The Space Between: Beginnings

16. Heart to Heart

Audrey led Rain into the park near the central square. As Rain sat down on the bench beside her, she gasped, "Wow. This place is beautiful! You sure have good taste."

"Don't I know it?" Audrey replied, smiling. "Of course, I love Nature."

"So does my mom. She often cribs about the lack of natural beauty on the Isle," Rain said, chuckling. "You know, I just thought...what if one could just drown in the grass? How do you think it would be?"

Audrey pursed her lips thoughtfully before replying, "Well, either it will be the best life to live, like a forest fairy without any pressure or expectations. Or maybe it would be the best way to die."

Rain chuckled at that last thought and said, "Well, that's pretty Isle-worthy. Who knew a princess had such a dark mind?"

"You never know. Sometimes Grammy's pressure became too much for me. So much so that I thought Death would be an easier consort than Ben. Atleast then I could rule the underworld. You know, like Hades and Persephone."

Rain grabbed Audrey's hand in her own and said, "You know, here, with me, you don't have to think about that. Don't think about your grandmother. Think about moving on."

"Hmm...so, I think I should stick to royalty. Makes communication so much easier. What do you think about Chad? I've noticed he only has eyes for me."

"So have I, but...of you think it's fine, then go for it! It's not like I know much about all this love stuff."

"Let me teach you, then," Audrey offered. Rain smiled as she looked into Audrey's eyes, before suddenly gasping and saying, "I just noticed. Your eyes aren't exactly brown. They're kind of...dark violet? Am I right?"

"You are. I get it from my mom. It's kind of weird, isn't it?"

"No, I...I think it's unique. And pretty. My mom is green, for Oz sake. So purple eyes aren't a big deal for me at all."

"Your eyes are unique too, you know. Like, they are just slightly wider and more almond shaped than most people in Auradon. And then they're so expressive, and those dancing greenish-gold flecks that appear sometimes just give it another dimension."

"You've ...noticed all that?"

"I can't really help it. Somehow you're the person I've always dreamt of being. So I just watch and try to figure out where I'm going wrong."

"Wait...what?" Rain asked, almost jumping a mile. "I... I'm definitely not the perfect girl you think me to be."

"I know. It's just...somehow you're more you than anyone else, if that makes sense. And that's all I want...to really be me."

"Well, I can definitely teach you that," Rain smiled, clasping Audrey's hand.

"So, I take it people tell you how much you resemble your mom?"

"All the time. It's mostly the eyes though. Which are a family trait. Every Thropp woman has the same or very similar eyes to mine. Like my mom, my late aunt, and my grandmother...you get it,right?"

"Uh huh. Oh, I just remembered! I need to change my Auradon social tag!"

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh come on, don't tell me that you don't have a social account!"

"Um...we don't even have Internet on the Isle."

"Okay, give me your phone. I'll set it up for you. Then you do your tag. What should mine be?"

"Well, if you can't be the Queen of Auradon, you can always be the Queen of Mean," Rain smirked as she unlocked her cellphone, handing it to Audrey.