Just When We Were Good

Chapter Eight

Hey guys! I just want to quickly apologize if anything in the story isn't correct, as far as the script goes. My vision is a little blurry today for some reason, so I can't quite read the words on the captions too well sometimes.

Also yes, I totally based Prince Jon's appearance off of Chandler Riggs. I mean, how can you not love him?

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"Hello? Jon?" I snapped my fingers in front of his face until he looked at me. "Are you okay?"

"Oh, sorry, Hera. I'm just... so shocked you're here. You don't come by anymore." I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair. "That hair looks really great on you, by the way." I smiled.

"Thanks. Anyway, like I said, I need your help."

"Uh, yeah, sure... come in." He moved to the side and I sat down on Jon's bed. His roommate, my old biology lab partner, looked up and waved at me.

"Hera!" He cried. "I haven't seen you in ages!"

"Hello, Ray," I chuckled. Jon kept the door ajar and sat down next to me.

"Okay, Hera. What do you need?" I took in a deep breath and then began to talk.

"Lately, I've been having nightmares about Aline." His eyes went wide at the familiar name and he shifted a bit closer. "And she blames me in them."

"I would assume it's because you blame yourself?" I shook my head.

"I don't anymore, contrary to popular belief. I think... I think my brain just needs closure."

"But she's dead." I sighed and buried my head in my hands.

"Thanks for that lovely reminder, Jon." He patted my back.

"Sorry. I forgot you two were pretty close." Silence filled the room. "Why do you need me?" I looked at him with desperate eyes.

"I want you to come with me." He took in a deep breath, and after a moment of hesitation, nodded.

"Ray, we'll be back in a few minutes." His roommate nodded and we both exited the dorm room. "It's really great to see you again, Hera. I know last time we saw each other... I said some things," I laughed," but I'm happy that we're friends."

"Yeah, I'm really sorry about never visiting. I just... I don't know. I think I thought things would be awkward, but you also did this, so I figured I should have someone who understood with me."

"Of course. But really, Hera, I'm sad you've waited until now to come find me." I sighed.

"There was... another reason..." He looked at me with intrigue, but I needed to do what I was about to before I could explain. "But let's do this first." Jon nodded and we walked in silence all the way to our destination: the garden where I first met Aline.

"Do you want me to wait here?" I shook my head.

"It might be good to have someone there with me, just in case I..." I didn't need to finish my sentence for Jon to understand. I led him through the maze, until we made it to the center. There, red and white roses crowded where I had found her crying, along with candles and glass butterflies and caterpillars. With a final glance at Jon, I stepped forwards and knelt down, shutting my eyes.

"Just keep your head level, Hera," Jon warned.

"Hey, Aline," I greeted. "I'm really sorry I haven't ever come to visit you. It was just too hard to think of you without blaming myself. But now... now I no longer blame myself for what happened. I know that might seem a little selfish, but it was your choice. I really... I just wanted to tell you about how much I appreciated, because I should have done it when you were alive. And I think that guilt is causing my nightmares. I know I was a bit cold to you for a while, and I'm so sorry for that. It was all I ever knew. But you were probably the best friend I ever had. In fact, you were my only friend that wasn't from the Isle. It wasn't right for people to make fun of your creativity. Thank you for opening my eyes and making me feel better, even though you were so sad yourself. And... thank you for taking a chance on the villain kid with the raven black hair and he piercing red stare. You taught me not to be ashamed of my history, and that's why I haven't gotten rid of my tattoo. So... I really hope you've found peace, and that you're among the butterflies and caterpillars. Oh, and your sister is doing great, and Aria's nice now, so there's a good thing!" I laughed at my own side note. "I'll come back soon, I promise. I... I miss you." I opened my eyes to find tears falling from them. "Jon..." He knelt down and gripped my shoulders with his arm.

"That was beautiful, Hera," he assured me, before sitting down. "Do you not... want to talk about that other thing now?" I wiped the tears from my eyes and shook my head.

"No, you should know about this. The others already know the full story because they were there, but... I want you to know why I did what I did at the coronation party." He nodded. "So, as you know, you jokingly called me 'princess,' and I freaked out and ran off."

"Yeah. I was really confused," he confessed. "I thought you maybe just didn't like the thought of becoming a present."

"Well, when I was living on the Isle... there was this guy, and-" I stopped.

"And what? Hera, do you need to stop?" I shook my head.

"I should just tell the story of when it happened..."

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Sorry this chapter's so short! I decided to make Hera's story a separate chapter, so the majority of what would have been this chapter got moved.