A Rebel Princess

Chapter Twenty-One: Aftermath

The girls brought Felicity up to her dorm and helped her over to the bed where the blonde princess all but collapsed into her mattress in tears. Erica and Lucy sat next to her and rubbed her back and hair.

"Let it all out,"Gemma encouraged, going over to the door locking it. Nobody wanted any undesired visitors coming in and making Lis feel worse.

"I-I just can't b-believe he did this to me,"Lis sobbed. "In front o-of the entire s-school."

Lucy swept some hair out of the corner of Felicity's face so it wouldn't stick to her tear-stained face. "Shh."

"W-What m-my parents must t-think o-of me,"Felicity cried, sniffling loudly as her nose ran.

"They aren't thinking anything,"Erica assured her gently. "At least anything other than wanting to kill the entire Charming family."

Lucy practically glared at the door. "I still can't believe Chad pulled a stunt like this."

"I can,"Mac growled under her breath. "He's been awful to Lis, even when we were kids. Always picking on her and pulling her hair."

"Unbelievable,"Esme scoffed.

"Someone really needs to put that boy in his place,"Mac huffed, already plotting in her head 101 ways to beat the prince to a pulp.

Emma nodded. "Agreed. But I think Jay already has us covered."

That comment had Lis lifting her head out of her pillows, smiling softly. "Y-yeah."

"Listen,"all the girls gathered around her. "You are not a freak or a traitor or scum."

"Because if you are, then so are we,"Erica gestured to everyone around the room with a brilliant smile. "We're a team. We stand by you, always."

Gemma nudged her playfully. "And don't you forget it."

"H-How could I?"they all giggled. Felicity grinned as best she could and pulled all the girls into a big group hug. "I love you guys."

Someone knocked on the door, startling everyone. "I'll get it." Esme got up and went to the door, opening it just a crack. Peering out, she allowed the door to open wider to reveal Felicity's family.

"We just wanted to speak to Felicity before we left,"Rapunzel said to the group.

"Of course,"everyone except for Felicity filed out of the room to give the family some space to talk.

As soon as the door shut behind them, Rapunzel rushed over to her daughter with Elise in tow. "Oh, my flower."

"Mama,"Lis suddenly became overwhelmed with emotion once more. "I'm sor-."

The queen put her finger to her daughter's lips, silencing her. "You have nothing to be sorry for."

Eugene went to sit on the side of the bed not occupied by his wife. "It was all Belle and Adam's fault for putting those ideas in people's heads." He wrapped an arm around his daughter and pressed a loving kiss to her forehead.

"Not to mention Chad's for starting the fight,"Elise added, Arianna and Riley nodding in agreement.

"I j-just thought that after e-everything that happened, they'd f-finally let me m-move on,"Felicity confessed. "So what i-if I'm not queen material? Why b-be s-so awful about it?"

"I don't know,"Rapunzel brushed her fingers through her daughter's hair.

Eugene scowled. "But if they try it again I'm sending the whole Snuggly Duckling after them."

"Might not want to say that out loud,"Arianna commented. "Not as intimidating."

"Ari,"Riley thumped her forehead. "Enough."

Max crawled up into Felicity's lap, cuddling into her. "Love you, Lissie."

Felicity smiled and held her baby brother. "Thanks, Max." She kissed his head.

"We just wanted you to know that none of this is your fault,"Rapunzel assured her, running her fingers soothingly through her golden tresses. "And that we love you."

Eugene held Lis' hand. "And we always will."

Arianna hugged her big sister. No matter how snarky she acted, she knew her older sister needed her. "No matter what."