Conform or Suffer: A Romance: Long Chapter Edition.

Chapter 5 Kindness Rebels

Dot rushed out of her delivery van. Frozen water stiffened her black hair, her tail swishing behind, as she dragged Grew-Ella inside.

She transformed back into an elf.

Ruby wrapped her arms around her girlfriend's waist. She drew a heart with her finger, which disappeared as her warm breath melted the frost on the window. "Thank you for coming for me. Also, I need to marry someone who is an acceptable or broken elite."

"I'll marry you—babe." Dot sped through two parking lots and turned onto the main road, with mini-tanks in pursuit.

Vehicles painted to resemble Dot's florist van merged into traffic. The drivers wore Kindness Rebel shirts, except for Madd-Ox, who was still dressed in his guard's uniform.

"Ruby, a lot of planning went into rescuing you. I'll tell my brother later. Quig has too much to deal with because Ida's husband plans to sell Betsy to save himself. That is why he forged Ida's signature. You shouldn't be able to cancel adoption papers almost seven years later."

"Will Betsy be okay?" Ruby asked.

Grew-Ella snorted like a bull. "The man is a coward, and I doubt he'll fight Quig, but they have to swap Betsy's housing for the next few months because of him. Quig's sister, Ida, is alright, and I know it wasn't her plan to rip Betsy from the only parent she's ever known."

Ruby fluttered her hands in a comforting motion, but she stopped herself. "Why did you risk your lives for me?"

Dot grinned. "Ruby, I love you. Last night, I became a Kindness Rebel despite being acceptable because the squad kidnapped you. You don't need plastic surgery because you're my beautiful princess."

"But I'm only an awkward village princess."

"No, you're the best princess. I adore the shape of your face because it belongs to you..." Dot paused and spoke to Grew-Ella. "Chase says he wants to meet us so we can void your engagement contract, and we need to do it tonight."

Ruby shrugged. "Why can't he call Grew-Ella and ask?"

"He's not in charge," Dot admitted.

Grew-Ella said nothing.

They pulled into the parking lot, climbed out, and stepped under a neon sign. The Salad Princess: Unacceptable Women Welcome. Open for 24 Hours. Owned by The Planet Earth 23.

Gusts of wind stung Grew-Ella's eyes as she entered the building. "He should be here."

The women located their phones and voted to recall Prime Minister Silvan-Mack.

Grew-Ella bought herself, Ruby, and Dot warm cheesecake buns, pizza fries, and pots of hot chocolate as they waited.

Their eyes stared out the glass doors.

Grew-Ella reached into her messenger bag and fumbled for her phone. She dialed her ex's number, but it kept going to voicemail.

"Why did you get engaged to him a third time?" Ruby asked. "I'm totally in love with Dot, but her brother is considered a catch, right?"

"Chase and I have free will and picked each other," Grew-Ella said through her teeth, voice wavering. Another bite of cheese cream frosting passed through her thin, disappointed lips. Her fingers stiffened as she dialed her ex repeatedly.

Chase finally answered. "Hello, I'm parked, but I'll be back on the road," he said over the speaker. "We have to be fast—I'm being followed."

Dot spoke over the phone in a calm voice. "She'll trade you the lotto tickets for your voided engagement contract."