The Elite (The Selection #2)

by Kiera Cass

Love is beautiful fear.

From the beginning, I’ve really only looked at you, wanted you.”

I couldn’t imagine anything strong enough to take that happiness away.

I’d almost given up the one person in the world who really knew me, really loved me. Aspen and I had been building a life together, and the Selection nearly destroyed it. Aspen was home. Aspen was safe.

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

“She was my best friend.” “That doesn’t stop because she’s gone, sweetheart.”

“Every once in a while I wonder if the Selection has changed you. You’ve been so taken care of, and everything is so fancy. I keep wondering if you’re the same America. That let me know that you are, that they haven’t gotten to you.”

“It’s just the way it is. The sky is blue, the sun is bright, and Aspen endlessly loves America.

There, lying in the hospital wing, my heart broke for the first time over Maxon Schreave. And the ache was unthinkable.

It was like they carried the sun inside their souls and let it shine out on everything around them.

“If they polled me, I would have voted for you. I’ve always thought it should be you.”

I knew from the beginning that I didn’t want some girl who would agree with everything I said or just roll over and adore me. I try to contradict her, and she concedes the point. Every time! It’s infuriating. It’s like she doesn’t have a spine.”