the one that got away

once upon a time

Falling for a boy was new to her. Love was new to her. Just like Ever After High. She was unfamiliar with so much, and afraid to change what she had been used to since her arrival. Everything had been going just right, but what would happen if she accepted his advances? Said yes? Lizzie wasn't sure, there wasn't anything in her mother's pack of cards that mentioned a word of love or boys even—and if it did, it would be rather ambiguous, and perhaps inapplicable to the situation. Wonderland was topsy turvy, mad! And Ever After High was the complete opposite of that, in every single aspect. People were unpredictable, they took her words too literally, and her surroundings were a let down. There were no talking pies, doors that shrunk and grew, or cards with spades that flew out into fish. There wasn't the colourfulness and vibrancy of Wonderland in Ever After, nor whimsical fauna and flora, and she missed it.

It was just too much to handle. Lizzie's feelings were complicated, and she was too lost, her homesickness wouldn't leave her be. Plus, she had a reputation to uphold, and so did Daring. Lizzie was to follow in the footsteps of her mother, the Queen of Hearts, who was notoriously (furious) and ruled Wonderland. Daring was to be the Prince Charming of Apple White's story who would wake the girl up from her enchanted sleep, then rule the Kingdom of Ever After. They were two very different people of different backgrounds and important destinies. If people knew about the developments between them... Well, it surely wouldn't be the sweetest, she thought.

"Lizzie?"

The sound of a lunch tray colliding against the dining table made her jump. Looking up, she found a pair of brown eyes that stared into her own. Spotting long dark hair, balanced out with an equal amount of white and streaks of lavender, held by a headpiece with pearls and a feather. It was none other than her roommate Duchess Swan, pretty in her usual attire and updo.

"You look bothered." Duchess said. "What's on your mind?" She sat herself down in front of Lizzie, curious, not concerned. (Admitting she cared was not the usual for Duchess.)

"Oh, it's nothing." She responded, shaking her head mindlessly. "Just important thronework."

"If you say so." Duchess knew not to pry, and stayed silent.

There was a horrible scraping sound when Lizzie played and prodded at her food with a fork, she was still as worried as ever and terrible at hiding it. (For now it would be best to get her mind off of it, if Daring allowed her to do that.)

Irritated by the noise, Duchess grimaced and paused before she could have a bite of her lunch. It had sent the grossest shivers down her spine.

"Okay." She took a deep breath. " Clearly there is something more important than your thronework that's been bothering you, so what is it?"

"...Can I trust you to not tell anyone?" Lizzie hesitated for a moment, stopping like she had been found committing a crime.

"Of course you can. I know when to draw the line, if that's what you're scared of." Duchess crossed her arms and raised a brow. "What's your problem?"

Red money piece highlights, and a few black strands cascaded off her shoulders, her perfect posture not so perfect anymore. The Princess of Hearts slumped with a heavy sigh. "You see... There's been something occupying my mind these days."

Duchess munched on some leafy greens whilst nodding, urging Lizzie to continue. Lizzie was capable of showing more feelings than anger. Most people knew that by now since the Next Top Villain competition, but still never saw her beyond it. She was easily embarrassed, and emotional. If not kept in check, she'd be a total mess. That's why Duchess wanted to make her confess.

"It's troublesome to put into words. I'm not sure where to start, I've never really felt this way before."

It was easy to catch on. Even if people knew of love, they never knew where to start with it. Everybody's read romance, and everybody's seen at least one movie at the Multi-hex Theatre about it, everybody knew what those last few words meant. No, Duchess is not wrong. She couldn't be wrong, never in a million years. Her intuition wouldn't fail her, especially if it had to do with love. She's like the second best to Cupid at Ever After, perhaps even better. Though she preferred to ruin, than to aid. (Duchess being a matchmaker would just add insult to injury, that being her unhappy ending, and she would probably end up throwing a fit before allowing others their own happy one.)

"Do you have a crush?"

"A crush?"

"Never mind that—Do you like someone?"

"Well, I like many things, and many people. My friends for one?"

Duchess leaped up from her seat and slammed her hand onto the table, causing their plates to clatter and shake their contents slightly. She would not let her (closest) friend go oblivious like this.

"We need to have a serious girl talk, Hearts." Duchess was stern. "Our dorm room after classes are over. Sound good?"

She didn't even give any time for Lizzie to approve. Duchess simply picked up her plate, turned on her heel and dismissed herself, leaving the girl dumbfounded with her mouth agape.

Raven passed by, giving the Swan Princess a funny look as she disappeared, and stopped to check in on Lizzie.

"Are you okay? Did something happen between you and Duchess?" She chuckled softly.

"...I'm not quite sure, actually."