The Selection

The next day, America is torn between feelings of guilt and longing for Aspen. She can’t bring herself to face Maxon, so she feigns a headache and stays in bed. Aspen comes to see her again, and he tells her maids that he needs to speak to America “about some security measures” (295). The maids leave, and Aspen apologizes to America. He says that he “regretted that night in the tree house since the second [he] climbed down the ladder” (296), and reaffirms his feelings for her.

America asks about the girl she saw Aspen with on the day of her departure, and he assures her that the girl tripped, and he caught her. Aspen never had any romantic feelings towards the girl, and America is relieved. She admits that she “never stopped” loving Aspen (298), but the maids suddenly return, and Aspen dismisses himself. In the middle of the night, there is another rebel attack, and America is woken up and taken to a safe room in the basement. She brings her maids with her and demands that they are brought into the safe room with her. She is protective of her maids, especially Lucy, who is “trembling head to foot” (303). Many of the Selected girls are also “shaking, tearful, and petrified with worry” (304), and they stay in the safe room with the royal family through the night. Maxon finds America, and she can see “no anger left from [their] argument” (306). She asks Maxon if the rebels are Northerners or Southerners, and he confirms that they are Southerners, but urges her, “Tell no one” (307). Time passes, and in the morning, a guard confirms that the rebels have been subdued. Everyone is sent back to their rooms, and America finds her room ransacked. Silvia comes to America’s room and announces that three girls have asked to go home. She hands America a phone and asks her to “call [her] family and tell them [she’s] fine” (310), and America finally has the chance to speak to her mother and May. May begs America to come home, but America explains that she must stay. May is jubilant because she thinks America is in love with Maxon, and when the call ends, America “misse[s] [May] more than [she] had before” (312).

One morning after the rebel attack, America shares breakfast with the Selected girls. She feels “a warm sense of sisterhood” for the other girls, and after the attack, “these small bonds had sealed into something unbreakable” (313). Maxon interrupts breakfast to announce that he “[doesn’t] feel comfortable keeping anyone in the palace, facing this constant threat of danger, when [he] feel[s] confident that [they] don’t have any sort of future together” (315). He decides to narrow down the remaining 19 girls to his top 6, the Elite. He announces that Marlee, Kriss, Natalie, Celeste, Elise, and America will continue, and everyone else will be sent home. Some girls start crying, and as Maxon leaves the room, the remaining girls try to comfort them.

By the end of the day, the palace is much emptier, and it “turn[s] into a far more serious place than it was when [they] came” (318). Maxon comes to visit America, and he apologizes for yelling at America about Celeste. He admits to being pressured on multiple sides when it comes to the Selection, and he “want[s] to be able to make the decision for [him]self” (319). He explains that each of the top girls have something to offer the Illéan government, either through popularity with the people or political advantages. However, he tells America that he would have already chosen her if he could, because he is “certain [he] would be happy with [her]” (320). Still, he admits that he must keep his options open until America knows for sure if she wants him. He assures her that she can be honest with him, saying, “if you don’t think you can love me at all, it would be kinder to tell me now” (321). She admits that although she isn’t sure about their relationship yet, she knows that they are more than friends, and she wants to stay to find out if her feelings could turn to love. They share a kiss, and Maxon “smile[s] underneath his lips” (322).

Later that night, Aspen sneaks into America’s room. He notices that America has kept the jar with the single penny, and she admits that “[she] just couldn’t bring [her]self to get rid of it” (324). He tries to kiss her, but she refuses and reminds him that “[she’s] here for Maxon, and [she] can’t date [him] or whatever this is while [the Selection’s] still going on” (325). She reminds him that he broke her heart when he left her alone in the tree house, and she’s been trying to recover from that heartbreak ever since. She tells him that “Maxon really cares about [her]” (325), and she wants to choose what’s right for her. Aspen says that he won’t give up, and he will fight for America. As he leaves her alone in her room, America realizes that “The Selection [is] no longer something that [is] simply happening to [her], but something [she] [is] actively a part of” (327), and she greets the next day with enthusiasm.