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Follow the sound of that distinctive, soft, too-good-to-be-real voice.
That’s what Sky had to do to find Ella.
After a while of walking around the island post-challenge, Sky was worried Ella had gone back to being upset over the… certain developments of the day.
Sky never in a million years thought she’d end up in a strange little love triangle of all things. (Or love square?)
The songbird was by a lake, sitting on a log, having finished her song and now seemingly talking to a baby bird. Luckily not looking too shaken up.
Sky knew that, despite her outstanding amounts of whimsy, Ella was still a person.
A person was affected earlier and expected to get over it immediately. Having to delay talking about it was bad enough, but it was time for Sky to finally communicate with her about it.
…If Ella even wanted to, that was.
“Hey, Ella… Can we talk?”
The girl didn’t seem phased by Sky’s presence or lingering serious tone.
“But of course! The only thing better than sitting by the lake is sharing it with someone else!” Shifting a little to the side, gloved hands pat the empty space as an invitation.
God. She was too sweet. It hurt Sky deeply.
With a deep breath, Sky took a seat and two gazed at the body of water. It looked like something out of a polaroid picture with the sunset’s colors.
Sky hated to ruin the mood.
Ella’s attention was divided between her, the lake, and the chirping bird in her hand. “What brings you here, my tiny feathered friend?”
“Um.” Poking her head out, Sky raised an eyebrow. “Are you talking to me or that bird?”
As the avian flew away, the princess giggled at her. “You, of course!” She gently brushed a finger against the athlete’s feather earring.
“Oh. Haha… Uh…” Sky swallowed hard. “So… I’ve been meaning to… talk… to you.” Great start. “...about the Dave thing…” She looked up, eyes meeting Ella’s dark chocolate ones. “...I’m really sorry…”
What did it say about Sky that she was expecting*– no, hoping – for Ella to have interrupted her by now?
To have said that she gets it and that no further awkward apology was necessary.
To have said that it’s okay, but that she didn’t want to be reminded of it.
Something. Anything.
Instead, Ella was looking and listening intently, but Sky couldn’t decipher how she was feeling other than perfectly neutral.
(*Plus, Ella wouldn’t interrupt her ever, she was too polite to do that.)
“...I didn’t wanna make you feel bad-... As if I was cheering that he doesn’t like you, or something.” Not her finest choice of words, and she could tell by the way that Ella now fidgeted with the fabric of her skirt that she also agreed. “I just… felt bad for you, but also happy for me, and… I think I’m making this worse, aren’t I?
Ella hummed. “I wouldn’t say so. I… understand what you’re trying to say, at least.”
“...Why do you like Dave?”
“I suppose you would have a similar answer,” Ella lightheartedly commented. “When David helped me up during one of the challenges, he put my slipper back on and it was a true fairytale moment. I felt as though I had finally found my prince…”
When Ella breathed, Sky could hear the beginning of sniffling again. God. Sky was the worst.
The princess shared a bit more about herself. Explaining that she grew up watching so many movies focused on romance, especially fairytales. She couldn’t help but pick up on acts and ‘big gestures’ that happened in many of them. Ones that would basically unlock who her soulmate was (or in her words, her ‘prince’), and Dave was the first one to really tick those boxes.
She wasn’t sure what she was doing wrong if Dave didn’t feel the same for her and instead did for someone else.
It felt like her destiny was being ripped away right in front of her eyes.
“...I’m sorry… And I’m not just saying this because of… you know… But Dave… reeeally isn’t prince material. Like, at all. No prince would have an addiction to hand sanitizer like that,” Sky chuckled lightly.
Hearing Ella do the same soothed her soul a little bit. “It’s quite alright. You don’t have to say that. I hope for nothing but the best for the two of you, really!”
“...Ella, look at me.” That she did. “This isn’t about me and Dave. Though, I think I could do a little better too, if I’m being honest,...” she muttered lowly, then gently put a hand on top of the other girl’s. “This is about you. Just because a guy kinda reminds you of the movies you like, doesn’t mean he’s the ‘perfect’ one for you, whatever that means. You’re nice, sweet, friendly, passionate, pretty… Any guy would be lucky enough to be with you.”
Ella’s eyes sparkled. “Aw, thank you, Sky!”
Before Sky knew it, her vision was a cloud of pink, pink, and more pink. Only broken up by curly black locks.
She just found that Ella gave the warmest, most comforting hugs she had ever felt in her entire life. It took a moment for her to react, but Sky did manage to hug her back.
The two released from their embrace, but Ella kept her hands out to hold Sky’s. “I can only hope to meet someone as caring and understanding as you are… Being just as small and adorable would be a bonus!”
Both giggled, a light pink blush appearing on Sky’s face. “Hey now, I’m not that short…”
Maybe Ella still wasn’t fully getting what Sky was trying to explain, but it was a step in the right direction at least.
It was nice to not only ease the tension that had been building between, but to also strengthen this potential friendship.
It was a good thing their team won that day, ensuring that neither of them would be going home anytime soon.