So, This Is Love?

Chapter 1

Red's POV

As soon as they got back to their actual time and managed to change the outcome of Bridget's future self, they found themselves letting go of a breath they didn't realize they were holding. Red couldn't get used to her mother's sudden change of behavior, from a tyrant of a queen to an affectionate mother, she really wanted to get a reality check to all the things she missed out on in this alternate life.

Besides her mother's affectionate version, she couldn't wrap her head around the feeling that there's also a rose of affection that bloomed in her towards a certain blue haired princess. After the welcoming of the new students of Auradon, Principal Uma talked with them for a while and heard her mother talk about her so highly and filled with adoration. She couldn't help but stand there awkwardly as she bid goodbye to her mother, who gave her a warm hug that she slightly flinched since she wasn't used to receiving it growing up. Her mom gives her a questioning look but she deflects saying she's tired from the event, earning a concerned look but nods in understanding as she suggests going to her dorm to rest.

She walked along the school grounds and around the halls trying to find said certain blue haired princess but to no avail, she couldn't. She sees certain kids from parents she saw back at Merlin Academy, as they give her smiles when they pass by her. Wondering why a certain princess keeps popping up in her head, she finds a small bench in the garden and sits for a while as she ponders over the sudden swelling of her heart upon hearing her name or the fluttering feeling in her stomach when she sees a slight glimpse of her.

Hearing her old mom's voice ring through her head about love, made her question if it was really love she was Feeling towards her or just simply infatuation due to experiencing new emotions outside the facade she had back at Wonderland. Although recalling the events back at Merlin Academy, she was quite fascinated by her and would always catch herself glancing at her lips at the slightest chance she could.

Seeing as the sun was about set, she decides to head to the dorms before getting tired of walking around, still not spotting any hint of that blue she keeps searching for. Finding her dorm room the same as the one they stayed at Merlin's, a few things that were modernized and moved yet remain familiar to her.

She walked beside her bed but sat and stared on the floorboards of the dorm room as she let the memory of the interaction she had with her mom sink in. That's when she heard the door creak open. There, Chloe Charming, daughter of Cinderella and Charming, the girl she was searching for in the entire school, walked through the door with a mix of relief and exhaustion evident on her face as she sat on the bed. A moment of silence passed before Chloe stood and walked towards her, offering a small soft smile and gestured to sit next to her which she nodded in response.

Chloe gave her a concerned look, not wanting to break the comfortable silence they created around them, her lips thinned in response, not knowing what to say. After everything that had happened beforehand, the silence was all they needed right now just to take everything in and process it for a while. She felt the girl rest her head on her shoulder, to which her body automatically relaxed to Chloe's comforting presence.

"So... How was your mom?" She mumbles, breaking the silence between them.

"More happier, I guess? Knowing her and Bridget are still best friends, I think she was happier than before." She feels her smiling through her voice.

"That's good..." Her voice trails off as she rests her head on top of Chloe's.

"How are things with your mom?"

Silence.

"Red?" Chloe sat up to see her staring at nothing, tears flowing out of her eyes.

"Red?" She heard her whisper and felt the girl shift to reach out to put her hand on her shoulder, she flinched as she snapped out of her thoughts. Feeling the wetness on her face, she realizes she cried, no less cried in front of Chloe. Quickly wiping the stray tears, she looks away not wanting to spare her any chance to glance at her tear-stained face.