Chapter 13 I'm going insane . " Every morning , at seven a.m. sharp , a team of stylists , including Jessica and Lucy , barges into our room . June and I spend the next two hours being poked and prodded , all in the name of beauty . Our hair is styled daily into new intricate styles I've only ever seen in magazines or on red carpets . Then they moisturize and shave and wax and pluck and draw and contour and highlight and conceal , and at the end of it all , my sister and I are left looking like actual porcelain dolls . I don't know what the point of bringing luggage was . I don't know what the point of unpacking was . Because each morning , the stylist team comes to our room armed with a rack of new clothes , ensuring that my sister and I look as elegant and expensive as our surroundings . When they do that , I wonder if it's just us - because of our poor - looking , threadbare clothes - or every other girl got a new wardrobe . After the morning torture session is breakfast . June and I dine with the other twelve girls in the dining hall , choosing from a large buffet of options . We usually keep to ourselves on the table and no one really makes an attempt to relate with us . It's a room full of twelve girls in a competition where the prize is a rich husband . It's no wonder no one is interested in making friends . Especially when June and I already stood out as troublemakers . Thankfully , Valerie has kept her distance , only shooting scornful looks in our direction once in a while . After breakfast is etiquette training . That's right - learning to sit and stand and walk right . Learning which fork is used with what meal and the difference between a soup and dessert spoon . The day we balanced actual textbooks on our heads and were instructed to walk in a straight line , I almost dissolved into fits of laughter at how utterly ridiculous it all seemed . Is sitting , standing , walking , and talking like a princess what it takes to marry an Ashford ? What about love ? Basic companionship and compatibility ? It feels like everything we do is to present a perfect front to the media and the public . It makes me a little glad that I have no chance of winning . Marrying into a family where there's maximum pressure to be perfect , and I might not actually have anything in common with my husband , sounds awful . Speaking of the Ashfords since that first day , I haven't seen anyone of them . Not even Peter , with his vague promises of stirring things up , shown his face since that moment in my room . has While we move around the house , I find myself craning my neck around corners , curiously trying to peer into rooms , hoping to catch a glimpse of curly brown hair and gorgeous green eyes . And every time I climb the stairs to the east wing , I linger just a little , staring longingly at the west wing . While I'm having a questionable time at the Ashford's , June is having the time of her life . She wakes up every morning more excited than I've ever seen her and eagerly goes through the day and all the training with more vigor than anyone else . If she were old enough and in the competition , my completely unbiased opinion is that she would win , hands down . We only have an hour to ourselves every day , and June always wants to spend it outside in the splendid garden . Today , for example , three days into the competition , I sit in the pavilion watching June weave through the garden , enamored by the colorful flowers and the butterflies and bees that buzz around them . She disappears around the back , but I'm not worried . Guards are situated at virtually every single corner of the Ashford Manor , so I know that even out of sight , my sister is safe . She appears shortly after , wearing an adorable flower crown made of daisies . Behind June , smiling shyly is a girl I recognize from the competition . She's pretty and mostly keeps to herself , barely interacting with any of the other girls . My sister takes the girl's hand and tugs her towards me . " Spring , " she greets excitedly . " I made a new friend . Look what she made me ! " June points excitedly to the flower crown . 1/2 Chapter 13 I smile at the girl holding my sister's hand . " Hi , " " Um... " The girl blushes . " Hi , Spring I'm Eliza . " I chuckle softly . " Actually , my name's April . Spring is just a pet name my sister calls me . " D " Oh , sorry . " She blushes harder , and I find her adorable , certainly not like the pretentious , stuck - up girls in the competition . Plus , any girl willing to play with and humor my sister is an angel in my book . Also , I miss Lou , and will greatly welcome the company of another girl my age . So I give Eliza a reassuring smile . " That's okay . " I gesture to the seat opposite me , " Wanna sit ? " Her smile is more confident as she sits . " Thank you . " June slides in next to me , laying her head on my shoulder . I know she's exhausted , but she's trying her best not to show it so I won't worry . I squeeze her hand gently . So , how are you enjoying the competition so far ? " I ask Eliza conversationally . She glances around like she's looking around for eavesdroppers . " Honestly ? " she says , her voice low . " It's hands down the most ridiculous thing I've ever done in my life . " I decide instantly that I like her . " Right ? " I agree . " It's like something out of a movie . " She nods . " The only reason I'm here is because my parents basically forced me to apply . They have wild dreams about how amazing it will be for my father's company if I marry an Ashford . You should have seen him shitting rainbows when I got accepted . " I laugh . For the first time in three days , in a long , long time , really , I'm just a regular girl - more than my sister's keeper - and I can enjoy the company of another girl . So with June snoozing on my shoulder , Eliza and I become fast friends , talking mainly about the competition and what we think is the most bizarre part . " Oh , Eliza says dully , her eyes flicking over my shoulder . " Great . Her . " Confused at the sudden change of demeanor , I turn , following Eliza's gaze . I understand immediately when I see who she's referring to . Valerie - weaving through the girls in the garden with a haughty smile on her face . What's worse , she's heading in our direction . Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!