Chapter Text
As I walk through the dampened lavender field, I see him standing there in the gloomy rain, waiting. Why is he here? We knew that it was wrong, he is betrothed to my sister after all. But if he was so content with her, why would he be waiting for me?
"PRICILLAAAAAA"
Shit
"Yes sister?" I say as I quickly close my book and turn towards the door, that had just been slammed open. "You said you were going to help me and mother set up the table yet you're in here reading time period smut," Red says as she leans onto the door frame and examines the room "you haven't even started cleaning your room either". I look around at the piles of clothes i never put away and the miscellaneous things all over. "It is NOT smut Ruby!! And my room is clean, thank you very much" I retort as I roll off the bed and let my feet hit the ground. "Yeah, yeah whatever pink, just please set the table while I go help mom. I know she likes to be independent, but we both agree that dad was the chef in this family." She softly says as I walk to the door and put on my fluffy pink house shoes. "Red I was 6 when dad died, all I ate were circus animal crackers." She laughs at my comments and rustles my hair. "Yeah, I know but still smile and say 'mmm just like dads' when we eat." "Fiiine Red, but you know as well as I do it's going to taste horrible." Red smiles at me, a genuine smile, one I haven't seen in so long... "I'll buy you baking supplies to make up for it mkay?". "Alright!!" I say as we begin our decent down the wooden staircase.
Since school is beginning in a week, and the commute from wonderland to Auradon is atrocious every morning, Mother decided to temporarily move us into our sweet little cottage in Auradon. It's a 15-minute drive to Auradon prep and mother can do all her "queenly" duties from home, so it works out for all of us. Red enters the kitchen after hearing mom say an unflattering string of curse words, so I'm left at the end of the stairs, waiting.
Then I hear it...
The knock I've been waiting for all day!!
I rush to open the door, and I'm greeted by a charming smile and a bouquet of red roses. If only they were for me... "Hey pink!! Thanks for getting the door, you think red will like these roses?" "OH my hearts!! She's going to love them, Luis! Come on in.".
Before dinner begins, everyone is sitting around the table. “Ruby dear, could you please help me saw this chicken? I swear its supposed to just fall off the bone”. Me, Luis, and Red look on is absolute shock as to how she could ruin chicken like that. “Actually mom,” Red says as she stands up and grabs the tray from her “I’ll just take this to the kitchen and use the electrical cutter, I’ll be back in 2 seconds.” and then she's gone. “Oh! Well alright sweetheart.” mother says before sipping her red wine. She looks over at the bouquet Luis brought red, “Pricilla dear when will you bring home a nice boy like Luis? Theres more to love than just novels on it you know?” My face becomes a red-hot mess as Luis begins laughing at me. “MOTHER! I swear you’ll be the first to know when I find someone, but it won’t be anytime soon.” “Whatever you say darling!” mother says looking at Luis with a giddy smirk.
Red returns from the kitchen with a cleanly cut chicken and we begin dinner. Luis looks at Red as is she was his soulmate, mother coos and swoons over their budding love, and im just there, wishing he was mine. NOW, before you shame me, I guess I should tell you about Luis. Before red even cared he existed, he was my first boyfriend. Well... space between BOY and FRIEND. I practically introduced them. But when mother was captured by Maddox Hatter Luis and Red became, close.. like.. REALLLLY close. And now here we are. They don’t want to make me feel left out so they take me everywhere with them... even dates. It's not that I want to steal Reds boyfriend, of course not! I'm super happy that Red has someone so perfect. I just wish I realized how I felt sooner.
So I wrote him a letter.
Now I wasn't going to send the letter or anything. It was just for me, so I could understand my feelings. My letters are my most prized possessions. I write one whenever I have a crush so intense that I don't know what to do. There are 5 in total. Squeaky and Squirmy from camp, Max from 6th grade, Felix from homecoming, and Luis. Rereading these letters reminds me of how powerful my emotions can be, how consuming they are. Red would say I'm being dramatic, but I think drama can be a little fun... just as long as no one else knows.
After dinner Red asks Luis if they can talk in private, and mother leaves to "discus business" in her office even though we all know she's going to gossip with our maid. I take this as an opportunity to run to my room. As soon as I close the door, I make my way towards the closet. There, sitting on the highest shelf, was my love box. A red, heart shaped, felt box that held all my letters. I get the box down and begin reading them, no, I begin reading one. The one to Luis. I hear a shout come from outside, but I choose to ignore it.
On my 6th reread of the letter my door flings open. I quickly throw the letter in the box and burry it under a pile of clothes. Red flops down on my bed and hugs a heart pillow I have on my bed. “your room is disgusting” she says blankly as I walk around the foot of my bed and sit down beside her. “are you ok?” i ask as i watch her lay there. She flips around to face me and with the shakiest voice says “Yeah... I mean I just broke up with Luis.” “WHAT?” I don’t even think before i continue. “Why? I thought you love him? You two were so happy down there.” “i know,” she says sitting up “but mother told be to never stay in a relationship if my heart isn’t fully in it”. I just stare at her.