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Part I
~ Chapter One: Perfect Imperfection ~
It was one of those days in the Kingdom, one of those perfect days. With the sun shining perfectly, the blades of grass basking in the sun's rays all day, every damn thing was perfect and today it was annoying the hell out of me. Ugh, I didn't wake up in a bad mood, it was progressive through the day. I don't always complain, but when I do - I do so aggressively. Sometimes. I'd imagine it would all depend on who upset me or cause me to complain in the first place perhaps.
I had to get away from our kingdom and its apparent perfection, so to the Village of Bookend I'll go. Anything to try and break this foul mood I'm in, but it'll be hard. Today was just one thing after another, after another, and another! I think I'm just cursed.
I'd never been to the Village of Bookend near dusk before. It had a different feel to it, but a nice, calming vibe. I noticed Ashlynn Ella in her shoe shop, trying to perform the closing duties I assume. I decided to pay her a visit. A tiny bell rung as the door opened.
"I'm actually closing up shop but-" she turned around to see myself standing there. Her eyes widened in surprise, "oh! Dexter. Hey, are you looking for a pair of shoes? I... don't have much that caters to a boy's fashion needs. I guess I'll have to expand the store to accommodate huh?"
She thought she'd have to pull out her only guy options, I chuckled. The gesture was sweet and all, but I didn't need a new pair of shoes. I just wanted to see if she needed a walk home. It was getting late after all. "Are you going home soon? It's dusk now, you shouldn't walk home alone."
Her cheeks flushed red, "I'm... um, having someone meet me in a few minutes."
I gave a nod, "It's okay Ash, I know about you and Hunter. It's cool, I'm glad he's coming to get you after you're done."
"What brings you out so late?" She asked me nonchalantly, sifting through her paper work. I think it was a nightly inventory or something. She was very precise with her paperwork. Especially in classes. Her notebooks were amazingly organized.
I shrugged, "I guess you could say I'm wasting time. Trying to aid this night in ending sooner." Truth was, not long ago I stormed out and took a walk without being granted permission to do so. In other words, yeah - I left angrily.
She nodded, "A bad day today?"
"You could say that," I confirmed. I pushed my glasses up further on my nose. I did it habitually, they'd slip from time to time. Perhaps the nose pieces need adjusting again. "how was your day?"
She smiled fondly, "Oh I had a wonderlandiful day Dexter, thanks for asking!" Maybe she noticed that I wasn't feeling as good as I was posing. I sighed, having a seat on a small stool. I know it was meant for girls trying on shoes, but I saw the opportunity and seized it. "Can I be bold for a moment and ask you something?"
I raised an eyebrow, "Yeah?"
"Why'd you sign up for a dorm to begin with? I overheard Daring saying something about you guys not living too far from Ever After High." It was a good question, although I'm pretty sure she knew the answer.
"I don't like staying at home with the folks during the school year, sometimes it gets hard to hocus focus and get studious with the 'rents around, and Daring constantly... smiling and blinding everyone else with a mirror." To my surprise she giggled, I gave my shoulders a good shrug. I was just stating the plain truth. And boy did it ever get annoying.
She soon recovered from her giggling. "Dexter, it's funny because it's true. I wondered if it was just an act for school or something but - apparently not."
I shook my head, "Nope, it's all real." I tried to refrain from slumping. "How many days do I have until school starts again?" I asked her hopelessly.
Ashlynn walked over to a hanging calendar she had in the quaint little shop. "Well, there's still a few days before registration... but you can move into the dorm right after then so, that's good!" She herself couldn't wait for school, I knew that much. I also heard the same thing from Hunter as well, but I'm not dumb. Nor blind. I knew it was because they spent more time together during the school year than they did on school holidays.
I held my head in my hands for a moment or two. "It'll be okay," her soft voice filled the air. "maybe you'll get to room with Hunter again? He really liked having you as a roommate, it was a good fit. Plus I know our secret is safe with you."
I nodded, I was a big fan of that true love stuff and these two were painfully adorable. So who was I to put their love for one another in jeopardy? "Of course it is, what if I don't get roomed with Hunter though?" It was only my next year in Ever After High, I didn't know if we kept the same dormitory roommates or not. They might try and 'change it up' - who knows.
Her eyes shifted to the side, then back in my direction. "Well don't worry about it too much Dexter, you may be worrying for nothing. Even if you're not, we'll worry about it when it comes to that point, okay?" She gave my knee a friendly pat and clicked her pen a couple times. The clipboard and a 'Nightly Inventory' sheet tucked nicely, sitting upon her lap.
"You're right," I admitted. I didn't want to leave, but she seemed to be itching to get going. Ashlynn's way too nice to tell me to get out of her shop, but I'll take the liberty of her telling me, and just do it. "well, I'd better get going."
She shrugged her shoulders this time, "You don't have to if you're not ready. I can stay for awhile longer. I don't mind, really I don't." She looked around quickly, "Could you stay until Hunter gets here? I am a little nervous of being here without him."
I gave a nod of my head right away. "Yes, of course. I'd be more than happy to stay with you until Hunter shows up." It could have been my undeniable sense of duty, but a Princess needed me so I'd oblige.
"Thank you! I really appreciate it."
I gave a noble nod, "But of course." I glanced around the shop, "What's the point of having so many shoes to you girls anyways?"
Ashlynn grasped her chest dramatically, "You can't be serious! A girl's shoes are one of the most important parts and fundamentals of wearing an outfit! The shoes make the girl, Dexter."
I raised an eyebrow, "Sure. Darling's got a lot. She really enjoys coming here actually. Maybe I'll pick her up a pair while I'm here..." I trailed off, glancing at the options surrounding us at the moment.
Ashlynn's eyes lit up, "I have a perfect pair!" She rushed into the back of the store - disappearing behind a door, but reappearing again. Opening the box, she revealed a pair of heels with a signature red plaid pattern. "Are they not the perfect thing for Book-To-School?!"
I nodded, a smirk upon my face. "Yeah, they're fantastic."
She playfully smacked my arm, "You look like I do whenever Maddie speaks her 'Wonderlandiful Riddles'." We both laughed at the reference, it was true. That girl was a wonder to everyone and anyone who knew her.
"Thanks for the shoes for Darling, what do I owe you?"
Ashlynn brushed it off, "Nothing. They're kinda old stock that no one's given a chance. My shoe collection is so big, I've had to have an extension shelf built in my closet." She smiled, "So I want someone to have and enjoy these simple, but 'hat-tastic' shoes." She quoted Madeline, and I couldn't help but to smile again.
She was such a whimsical, funny, odd person who didn't even know it.
It wasn't long before there was a knock at the shop's door, Ashlynn folding the tissue over the shoes, closing the box and tossed it to be right away as she practically skipped towards the door, flashing a radiant smile while she swung open the door and wrapped her arms around Hunter's neck, his hands slid around her waist - embracing her tight. "I missed you!" She nudged him affectionately, he kissed her lips softly.
"Not as much as I've missed you I'm sure," he nuzzled her and they pulled apart briefly, "oh hey Dex!" He greeted me, I waved briefly. "What'cha up to man?"
I grinned, "Oh y'know, had to get me a pair of fableous shoes. Couldn't resist the Book-To-School sale."
Hunter shook his head, "You too huh? She already hit up my mom and gave her new shoes."
Ashlynn shrugged and smiled wide, "I just have to spread the gift of fableous shoes Hunter! No pair of feet can go unnoticed." They held hands. Part of me wanted to gag slightly, but the other part of me wanted that - for me.
I took this as my cue to get on my merry way. "Alright guys, thanks for keeping me company." I announced briefly, Hunter raised a brow but didn't say anything.
"Thanks for sticking around with Ashlynn," until now that was. "she gets nervous when she's gotta be alone after dark." He hugged her yet again.
"Yeah, no problem. Catch you around." I told the both of them, grabbing the box of shoes for Darling. With that, I slipped out of the store and started my walk again. No idea where I wanted to go, but not concerned with the outcome. Sounded good to me!
