I've done so many things that supposedly have helped the kingdom. But it all just felt so meaningless.
Nothing compares to the way I feel knowing I'm bringing you into the world.
❖
Within days, things went back to the way things were. Ri-Yu as the ringleader, Starla and Poppy-Anne as her loyal followers, and Rivero as... well. Half the time Ri-Yu excluded him from the group. Like today.
Ri-Yu gave Rivero a pointed glare during lunch. He looked confused.
"No boys allowed," she said.
"What happened to your whole thing about gender equality?" he protested. "I always sit here."
"If you really saw me as an equal, then you would respect my need for you to not be here," Ri-Yu said. "Go on. Shoo." Rivero gave Starla a wounded look. Starla looked away and said nothing.
Starla still hadn't figured out why Ri-Yu was really here, but she stopped caring. It was just nice having her best friend back.
❖
Starla and Ri-Yu laid in Starla's bed looking at each other in the mirror on the ceiling, just like they used to when they were kids. They held hands.
"Look at us," Ri-Yu said. Starla looked. They both looked different than when they were kids sharing this bed. Older.
"We really glowed up, didn't we, Starla?" Ri-Yu said. "Remember when we were worried our chests would never grow in?" Starla flushed.
"You were always beautiful," Starla said earnestly.
"I know," Ri-Yu said. She turned to face Starla. "It's so great to be back. It's good to be here with you now. And I love what you've done with your hair. Now, we match." She reached out and tucked Starla's hair behind her ear, and Starla felt her heart quicken. Thoughts of kissing and how close their thighs were flashed through her mind.
"Why are you here?" Starla asked, putting a little space between them. "Aren't you engaged?" Ri-Yu propped herself up on one elbow and smiled.
"Can't a girl have a little fun before she's locked down for the rest of her life?" Ri-Yu smiled.
"Yeah, I guess," Starla said. "Your dad let you dye your hair... Does that mean he also let you marry a woman?"
"No," Ri-Yu said, her gaze darkening. She sat up and pulled her legs into a criss-cross. Starla copied her.
"Ri-Yu, I'm so sorry," Starla said, knowing how heartbreaking that must be for her.
"It's fine," Ri-Yu said, too quickly.
"Is he... nice?" Starla asked, chewing the inside of her cheek.
"He's fine," Ri-Yu said. "My dad really likes him."
"Oh," Starla said. "That's good." Suddenly, Ri-Yu barked an incredulous laugh, and Starla startled.
"Starla, are you picking your cuticles?" Starla immediately curled the fingers that she hadn't realized she'd been picking at into a fist. Ri-Yu snatched Starla's wrist and uncurled her fingers. Starla flushed with shame as Ri-Yu inspected the damaged flesh around her nails. A fresh dot of blood welled on the side of her thumb where she'd just been picking at.
"Some things never change," Ri-Yu chuckled as Starla snatched her hand away, embarrassed. "You really have got to stop that childish habit Starla. It's disgusting."
"I did stop," Starla protested. "At least for a while. It's gotten bad again; things have been really stressful for me lately, OK? I've had to start wearing gloves again."
YOU ARE READING
Mirror, Mirror
FantasíaStarla has a destiny, which she'll remind anyone who does or does not ask. She is an Ice Princess, a magical sorceress blessed with the power to keep the ever-advancing Winter at bay. At least, that's what she's SUPPOSED to be after a lifetime of ri...
