Across my memory | Ben Beast

chapter twenty seven - flowers

It's been a long time since Ana felt this giddy.

She could barely hold in her giggles as Ben led her through the school halls.

Her eyebrows furrow when they stop in front of her... locker?

"Cookie?" She called out, confused as to what the king's surprise for her was. "What are we... oh my-" She cut herself off with a gasp when Ben opened her locker.

Ben chuckled charmingly, holding out the door. "Surprise?"

Ana stared speechless at her once empty locker filled with flowers of different kinds, from Dahlias to Tulips to Lilies.

Worried about her lack of response, Ben rambled out nervously. "Do you like it? If you don't like it, I can call the florist right away! I knew I should've added some roses, I just thought they were kind of cheesy and you never dig for that stuff-"

The russian princess cut him off with a sweet kiss that made both royals melt. "I love it!"

"And I love you."

It was like all of the negative feelings inside her washed away with just the sudden reminder of their love.

Ana smiled at him lovingly. "And you know I love you more..." She whispered.

Ben brought her closer, hands gripping her waist. "Impossible." He whispered, closing their distance with another kiss. "Don't forget our date today."

"How can I forget?" Ana snickered, rolling her blue eyes.

"Baby.. you tend to forget." Ben laughed lightly.

Ana scoffed narrowing her eyes at him. "Says you! Is your afternoon free or do I have to schedule a minute of your time with your secretary?" Bitterness pouring out of her tone, making the King's gaze turn cold.

"Ana... I have told you many times before-" Ben started to say, serious look painted on his face.

Ana held his gaze, firmly. "And I will always reply with the same thing." She told him with a frown.

The couple stared at each other with a cold look, stuck standing in the hallways of Auradon Prep.

A look so foreign, even to them, but deep behind their anger and frustration was a devastating wave of sadness that they both knew they would drown once they would blurt out the problem.

And deep inside their hearts, they were terrified.

Terrified because they knew they were slowly losing each other.

They were stuck in sea, a great distance between them and the shore, as a strong storm rocked their ever strong foundation.

It was a race towards the safe haven, but they both knew they were too tired to swim.

Their eyes conveyed so much unspoken words that their hearts wished to say.

The bell rang, signaling the end of the period and that it was time for lunch.

Ana sighed, looking down at her hands, feeling the weight of the ring he gave her. "I'll see you later..." She said quietly to him before turning towards her locker with teary eyes.

She heard the King sigh deeply before she felt a featherlike kiss on her cheek, then leaving without a word.

Ana bit her lip, wanting it to stop quivering as she stared at all the flowers stuffed inside her locked compartment.

Suddenly those flowers didn't seem so beautiful now.

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

A familiar music box sat on the desk beside her bed, her blue eyes stared at its figure as she laid in her bed.

Her auburn locks splattered against her pillow as she pressed her head in the comforts of it.

Ana gave in to her urge and reached out for the small music box.

She leaned, opening her drawer, pulling out a necklace with the exact pattern of the music box. She smiled softly, placing the necklace onto the trinket, aligning the designs together.

It opened to reveal two figures, holding their hands as they stand close to each other.

It was her grandparents.

Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra I were a beautiful couple, dressed elegantly, perfectly fitting for the royal family.

Ana twisted the little knob at the side of it, smiling as a sweet melody hung through the air as she let go.

Dancing bears, painted wings
Things I almost remember
And a song someone sings
Once upon a December

Someone holds me safe and warm
Horses prance through a silver storm
Figures dancing gracefully
Across my memory

Ana's eyes stayed upon her spinning grandparents as she sang along the tune, seeking comfort in the notes of its song.

Someone holds me safe and warm
Horses prance through a silver storm
Figures dancing gracefully
Across my memory

Far away, long ago
Glowing dim as an ember
Things my heart used to know
Things it yearns to remember

"And a song someone sings" Ana softly sung the song as it comes to an end. "Once upon a Dece-"

Her dorm room door suddenly burst open and in goes Lonnie with a sour look on her face.

She wore an Auradon Fighting Knight's fencing uniform, helmet at her side as she gripped it tightly.

"Ana! You won't believe what happened! They just- " The asian princess ranted before she saw the fresh tear stained cheeks of her best friend. "Oh, honey...why are you crying?"

The russian princess looked at her with wide eyes. "I am? Oh gosh..." She chuckled somberly, wiping her cheeks. "Sorry, I didn't even notice."

Lonnie dropped the helmet and immediately went to her side. "Is this about Ben, again?" She asked concerned.

Ana didn't say anything and just sent her a strained smile before looking down on her ring.

The same ring Ben gave her during his coronation, months ago.

Oh how things were so much simpler back then.

Scratch that!

Everything that has ever occurred to her wasn't simple at all.

Just months ago, they were ruling the Isle of the lost like a bunch of bullies with leather boots. Stuck in the same old ways of wanting to impress their parents by stealing, causing havoc and most of all, steal the wand.

But of course, that plan didn't work out as good always somehow surpasses evil.

Then she found out that she wasn't really who she thought she was and was actually the lost princess of the russian royal family.

And over the course of those following months, she has been training to be the princess she was, learning manners, royal protocol, the kingdom's laws, political treaties and whatnot.

On top of that was the constant struggle to cope with the responsibilities of dating the ever so busy king of Auradon.

She was exhausted.

And she realized it wasn't just because of her rocky relationship with Ben, it was just the cherry on top, it was all because of her rollercoaster of a life.

She wanted a break, a break from all of the stress that has been eating her from the inside out.

A place where she could relax without the feeling of any scrutinizing gazes of people.

She knew what to do and had to do it despite the wretched aching of her heart.