The Elite ✓

nineteen | I really, really, really like you

*

"Never meet rudeness in others with rudeness upon your own part; even the most brutal and impolite will be more shamed by being met with courtesy and kindness, than by any attempt to annoy them by insolence on your part."

illéan royal etiquette booklet

*

There was only one outcome that I had expected from producing a heartfelt and oddly relatable speech in front of what I presume to be a million viewers, and that was the information coming from Esteban's loose lips. But what I hadn't anticipated was about hundred royals blocking my path, and might I add, congratulating me for the brilliant idea which wasn't mine. 

"Lady Holly, it's a pleasure to be acquainted." A girl, whose age resembled mine walked over next to me.  She had the darkest, most luscious black locks that weaved their way around and to her shoulder, falling so gracefully that it seemed to compose a dance. Framing it was a diamond tiara which contrasted to her roots; she was the epitome of royalty, appearing as if she was a painting that had come to life. She offers her hand, "Princess Giselle."

"Ah, Queen Nicoletta's youngest daughter." I smiled, "The pleasure is all mine."

Moments ago, Emmett, who was the last girl to speak, finished her insanely disappointing speech which was a literal combination of the stereotypical daddy's girl motivation added onto the generic causes used by everyone before her. Even Sarah, who was slowly beginning to prove herself as a decent intellectual had no words to describe Emmett's speech.

Not long after, the party continued. 

Princess Giselle lingers by me as we chat amicably about palace life when Lucas whizzes past me and slips a note into my fingers. If it weren't for the way the static startled the life out of me, I wouldn't have noticed the tiny sheet of parchment paper that I was currently slipping into the pocket of my white gown. Though the Italian Princess didn't seem to notice anything peculiar, I was momentarily shaken, despite freezing a smile on my face for appearance's sake.

I'd like to think that Giselle is a contact I could use in the future, but knowing the chances of me being able to ask favours are next to none, especially to strangers, I'm unsure whether I'd like to continue our conversation. Giselle tells me she is betrothed to the next in line New Asian King, and I congratulate her. She doesn't seem to happy about this arrangement, but I say nothing. The other Selected, using the accidental America Singer crafted playbook to rise to the top have already begun to chat up contacts, and while I was convinced that Italian connections paired with New Asian power in one human, was a person I'd be gunning to slip in the good books of, I have nothing to offer her in return to balance favours.

"Dance with me," Will pulls me away from the Princess and leads me onto the dance floor, "Now tell me, what exactly inspired that speech of yours?"

For a moment, I contemplate telling him about the entirety of the Esteban slash rebels issue, but I decided against it because all I seemingly want to do is forget about all the future problems I happen to be entangling myself in, "Didn't really think about it," I blurted, "Came out naturally."

"Kudos on you."

I haven't seen or interacted much with Will for the past few weeks, for seemingly more obvious reasons, but for some reason, the mind and body swoon more with someone you know you can't be with. As we dance to the slow beat of the song, Lucas disappearing entirely from all the Selected, I realize that the night I ran into Will, and followed him and his thunderstorm blue eyes out of the market, I realized that it was also the day that I realized he was the person I needed my whole life. He was someone who could maintain appearances, someone who knew the importance of his time of day, but like me, someone who needed an escape. The only person who understood me at that.

My mother, sisters, they were always content with what they had and never tried anything new. At the rate they were going, they knew that they were fine, so why bother changing it all? But for me, I needed change to live, breath. You see, I'm fine, the Selection was fine, Lucas was fine. But fine, it was only fine. Fine, at best, would only ever be fine.

For crying out loud, I wasn't even twenty yet. None of us was, and someone was ready to pile the crown on one of our heads the moment we struck thirty, or if catastrophic events had begun to occur, earlier. There are girls who are fit for the crown, and though I may convince myself I am, somewhere deep inside me, I'll always know I'm not. "Come here!" Will grins as he races out the palace doors proving exactly how spontaneous he truly was. Curious, I follow him.

Surprise, surprise. The backdoor, like any other door, led us to the garden. I slip off the heels and run barefoot to follow him, but just as I round the corner, Will pops up behind me after putting a grand total of zero seconds of contemplation into his scaring techniques, and places both his palms on my shoulder. I scream out in true blue horror before steadying myself against the first stonewall my hand reaches.

Playfully, I mean to shove him aside, but instead, I end up thrusting him into the water. 

Will drags me in with him, "No," I yell. "No, you absolute dork!"

"You're hardly one to speak, you pushed me in!" Will exclaimed, pulling himself out of the water, and offering me his hand. I'm painfully tempted to pull him back in, but at the rate that my dress is absorbing water, I don't think I'll be able to get up without his help.

On the way back into the palace, the two of us are laughing uncontrollably. Damn you, Will Schreave. Sometimes I really, really, really like you.

*

"-elimination." The King says a few moments later. The excitement, having died down a notch, was drastically reactivated by his words. As per usual, his voice was a head turner and conversation stopper. "Lucas, care to do the honours?"

Then out of thin air, the man of the hour pops up from behind a previously empty velvet curtain with a smile as bright as day. "As you may have noticed, I have disappeared for quite a few hours back there. But rest assured, all is good." Lucas smiles, "Unfortunately, that is not the case for all the Selected tonight. Or rather, for one girl in particular. Lady Emmett, tonight I am eliminating you simply as I no longer consider you the best fit as Queen. Despite this, the palace and I wish you the best in your journey to come and offer you a safe flight home." 

Emmett is already gone.

"In a consequential turn of events, I would also like to reintroduce everybody to what we refer to as a Selection alumnus." From across the room, Mia, Genevieve, Sarah and I all exchange glances, none of us are close to a shock of any sort, but that doesn't mean we aren't terrified, "As you may remember, fan-favourite polls were taken before the Elite. And you may also remember the winner, a girl who was not chosen to join the Elite."

My memory goes back to the magazine we rifled through in Emmett's room. 

"Here with me today is Callista Hartley from Clermont." While the audience applauds, I don't. We may have parted as friends, but Callista and I do have a history, temporarily halted by a reigning Sarah. But as of now, she was the fan favourite of all the thirty-five girls, and I was the fan-favourite of The Elite, which consisted of seven girls.

Kila and Cydney Hartley aside, Callista was not as fond of me when I was her top competition, and now that I knew she was back, I terrified about how our rivalry will end up destroying me.

Callista's back, and from the way her smile glistens, I know she's out for blood.

TODAY'S SONG IS DEAR SOCIETY BY MADISON BEER

Congrats to everyone who still remembers Kila and Cydney (B1 Chap 3)

Lucas vs Will.

Previously, Will was a more popular choice over the two, so I've written more Lucas chapters to try and balance the playing field. But I think afterwards, some of you forgot the Will and Holly magic. So this chapter is for those who are Team Will.

As I conclude The Elite in the next few days, are you Team Will or Lucas?