definitely this time (e.p. fanfic)

Chapter 13

The next couple of days were relatively calm. Raina didn't know how to talk to Edmund after she discovered his deepest fear. Truth be told, she needed to not feel guilty, and being in his presence would just remind her of what she did to him; what she was doing to him.

She shuddered as the dim reality of her actions set in. It was a polarising feeling; on one hand, she's hurting Edmund by hiding things from him, but on the other, she's simply trying to protect herself, from reliving the trauma she experienced a hair under three years ago. But who cares, when you're hurting someone you have feelings for?

Raina was in her room at Coriakin's mansion, as Lucy worked on taming her hair.

'Good god, why don't you braid them before you sleep? They're more tangled and messed up than me.' Lucy sassed as she tried to take out the knots in Raina's hair. She turned around and flashed an offended expression at Lucy.

'I prize sleep over all else, Lucy Pevensie. You must acquaint yourself with this fact.' Raina said, gravely. Lucy burst out laughing, as did Raina. The girls' laughs reverberated off the walls of the room, just as Gael scuttled in, a worried look on her face.

'Your majesties! I thought I heard..' She said, timidly, before curtsying.

'Gael, please, call us Lucy, and Raina. And also, soon enough, you'll get to know we're not as regal as we appear to be.' Lucy mused, as Raina chuckled.

'She's right, we're just two teenagers, who do dumb things from time to time. You get used to it.' Raina commented, as Gael giggled. Raina couldn't help but smile, because to be fair, Gael was adorable. Raina reached her hands out and gestured to come over to them. Gael ran up to them, and sat down on Raina's bed, as Raina wrapped an arm around her.

'Do you have any siblings?' Lucy asked. Gael shook her head.

'No, it's just me and my parents..' Gael said, sadly as she began to think about her mother. Raina felt herself grow emotional, as she hugged Gael, tightly. She turned to Lucy, who was watching, awkwardly.

'And what might you be waiting for? Get over here!' Raina laughed, as Lucy pounced on their hug, as they swayed on the bed.

As they pulled away, Gael suddenly faced Lucy and Raina, with a slightly unsure and worried expression.

'Can I ask you something?'

Lucy eyed Raina, warily before turning to Gael.

'Of course. What is it?'

Gale nervously fiddled with her fingers, as she swallowed. She looked down, and cleared her throat, nervously.

'H-how do you know if a b-boy likes y-you?' She stuttered out. Raina's eyebrows shot up, as Lucy pasted on an amused expression.

'Hmm..and who is this boy?' Lucy asked in a feigned clueless voice. Raina tried to restrain her laughter. Gael's cheeks flushed red, as she nervously played with her fingers.

'H-his name is Ollie. He lives n-next door to me.' Gael said, in a small voice. Raina couldn't help but melt at Gael's adorable nervousness.

'Ollie, is it?' Lucy said, amused. Raina observed Gael, who began stuttering again.

'Y-yes, Ol-Ollie.'

Raina spoke up next.

'Well, are you friends with him?'

Gael carefully looked up at Raina.

'Yes, I-I think so. He gave me a really pretty card on my birthday. We've been friends for a year now.' She replied in a small voice. Internally, Raina felt her heart melt, as did Lucy.