THE BAD GUYS IN: raising princess

Eddie + Princess = Forever

It was Thursday morning at Los Angeles High, and the sun cast a warm, golden hue over the school courtyard. Princess strolled through the gates, her outfit catching eyes as usual. She wore a soft pastel tie-dye shirt, paired with a light pink pleated skirt that swayed slightly with each step. Black tights hugged her legs, contrasting against her pale fur, and her canvas boots made a satisfying thud with every step on the tiled hallway. Her signature pink hair was tied in two neat low ponytails, bouncing gently behind her shoulders as she made her way to math class.

She entered the classroom just as the bell rang and was immediately greeted by her squad.

Claudine gave her a little salute, rocking her edgy look with a grey tank top and a light blue high-waisted gothic skirt, layered over fishnet tights. She wore scuffed-up All Stars that had clearly been through a few adventures.

Laura twirled in her seat, her turquoise jumpsuit hugging her frame perfectly, the white racing stripes down the sides giving her a sporty edge. Her grey cowboy boots added a fun country twist to her city-girl vibe.

Kira leaned against the desk with a smirk. She had on a red-and-orange striped top tucked into some loose blue cargo pants, her sneakers bright white and loud. Her hair was pulled into a high puff, making her whole look pop.

Zoey was the last to chime in, adjusting one of her disco ball earrings with a grin. She wore an orchid purple and white sleeveless dress, layered over knee-length tights, paired with sneaker wedges. She looked like she was ready to walk a runway or crash a dance floor.

As class settled, Princess sat down, pulling out her notebook when a folded piece of paper landed on her desk. Her heart skipped a beat. She unfolded it and saw Eddie's familiar scrawl: "You wanna go on a date this weekend?"

A smile played on her lips. She grabbed her pen, scribbled a reply—"Yes. I'd like that very much."—and passed it back. When Eddie read it, their eyes met across the room, both of them blushing furiously before quickly looking away.

Later, in the cafeteria, Zoey slid into the seat beside her. "Alright, Princess, spill it. Something's going on between you and Eddie, and don't lie. My shipping powers are in full swing today."

Princess's eyes widened. "Zoey!" she hissed, glancing around.

Zoey leaned in closer. "Come on, what's the tea?"

Princess exhaled, then whispered, "We're... secretly dating."

Zoey squealed so loudly it turned heads. Princess immediately clamped a hand over her mouth. "Shh!" she whispered, half laughing. Zoey nodded, holding her breath until Princess released her.

"How long?" Zoey asked in a hushed tone.

"About five months," Princess admitted, a little shy smile creeping across her face.

Zoey's jaw dropped. "Five months? Girl, why didn't you tell me?"

"Because if the Bad Guys find out—especially Mr. Wolf—they'll go completely insane. I'll tell them when I'm ready, but you have to promise not to say anything."

Zoey crossed her heart. "Your secret is safe with me."

Saturday rolled in with the smell of spring in the air. The Bad Guys were getting ready to head out to a party hosted by Piranha's older brothers. It was an adults-only kind of bash, meaning Princess had the mansion to herself for the night.

As Mr. Wolf adjusted his collar in the hallway mirror, he glanced at Princess, who stood casually in the living room, flipping through her phone.

"You'll be alright without us tonight?" he asked.

Princess looked up with a sweet smile. "Of course. I'll just be working on homework and maybe watching a movie."

Mr. Wolf smiled, walked over, and kissed her cheek. "Alright, love. Don't burn the place down."

"I make no promises," she joked, waving as they filed out the door.

Once the front door shut and their car backed out of the driveway, Princess bolted upstairs.

She tossed off her casual clothes and changed into her date outfit: a pink long-sleeved dress adorned with tiny yellow stars, a black cardigan draped over her shoulders, and a sparkly pink choker around her neck. She added her favorite black high-heeled lace-up boots for the finishing touch. With one final look in the mirror, she grabbed her purse and keys and headed out.

She met Eddie at the movies, where he was already waiting near the ticket booth. He wore a casual hoodie, dark jeans, and had a single rose tucked behind his back. When he gave it to her, Princess beamed.

During the movie, the tension between them was adorable. Midway through the film, Eddie subconsciously reached for her hand. Princess looked down at their fingers laced together, then up at him, her heart fluttering.

Afterward, they headed to Olive Garden. They ordered the spaghetti special, and without even realizing it, ended up slurping the same noodle strand. When their lips met in the middle, they both froze—then turned scarlet, laughing and blushing.

"I guess we're officially a rom-com cliché," Princess whispered, still smiling.

Next stop: the roller rink. Eddie helped her lace her skates, and the two spent the next hour wobbling, spinning, and chasing each other around the rink floor like they were in their own little world.

But Eddie had one more surprise. As the sun began to set, he led Princess up a grassy hillside, where a cherry blossom tree bloomed with soft pink petals fluttering in the breeze. There was a cozy picnic blanket spread out beneath it, with a basket full of snacks and drinks.

"Eddie... this is beautiful," she said, overwhelmed.

He smiled, reaching behind the tree and pulling out a small guitar. "I wrote a song... for you."

Princess blinked in awe. "You wrote me a song?"

He nodded. "It's called I Love You Too Much."

As he began to strum the chords, Princess sat in silence, listening to his soft, heartfelt lyrics Her heart melted with every word.

When he finished, she leaned in and kissed him. Not quick or nervous—slow, sweet, and full of feeling.

"I love you too much too," she whispered.

And for a moment, the whole world felt perfect.

(A request from AlicornNorth )