𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐔𝐋𝐄𝐒

30. 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀

𝕬nother day has passed since Uma dove through the barrier and jumped into the unstable waters. Quinn still visits Harry and Gil at Captain Hook's fishing shop, Hook's Inlet, whenever she is bored and needs to get away from her mother.

Like always, the Queen of Hearts isn't the greatest company or mother, and Quinn would rather swim with the sharks than be with her mother for too long.

It might've been a day, but it was weird not having Uma around. Quinn had gotten so used to hanging out with the three pirates that they actually became the only family Quinn would consider. Even though Harry annoys Quinn, and Uma can be a little narcissistic, Quinn adores them anyway. She wouldn't dare to tell them that, but she figured they know; that's usually how they tell each other that they look out for one another--by doing it rather than saying it because it's uncomfortable talking about feelings.

Quinn had just left Hook's Inlet after the last trip, talking about what Uma had planned and preparing for whenever it came. Harry decided to take the reign until Uma returned, which Quinn wasn't happy about.

"Who made you captain all of a sudden?" Quinn rolled her eyes.

Harry grinned slyly. "Since I'm second mate."

So, yeah. Because Harry is the second mate, it gave him seniority over her. Quinn was just a hater, honestly.

Quinn walked into her mother's hair salon right on time; tonight was her shift because her mother doesn't ever work, and whoever was supposed to work tonight mysteriously quit. So now, Quinn was stuck with closing shifts and occasionally opening the salon.

She dropped her bag onto one of the chairs and was grateful that they're usually slow at night, so Quinn doesn't have to worry about too many clients. It's not like she even wants to be here anymore, but while Quinn is trapped on this stupid rock, she's forced to work at her mother's salon.

Suddenly, the door slammed open, startling Quinn. She grumbled under her breath, annoyed when Ginny came running in.

"Do you want my mother to yell at me again because you keep knocking the door against the wall?" Quinn rolls her eyes and falls onto one of the salon chairs. She furrowed her brows when she realized Ginny was grinning. "What's wrong with your face?"

"I've been invited to Auradon."

Quinn's eyes widened, and she sat up taller in the chair. "What? You? How?" She managed to snag the paper from Ginny.

Ginny seemed a little too smug for Quinn's liking. "A pretty little blonde gave me her word," Ginny's brows danced. "Guess second chances do come true."

"But you held her hostage," Quinn found herself scoffing. How did Ginny get an invite, and she didn't? Not that Quinn would go because her loyalty lies with Uma now, but it still didn't feel great. "Why would she do that?"

"Well, she and I are family."

"Not legitimately," Quinn retorted.

"Either way, we're family in some strange sense," Ginny snatches the paper back from Quinn, walking back toward the door. "Feels good to be appreciated for once. See ya, Red!"

"You just came here to rub it in my face?"

Ginny turned around. "For once, I'm actually gonna have a life that isn't in my mother's shadow," Quinn softened because Ginny looked sincere. She actually wanted this. "I just . . . thought you'd be happy, but you're still the same."

Quinn wasn't expecting that to come from Ginny, even when they dated and after they broke up. Ginny has said many things about Quinn, but she doesn't think she actually cares about her opinion. Their dynamic hasn't exactly been . . . great, but they had their moments.

Was this one of them?

Quinn was lost in her thoughts when Ginny walked out before she could respond. Quinn was happy for Ginny because she knew Ginny deserved this, but Quinn couldn't help but feel hurt. She felt this pain in her chest at the thought of being invited; Quinn didn't want to dwell too hard because while she wished someone had thought about her the way someone felt about Ginny, Quinn also didn't want that.

Her life on the Isle is still her home regardless of what her mother does, but Quinn couldn't imagine abandoning her new family.

After some time after Ginny left, only an hour had passed, and Quinn was bored of her mind. She resulted in cleaning the styling tools until her seven o'clock appointment that Quinn was hoping she'd cancel.

The door opened again.

"Gin, I wanted to--" Quinn paused when she turned around and found a couple of well-dressed men entering her mother's shop. She furrowed her brows. "You're not Ginny."

Quinn watched them suspiciously as one of the royal guards stopped before her, unrolling a scroll. She nearly laughed at how ridiculous they looked; they were like a bunch of upright people with no fun.

"His Royal Highness, Ben of Auradon, and his counselor, Miss Evie of the Isle, hereby request the pleasure of your company, Quinn Hearts, for the current academic year at Auradon Prep," the royal guard read. "Please notify His Majesty's couriers of your response to this request."

There's no way. There's no way. Quinn couldn't believe that this was actually happening. Did she want it? Well, yeah! But now that it's actually happening, Quinn wishes they never came here and gave her this ultimatum.

Quinn took the paper from his hands and stepped away from the guards, eyeing them wearily before reading it herself. Everything was word for word; it was signed and dated by Ben and Evie themselves.

This was legit. This was for real.

But Quinn recognized the pretty handwriting on the bottom right corner.

"'We'd love you to join us at Auradon Prep. Love, Evie,'" Quinn quietly read to herself. Her eyes read it repeatedly, and they were still the same thing. She hadn't read it wrong. "She invited me?"

Quinn kept staring at the paper as if it wasn't real and these people were just pranking her, but every time Quinn glanced over her shoulder, the royal guard beamed. Quinn looked at him weirdly before reading the paper once more.

She's never felt more conflicted in her life.

"Is this real?" Quinn found herself asking, feeling stupid for the question, but Quinn needed to distract her mind.

"Yes, ma'am."

Quinn stared blankly at the paper. "Can I think about this?"

"Of course, miss," he bowed before they dismissed themselves.

As much as Quinn has wanted this stupid paper, there's a part of her that couldn't take this. She didn't deserve it, nor did she feel that want anymore. Quinn folded the paper and tucked it under the band of her skirt and the corset. She didn't want anyone to see it.

Quinn couldn't bring herself to look at it anymore but didn't have the strength to throw it out.