"Hey Daffy," Dad greeted as I got in the car. "Hi dad." I plop my ballet bag on the floor and buckle my seat belt. Ballet lessons had just finished, and I was really sore. My black leotard was trapping all the heat inside and I was ready to get out of it. As we drove, I noticed something odd. My dad usually sang loudly to whatever song was playing on the radio, but today he was silent. His face was set in a grim expression and he kept looking over at me. Raven growled with unease. "Dad?" "Hm?" "Is something wrong?" I ask. He sighed deeply. "Hon. . . You know that the prince is looking for his mate right?" "Uh yeah?" Where is this going? I wondered. He sighed again. "You know what, I'll just show you when we get home." "Ok. . ." We drove in complete silence. Raven whimpered. "What's going on Winter?!" "I don't know!" I answer, feeling completely helpless. When we got home I noticed a letter on the counter with the royal crest. "Dad?" I turn to him. "Why is there a letter with the royal crest on it?" He didn't answer. He was looking at his feet. "Dad?!" Slowly he looked up, tears in his eyes. "I'm sorry Winter," He said softly. "I know how much you hate these things. But it's not so bad. It's possible you aren't even the one." "No." I gasp, pieces clicking into place. "No. . . No, No, NO!" I grab the letter and tear it open.

Dear Winter Leaves,

You have been chosen to participate in the selection in finding the prince's mate. You along with forty nine other girls will get a chance to be the future queen/Luna of the werewolves. The selection starts May 12th. A driver will come to pick you up and drive you to the airport where you will be delivered to the palace. Remember, that you may be eliminated and sent home at anytime.

Congratulations,
The king of werewolves

No. . . No. . . NO! I let the letter fall out of my hands and float to the floor. I sink to the floor myself, head in hands. "Winter. . ." My father placed a hand on my shoulder. "It'll be alright. It's you out of fifty other girls. I'm sure you will not be chosen." I can barely hear him. There's a pounding in my chest so loud that I could barely think. May 12th was TOMORROW! "Winter. It will be ok." Raven comforted. "Your father's right. So what if you were chosen to be one of the fifty girls? There are forty nine other girls to be chosen as his mate! You'll be fine!" I know what she's saying is true. Slowly my heart calms down. "That's a good girl." Raven said. "Wait a second. Raven?"
"Yes?" "What if you do find your mate?" "You mean our mate?" Raven corrected. "No. I mean YOUR mate." I insist. "I don't want a mate. You do." Raven remained silent. "Raven. Promise me that even if you do find your mate, you won't make me stay." "I don't think I can promise you that." Raven said quietly. "Raven! This MY choice!" I tell her angrily. "Let me rephrase this. If you force me to stay because you found your mate, I'll kill myself."

I hear Raven gasp. "Winter!" She said, stunned. "You can't mean that!" "I do!" "Come on Winter!" "We'll find our mate eventually"- "Exactly!" I interrupted her. "Eventually we'll find our mate. And when I agree to it, we will be mates. But not a minute before!" "Winter, you're being so childish!" Raven barked, annoyed. "You will not actually take your life!" "Oh really?" "Y-yes." I could hear doubt in Raven's voice. She knew how stubborn I was, and if I said I would do something important, I'd do it. After a long time of silence Raven finally answered. "Fine!" She spat. "Fine, I'll go along with it! I promise that even if I find OUR mate I will not force you to be with him." "Thank you." I say. I don't hear her answer which meant she had went to wherever it is she goes when I annoy her. Slowly I stand up and turn to my father. He looked a little shaken and worried. I didn't want him to be upset, so I smile a little. "Don't worry dad. I'm going to come right back." He relaxed a bit and returned my smile. "Of course sweetie. I'm going to go get your sisters from daycare and pick up some comfort food. You should go and tell your friends." I nod and run upstairs to my room. When I get there I make a mad dive for my phone and call Patty. After a few tortuous seconds, she picked up.

"Hello?"

"Patty!"

"Yeah? What's up?"

"Patty, it freaken happened! It happened!"

"Woah, what happened?" She asked, confused.

"I was chosen to be in the selection for the werewolf prince's mate!" I hear silence for awhile.

"Patty?"

"WWWWHHHAAATTT?!??!??" She yelled loudly into the phone. My werewolf hearing just amplified her shriek causing me to wince in pain.

"Please lower your voice!"

"LOWER MY VOICE?! LOWER. MY. VOICE?!?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW WINTER?!?"

"Seriously Patty, you're gonna blow off my eardrums!"

"Are serious right now?" Patty had lowered her voice, but I could hear it teething with rage.

"Yeah I'm serious. Oh, and their coming to get me tomorrow."

"WHA-" click.

I hung up on her before she could start screaming again. I decide to call Frank next.

Ring.

Ring.

Ring.

"Hey what's up?" Frank answered.

"Hi Frank."

"Hi."

"So. . . Have you heard about the whole selection thing?" I begin slowly.

"You mean the one all the werewolf girls are gossiping about in school today? Yeah, why?"

"Well. . . I was kinda. . . Chosen to be one of the fifty. . ."

Silence.

"Frank?" I said timidly.

"Are you serious Winter?" He asked.

"Yeah."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously."

"This isn't a prank?"

"Sadly no."

More silence.

"So you're telling me," he said slowly. "That you were chosen out of thousands of other girls, to compete for the love of someone you don't even know?"

"Basically."

Click.

He hung up on me! I stare at my phone in shock. I try calling him back, only to reach voice mail. Well crap. I sigh again. Only one person left to call.

Ring.

Ring.

Ring.

Ring-"Hello?"

"Hi Mike."

"Why do you sound like someone just died?" He asked. "Wait, someone didn't die, "did they?!"

"What? No, no one died."

"Good. What's up?"

"You know about the selection right?"

"Uh duh. Of course I know. All the werewolves know. My sister is chatting my ear off about being one of the fifty."

"Yeah well she isn't."

"Why not?"

"Because I am."

"You are what?"

I face palm at his cluelessness.

"I was chosen to be one of the fifty girls Mike!"

"Oh."

"Really? That's all you have to say? Oh?"

"Sorry. I know how much you didn't like this guy."

"Your taking this surprisingly well," I say, shocked.

"Yeah well I had a feeling you would be chosen. When are you leaving?"

"Tomorrow."

"Oh."

Silence.

"I should probably go," He said finally.

"Yeah."

"See you tomorrow."

"Ok."

"Bye."

"Bye."

Click.

I stare at my phone. I can't believe he was so calm. I mean sure he sounded a bit disturbed, but who wouldn't? My phone started ringing.

We were the ones you used to make fun of, we stayed at home alone, instead of falling in love. We never got the chance to be prom king, we didn't even dance, but here's the thing. . . We got the cars. We got the money! We need some sun but I'm telling you honey, that the geeks will, geeks will inherit the earth!

The ring tone means it's Frank. I don't answer but he keeps calling. Finally, I answer the phone.

"ABOUT TIME!!"

"Frank calm down."

"AW HELL NO! I'M NOT GONNA CALM DOWN!!"

"Frank-"

"DON'T FRANK ME! YOU CANNOT HANG UP AFTER DROPPING A BOMB LIKE THAT!!"

"Well what did you want me to do?! And you hung up on me!"

"NO I DID NOT! YOU HUNG UP! I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU THINK I DID, BUT HANGING UP ON SOMEONE AFTER SAYING SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS- are you crying?"

"N-no. . ."

I lied. Hearing Frank so worked up over me made me realize how much I would miss him. How much I would miss everyone. Frank knew I hated crying in front of people. I only let people see me cry when I can't help it.

Frank sighed.

"Please don't cry."

"I'm not c-crying!"

"Uh huh."

"Oh, shut up!"

"Ha Ha! Never!"

"Uuuhhhhhggghhh."

Frank remained silent for awhile.

"You really don't wanna go, do you?" He said finally.

"No."

"Can't you just not go?"

"I wish I could, but I can't reject a direct order from the king."

"I wish you don't have to go. . ."

"Me too. I kinda hung up on Patty as well, so can you call her for me?"

"Are you serious? You hung up on her?"

"Uh. . ."

"That was not smart."

"Yeah. . ."

He sighs.

"Fine, I'll call her for you."

"Thanks."

"You owe me. Big time."

"Yeah I know."

I could hear him chuckle a bit.

"Did you tell Mike yet?"

"Yeah, he actually seemed pretty cool with it."

"He did?"

"Yeah. It was kinda strange."

"Huh."

"DAFFY!!" I heard dad call from downstairs. "We're back!"

"I gotta go Frank."

"Ok Winter. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Ok," I was going to hang up the phone.

"Wait!" Frank said suddenly.

"Yes?"

"Winter. . . I want you to know. . . Your one of my closest friends, and I love you so much."

"Frank. . ."

"Ha. . . That sounded really cheesy huh?"

"Kinda."

"Ha ha. . . I'll miss your humor."

"Frank?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you too."

Click.

I hung up before I started sobbing. "Sissy?" I looked up to see Emmy and Becky peeking in through my door. "Hey you guys," I say, smiling a bit. I quickly wipe away my tears. "Sissy, is it true dat your going to be a pwincess?" Becky asked, wide eyed. "And marry the prince?" Emmy added. I hope not. I think to myself. "Uh, not exactly," I say. "There will be fifty other girls trying to become a princess, so my chances are pretty slim. Besides, I don't want to marry the prince anyway." "Why nots?" Becky asked. I get up and walk to them. I crouch to there level and look at both of them. "Because if I become a princess, then I won't be here anymore." "W-what?" Emmy looked shocked. Becky burst out in hot tears, staining her yellow dress. "Shush, calm down Becky." I say, stroking her black hair. Emmy latched herself onto my arm, clinging for dear life. "You guys, I'm going to come back! Don't worry I'm sure the prince doesn't want someone like me for a mate." "Are you sure?" Becky asked, looking up at me. "I'm sure." "Uh, ok!" Becky gave me the biggest hug she could. Emmy squeezed my arm even tighter. "Ok you guys, let's go get something to eat. I'm starving!" I say, standing up. Holding hands, we walk downstairs.

What do I pack? I look around my room. After I had eaten, dad told me to go pack for tomorrow. The trouble was I don't know what to pack. I pace around a bit and put in some of my clothes. What else? I think to myself, looking around some more. My eyes went to the picture of my mom. Definitely. I gingerly place the framed picture in my suitcase. Hmm. Oh I should probably grab my ballet shoes. And my posters. I take down my posters and grab my ballet slippers. As I was taking down my posters, a picture fell to the floor. Confused, I picked it up. It was a picture of Mike and Frank, doing bunny ears to each other and making silly faces at the camera. What was that doing behind my poster? Oh wait! I recalled that a few months ago I had found the poster at a comic store, and having no were else to put it, I placed it over the picture. I had intended to get the picture from out under the poster, but it had slipped my mind. I put the picture inside my suitcase, along with my posters. After putting in some books and my hat, I heard a knock at my door. I turned and saw dad. "Hey Daffy. How's it going?" "Ok." "That's good. May I come in?" "Sure."He came into my room and sat down. I noticed he had rolled up poster in his hand. "What's that?" I ask, pointing to it. "This is my gift to you." He said, handing it to me. I unrolled it and saw it was another princess tutu poster.

The poster.

"Wow! Thanks dad!" I say, giving him a hug. "No problem Daffy. Anyway, I better go get Emmy her bunny. You know she can't sleep without it." He got up and left. I placed the poster in my suitcase and laid on my bed. Tomorrow I'm going to go train to be a princess. I think grimly to myself.

                             Yay me.