His Choice (The Selection)

Chapter Thirty Five

Wrote by firerose11

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As soon as I stepped into the airport, I was set upon by Lily, who was talking faster than my mind could keep up with and hugging me as tight as she could.

"Need air," I finally gasped, feeling her arms unleash me from her vise grip.

My friend kept on talking though, and as I glanced over at my parents, I saw my father scowling fiercely. That look immediately vanished when the cameras turned his way.

"I thought I told you that you couldn't replace me!" Lily said, punching me in the arm. "Your loyal friend who pulls out other rich girls' weaves for you, and you forget about her the minute you step into the palace."

The camera operators were now talking up a storm with my parents, who begrudgingly complied. I was perhaps the only person who could see the subtle signs of irritation in my father's face.

"I didn't replace you," I told Lily, rubbing at the spot she had hit me and figuring it was going to bruise. "Consider Abigail my newest best friend. You still hold the place in my heart reserved for my oldest and well-loved best friend."

She sighed. "I sound like a teddy bear, not a friend, but I'll forgive you this time, Ember."

My brothers burst into the scene, disrupting the cameras' idyllic moment with my parents.

"Ember!" Kingsley and Anson called, pushing Lily aside and yanking me into a hug as only my older brothers could.

"I missed you guys too," I admitted, wrapping my arms around them as best as I could. "Even your stupid faces at the dinner table and dumb jokes."

"She's talking to you," Kingsley whispered loudly to Anson. "I know I'm her favorite brother, so it couldn't possibly be me."

Anson slugged his twin. "I do believe that she's referring to both of us, you jerk."

"I wrote her more letters though!"

"No, you didn't! You just piggybacked off of whenever I sent her a letter!"

I looked towards Lily, who smiled and shrugged. I agreed with her silence; this was just the way that my brothers were and I should have expected it.

Leaving my arguing brothers to trail behind, I went to hug my parents. Of course, the cameras were still in their faces, so my mother managed to turn on the waterworks.

"My little baby, it's been so long since we last saw you!" She said, crushing me against her, while she sniffled. "How are you enjoying the palace?"

Translation: our trip to pull you out of the Selection was a secret one, and you are not to say anything.

I wrapped my arms around her. "The palace is wonderful, but I'm glad to be back home visiting you for at least a little while. After all, it's almost like a vacation from the craziness of the Selection."

My father smiled at me, one that approved of what I had just said but promised that we would be discussing the Selection as soon as he could find a moment without cameras.

"Mrs. Shields," Lily broke into the touching family scene, "can Ember come stay over with me tonight? It's been so long since I've seen her, and I think that it would give you more time to prepare for the party you're throwing in her honor."

My mother stared at her with a blank look. "What...oh, Lily, what a wonderful idea! That way Ember will be even more surprised!"

Second translation: there was no party planned, but since your idea was so brilliant, I'm going to steal it and run.