THE BAD GUYS IN: raising princess

Heartbroken Del Vicchio

(A request from AlicornNorth )

The bell rang, signaling the end of the day at Los Angeles High. Students poured out of classrooms like bees from a shaken hive, buzzing with chatter about weekend plans, test scores, and club meetings.

Zoey Del Vicchio wasn't buzzing.

She trudged down the hall behind her friends, arms crossed over her chest, her pink hoodie pulled low over her face. The past week had felt like a slow-motion disaster. And today, it still hurt just as much.

Dexter was gone.

They'd dated for two sweet, magical months—he was shy, sweet, and though mute, he'd had a way of making her laugh harder than anyone else. His sign language was quick and expressive, and they had developed their own little code—touches, glances, little post-it notes passed under desks. It felt like the kind of quiet love you only saw in indie movies or poems.

And then his parents dropped the bomb: they were moving to Singapore. Just like that. No warning. No say.

They'd fought in the hallway by the locker bay. Her voice trembled with heartbreak and confusion while he furiously signed back, eyes filled with guilt and frustration. She remembered yelling, "So that's it? You're just going to leave like everyone else?"

He shook his head, signing "It's not what I want. But it's what's happening."

They had broken up that day.

She hadn't told anyone the full story. Not until now.

In the courtyard, under the cherry blossom mural painted by the art club, Princess and the rest of the squad gathered around Zoey, sensing something was off.

Zoey finally let the words fall out, like a storm breaking open.

"Dexter's gone," she said. "He moved to Singapore. We... broke up."

Kira gasped. Claudine muttered "jerk" under her breath, even though she knew Dexter wasn't. Laura just reached out and squeezed Zoey's hand.

Princess tilted her head, pink eyes soft with concern. "Why didn't you tell us sooner?"

Zoey shrugged, her voice cracking. "I didn't want to be the sad girl crying in the bathroom. Again."

"You're not," Princess said firmly. "You're just a girl going through something real. And you don't have to go through it alone."

"Let's have a girls' day," Claudine suggested. "You know—mall therapy."

"Retail," Kira added.

"Makeup. Sweets. Music. Flirting with cute store clerks," Laura grinned.

Zoey let out a tiny laugh through her nose. "Okay. Yeah. I'd like that."

⸻

Later That Afternoon – Los Angeles Mall

The girls descended on the mall like a fabulous hurricane. They hit a bubble tea stand first, Zoey cradling a matcha milk tea like it was emotional support. Then they hit the makeup store—shiny floors, rainbow palettes, and mirrors everywhere. Zoey drifted away from the group for a moment, admiring a stand of glittery eyeliners.

Then—bump.

She smacked right into someone's chest.

Zoey blinked, startled. "Oh! My bad—I didn't mean—"

Her voice cut off.

She looked up into a pair of ocean-blue eyes.

The boy was tall—probably 5'10—and slightly muscular in the way that looked more like swimming than lifting. His dark brown hair flopped just above his brows, tousled like he didn't care. He had a few freckles and moles scattered across his cheekbones and jaw, like constellations. He wore a Yuri on Ice t-shirt under an open flannel, dark jeans, and black boots. His silver stud earrings gleamed under the store lights.

He looked down at her with a warm, lopsided smile. "Oh, sorry. I should've watched where I was going."

His voice. Silky smooth, with a Japanese accent so faint yet so perfectly crisp, it sent heat rushing to Zoey's face.

She blinked. "No! I mean—no worries! It was my fault. I wasn't looking."

He chuckled softly. "All good."

There was an awkward pause—well, awkward for her. He looked calm, relaxed, even amused.

"I'm Zoey," she said, heart pounding.

"Ryouma. But most people call me Yurio."

"Wait—like Yuri on Ice Yurio?"

He laughed. "Yeah. My friends said I look like him when I get mad. Which is... not a compliment."

Zoey giggled. "Well, I think it's cool. That show's my favorite."

His eyes twinkled. "Same here."

They stood for a moment, a bubble of calm in the middle of the buzzing makeup store.

"You go to school around here?" she asked.

He nodded. "Los Angeles High."

Zoey's mouth fell open. "No way. I go there too!"

"I thought your face looked familiar." He glanced toward the display. "Well, guess I'll see you around, Zoey."

He turned and walked off, giving her a little wave before disappearing into the crowd.

Zoey just stood there.

Frozen.

Dizzy.

Heart hammering.

She walked back to the group, dazed and glowing like she'd just touched a star.

Princess raised an eyebrow. "You okay?"

Zoey touched her cheek. "I think I just met the prettiest boy in the world."

Kira practically squealed. "What's his name?"

"Ryouma. Or Yurio."

Laura smirked. "And we're already shipping it."

Claudine whispered in a sing-song voice, "Somebody's got a cruuuush..."

Zoey smiled for the first time in days. It was real, unforced, and glowing with new light.

Maybe her heart was still cracked.

But today—here, with her girls, her bubble tea, and a beautiful boy with blue eyes and a perfect voice—it didn't feel broken.