The Rebel

Chapter 2: Maxon

I couldn't believe it. 

Kriss was a rebel and she didn't tell me. I needed to talk. I started down the hall to America's room, then realized that I'd sent her home. 

My heart sank, but only for a while. I still couldn't believe that she would keep such a big secret from me. Women are so hard to figure out. At least I thought I did, but I guess not. 

I went to my room and say by the fire, thinking about my decision. Did I do the right thing? Yes, of course, I love Kriss. Right? But she lied to me all this time, just like America. I don't know. 

I sat by the fire, contemplating for a while until I decided to go to bed. I thought back to last night. I was laying beside America at this time. I couldn't get her out of my mind. Was she alright? Why should I care? She lied to me! I thought. I love Kriss. I love Kriss. I fell asleep telling myself that.

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I woke up to my butler drawing my curtains, sunlight streaming through the window. I put my clothes on and went down for breakfast. Kriss was sitting beside Mother, and I took the seat to her left.

"Good morning, Maxon." Kriss said, looking hopeful.

"Morning." I replied. I kissed her on the cheek and she let out a sigh. 

I had accepted the fact that she was a rebel last night and moved on. At least she was Northern. But I still had some matters to discuss with her.

"Kriss, can I talk with you for a second?" I said after breakfast was done.

"Of course." she said as we walked to the library together. "Maxon, I know you're still mad, but I want to say I'm sorry for keeping it a secret." 

"I forgive you. And I'm sorry for overreacting. I have some matters to discuss with you." we sat down at a little table.

"Ok." Kriss replied.

"How long have you been a rebel?" I asked her.

" Since I was sixteen." Kriss replied. That was three years.

"Ok. Did you enter the Selection on your account, or did your rebel group make you?" I asked. 

Kriss bit her lip and replied."At first, it was because of my rebel group. But as it went on, I grew to love you." she smiled weakly and I returned it, grabbing her hand. "Can I ask you a question?" Kriss asked. I nodded and she began. "How come when you were making a toast last night, you said America's name and not mine?" 

It was my turn to be nervous."It was just a mistake. I love you, Kriss. You know that."

 She smiled and I kissed her. But I felt guilty, almost. Like I was being unfaithful to America. I brushed the feeling off and broke the kiss.

 "I have to go work. Why don't you start working on the Princess suite with your maids?" she nodded and gave me a kiss, then left me in the library. 

I walked to Father's study, getting congratulated by guards all the way there. 

"Hello, Maxon." Father said, looking up from his paperwork.

"Hello, Father." I replied. He patted me on the back.

"Excellent choice with the Selection. I'm glad you finally came to your senses about the Five." 

I forced a smile. "Thank you. Now what do we have to work on?" I asked, gesturing to the paperwork.

"Ah, there's been an uprising in Sumner,  Kent, and Clermont. But why?"

"I think it's because of the castes." I said.

"I don't see what the problem with the castes is. They're perfectly fine."

"Father, I know why the people don't like the castes." 

This was risky, but I had to do it. "They're confining one to a certain occupancy or value of life just because of their ancestors. I have a plan to dissolve the castes. First, we'd start with Eight. We'd build schools and buildings in their communities, and-"

"Nonsense!" Father cut me off. "The castes are perfectly fine and the people are just shaken up because of the war. And that Five didn't help." I felt a sudden protectiveness towards America.

"Her name is America, and she isn't a Five anymore. She's a Three." I said through gritted teeth.

Father raised his eyebrows at me."I thought you two got into a fight." he said. 

Wait, how did he know?

"How do you know we fought?" I asked my father. I was getting madder and madder.

"Oh, that doesn't matter. I just put up a few security cameras by her room after the Convicting episode."

"What? That's invading her privacy! Just because I eliminated her doesn't mean I still care about her!" I stormed out the room before Father could say anything more, and bolted to my room. 

"Come on, Max. You're acting like a child. " I said to myself. I calmed down in my room, thinking. I did a lot of that these days. 

I missed America.

 I could always talk to her. I could talk to Kriss too, I guess. I gathered myself and went to Kriss's room. 

She had maids putting up wallpaper and decor. There were books everywhere, and the walls were a sky blue colour. Blue. That reminded me of America. I shook that thought out of my mind and greeted Kriss.

"I like what you've done with the place." I said, admiring the maids' work.

"Well, I couldn't have done it without these girls." she said, gesturing towards her maids. They curtseyed and kept working.

"So, Kriss." I said, taking her hands and leading her into my room. "I wanted to talk a little about the wedding. When do you want to have it?" her eyes lit up at the subject.

"Well, I've always thought a winter wedding would be nice." she said. "Like, on Valentine's Day!"

"If you want to have the wedding on Valentine's Day, we'd have to start planning. It's in two weeks!"

"Well, yeah. I bet we could pull it off, though. With all the people here, we could do it." Kriss said. We did have a lot of staff.

"We could try." I said, thinking. "Let's do it!" Kriss smiled big, and kissed me.

"Oh, yay! I'm so excited! I want to get married to you as soon as possible." 

She snuggled closer to me and I put my head against hers.

"Well, let's start planning! I'll get my advisers and you get Silvia. We'll work on the invitations, the decorations, the cake, your dress, my suit, and everything else!" I was a man on a mission. 

At the end of  the the night, we got the guest list, the rough draft of the invitations, and the colour scheme for the wedding. It was going to be turquoise and white. Kriss picked that out.

 Planning for the wedding made me excited. I was going to get married to Kriss. It occurred to me that I needed a best man. Who would I pick? I didn't really have any friends that were guys. As I thought about it, it was kind of sad. I decided to make the Prince Harry of England my best man. We always saw eachother, and we had a lot in common. We knew eachother since we were babies, so he was the closest guy friend I had. I finished writing my letter to him, and got a maid to send it. 

That night, I laid in bed, awake, thinking again. I wasn't mad at America anymore. I didn't like it when people kept things from me, but It must have been hard for her. Now she could be with the person she loved.

Heyyyyyyy! You guys should go check out my (Emily's) story on my own account emmalmgren13 . It's called The Queen, and it's another Selection fanfic. Give this chapter a vote and perhaps a comment!
~Emily and Hannah