Hidden Secrets

10

Hope is getting her makeup done in the kitchen upon request of myself. I want her to go out looking like a hero and not some con artist. She deserves better but maybe I'm just biased towards my best friend. 

I sit just outside the kitchen waiting for her. My head is in my hands as they always seem to be nowadays. I try not to focus on the events ahead and decide to focus on her meal. 

I made a gourmet pasta for her, it's just so like her to want pasta for her last meal. Why not die eating the only thing you ever eat? It's her favorite though so I kicked it up a notch and added a gourmet twist to it. The whole time I was cooking we were laughing as if it was just a normal day. 

The castle must be nice for her to look around even though she only gets to see glimpses. I always catch her looking up at the roof admiring the arc and how it's structured. She always used to say she loved figuring out things, such as buildings so this must be a treat.

The door creaks open and I scramble to my feet to greet Hope. 

"You may go in now" the maid nods. 

I rush past her into the kitchen and I hear the door softly click behind me. There she is, my beautiful friend. Even from behind she's beautiful. "You look good," I say even though I know there's more to see.

"Oh please, you haven't even seen the half of it" and with that, Hope spins the chair around so I can see her beauty in full.

Her hair is slicked back into a high ponytail with a single tiny braid loosely hangs between her ear and elastic. Her makeup is dark and fierce with dark greys, reds and black dancing across her face almost as if symbolizing embers in a fire. She is wearing a maroon camisole with a lose black hoodie and black ripped jeans. She is also barefoot. 

I'm taken aback at how beautiful she is. Why does someone like her need to die? 

"I'm not leaving you." She finally whispers. 

"Neither am I" I answer back. 

I take three steps so I can throw my arms around her. 

"I never got this with my mom you know. At least I'm doing it right this time." I say into her shoulder. 

"That's the positive spirit I've always wanted from you." She tries to keep her voice upbeat but I can hear it waver the slightest bit. I start to pet her head

"I don't think I'm ready Scarlet." My shoulder starts to get wet but her voice stays surprisingly calm. 

I honestly don't know what to say so I chose to take on a crazy thing that she would say. "You'll save everyone, you're a hero."

"I'm no hero" she laughs "you're the one who will save everyone.

"Then I'll make sure your death isn't wasted okay?" Everything I say seems wrong somehow. This isn't right, she shouldn't be the one to die.

"You're right." She pulls away now. "You won't be the only one on that rock with me."

"Okay, who?" I ask curiously. 

She blushes. "I may or may not have a boyfriend."

"Oh Hope, you're making him so proud." I smile now too.

"Kinda sucks that the one he thought he was gonna marry is going to die now."

"Hope. How many more secrets are you still hiding from me?" I tilt my head and smile.

She puts on a sad smile, "I think that's it."

I laugh tears forming in my eyes, she's already crying but her laughter sounds as if nothing could stop her. 

"I forgot to tell you that you look stunning," I say as I hold her shoulder.

She looks down at her feet, "I mean, I am kinda pretty." 

"You look badass, shut up." She smiles at this and it feels as if nothing could ever stand in the way of us. Almost like we could conquer the world. 

Maybe we will one day.