The Princess's Secret

The Pain that Digs Deep

I'm walking down the corridor when I hear a sudden burst of laughter. It's familiar and completely unusual. I walk briskly over to where I hear the laughter coming from, only to find it coming out of the library.

Sitting in two velvet armchairs is my brother and Blaire.

Flynn has something in his hands, a package of blueberries. He tosses one into the air, trying to catch it in his mouth.

Blaire giggles when he misses, the blueberry hitting him ungracefully in the eye. Blaire grabs one from the package and tosses it highly into the air, and with almost an ease about her, catches it cleanly and perfectly in her mouth.

"What?!" Flynn's jaw hangs open in amazement, his green eyes wide with admiration.

"You'd be surprised the things I've learned to do over the time I've spent alone in my home." Blaire says, straightening her shoulders. She suddenly blushes, her face lighting up red like a Christmas tree.

"I mean, I didn't spend that much time alone. I just meant that-" Blaire stammers nervously, looking down onto her lap.

"Blaire, it's okay, you have nothing to be ashamed about." Flynn places his hand on her arm, trying to console her. She only blushes harder at this, probably her first contact with a boy.

I suddenly decide to save her any more embarrassment.

"Hey you two, mind if I join?" I ask, slowly walking into the library. The old book smell hits me like a brick wall, along with the smokey scent of the fireplace that's lit up with its usual large and grand fire.

My heels grow soft against the plush green carpet that covers the area where Blaire and Flynn are sitting.

"Oh, hello, Angelina." Blaire gives me a warm smile, enough to make me forget to call her out on calling me Angelina. But to be honest, I don't really mind anymore as much as I used too.

Maybe I'll give Blaire the privilege of calling me Angelina, because honestly, it feels nice to have someone other than my family to call me that.

"Blaire, Flynn." I give them both a smile in return, only to be given a scowl from Flynn. I eye him skeptically, trying to figure him out.

"I guess you can join us," Flynn mutters, his feelings obviously twisted right now. I look at Blaire, only to find her shrugging at me.

I take a seat across from them, my dress bunching up in awkward places since I've been wearing it for so long.

"So how was the rest of the party?" I ask, grabbing a cherry candy that sits in a little China plate that sits atop on a small wooden end table.

"It was great! So many people were dancing! The food was delicious! And Flynn-" Blaire rambles, her dark eyes wide with excitement.

"Blaire, calm down." I giggle, placing the cherry candy in my mouth. I'm hit with this sour taste for awhile until the outer coat of the candy melts away and reveals a sweet inside.

Blaire takes a breath, grinning at Flynn the whole time, her eyes lighting up with a sort of joy that's hard to describe.

"We left early, they're still going if you want to head back." Flynn jerks his hand back towards the ballroom, his jade eyes meeting mine.

"I think I'm all to tired to go participate in any more of that." I wave my hand, remembering the flights of stairs I had to take today.

"I could participate in that stuff all night!" Blaire squeals, leaning her head back and gazing up at the library's high ceiling. The long walls were lined with bookshelfs among bookshelfs, filled to the brim of books and atlases to last the whole world.