Across my memory | Ben Beast

chapter twenty five - blue

Let's just leave the past in the past

Evie's words rang through Ana's head as she walked through the school halls, her friends by her side.

Jay ravished in the attention, smiling charmingly at some of the girls, who giggled in return.

Carlos rolling his eyes at his best friend's antics while Evie and Mal talked about their classes.

"Why do you torture them? Just pick someone to take to Cotillion already." Carlos said, already had enough.

Jay shrugged, winking at another girl. "I'm going solo. That way, I can dance with all of them." He smugly said.

Ana heard several people call her name, greeting her as she passed by them, but she tuned them out, too stuck in her thoughts.

She felt anxious as she thought about the upcoming days. Trying to hide her ever growing anxiety, she held her books tightly to her chest, gripping her bag.

"If you were gonna ask someone, what's the best way to go?"

"Listen..." Jay looked at him seriously for a second. "All you got to do... is look like me." He grinned cockily.

Mal shook her head, chuckling. "Arrogant prick."

Jay scoffed, laughing in disbelief. "What? Am I wrong?" He turned to look at Ana. "Ana agrees with me! Tell her, Annie!" Receiving no reply, he called out worriedly. "Ana?"

Evie stepped closer to the princess, placing a hand on her shoulder, causing the said girl to jump in fright. "Hey! Hey... you okay?"

Ana's blue eyes widen in panic. "Y-Yeah.... just peachy." She uttered out, swallowing hard.

"Ana!" Jane called out, walking up to them.

She looked very beautiful with her dark hair slightly curled, pinned out of her face. She wore a light blue dress with a white belt design around her waist.

Carlos' eyes widened at the sight of her and started to stammer. "U-Uh H-hey Jane!"

"Hey..." Jane looked at him with a twinkle in her eye, something Carlos doesn't even notice.

Carlos stared intently at her, struggling to form out words. "I- I was wondering... Uh..."

Carlos looked at his friends for help while Jane waited, eager to hear what he wants to say.

The three girls shared a look, a quiet chuckle coming out of Ana's lips. While Jay looked at Carlos pointedly, gesturing him to go on.

"-If you liked the.... carrot cake? last night?" Carlos stuttered out, pathetically, making Jay and the others grimace.

The fairy just looked at him confused but offered her genuine smile. "I had the pumpkin pie.." She told him gently.

Carlos' eyes widened, clearly freaking out. "Oh, cool. Um, uh...."

"Smooth." Jay uttered quietly, grabbing Carlos by the shoulders, dragging him away.

Evie smiled at Jane. "I have an opening for a fitting at 3:00. Who wants it-"

"Me!" Lonnie cut in, appearing out of nowhere. "Sorry..." She looked at Jane apologetically, but Jane just smiled, shrugging it off.

Evie grinned, taking Lonnie's hand. "Perfect!" She then looked at Jane. "I'll take you later."

Jane nodded before jumping at the sight of Ana. "Hey An! I hate to keep bugging you, but the decorating committee needs more answers." She laughed nervously. "So, as much as I hate to, um...you know, um..." Her words fell out before Ana chuckled, asking.

"Bug me?"

"Right."

Ana laughed wholeheartedly. "It's alright, Janey. I know it's your job and I'm sorry I haven't been able to give out the details you needed. I just have been very busy lately with you know... school, meetings- I just..." Ana sighed deeply. "Anyways, let's see what you got for me!"

Jane looked at her unsurely, seeing the tired look on her face. "Okay... Chair swags. Entry banner. Twinkle lights. Napkin design. Table bunting. And you still haven't picked the party favors yet." She informed the red head.

Ana nodded, already having an idea of what she wanted. "So for the Chair swags..." She spent her few minutes of free time before the bell, telling Jane her vision for the Cotillion. "and uh... Pen toppers!"

Jane gasped, smiling widely. "Ooh, I love the Pen toppers! There's also chains, key charms- we can do all three-"

Ana chuckled, smiling at the girl's enthusiasm. "Do all three then..."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah!"

Jane grinned, putting her pen to her tablet. "You won't regret it!"

Ana laughed, nodding slightly. "Okay! I know I can count on you."

Evie and Lonnie walked up to them, back from the dress fitting.

"I can hardly wait to see what your wedding will look like!" She exclaimed excitedly, holding unto Ana in excitement.

Ana just smiled, trying not to let her sadness show. "Yeah... me too..." She chuckled weakly, looking down.

Evie squealed in excitement while Jane smiled happily. "The royal cotillion is like getting engaged, to be engaged, to be engaged."

Evie gasped. "I knew it!"

"Well, everyone knows it!" Lonnie laughed, like it was obvious.

Ana bit her lip, looking at her friends, pointedly. "Come on, guys let's not get ahead of ourselves. Ben and I-" Her words were cut off with a gasp as she felt someone's hands on her.

"Hey, baby..." Familiar muscular arms wrapped themselves around her waist as a kiss was placed on her cheek.

Ana smiled, looking up at her boyfriend, enjoying how he held her close.

"Hi Ben..." The three girls greeted the king with a teasing dreamy sigh.

Ana rolled her eyes at her friends' teasing smiles sent their way and turned to look at her king, who was already looking at her.

"We're good right?" Ben asked her quietly, his hold on her tightening a little bit.

Ana swallowed and sent him a small smile. "Mhm..."

Ben sighed, nodding. "Okay..." He muttered before leaning down to peck her lips.

Pulling away, he was about to connect their lips again, when Jane pulled him away, urgently.

From a few feet away, Ana's smile disintegrated to a frown, watching them talk quietly to each other.

Probably about the Cotillion again.

She thought bitterly, checking her phone, she saw how she was getting late for class and Lonnie and Evie already left for theirs.

"Alright! they're almost finished with the surprise for Ana's big night." Jane told him, holding up her tablet. "Snow White. Belle..." She swiped through the different designs of painted glass. "But the one you designed for Ana is my favorite!"

Ben nodded in approval. "Make sure her eyes are blue." He said quickly before looking back at his girlfriend. Seeing as she was walking away, smiling when she looked back. "I'll see you later, okay? I love you..."

Ana sent him a tight smile. "Okay... love you too..." She told him before walking away.

Ben sighed, closing his eyes, opening them when Jane held different samples of blue painted glass.

"Which blue should I use?"

Ben took them, scanning through the different shades. "Uh..." He saw the perfect shade of blue, he loved so much, holding it up. "This one."