Arranged Love

Chapter 4

Chloe woke up early the next morning, the shattered picture frame still scattered on the floor. She gets ready and calls for a servant to clean up the glass and throw away the remains. Red exits her room and sees Chloe chatting with the servant, from where she was standing, you can clearly see inside her room. She notices the glass on the floor but doesn't give it a second thought as she walks to the kitchen. "If she wants to be disruptive, that's on her." She mumbles to herself.

She goes to the restroom and brushes her teeth, her eyes still half closed since she was half asleep. "Actually, um, you know what? I got it." "Are you sure Princess?" Her servant asks. "Yes, I'm sure. I'll clean it myself. And please don't call me a princess anymore. Just Chloe is fine." He nods. "As you wish, Chloe." He smiles before leaving to do something else around the house. She was determined. She goes to the supply closet and grabs a broom and dustpan. If Red can be independent, so can she. She starts sweeping up the glass, or rather trying to. Every time she sweeps up glass and then moves to another piece, the previous piece falls back onto the floor. Chloe sighs as she struggles. Red walks out and sees Chloe trying to sweep. She rolls her eyes as she watches her fail. "Damn it, i hate myself." She mumbles before she goes to Chloe's room.

She grabs the dustpan and broom from her and sweeps the floor for her. "Um, thanks." "Mhm." Red doesn't look at her. She focuses on sweeping as Chloe picks up the bigger pieces. "Shit." She whispered as she cut herself. Red drops the broom and kneels in front of Chloe. "You ok?" "Uh, yeah. It's just a cut." Chloe smiles. "It looks kinda deep." "It'll heal." Red rips part of her shirt and wraps it around her palm. "T-thanks." Chloe smiles. "You're welcome." Red finishes cleaning up and tossing it in the trashcan. "Um, look Red-" "Girls!" Bridget calls for them from downstairs. "Yes mother?" Red shouts as she stares at Chloe. "You two have a cake tasting today! You need to pick out a wedding cake!" "Coming!" She shouts. "Um, I'm gonna go get ready." Red leaves to her room. Chloe sighs as she stares at the ceiling. "Fucking idiot. You're a fucking idiot, Chloe." She mumbles to herself. She suddenly remembers something. She quickly changes and heads downstairs. "Bridget!" She finds her at the kitchen island. "Oh, hello love. What did you need?" She asks sweetly.

They soon left for cake tasting and decorating. There was an array of cakes in front of them, neither of them being able to settle on one. Chloe wanted Vanilla, Red wanted Chocolate. Chloe wanted Coconut, Red wanted Lemon. Chloe wanted Cheesecake, Red wanted Mousse. Chloe wanted to leave, Red wanted to kill herself. "Are we done yet?!" Red groans. "Almost, just two more cakes to try." They brought out the next two plates, Chloe and Red both tried a piece each immediately so they could leave. Chloe's was Mango. It was sweet, juicy, not bad. She looks over and looks at Red's piece. Strawberry. "Shit!" She hurries to her bag. "What? What's wro-" Red starts choking. She grabs at her throat as she tries to breathe. Not again. "Miss. Hearts?" "Out of my way!" Chloe runs up to her and stabs her in the leg with an EpiPen. Slowly Red starts breathing again, gasping for air. "You ok? You ok?!" Chloe lays a hand on her back. Red only nods as she catches her breath.

"What the Rabbits was that?!" Chloe shouts at the worker. Did she just....? Red doesn't have a chance to think about it as she holds her EpiPen in her hand. When did she get this? How? Where? "M-my apologies ma'am, I didn't realize-" "That my fiance is allergic to strawberries?! It should have been in the note that my parents gave you when they made this appointment. If you fail to notice that, we can take our business elsewhere." Chloe gives him a stern look. "Yes ma'am, so sorry ma'am." He hurries and leaves. Chloe scoffs and grabs the piece of strawberry cake, Red almost thinks she's gonna shove the whole thing in her face when she sees Chloe walk over to the trash can and toss it. She come back and sits down. She rubs her back. "Are you ok?" She asks. "I didn't hurt you when i stabbed you, did i?" Red shakes her head. "No, you didn't. How did you know to do? Where'd you get my EpiPen from?" Red asks her. "Your mom gave it to me before we left. And i woke up early this morning to search up what to do in case you had another reaction." Red slowly nods. "Red, I'm really, really sorry." Chloe places her hand on her knee. "I'll do anything, please forgive me."

Red stares at her hand on her knee. Chloe notices and quickly removes her hand. "We can even start over if you want." She insists. She suddenly stands and holds out her hand. "Hi, I'm Chloe Charming. You must be Princess Red of Wonderland? I've always..wondered what it was like over there." She winks at Red who admittedly blushes. She smirks. "You should come some time. I'll introduce you to the Jabberwocky." She smiles. "Fun! What's a Jabberwocky?" Chloe genuinely asks. "A monster that eats annoying girls." Red frowns. "Oh...." Chloe frowns. Red smiles after a few seconds. "Oh my gods, you scared me!" She slaps her arm. Red laughs. "Hey, you deserved it!" Chloe nods. "Ok, yeah i did. You got me there. So, can we start over again?" Red bites her lip. "Ok, I'll give you one chance, one!" Chloe squeals and hugs her. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You won't regret it, i promise." Red reluctantly hugs back. "Mhmm, we'll see."