America
I had missed the palace, but not the cameras. Our picnic is practically perfect: gourmet dishes, games with the former Selected, but our laughs are forced. We smile too much for the cameras.

Even with Marlee, it's awkward. As much as I adore Marlee, there's so much about her that I don't know. She lives a couple provinces over, and I only see her a few times a year. It's easy to chat about the Selection, harder to talk about our lives. Neither of us expected our lives to take the turns that they did.

Marlee smiles at me from under her sun bonnet and raises her teacup. "To summer!"

Obligingly, I lift my cup of lemonade. "To summer, and to free picnics!"

She laughs. "I miss the palace food."

"I miss the dresses! And the rooms."

"Now, we actually have to pay for things." She groans. "You know, despite everything, the Selection was the best thing that ever happened to me. I met my best friends and my husband."

"I'm so glad you're happy, Marlee."

She scoots closer. "Are you happy?"

I shrug. "Happy enough. I'm so happy for Gerad and I get to see May all the time. My mother might get a music degree."

"That's great!" Marlee says encouragingly.

Celeste barges over and sits between us. "Hey! I bet you missed me!"

"I did." Marlee says, giving her a hug. I do too.

"I missed you guys too." She smiles, for once showing some vulnerability.

"Who ever expected that we would become friends?" Marlee teases.

I smile, remembering our month-long feud. "Remember when you tore my dress?"

Soon, we're laughing and swapping stories. Elise comes over and joins in. She's still pretty serious, but she's relaxed a little bit. The man she married was even in a lower caste, proving even the most traditional of us can change.

"Marlee! America! Come play with us!" Natalie yells from the volleyball court.

Hand in hand, we dash over. Some of the Selected are actually really good. Tiny is surprisingly an amazing spiker. Elise and Maxon are good at everything. Kriss and I are pretty mediocre—I'm good at setting, but not spiking; Kriss is actually really good, but she's too worried about getting dirt on her dress.

Marlee, Bariel, and Anna do their best. They're pretty terrible, but they seem to have the most fun of everyone. Bariel has brought her little son, who proudly serves the ball over the net. We all clap and cheer accordingly; he beams.

At one point, Tallulah decides to leave for refreshments, and I end up at the net, blocking. Maxon is right across from me, and for once, it isn't awkward. We're both so engrossed in the sport. When he spikes the back, I jump up and send it flying back at him.

He grins. "Nice block."

I smile back, genuinely. "Thanks."

Then Marlee serves the ball- over the net this time!- and the connection is broken. Still, the conversation gives me hope that Maxon and I can be friends. I shouldn't pass up the opportunity because of my own selfish pride.

After ten more minutes, Tallulah comes back and I decide to take a break. I spot Kriss sitting in the shade, and she waves me over.

"More lemonade?" She offers.

I sit down next to her. "Thanks, but I'm good. And, thanks, this is really great."

"Maxon organized it." She says. "And, as usual, he was right."

"Well, he did a great job. This whole thing was a great idea. I'm so glad to see the Selected again."

Her gaze softens. A whisp of hair blows across her cheek and she tucks it behind her ear. "I agree. It's a little awkward with everyone calling me "Your Majesty" and everything but it's still fun. Another of Maxon's ideas."

"Two for two, then."

"More like hundreds for hundreds. I wish I had the same visions as he did. We're really different, though, you know?"

"I know."

"So, tell me, what have you been doing?"

I shrug. "Not a lot. I work at a textile factory. My brother, Gerad, just got accepted into college for science."

"I can tell you really care for your siblings."

"They're my world. How has the palace been?"

Kriss's smile tenses slightly. "Good. The food is excellent, as always."

"I hope that you're happy?"

She doesn't answer directly. "Our marriage has had a few chinks, but we've worked it out. Always will."

"I'm glad." I say seriously. I don't hate Kriss. She deserves to be happy.

She smiles tentatively. "I'm glad you came, America."

"Me too."

"I missed you guys." She continues. "Being part of the royal family is great, but also stressful. My mother is pretty overbearing, but Queen Amberley is great. She misses King Clarkson, but she dotes on Maxon. There's a lot of pressure for an heir, but Amberley is always very kind."

"She's wonderful." I say.

"What happens if there's not an heir?" She asks. This is Kriss at her most vulnerable.

"Then the throne will go to a distant relative. Don't worry, Kriss."

She smiles faintly. "Yes."

"You don't have to pretend everything is fine. It's okay to talk about things you're worried about. I'm sure if you talked to Maxon he would tell you the same thing."

She smiles again. "America, when you're Queen, everything is a fake smile. You're not allowed to have problems. It's practically a job requirement."

I impulsively grab her hand. She doesn't pull away. "You can talk to us."

"I want to be a teacher." She bursts out. Then, remembering herself, she scans the area to make sure that no one has overheard.

"I'm sure you could tutor." I encourage. "Or you could volunteer at the palace library."

The tension lines leave Kriss's face as she hugs me. "Thank you for understanding." She whispers.

I hug her back. How can a woman with everything feel so lonely? "You're welcome."