The Selection (1x1 with AnnaCat17)

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

"Hah! Maybe." Eleanor smirked at him, resting a hand on Matteo's arm. "That way I'd get to pick someone I actually like. So that counts out everyone he brings home." She smirked in amusement. "That's something to think about. But our main focus needs to be on getting you out of the Selection," she said, nudging him playfully. "I have an idea for that, but..." She became more serious. "You probably won't like it. At all."

Elliott followed him, not happy about it at all but not arguing with it. At least Abril didn't follow. "My plan? Get a job. One that doesn't involve the palace, or I would have taken the job the King offered to me." She was irritated that he had offered to escort her, but didn't let herself ask why.

[AnnaCat17]

Matteo became serious as well to match her mood. If her idea was for him to be with Romeo to fix two problems at once he wouldnt mind it at all but knew she probably wouldnt think of something like that. "Lets not worry about it tonight. We can figure out a plan tomorrow morning."

Romeo grunted in response. "Still set on killing Ellie or are you actually cured?"

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Eleanor nodded, giving him a smile and his cheek a kiss. "What are you thinking about? You have a frown." She lightly poked his wrinkled brow teasingly.

Elliott shot him a stone cold gaze. "That had better be a joke," she warned him. "I got stuck with another year in that prison 'just to make sure'. They wouldn't have let me go if they thought I wasn't well enough." She pushed past him, not caring if he followed or not.

[AnnaCat17]

Matteo easily summoned a smile for her. He stopped walking and pulled her into his arms. "Just all of the trouble we are going to get into tonight." He teased back. He couldn't tell her the truth. Perhaps one day he would confess to her his secret but for now he couldnt risk losing her friendship, especially right before the selection.

Romeo shot a glare at her. "And you have no one but yourself to blame for that." When they reached the door he grabbed her arm again to stop her. "So this is it? You have nothing to say to me?"

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Eleanor laughed, leaning against him happily. She loved being in his arms. It felt perfect. "And I know we'll get into plenty of trouble."

"I wasn't blaming you or anyone else." Elliott refused to react as he grabbed her arm other than stiffening again. "What do you want me to say to you, Romeo?" she asked, watching him carefully. "What is there to say?"

[AnnaCat17]

Matteo nodded and kissed her forehead happily before leading her off to go get ready for the party.

"I dont know, may be im sorry." He told himself that if this day ever came be wouldnt get emotional but here he was getting pathetic all because every fear he had was getting confirmed. "Maybe you should apologize for trying to kill our daughter and destroying everything we ever had. Maybe you should apologize for making me think we were in love when clearly you were just using me to make sure you always had someone taking care of you. Maybe you should say literally anything to explain why you had to turn out to be the worst thing to ever happen to me!"

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

"You want me to say sorry? I've been saying that for twelve years. I'm sick of apologizing. It's not my problem that your weren't in the receiving end of it. I'm not going to live and pretend I feel anything for you now, but I did love you before. That wasn't made up." Elliott watched him with her stone cold gaze. "You want me to explain? Too bad. I'm not saying anything to you about it."

[AnnaCat17]

Romeo released her and took a step back. He knew his pain was written across him but he didn't care. What had he expected? That she would come back better than ever and they could just figure out how to get back to where they had been? It had been 12 years. Maybe she was right to hate him. Maybe he had done something to make her do what she did. Maybe he deserved to be alone. "Im sorry." He whispered. "Dont lie now and say you loved me when i know you didnt. But for what its worth im sorry for everything and hope you can find a way to be happy again."

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Elliott shook her head, taking a few steps away from him. "Just go back to your wife and forget about me. That's the best you can do. I'm no one worth remembering. My mind is a dark place, and you don't want to be in there." She left him behind as she walked down the road, feeling relief as she didn't feel the pain she knew he was feeling.

[AnnaCat17]

Romeo didnt even try to correct her. How could she think he was married? He had no ring and had never been the type to marry before her. She would hear eventually. Rumors of him were everywhere and unavoidable. He turned and walked off to find a drink, needing something to clear his head.

That night had the party Matteo felt electrified with life as he danced happily in the ball room as the music blasted around him. Most of the real adults were in the great hall, talking over drinks and enjoying the quiet but he didnt care. He enjoyed the darkness of the room and the blasting music thst drew all of the dancing people closer together. His eyes kept straying to one of the guards by the door, their eyes meeting every so often.