Heavy is the Head

III

After her mini celebration, Taraji ran to her room to start getting ready. She didn't want to put pajamas on in case Fantasia and Danielle didn't either, so she settled for a pair of sweatpants and a tee shirt. Normally, she wouldn't give just anybody the luxury of seeing her not done up- her mother always telling her that a princess always looked her best - but she wanted Regina, Fantasia, and Danielle to be comfortable around her. She figured that if she let down her armor, maybe the others would also and they could skip the unpleasant awkward phase. Taraji kept her makeup on, not quite ready to give it all away yet, and left her bathroom, throwing her clothes in the laundry bin. She walked out to the common area to see Regina in the same type of attire, and what looked to be dinner on the coffee table.

"Is this dinner?" Taraji asked, sitting next to Regina on the couch. Regina nodded, handing Taraji a plate with chicken and rice.

"Castle staff dropped it off. They said Headmistress Angela decided to let us eat in our rooms so that we can rest, but breakfast is in the great hall at 8," Regina explained. Taraji made a mental note of that and ate her dinner beside Regina, making idle conversation until there was a knock on their door. Regina hopped up to get it but Taraji quickly sat her down.

"I've got it. GIve me your plate so I can sit the tray outside." Regina did as she was told, shifting uncomfortably in her seat as she watched the princess do such commoner work. She was trying to get used to it, Taraji making it clear earlier in the day that she was independent and not looking for a personal maid. Taraji opened the door, a smile gracing her face as she saw Danielle and Fantasia behind it, both looking comfortable.

"Hey, Princess Taraji," Danielle greeted, taking the tray from Taraji's hands and setting it on the floor next to her feet. "Princess Chicken over here texted you if it was okay to come over, but when you didn't respond, we figured you were eating dinner like us. I decided we were going to come see if you were ready or if you still needed a few." While Danielle talked, Fantasia stood behind her like a little puppy, her head bowed to avoid eye contact.

"I left my phone in my room, that's my bad. Come on in," Taraji invited. Danielle walked right in, heading for Regina, while Fantasia still stood in the doorway. "C'mon girl!" Taraji took Fantasia's hand, dragging her inside the room and shut the door. Fantasia followed Taraji to the couch, as she didn't have much of a choice because Taraji still had her hand. They both sat down, Taraji folding her leg under her and Fantasia sitting criss-cross applesauce right next to her. Taraji didn't register that her still holding Fantasia's hand could be making the princess uncomfortable, so she loosened her grip, communicating that it was okay for Fantasia to distance herself. Fantasia just squeezed her hand tighter before interlocking their fingers. Taraji took that as a good sign and let their joined hands rest in her lap.

"You know what I think is so cool?" Danielle asked, addressing the group. "The fact that my mom is your mentor and Regina's mom is Fantasia's and mine."

"Yeah. I guess that means we'll be seeing a lot of each other," Fantasia chimed in, Danielle giving her a look that said I'm so proud.

"I wouldn't mind that," Regina said, smirking in Danielle's direction. Danielle blushed, lowering her head in embarrassment. Taraji was shocked, she hadn't expected the blatant flirting from Regina. Regina seemed like the shy type from what she knew of her from the day, but Taraji figured that it was because she was a princess. Talking to a fellow lady royal seemed more comfortable to Regina than addressing her higher up. Taraji really hoped that soon she could break Regina of feeling that way. A comfortable silence fell over the ladies before Taraji spoke up.

"Movie, anybody? I didn't really have a plan when I asked to hang out and now I'm realizing there's not much for us to really get into," Taraji admitted. She also didn't really know how to just 'hang out'. As a princess, you don't get a lot of social time outside of the very private schools you're sent to. Her parents never let just anyone come to the palace, and if they did, it was a very supervised playdate. In her excitement to get to know the three girls with her, she forgot that she didn't have any experience and was willing to bet that they didn't have much either.