The not-a-princess

When loyalty falters

I didn't see them again after that and class was a blur. I sat mindlessly, my thoughts drifting back to the incident. Faye hurt Ria at the woods around 10:45 during my first class. Why? She seemed so timid back in the dorm. Something wasn't adding up. I skipped lunch and headed straight to my room. The corridors and hallways were filled with students running, chatting loudly and eating. I payed them no mind, something is definitely wrong and I need to find out the truth. I ran up to the door of my room and grabbed the cold handle, swinging the door open. 

What...?  The first thing that hit me was the loud music probably at 220% volume and the amount of people in our room. An introduction party? Even better, now I have an audience. I quickly located Ria and stormed up to her. She was doing handstands on the veranda fence while her friends cheered her on. Alarmed, I grabbed by her legs and gently pulled her into the room. I got yelled at by classmates but her safety comes first. I have two little brothers, what can I say, I'm always chasing after them. "Eh? Minnie? What's up?" Ria asked (she didn't seem to mind my interruption) while reapplying her lip-gloss. She had changed clothes since I'd last seen her, to a deep blue babydoll dress and pearls. 

I took a deep breath and straightened up, this was a serious matter. "This morning, you got attacked by Faye-" before I could finish, the party went silent and exclaims rose,
"Is this her roommate, how insensitive?"
"Why would she bring up such a matter?!"
"Get lost! We're trying to enjoy ourselves!" 

Ria simply laughed, "it's okay, continue." 

"Why?" I looked her dead in the eye. 

"My, my how serious, everyone..." she turned to the Evers and spread out her arms, "how about we spill the truth with a song? Can anyone play guitar? And a piano?" a couple of hands waved in the air. Ria went and settled in a mic onto the stand and climbed onto the single bed. (My bed, mind you) Slipping a violin under her neck she began, "Once upon a time, the two of friends, her and I, but her jealousy was blinding, and her fake persona – a crime..." she continued to sing about how Faye had spilled rumors about her and how their friendship ended on awful terms. Faye swore revenge and she put on an act, pretending to be shy and quiet and hiding her real face. 

Ria sang about this morning and how Faye asked her to meet her at the woods so they could work on a neutral relationship – only to be attacked. Once she finished, she put the violin down. And slipped. Right off the bed. Onto the cold, hard floor.

Silence. 

She then raised her head and whined, "ouch..." I rushed to help her up. The partygoers laughed and applauded her song with cheers. She stood up with my help and brushed her dress with a pout, "honestly, why'd that have to happen? My performance was going so well!" she then turned to me and grins, "that explains your doubt?" 

I nod, so Faye attacks because of old hard feelings, huh? Nothing better to do than ask the girl herself. To the doom room. As I was about to leave the room, I bump into a blonde, who apologises and continues to walk to the window. Sighing I leave the room and I slip my hands into my pocket, out of reflex, only for them to brush against... paper? 

I pull it out realising the person who bumped into me must've put it in. I mean how else would it get into my brand new uniform. Curiously, I open it and written in messy handwriting (from before!) is the words sprawled, 'I'm coming after you... and I'll take what's mine.' What is all this taking? If you want it, go and take it. What does it concern me? Why is this person after me? 

I run my hands through my hair and rush back into the room to look for a blonde but almost half the crowd was blonde – dyed and real. There's no hope in this. I'll take it one mystery at a time thanks! Let's just go find Faye and settle this once and for all. As I started to shuffle down the corridor, the door flung open and Ria dashed out. "Oh, thank my earrings! You're still here. I wanted to give you this, I guessed you probably haven't had lunch yet." she said happily, rushing up to me and handing me a basket covered with an alarming large manga. 

"Oh thank you." I say, quite shocked. I pull out the manga and hand it back, "you can have this back, I'm not worried about flies." 

She tucks it under her arm and skips back into the room without a goodbye. I looked inside the woven basket as I descended down the stairs – a bowl of chicken pesto pasta, a small salad, a black forest cake and a carton of strawberry milk. On the side was a carved candle and a napkin with the starry night painted onto it. How thoughtful. When did she do this though? Maybe she made it earlier and just slipped them in as a thought of personalisation. It's touching. 

The doom room was locked as it always has been. I pull out a pin from my crowned hair and start to pick, up, left, down, left... and with a sharp click it swung open. Held in chains (but no sign of injury) was Faye, her red eyes widened as she noticed me. I waste no time and hold her eyes in a steely glare. "What happened this morning?" 

She pursed her lips and began to speak, her voice hoarse as if she hadn't spoken in a long time, "you won't believe me. Ria's got you wrapped around her finger." 

I shook my head; "I love solving mysteries in my spare time. And I have experience; my instinct is telling me something is wrong." I counter. 

She sighs, "its staged. The whole scene. And I fell prey to her." What? She... what?