I Didn't Sign up for This War.

Chapter 3

"Oh my God! Are you my roommate?"

I look closely at the girl sitting on the only other bed in the room, looking at me like I'm dirt beneath her shoe.

She's already in her uniform. Impossibly clear caramel skin with deep brown eyes and hair that falls into thin braids down her back. Gold beads and strands of thread decorate them and make her chocolatey brown skin glow from their shine.

My own skin feels blotchy and pale in comparison and my cheeks heat up slightly in shame.

She stands up and her back is impossibly straight, her shoulders brushed proudly behind her. I feel my own spine involuntarily straighten.

I take a deep breath, inhaling a scent that is not home and smile widely at her. "I'm Rapunzel. What's your name?"

Her eyes widen with understanding and astonishment. "Rapunzel. You're that girl everyone was talking about! The Ever that was literally raised by Nevers."

"That's me," I say. "But it was just one Never. And the Storian has never written about her. She's never had a Nemesis or anything." So she's not really a part of this war. Not the one you want me to be a part of anyway.

"Interesting." She says, staring at me with disgust still evident on her face.

I rub my nose. Is there still dirt on it? Is that why she's judging me so much? Or is it because I'm beneath her in some way, in this made up hierarchy I never got to learn about. "What's your name, then?"

"Mary, Princess of Javanlee." She looks down her nose at me. "I'm surprised you managed to get a spot at the School for Good, it's very selective you know. I didn't realize someone with your...background qualified." She sneers at me and I almost shrink despite myself. "I guess they need some girls here to fill up the mogrif spots."

"Right." Not really having a response to that, I look down at my feet, giving a small sigh. Mother's words echo in my mind.

'You, a princess? Please, they'll make you a plant if you're lucky. A pretty sprig of Rapunzel. I'll plant you in my garden.'

I don't want to be a sprig of Rapunzel. I don't want to be an animal or a plant lucky to sacrifice herself for some future princess.

"Just stay out of my way." She stands up and heads over to the bathroom, her braids whacking me in the face as she leaves. "This school is my future, I can't have you damaging my reputation."

We both stop immediately as a projected voice echos around the room. "Students," I cover my ears hesitantly but it's almost like it's inside of my head. Or some kind of projection. "Welcome to the School for Good. We are so happy to have all of you here to train in the most prestigious fairy tale academy in all the kingdoms. Graduates from here have gone on to do great things and we have complete faith that you will do well by Good as well." The voice lets out a laugh. "But I'm rambling. We invite all of you to the Dining Hall for a spot of dinner before the School for Evil meets us in the auditorium. It will start in fifteen minutes and attendance is mandatory so you may meet one another make a first impression on all of your classmates and teachers."

My stomach growls. I haven't eaten since breakfast hours ago and self control was the only thing that got me through those halls of candy.

Mary lets out a little shriek, still right next to the bathroom. "Fifteen minutes!?"

"Is there a problem?" I ask.

"I can't be ready in- you have to help me!"

I look at her in confusion. "I thought you wanted me to stay out of your way."