A bead of sweat trickled down my forehead as I watched the furnace. Its crackles bounced off the dozens of shelves around me. I closed my eyes, trying to fit a catnap into my chaotic schedule. There was little left to do. Every student besides Lizzie and me had left for winter break. Maddie visited often, but she was busy working at the Mad Hatter's tea shop most days. And the White Queen was unfun company.
Lizzie's shoes loudly tapped on the marble floor. She was looking for a book with a hot chocolate recipe. Though I could have taught her, she insisted on figuring it out herself. The only recipe books Ever After High had were for potions and spells.
"You're taking fur-ever!" I teased. She furrowed her eyebrows in response.
"Off with your head!" Lizzie replied.
I tiptoed over, resting my head on her shoulder. Her face softened into a grin. She quickly turned to look back at the shelve. She ran her finger against the spine of the book, then shut the book furiously. She let out a small grunt.
"Before I lose my head, can I teach you how to make hot chocolate?"
She brushed her hair out of her face. "Please do."
We marched into the kitchen. I scavaged around until I found the dessert cupboard. She took out a heart-shaped mug, and we slowly filled it with milk and chocolate powder. I ran to grab a spoon. Instead of using the spoon, she used her signature butter knife. It had heart shapes engraved onto the handle.
"You're mad as a hatter, princess."
She shoved a straw into my hand, then walked back into the library. I popped in before her. We sat down next to the roaring fire. She took a long sip of her mug, then passed it to me. A smear of hot chocolate sat on her chin.
I grabbed her handkerchief and wiped it off gently. My hand lingered for a second too long before I quickly pulled away. Her face turned a rosy blush. The bright light of the fire made her look as red as the heart she drew around her eye. Even if she hadn't been born with a heart-shaped birthmark, she was just bewitching as her mother.
I took a hearty sip of hot chocolate. The taste reminded me of home, of napping in tumtum trees and oversized hats.
I laid my head on her lap, and she ruffled my hair. She hummed a short melody. I set the cup down and fell asleep.
