It's been two weeks since I sent in my application and today is the day that they will announce who is selected on The Report, the national weekly news broadcast for important updates regarding the country. I usually don't listen that intently to it, but missing it could leave you in the dark, so it's always better to tune in. It always plays Friday nights at seven P.M. sharp, never being delayed and never being early.

Tonight was special, especially to my mother, who couldn't wait to see if I was selected or not. In her excitement, she sat down in front of the TV an hour early, watching the normal daily news for our province, which always plays before The Report. 

Seeing her sitting there so early makes my heart race even more. But there's no way I'd be selected, it's a one in a thousand chance, and it should be someone who really wants it. It should be someone who would be an actual good leader and good match for the prince. I doubt my opinions would mesh well with someone like the prince.

What are even the chances of me being Selected? There are many other girls in the province, maybe even thousands, so it's not likely to be me. The selection shouldn't even worry me, with the odds against me so much and my terrible luck, there's no way I'd be picked. Plus my mom may be right in them choosing someone, so no doubt they'd choose someone better suited than me.

As soon as the music for The Report begins playing, my mother loudly calls me and my Father into the living room. I roll my eyes immediately and my father shoots me a glare, telling me to be less rude. I hold my breath in a desperate attempt to slow my heartbeat and my breathing, but it doesn't work. I begin to breathe heavier and my heart rate rises a lot, and to calm myself down a little, I begin to chew on the tip of my fingernail, causing the nail polish to crack and fall off.

I sigh and make my way to the TV, where my mother and father already sit. I decide to stand behind the couch, my arms crossed bitterly and my nails digging into my arm. I don't want either of them to see how nervous I was, I want to 

I'm more nervous now than ever in my life, my heart beating fast, sweat escaping from my hands, and an inability to stand still. In my head I repeat the phrase It won't be me over and over again, wanting it to be true.

The Report starts off with some statements from the treasury department and the civil defense department, followed by the king who speaks of large rebel groups forming and vigilante groups acting on their own in many towns on the outskirts of the country where many farms are. He finally warns us to be careful before the microphone goes to Gale Stone, who is the charismatic announcer of all the events that happen in Illéa.

"Hello Illéa!" He starts off, waving to the camera, his smile stretching across his face. "As you all probably know, the results of the selection are in! And we will be finding out which of these lucky ladies in Illéa will be chosen to compete! Now, first let's talk with the grand prize of this competition, Tyler Schreave!" Gale announces before he walks stage right, to where the royal family sits.

I never really pay attention to them, since they sit in the background, but all during this broadcast, I couldn't help myself from peeking over to glimpse at them. All through my life, I've never really paid attention to them, since I usually don't have time for things like that. Now, though, they're sticking out to me more than ever, especially Prince Tyler.

"Now, Prince Tyler, how do you feel about the selection?" Gale asks first.

"Well, I just hope to find someone who I can love for the rest of my life and will take their duty as queen seriously," he answers, his back staying perfectly straight and his smile never crooked.

"Well, all of us in Illéa do wish you the best of luck!" Gale says, flashing his picturesque smile to the camera. "So, what type of girl are you looking for? Or do you not want to give away too much?" Gale jokingly puts his hand to his mouth and laughs, smirking at the camera.

"Well, I don't want to say, because then the ladies at home will try to change for me, and I wouldn't want that. All I want is for them to be themselves around me," Tyler answers, his voice never wavering.

"No, I suppose you wouldn't. Well, anything to add? I'm sure the ladies at home are dying to know who's been selected!"

"Yes, Gale, I suppose they are. All I can say is good luck to you ladies out there, and I hope the selected and I can get along," Tyler shakes Gale's hand before he goes back to the center of the stage, leaving Prince Tyler out of frame.

"Alright people of Illéa, the time you have all been waiting for..." Gale starts to drumroll on his thighs, "let's announce the selected!" He stops the drumroll and takes a pile of notecards from his pocket. "From province one... Annabel Oakley—four. From province two... Lisa Light—two..." Gale begins to list off name after name as pictures appear on the screen next to him, all of the girls looking picturesque and beautiful. Our province is numbered thirty-five, which just so happens to be the last province.

As time goes on and each girl is listed I become more and more nervous. I begin to breathe heavily, my chest refusing to let go of the immense pressure on it. I stop listening to Gale and focus on the ever-growing province number at the top.

Province Thirty.

This is it, the next few moments could decide my future.

Province Thirty-one.

It can either be a life that I have more control over...

Province Thirty-two.

...or a life that's all up to some stranger I don't even know.

Province Thirty-three.

But... my chances are very, very low.

Province Thirty-four.

There's no way I could be chosen. Is there?

Province Thirty-five.

I close my eyes tight before I look up to the screen to see that the only thing that has changed on screen is the province number, yet Gale still speaks, "...Elsa Friedman..."

I sigh, a huge weight falling off of my chest. I rest my head on the couch and begin to breathe normally again. In the background, I can hear my mother angrily spouting curses at the tv, even though it won't change anything.

"Oh sorry ladies and gentlemen," I hear Gale say, "due to a recent event, Ms. Friedman is hospitalized and cannot participate in the selection. Therefore, we have decided to choose a new candidate. Sorry for the inconvenience. From province Thirty-five... Adeline Greene—three."

My mother screams with excitement and hugs my dad, hopping up and down jovially. My head spins as I slowly back away from the living room and the TV. When I bump into a wall behind me, I decide to leave the house, slipping on my shoes and bolting out of the back door of the house. I see my neighbor running to my front door already, excitement plastered on their face. I run between the fences bordering the houses and down the street towards Aly and April's house, the only place I think I'd feel safe right now.

When I finally get there I knock heavily on their door, wanting to speak to them as soon as possible. The door opens quickly and I fall inside. I scramble to my feet to see that Aly opened the door, with April standing behind her. They both stare at me with a look of empathy, but I can sense a hint of jealousy in their eyes. 

Aly, April, and I had talked about the selection before, discussing the prince and the origin of this strange tradition. And even though Aly and April aren't old enough to be a part of it, both of them wanted to be; wanting a better life for themselves in a palace and being married to a gorgeous prince. But, I've told them about my dislike of the competition and my want to not be a part of it due to the time it'd waste. 

Aly speaks up, "want me to teach you more on the guitar, I bet it'll calm you down."

I simply nod and Aly takes my hand, pulling me into her room. April follows us and today Aly doesn't complain about her being in the room while she's teaching me, which is nice. I've always wanted them to get along better, they don't always see eye to eye. I know this is just because they don't want to be rude to me, but it's a step in the right direction at least.

"Thanks for this. I know I shouldn't be complaining, anyone else would kill for this opportunity..." I tell them as we sit on the floor of Aly's bedroom.

"Isn't there a way to decline the offer or something?" April asks.

"I don't think so... besides, my mother would never allow me to drop out now."

"I wish I could help..." April softly says as she hands me the guitar from the corner of the room.

"Wait! maybe you can go, and pretend to be me!" I say, grabbing April's shoulders. She softly smiles and tilts her head to the side.

"Didn't they take a picture? I mean we look nothing alike, you're a brunette with medium length hair and golden brown eyes, I'm a curly blond with long hair and bright blue eyes."

"Man, why couldn't you be old enough and have gotten this spot? You'd be a perfect fit for the queen. Why'd it have to be me?" I say as I pick up the guitar and lightly strum the guitar strings.

April puts her hand on my shoulder, "well, you know you can just not try, and I bet the prince won't keep you there."

"Yeah, but I'll probably still be shown off on the report and have to do things against my will."

"I'm sorry..." Aly says quietly, patting my back.

"No, no, it's not your fault, so you shouldn't say sorry. I'll just get through it, and get it over with. Anyway, I still need to learn the song on the guitar, so can we do that now?" I feel bad that both of them wanted to be selected, even though they weren't old enough, and then instead I got selected and then complain about it. I should just go to the palace and enjoy it, treat it like a vacation because It's not like I'm actually trying to become queen.

Aly, April, and I stay in Aly's room and play guitar for what feels like a long time until I notice that the clock says that it's already midnight. I sigh, "I think I should go home now. My mom's probably worried." Aly and April just nod and all three of us stand together. "I'll let myself out. Bye guys," I wave before leaving, Aly and April staying in the room.

I slowly walk home, the moon lighting my way. I sigh and think about how my mother is probably mad right now because I wasn't there for her to show off to her friends. Hopefully my dad understands, though, he's more like me, wanting to stay under the radar and just get on with life left alone by others.

I finally make it home, and I silently enter through the back door, slipping off my shoes and tip-toeing into the house. I decide to skip dinner and go straight to my room, wanting to be as quiet as possible as to not grab the attention of my mother. Knowing her, she's probably in her office, planning some kind of party for me to celebrate the selection. I don't want a party to celebrate this though... I'd rather just hide in my room until they ship me away. But, the party will probably bring Aly here to perform, so that's a plus at least.

I have two weeks at home now, my tutor will probably give me a bunch of stuff to do on my own while I'm gone, and my mom will fuss over which clothes to bring and lecture me night and day on how to act and behave. This is all just a meaningless experience, I'm not going to win anyway, how can I? I'd make a terrible queen since I mostly only know how to do math and science; my tutor doesn't care much for history or the other subjects, even though history is always interesting to me.

I wonder who will become the queen, though, there are thirty four other girls, so any one of them could be an amazing, kind, and smart person. There could also be others like me, forced into doing it, their only goal being going home. I hope my short experience with them won't be too unpleasant, as there were quite a few two's from the few names I did hear, and they are known for being quite snobbish. Either way it doesn't really matter what they're like because I know for sure I won't be there long and I won't be queen.