"Does my hair look good?"
"Do these shoes match my dress?"
"I don't know if I should go with the rose print, or the solid red. . . ."
Girls were bustling all over the dorm rooms and bathrooms, painting their faces, doing their hair, and twirling about in their most beautiful dresses. Rapunzel was wearing a deep pink gown and elegant, elbow-length white gloves. Her hair was pinned up so it wouldn't sweep the floor, but in such a way that it still showed off its length and luscious beauty. She took a deep breath, trying not to pace. She didn't notice she was pressing her nails into her hand until blackish blood trickled down her palm.
"Snow!" She spotted the other girl in the crowd and pushed through a group of girls showing off their slippers. Snow White turned to face her. She was gorgeous and adorable as always, with her shining face, round red cheeks, and short, shaggy black hair.
"Are you n-nervous?" Snow White stuttered.
"Nah," Rapunzel lied. "Are you?"
Snow White didn't speak, just nodded fervently.
"Don't be. You're beautiful." Unthinkingly, Rapunzel brushed a strand of hair away from Snow White's face. Snow White stumbled back, startled.
"I'm sorry-" Rapunzel began, but the other girl ran off into the crowd before she could say anything else. She sighed and let her hand drop. Why did it matter? Soon, they'd be in different storyworlds, and never see each other again. Feeling hollow, she walked away.
* * * * *
"Chosen to be the hero of Jack and the Beanstalk is . . . JACK JOHNSON!"
Jack smirked and took a dramatic bow as he walked up to the stage. Rapunzel couldn't even muster an eye roll at his theatrics. She tapped the armrest of her seat, heart pounding.
One by one, each person was called up to the stage. From villains to villagers, from henchmen to heroes, frogs to dwarves, everyone got a role. Finally the announcer called out:
"Princess of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves . . . SNOW WHITE!"
Shocked, Snow White stumbled to her feet. She walked up to the stage as if in a dream, passing girls who all looked jealous or impressed. She looked back at Rapunzel, who whistled loudly.
More people were called, until . . .
"Lead female of Rapunzel . . . RAPUNZEL!"
Dazed, Rapunzel stood.
As she walked up to the stage, poised and elegant, everything was perfect. The admiring faces. Her ball gown sweeping the carpet. The spotlight following her to the stage. Dim applause from the crowds, and the row of dashing princes on the stage, one of whom would be her groom. She was set to become the princess of her own fairytale. Many girls would kill to be her.
Everything was perfect. So why did she feel so hollow?
YOU ARE READING
Her Princess
Short StoryWhen Rapunzel and Snow White were chosen to be the heroines of their fairytales, they were supposed to fall in love with dashing princes and have a happily ever after. They were supposed to forget their old life and wait for their men to save them...
