His Choice (The Selection)

Chapter Three

I pick up a tiny piece of baked spaghetti with my fork and put it it my mouth. The meal is one of the simplest that my mother allows the maids to cook. Yet, it is my favorite. The dish has cheeses and vegetables in ways that other dishes do.

"How were your classes today, boys?" my father asks. Kingsley sets down his fork and rests his arms on the table, earning a scolding look from my mother.

"They went well, father. We took an exam in my history class and I got a perfect score," Kingsley brags. It takes all the power inside me not to sigh or roll my eyes. Kingsley never hesitated to tell what he did perfectly.

"Why don't you tell him about the pop quiz in math?" Anson asks, a smirk on his face. Kingsley gives Anson a look that throws daggers. My father sets down his fork and leans forward, balancing on his elbows.

"What happened on the pop quiz in math?" my father asks. Kingsley stares at Anson as he continues.

"73 percent," he mumbles. My father shakes his head. It takes all the strength in me to avoid laughing. I roll my eyes, though, hoping no one would notice. Of course it would be the end of the world over a 73 percent.

"Kingsley, you need to work on that. That isn't good enough for a future senator of Baffin," my father says. Kingsley sighs and nods.

"I know, father," he says. Anson opens his mouth to say something, probably about to brag about how he did better than him on the math test. Anson is the twin who has skills. Kingsley is just able to remember the facts. My mother looks at me.

"How about you, Ember? Any changes at school today?" my mother asks. I shake my head and take a sip of my water. She raises her eyebrows as if to tell me to elaborate.

"Nope. I avoided more girls who were excited over filling out a form to enter a lottery to win an arrogant prince," I say. I still haven't told my family that I filled out the form for Lily. I'm considering waiting until after the names are announced to tell them. My mother releases a dramatic sigh and takes a sip of her wine, shaking her head as she does so.

"I don't understand it, Ember! A girl your age with her abilities should be excited about this! Why can't you just go along with the rest of the crowd?" my mother asks. I run a hand through my hair.

"My abilities?" I ask. She rolls her eyes.

"Like you don't understand what I am saying. You are a pretty girl, Ember.You are also are very smart and hold a good title," my mother says. I look over Karigan who is standing along the side of the wall and beg her for help with my eyes. She winks at me, causing me to feel the urge to smile.

"Mom! I don't want to fill out one of those forms! It makes you look desperate, like an immature girl who is still obsessed with boy bands. That form is the dream of some girl who has pictures of the prince on their wall, not me!" I tell her. I sit back and cross my arms. My mother turns and looks behind her.

"You!"she says, pointing at Karigan. Karigan steps forward.

"Can I help you, ma'am?" she asks. My mother sighs and points at me.

"Where is her form?" my mother asks. Karigan gives me an uneasy look, biting her bottom lip. In my head, I release an aggravated moan.

"I am not sure I the one who should tell you," Karigan says. My mother shakes her.

"Keri — that is your name, correct? — you aren't her friend. You are an employee of this estate. I can snap my fingers and have you removed from our staff with three young girls who would go for a cheaper rate here to replace you. I suggest you speak," my mother says.

"Mom, her name is Karigan," I say as soon as she is done speaking. My mother ignores me, staring at Karigan instead. Karigan gulps and looks down at the floor.

"Ember turned it in a week ago," she says. My mother gasps and turns to look at me.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she asks. I shrug.

"I don't know. Maybe because you would be like Mrs. Dean and throw me a party for signing up or you would find a way to spread a terrible virus around the province so no one else could enter their forms," I say, trying to exaggerate a little to get my point across.

"And let me guess, Karen got you all dressed up for the photo?" she asks.

"Her name is Karigan, and yes she did help me get ready," I tell her. She throws her arms up in the air beside her and shakes her head.

"Great! Now when they look through the forms to find the girl most suitable to be a pretty face you will look like a maid, not a two," my mother says. I scrunch my eyebrows together.

"Mom! First of all, the forms are picked through a lottery, not picked by hand. Second, I didn't look like a maid. I look really pretty, thank you very much. And finally, stop referring to us as twos! The castes no longer exist!" I tell her. She rolls her eyes and stands up.

"I'm finished. Someone bring some Advil to my room," she orders one of the maids as she walks out. I shake my head. This is not how I saw this going when I imagined telling my family that I filled out the form. Anson looks over at me.

"By the way, the castes are still there, you little preteen," he says.He reaches over like he is going to pinch my cheeks. I slap his hand away and go to stand up.

"They are not," I say as I pull my chair out and stand. Kingsley shakes his head.

"They might not be law, but for a lot of people they might as well be there," Kinsley says. I roll my eyes and walk out of the room.

So, yeah... I'm not sure what to say so thanks for reading and yeah.

Disclaimer: The lovely Kiera Cass owns The Selection, not me.