV.

"Well, good evening, Aphmau."

...

For nearly 15 minutes of their hour, they walked around the garden. He showed her the best places to sit and read, and the best places to meditate.

She was quite delighted by that, regardless of what she wanted to feel.

"What about you? Tell me about yourself." Aaron asks.

"Well. I'm a 6. I guess a 3 now. I was a waitress, trying to help my mom stay afloat. There's not much more than that."

"What do you mean a 3 now?"

"I don't plan on winning this thing." she said, crossing her arms.

"Why not?" he asked, voice plain, as if he didn't care if she won or not.

And perhaps, she thought, he didn't.

"I don't want to fall in love with someone because of necessity. Because of a number. And I don't plan to fall in love with you, Aaron Lycan."

It was simple and plain, and she half expected him to eliminate her right then and there.

"We're on the same page about that, then." he says, chuckling. His humour was dry, but still funny.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, I didn't want to do the whole Selection thing. I wanted to travel the world and see things, not be forced to find a wife. I just want to fall in love on my own."