Dark Rose [#Wattys2016]

Six**Chloe

"Hi, Queen Belle." We mumbled in unison, like a children's class reciting their teacher's name.

Queen Belle chuckled lightly, and I'd never heard anything sound more musical. "Please, don't let me stop the tour. I will be behind you and let my dear husband continue his lecture on castle."

Together, they walked around us and to the entrance slash exit, leading us. Like robots, one by one we began to leave.

Maybe I wasn't supposed to notice Princess Autumn's face fall. For a second, I could see what she felt then...lonely. Didn't the most important people here have friends with the same value?

I didn't say anything as I had to follow my class out into the hallway. Instead, I just looked back at her, feeling the lightness in the air leaving and fluttering away. I didn't really want to wave goodbye this time, and neither did she. I may see her at the ball tonight but we won't talk like we did minutes ago.

The King and Queen were chattering with each other as they lead us to our next destination and so were my classmates. Morgan and I walked side by side, brushing accidentally into other students.

Claire Longfellow glared at us before moving away to talk to her friends. We called them Barbies because they all had blonde hair and blush pink lips.

Morgan tugged on my wrist. "What are we going to wear to the ball?" She asked excitedly.

I shrugged. "I don't know." She isn't going to like this but... "I don't know if I'm going."

Her mouth dropped down like she swallowed a large rock of cement. Her eyes had gone as wide as saucers. "What do you mean you're not going? Or thinking about it? Who would pass this up?"

I adjusted my cardigan and shrugged again. "Me." I answered.

"No!" She half whispered and half yelled, earning a few head turns. Morgan didn't seem to notice. "You have to go."

"Why?"

"You're going to leave me there on my own?" She pouted.

I pursed my lips. "That's not fair."

"Please?" She almost whined. "Don't let me go alone. Please?" She begged again.

I had to give in. "Fine. But I'm not wearing anything super flashy." I warned and she beamed at me, her cheeks arching higher than ever.

"Yay!" She almost clapped. "So what color would look good on me? Blue or pink? Because you know I have that huge dress with the poof skirt or the mermaid dress that's like ocean blue..."

The bus dropped us off at about five o'clock. I was so exhausted from walking that I collapsed on my bed and yawned. I swallowed and felt my parched throat.

My back ached as I got up and walked to the intercom and pressed the blue button which went to the maids' parlor. "Meghan." I called through the mic.

"Yes, Ms. Morgenstern?" She buzzed back, sounded a little scratched through the static.

"Please, bring me a glass of water."

"Yes, Ms. Morgenstern." She answered and I heard the faint pop that she let go of the button that connected us.

Thankfully there was no homework today and I could now take a small nap before preparing for the ball. I honestly hadn't wanted to go but since it was for Morgan I guess I could cope.

Out of the laziness, I ruled out that the remote was too far to turn the TV on so I just curled up and shut my eyes.

I had slept for an hour and when I opened my eyes, a glass of water sat on my nightstand. I sighed groggily and draped a hand over my eyes it was about six o'clock and I needed to get ready for the ball which was in about an hour.