Announcement of the Matches

     "Miss Juniper, thank you so much for allowing us into your home." Sebastain said as he gave me a small bow. The two girls, I later learned names Jess and Tess, were already walking down the hill towards town. The night air is cold as we stand outside the door. I gave him a small smile as I turned to go back inside. "Wait." He called and I stopped, turning back around and staring at him. "I have a question that I want to ask." He stared at me, his eyes revealed that he had mixtures of different emotions. I was tired of all the questions and I began to deny him. "Off the record." He said it quietly, so quietly I did not think I heard him right. Rather than reply, I just nodded, because perhaps I had heard it wrong. "Is it true? Did your parents really leave you because of the way you... look?" I looked at him, into his eyes to see if there was any kind of maliciousness behind his question, in case the sweety sorry tone of his voice were betraying his actual emotions. I did not see any kind of ill will behind his eyes, rather, true curiosity and sympathy.

     "Yes." I stated it in a hard tone, signaling that was all I wanted to say about it. He didn't pry anymore, but simply nodded before giving me one last look and leaving. His eyes, they held an emotion I had only seen in the eyes of Joe. Concern.

     I look in the mirror as I remember that conversation, trying to picture how my parents would have looked at me, but the only thing I remeber about them is the words "go away,". The shrill voice that haunts me in the woods echoes in my head, the voice I know to be my mother's, and unfortunatly, the only thing I remember. My ears begin to ring as the two words bounce off my skull like shadows bounce on walls. Pushing the thought away, I turn from my reflection as I begin cleaning, something that is long overdue.

     I start on by cleaning my bed. I pull my blanket off and toss it into a poorly woven basket. I then take my small bundle of clothes and place them into the basket with my blanket. I quickly put the basket outside before walking back and beginning to clean the floors. I slowly sweep the stone floors, dust most likely falling between the cracks. As I sweep my mind begins to wander to thoughts of what lies ahead.

     I wonder how people are feeling. The girls getting prepared for the event. Perhaps they are getting thier hair and nails done with their mothers. I can see the saloon buzzing with gossiping and giggling girls. I can see other ladies feveriously doing hair, makeup, and nails while the mothers sit in a waiting area, sharing memories of their daughters. Each story piles onto another's as they try their best to be the most impressive in the room. Everyone knows that during the process, people gain favorites, and they pick who they believe is the number one girl from all the others. I, along with everyone else in town, knows who that will be for this year, and that is Claire Bellacourt.

     I had seen her twice in my life. Neither one in person, but rather on posters in the dress shop's windows. The first time, she was young, around 12, and she was modeling a bridesmaid dress. The color of the dress was a dark blue, dark like Sebastian's suit. It had tool straps that drapped gently off her shoulders. Her skin was tanned perfectly, and it always made her bright blue eyes pop. Her brown hair was highlighted with specks of blonde and braided to make a crown on her head. I remember wishing I could just touch the fabric of her dress, but my wishing was cut short when someone rushed me away. The second time was more recently. In the poster, she wore a giant wedding gown, and words across the top read, "What will the It Girl Wear for her day?". The dress had a huge train with white waves of ruffles. Her arms were drapped over head head as she stared into the camera. The top of the dress was tight and hugged her curves and looked like satin wrapped about her. Her hair was pinned back with white gold flower pins and she had wispy curls that frame her face. It was predicted at the end of the last season that she was the number one girl, no matter if the season was going to be about men or women. She was, and still is, considered to be the most beautiful girl for this season.

     "I think you're the most beautiful girl in the entire world Juniper," I stop sweeping as the memory of a young boy floods back to me. "And I am going to marry you,". I blink a few times, taken aback by the recollection of him. How long has it been since I thought of you? My chest suddenly aches as I remember him, so I try my best to push the feelings away.

     After sweeping, I take a bucket that I had filled with water the night before and a brush. Lowering myself to my knees, I begin scrubbing at the floors. Though I try my best to push the memory away, my subconsious continues to drift back to him. I see his smile, and I hear his laugh echo in my head. The thought of it makes me smile. I see his chestnut brown hair flapping as he runs in front of me, and I hear his voice beckoning me to follow. My smile widens.

     How long has it been since I saw him? When I heard his laugh, or talked to him? When was the last time Peter?

     The memory floods back like an unwanted sickness, and the warm feeling in my melts into hurt. His father screams at me, calling me terrible names as he commands me to stay away from his son. Peter's mother held him as he begged his father to stop, but he would not stop. His voice grew more and more terrifying as he screamed. The people of town watched the scene unfold, no one stepped in, not even when I began to cry.

     "Huh?" I stare at the ground, drops of water sit where I had just cleaned and I touch my eyes. Sure enough, I'm crying. I quickly wipe my tears away as I continue into my chores. I remember why I tried so hard to forget now.

I finish off my small bowl of  day old soup as I stare at the radio, my stomach verbalizing its remorse for missing the distribution of food the night before. I pat it slightly as I walk over and rinse out the cup. No matter how hungry I get, it will be worth it to see Joe. The radio dings as the broadcast begins and I take the previously washed and dried clothes from earlier in the day and begin folding them gently. I listen to the weather report, mentally categorizing everything I need to do at the house.

     "Now, time for the most important news! Ladies, today is the day that you find out the 4 lucky men that have been chosen just for you!" My eyes widen at the news and I feel my legs grow a little weak. I quickly sit down as I listen intently to the broadcast. "Now, the first girl to be talk about it Reena Adell." I know her name, but for the life of me, I cannot picture her face. The broadcaster reads off the men and he moves on to the next name. "Claire Bellacourt." His voice rises in excitement and I feel my eyes roll, and he reads off the men for her.

     "That's strange. Why did she not get-"

     "Juniper Burks?" I stiffen at the sound of my name. "Oh, uh excuse me. Juniper Burks!" Even with his newer tone, the hesitancy is clear in his voice. I feel my hands begin to shake, so I press them together in hopes they will stop. "The four, uh, men chosen for Miss Burks are Mason Bridges, Collin Rodgers, Jason Taylor, and- are you serious?" The radio put out static as hushed whispers are heard over the line. My heart pounds as I stare at the radio. "Pardon me everyone, the final man is Theodore Porter... Any way, the next wonderful lady is-".

     My ears ring, I cannot hear the rest of the broadcast nor the people mentioned as my head spins. All of those names... those men. They are the top men of the season and should be paired with Claire. Why are they paired with me? Seemingly out of control of my own body, I march myself outside, sucking in as much of the night air as I possibly can. My lungs fill up with so much cold that it hurts, and then, as if I cannot take anymore, I find myself screaming. Screaming until my throat is raw with pain.

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Thank you so much for reading! I really hope you've enjoyed this chapter! I've had so much fun writing so far and I really hope you've enjoyed reading so far! Hopefully I will see you all next time!