Once Upon An Enchanted Ball ( A Rise of Red/Glassheart Fanfic)

Chapter 9: Confessions (Oh, And Chad's Here Too!)

As the months turned into weeks, and the weeks turned into days, it seemed the Enchanted Ball deadline was approaching- fast at that. With only three days left until the big night, there was no room for error or mistakes or any sort of mishap. All the work that Chloe and Red had spent countless hours on was now going to pay off in their favour. If all worked out well, the two would finally be able to receive what their hearts desired. It was now officially game time and there was no room for fooling around.

Contrary to that plan- this morning seemed to be spent chasing Bridget around instead.

"Bridget! Be careful! We need to let the glue dry!" Chloe shouted, her frustration evident as she chased the pink-haired girl around Red's dorm.

After Bridget's recent bout with illness-or her semi-coma, whichever it was-the state of the dorm had become a whirlwind of tissues and soup bowls. The sight of the cluttered room made Red shiver, and it didn't take much convincing to move the crown-making operation to her single dorm. Having so many people in her small space was overwhelming, but it was the new feelings she had for a certain blue-haired princess that truly had her mind in a whirl. After that night of dancing under the stars, Red found herself unable to think of anything but Chloe, her feelings growing stronger and more confusing by the day.

"Can't you let a girl live her dreams? Just this once!" Bridget squealed, trying to evade Chloe while balancing the half-finished Ball-Queen crown precariously on her head. Chloe and Red had spent hours crafting it from scratch, and Bridget's antics were putting all their hard work at risk.

"Bridget! Please be sane for once," Chloe continued chasing.

"Tell me who the Ball King and Queen are and maybe I'll consider it." Bridget smiled.

"You know I can't do that. It's top secret, Fairy GodMother's orders."

Bridget groaned. "Well, have a nice time catching me then."

Bridget was quick. It was something neither Chloe or Red could deny. How a girl who spent most of her time eating sweets managed to be so athletic was a burning question for the both of them.

Chloe huffed, finally collapsing onto Red's bed in exhaustion. She sat beside Red, who had been unusually quiet throughout the chaos. "Red, can you please tell your cousin not to mess with the prized possessions?"

Red's gaze met Chloe's flushed face, her cheeks tinged with a rosy colour from the exertion. Seeing Chloe so worn out stirred something in Red, and she found herself unable to focus on anything other than the way Chloe looked next to her.

"Bridget, can you at least stop before you ruin everything?" Red finally spoke up, her voice soft but firm. Bridget sighed, giving up her momentum once the exhaustion had taken over her system as well.

"Fine, take it." Bridget throws the crown towards both girls. It takes everything within Chloe not to kill her friend right then and there but she is too preoccupied with catching her well-made crown to throw any pushes. "You guys are boring." Bridget huffs, taking a seat on the floor to give Chloe and Red their space. The last thing she needed today was being a third wheel, whether Chloe admitted it or not.

"Bridget, sweetheart," Chloe chimes with a rather bitter smile, "Don't you have other friends to bless with your presence?" Her words are sarcastic. Bridget assumes it's another trait she's adapted from Red and rolls her eyes at the thought.

"Being here with you two is like sharing my presence with those who need it." Bridget smiles wide. However, she was against third wheeling before it was worth it seeing Chloe's face burn at the teasing. But maybe there was still some truth to her words. She was still reluctant to talk to Ella or face Charming in any way, the thought of facing either of them was way too embarrassing. But still, there were always going to be those days she missed Ella by her side, comforting, sweet Ella. And even if Charming was nothing more than a pretty face, his warm personality always made their hangouts that much better. She missed them.