The not-a-princess

The scream

After things have calmed, I properly introduce myself to Harley. She moved in a month early with Ria but when she spent one night at a sleepover, Ria claimed the room as hers and has so far never given it back. Harley goes back to her new 'dorm' to get dressed and we do too. Schedules were passed out under our doors by seniors who seemed to have stripy hands. I hoped those were seniors and not death eaters from the Harold Potsmore series. 

I pulled out my uniform and styled it out with gold jewellery and a purse. Ria however had no intention to stick to the dress code, which was a standard blazer and skirt and wore a ruffled sleeveless crop top with a pastel green and pink maxi skirt over a netted one. Ria claimed the school uniform was ugly and she needed to be pretty 24/7 so she was allergic to it. She then complained that she can't be bothered and her wild hair out (it was cut in an uneven wolf-cut with so many layers) which was bothering me. So I grabbed a hairbrush and pulled out all the bird nests from her hair - it was shorter than I expected, barely touching her shoulders. In return she let me wear a ribbon she stole from Harley that I denied. I didn't want to be accused of theft on my first day. 

I checked the schedule while Ria chewed on hers. "I told the headmistress I want to have the same classes as my new roomie." She explained when I threw her a look. I was surprised by her answer.  

"Oh, that seems to be nice."  

"Yea, its always easier to steal homework and get out of skipping classes." I leave the room.  "Hey! Wait up Minnie!"  

"It's Maeve."

 I grumble as I speed up my pace even more. I take random marble staircases until she's out of sight. This morning was an exception as I enjoyed it. Now that class is going to start I can't afford to mess around any more. I need to be good enough. My first class was Introduction to being a princess.
Then, princess naming.
Then, princess smiles.
Then, princess posture.
Then lunch. How sexist, I thought to myself. Like what is this the 1800s?

And at the back of my schedule was a note. I pull it open, how unusual for it to be there. 'I'm going to take it.' Was all it read. Take what? Take what, why? Why do I need to know this? Wrong person, maybe? 

I just rush to class. Sitting in the wide, pastel pink room, amongst the other princesses, I realised how they'd socially split themselves into groups. The egoistic, gossipers; the perfect; the stereotypical princesses; the boy's girls and the low class – the only group with a good heart. But even so, I could see them spreading rumours amongst themselves. 

Within the next blinking of my eye, the marble door opened. The class fell silent. A tall, slim and brooding lady walked in. She had her hair pulled tightly in a bun, her thin lips pressed together as she walked to the front of the class. Abruptly she stopped. Before I could wonder why – she grabbed Harley by her blazer and let out a banshee worthy wail, "THIS IS A BOY'S UNIFORM!" 

Harley didn't even flinch or try to deny it, "yup. I was thrown into the pool so I had to change last minute." Our new teacher's nostrils flared and she stormed to the front of her class. And for the next two hours lectured us about uniform policy. How bothersome – how long till the next class... 20 minutes? 10? 

...

A piercing scream rang. One filled with pain and fright. We all froze. Rushing to the nearest window to see to the commotion, I barged past everyone else (using my manners of course) and saw to it. Two girls in the woods, not so far from our classroom, one injured. Murmurs filled the air, the only person still sitting at her oak desk was Harley. I was outraged. How could she not tend to disaster when someone is in danger? Are we supposed to wait for a prince? 

Speaking of the devils, the boys who were doing archery not far off have started rushing to the scene. Hefting up my skirt, I jumped through the window. I have to get there before them, I can't trust their sense of justice. Boys will be boys so I'll have to be better. Once I arrived, my heart climbed up my throat. 

Ria. 

Sobbing on the floor with blood dripping from her nose, her top covered in dirt and her cheeks tear stained. And the never –the one I saw before in our room, Faye – had bloody knuckles and her clothes wrinkled like she'd sleepwalked onto a rollercoaster. The boys and teachers arrived. Before I could take action, a tall and muscular boy with long, pink hair pulled into a messy braid and dark eyes rushed up to her and gathered her in his arms. "Ria! Oh my goodness, come here. Hold on, let me wipe your nose." 

A boyfriend?! Hold on a moment- which no one seemed to be doing... Teachers restrained the never who resisted and denied and boys yelling insults at her (trying and failing miserably to look heroic). Something was wrong. Something felt off. But what? why? Maybe it's just Faye – maybe wherever she goes she just brings the feeling uncertainty. She certainly looks like it. It's ironic. 

"She called me here and- and before I knew i- it... Hic hic, I knew we were never f-friends but..." Ria couldn't even finish her sentence and buried her face in his chest as long-hair stroked her hair soothingly. Feeling guilt pool in my stomach, I lent down next to Ria and took her hand in mine, "come with me, I'll will be responsible in taking you back to our dorm so I can help you with our injuries." 

"It's okay, she's in good hands." Long hair, replies, and he put an arm around her, "Names Kieren. If your worried about Ria, don't be." He leans forward and covers his mouth with his hand and whispered to me, "She tends to get a little... short-tempered. She always makes people mad at her so I'm used to dealing with, you know this." 

I understood, 'this' doesn't happen everyday, it probably started with an argument. "I can hear you..." Ria grumbled as she hit his arm. He just kissed her back.