Disclaimer: I do not own Ever After High.

It was Saturday. The bench was cold. It wasn't as cold as the breezy air that kept blowing on Darling's face, but unlike the bench Darling needed that breeze. She needed the bitter air to cool her down, she hated this feeling of annoyance. She felt too agitated, too angry. This uncomfortable bench didn't help her at all. It kept pressing against her back in uncomfortable ways. She couldn't slouch, she couldn't sit up. She couldn't even lie down. She wanted to move. She was craving to move. Darling craved to join Chase. She craved to play. All she ever wanted to do was play. Like the childish part of her still hadn't grown up, and was now trying to take over her life. Darling knew she couldn't be a child forever. So why hadn't she accepted that? Her thoughts frustrated her more than the uncomfortableness of the bench. She wanted to move. But her mother's voice chained her. Her words were like a thousand shackles. Darling couldn't break free. No matter how hard she tried. Her words haunted her. Influencing her all the time. Her words forced her to remain on that bench, because they frustrated Darling. They made her feel dejected.

"Mum can I go to the library?"

"Sure are you going to the big one at the shopping centre, or the one near the cafe?"

"Actually I was hoping if I could go to the one in Hargreaves..." Darling unconsciously bit her lip. She had promised Chase they would meet up during the weekend, and she didn't get permission from her Dad to leave and he had already left the house. Now she was getting permission from her mother to play a sport with Chase - a guaranteed no.

"Hargreaves! That's a good thirty minute drive from here! There must be a really special book that's worth driving all that distance out of Brinly for... Wait a minute, isn't Hargreaves where that Chase boy lives?" Darling thought about lying to her mother to settle her nerves, and help Darling escape her mother's suspicion, yet somehow she could never build the courage to.

"Yes." There was a slight hesitation, like her mind still hadn't agreed on the answer she should reply with.

"You're not going."

"What why? You let Daring go meet some girls at the centre!"

"You're a girl Darling. You have to remember that. If it's Chase you'll probably be off to do something dangerous, I'm not letting that happen. "

"Kicking a ball is not dangerous!" Darling had accidentally let her true intention slip. Luckily her mother didn't pick up on it.

"Look Darling I will not argue this with you any further if you are unwilling to listen!"

"Darling! Woah are you okay?" It was Alistair, since when did he arrive? "I'd been yelling at you for like ten minutes now."

"Can you pass the ball?" He asked. She replied hesitating slightly.

"Y-yeah sure." She picked it up from the ground, the smooth but hard ball. Running her finger along the hexagonal edge, she smiled internally. The familiar feeling of her fingertips on the surface of the football sparked a flame inside Darling, fuelling her. A feeling she hadn't felt in a long time. One she forced herself to suppress. Passion. She hadn't even realised how badly her longing to play had been suppressed. She dropped the ball on the ground. Her leg swung colliding with the ball

"Woah! Good kick!" Alistair struggled to stop the ball.

"Sorry it's really inaccurate."

"It's cool. Way better than Chase could kick it."

"Hey!" Chase whined. Alistair glanced at the time on his phone. Disappointment showed on his face, at the realisation he had to go.

"Well it was fun playing with you guys and all, but I'm supposed to go somewhere and I'm seriously behind time."

"Oooh date with Bunny?"

"Actually I'm going to see Maddie."

"What's this? Alistair has betrayed his heart Bunny, in exchange for Maddie! He's surely gone MADdie!" Chase laughed emphasising hard on the 'mad'.

"Ha Ha. Pure comedy Chase." Alistair sarcastically replied. "I'm just hanging out with Maddie cause she can't be left alone in her house, and I live closest to her. It's not like I had a choice really, my mother orders and I follow like a humble soldier."

"why can't you just follow what I say?" Her mother's voice stretched across the room in a screeching manner.

" -Darling byeeeee!"

"Right yeah bye Alistair." Darling waved towards a confused Alistair.

Rosabella Beauty. That was her name. A name that reminded others of who she was, who she is. A leader. A leader of an animal charity, dedicating to helping others who couldn't help themselves. A charity in which its members had volunteered to join. Rosabella was quite good at gathering new members. So why is it when they decide to branch out and hang posters for missing animals in Hargreaves, two of them go missing! It felt as if they were trying to skip out on work... "Honestly if they didn't want to help the animals why'd they sign up?" Then she felt a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"I'm pretty sure Gus and Helga are skiving, once again." It was Adam, that sent a wave of relief over Rosabella.

"I wouldn't mind so much, but I gave the keys to Gus." A strong sigh left Rosabella's mouth.

"Alright, okay I'll help you look for them. I'll go check inside shops and things."

"Thanks." Rosabella just watched Adam walk away, throwing a hand through his tawny hair to make sure it was still pointing in the right direction. If Adam was looking for them in one area, Rosabella decided to look for them in another, she followed footpaths surrounded by bushes and green fields. What made her nervous was the bridge. She felt maybe she had been walking too far. She didn't recognise this place at all, then again that wouldn't stop Gus or Helga from venturing past the bridge. Rosabella sighed, indeed she was spending too much time, all she has to do was find the two, and then hand out the leaflets. Then everyone could go back home. Simple.

Holly crept silently into her house, she purposely came in through the back window, just because the back door was ridiculously noisy. Yet her black coat refused to listen to her demands as it made quiet noises that echoed loudly in her silent house. She didn't want to wake up her over protective family. She was a big girl, she could handle herself, and her own business. And she certainly didn't need her family poking themselves into it. "Where have you been?" The shock sent chills through her, but Holly didn't let it show.

"None of your business." She instantly regretted saying that. Although she wasn't looking she could sense the hurt and anger her sister wore. It became more obvious in her tone of voice as it stretched. It started in a whisper, then switched to a suppressed yell.

"None of my business? You're my sister, what happens to you is my business, I've been awake for hours wondering where the fuck you were! I was worried about you! You just left at 8 and come back at 2 in the morning and then expect me to just be cool with it?!" Holly could tell her sister struggled to calm her voice. It was getting louder. Her parents would wake up and wonder why Holly was wearing her jeans, coat and shoes. They'd then piece together she'd been out. (Or that she was going out). But the rage on her sister face's probably meant she wouldn't cover for her. That'd mean she'd have to explain herself. But Holly couldn't do that, because if she told... No, Holly couldn't think like that. She made it this far, she could do it.

"Are you even listening? Holly I'm worried about you!" Holly tried walking past Poppy, but Poppy quickly grabbed her wrist. "Holly what is going on with you?" The words came out like a whisper. Her sister was less filled with anger and more with pained sadness. It pained Holly a great deal to see her cheery sister to melanchalous. Her calm headed sister so filled with rage. Holly had to end the conversation in the quickest way she knew how. She wanted to, she knew she needed to. But instead she allowed her self to escape the tight prison she kept herself into, and allowed her eyes to flicker to the right. Then she saw. All the pain and sadness and care filled inside her sister reflecting in her eyes. There was only one word on her mind, "I'm sorry." Then she ran.

"Fuck it. Don't lose her again." Poppy thought. She was desperately trying to catch her sister, calling out her name. She realised her parents were awake by now, but she didn't care. She got words out of her sister, she wasn't letting go now. She was too fucking close... If only Holly hadn't locked herself in her room, then Poppy could storm in there, and demand an answer. But all she could do was lean her forehead against the door, and cry. What was that sorry? What was she sorry for? Why are you keeping this all to yourself?" Poppy whispered to the door. Hoping that maybe her sister could hear her. That her sister cared. Poppy slumped against the door. "What the hell did you get yourself into?" She sighed.

Dexter didn't know why his high score was so low. The game wasn't even hard! There's no way he would ever admit to being bad at the game, but everyone else seemed to find it so easy. You know what he was finding it easy, his finger just weren't complying with what his brain thought. He was having off moments. Simple. Bzzt. "Just beat it again, now on 53." Message from Humphrey. Dexter growled.

"Woah what was that noise?"

Dexter was scrolling through his phone (again) looking through which mask would be best. They were all pretty childish - the costumes that is. There were dinosaurs, vampires, skeletons. They seemed pretty effective, but but he couldn't go as his awkward self. This was his only opportunity to get with his crush, even if she believed it wasn't him, but some dreamy mystery guy. Yet surely she wasn't an idiot and would spot him instantaneously. Bzzt. A message from Humphrey. "Found your dream suit." Under it came a picture of a man in tight clear green frog costume.

"Fuck off." Dexter replied.

Humphrey sent a row of laughing emojis.

At first the path was a straight line. Then the path split into two. There was a signpost, one pointing to Hargreaves Estate, the other pointing to Hargreaves Fields. Rosabella decided she'd stick to the right path and head towards the fields. It sounded like she had a less chance of getting lost in the fields than she did in the estate. And there was a park sign underneath the signpost. Gus and Helga probably went there to relax. Then again causing havoc in a peaceful area, and getting chased by the police, did seem like something they'd rather do.

Rosabella glanced at the watch on her wrist. She didn't have much time.

She came across the park. She could tell by the fence surrounding the large area of grass. The park was bare, there was only a makeshift goalpost, and a bench. Yet there were two people playing football. If only her glasses had stronger prescriptions she'd be able to make them out. One of them had long blonde hair, was about the same size as her, but amazing football. Probably a female. Like wow really amazing. She'd never seen any female play football this good... So why were the shapes... the outlines... so recognisable? No female she knew matched the description The other one was taller, and broader. Had gelled black hair... unless hair naturally rose against gravity... Most likely male.

Rosabella was going to continue analysing the pair, until the ball flew past her head. She dived down, behind the bushes, the ball narrowly missed her. If she had dived any second later the ball would've made contact with the side of her face. The ball bounced of the sign post behind her, changing course towards the outside of the park.

Chase could've sworn he saw something behind the bushes dive down. He wasn't looking in that direction, but it appeared in his perepheral vision like a blur. He for sure thought it was a person. But the thing that bugged him the most was that it was familiar... Like he had seen that colour before... if only he had focused on the image in time. .. He looked towards Darling to ask if she had seen the same thing, but he noticed the direction of her sight was towards the ball, rolling away at speeds. "She just had to smash it..." He thought to himself.

"Don't worry I'll get it." Chase yelled before running in the direction of the ball.

Chase then came to a halt. He watched as the ball rolled towards a stranger and his companion. "Hey could you pass me the ball please?" The stranger turned around. He picked up the ball and pointed to it.

"This ball?" He asked. Chase simply nodded. The boy had light blonde hair with what appeared to be pink highlights. He had a square jaw, and a large build. He appeared to be the same height of Darling (of course when she wasn't wearing heels). Next to him was a girl, who possessed similar features... They both seemed like quite nice people.

"Are they related?" Chase thought.

"What do you think Helga? Should we give him the ball back, or should I throw it in the other direction." Chase was shocked, unable to tell if he was joking or not.

"I don't care, let's just get out of here so we don't get caught by Rosabella or Adam." Rosabella?

"Too late." A voice said from behind them. Chase guessed that was the Adam they were speaking of. He was taller than the two, almost the same height as Chase. Almost. He looked like he came straight out of a Disney movie. Brown hair, blue eyes... He even had the twinkle in his eyes. "Return his ball." Instructed Adam.

"Thanks." Chase replied. Adam nodded in response. Then he turned towards the pair.

"Let's leave. I'll hear your excuse later." The group walked away, the pair obviously sulking... probably muttering curses behind their leader's back. Chase, on the other hand, was confused. He heard Rosabella's name, but why? He didn't think Rosabella lived near this area... Was the person he saw Rosabella? Chase ran off past Darling, toward the bush. But when he approached it, he saw it twitch.

"Chase? Is everything okay?" Darling asked.

"Yeah, yeah. I think I see something." But when he looked behind there was nothing. "I guess I imagined it." Chase said laughing it off.

"Chase! A squirrel!" Chase reassured himself. That's what he saw, a squirrel. There was no way Rosabella would be hiding behind a bush. She didn't seem like that type of person. "If she saw us she would say hi, right?" Chase's mind kept pondering on the issue.

" Plus Rosabella doesn't live in this area. She has no business here. Unless she was with the pink pair and that guy called Adam. Those pair did mention her name..."

The more Chase thought about it, the more he seemed persuaded. " Rosabella had definitely been here!" He realised. "She was behind that bush. She was watching us play football. Which meant she had seen. But if she was here? When did she leave?"

"Chase? Are you okay?" Darling's freezing hand against his arm shocked him out of his thoughts. "You're frowning."

"Yeah I'm fine." He replied. "I'm just wondering when my Mum's going to pick us up. That's all."

"I told my mum I'd be at the library. Is it cool if she drops me there?"

"I'll call her." They waited for fifteen minutes before Chase's mum came speeding in, almost avoiding the street light at the turning. Her red Range Rover came to a drastic stop, almost skidding a few feet. If Darling was any other person, her spine might've frozen, but she wasn't any other person. She was Darling Charming, and Darling Charming knew about the eccentric behaviour of Mrs. Redford. The car door swung open, almost flinging off in the process.

"Welcome Darling!"

"Afternoon Mrs. Redford. The car looks beautiful." Darling said remembering how Mrs. Redford loved to be complimented.

"Indeed it does, I took it to the car wash and they did a decent job - for once." She paused for a minute, laughing silently at her joke. "So I hear I'm dropping you at the library, is this correct?"

"Yes please."

"My goodness, you're so polite. If only Chase had picked up half the manners you have."

"What? I do have manners!"

"Anyways how was football?" For some reason, Chase's mum knew that Darling liked to play sports in her spare time. How she knew they were playing football could;ve been deducted from the football Chase was holding in his lap, but the fact that she knew that Darling was playing instead of sitting on the bench and watching, made Darling feel like she knew her better than her own mother did. Like her own mother didn't know her at all.

"Oh yes, I almost forgot. Darling are you sure you can't go to the masquerade party on Saturday? If so I can drop you and pick you up at the same time as I do with Chase. "
It was the small phrases like that, which made Darling feel so loved her, but so neglected in her own home. She felt so conflicted at times, but mainly she felt guilt. She was so privileged. She was a Charming, her family's reputation alone would be enough to rent out a cinema. Other kids would die to even spend a night in her home, so why was it that she hated living there. Maybe it was because she wasn't allowed to go play football with her best friend; nor was she allowed to play Man vs Dragon: The Great Castle Takeover, even after she bought it with her own money; nor even wear trousers on a night out, with Dexter. These things sounded so small but they meant so much, because those were the things that Darling loved to do. The things that made her, well her. And it seemed she couldn't even be herself because she had a reputation to uphold. A reputation that forced her to do everything she enjoyed in secret from her family, and that made life difficult for Darling. But a Charming complaining about life being difficult? She'd be labelled as those ungrateful teenage girls from chick flicks, who were always whining about emotional support for the tiniest obstacles. So she kept it to herself. Like now when she replied:

"I'm not going," while smiling. This time there had been no tears.

If Mrs. Redford had been any other parent, she might've known where the boundaries where parents usually stop prying into another child's life, respected Darling's decision to not go, and leave it at that. If Mrs. Redford had been any other parent she only would've seen Darling's answer as what is was. If Mrs. Redford was any other parent she might've realised that the tears generated from the last time she answered that question, probably meant that the answer was a bit too emotionally straining on Darling, but Mrs. Redford had always been a bit eccentric. She wasn't any other parent, she was Mrs. Redford, and she KNEW Darling. "Oh why Darling?"

Her mind for a moment thought of an answer, an answer that she subconsciously switched off, she didn't know what the answer was. She just knew that she couldn't say, and at that moment she could feel her eyes stinging. Desperately, she tried to hold the tears inside, she had no clue why this was happening. Darling couldn't even think how embarrassing this experience as, she really had to focus on stopping the tears from escaping. Mrs. Redford questioning the long pause looked up into her rear view mirror, only too see Chase holding his arms round Darling. She could've easily guessed by Darling's body language, and silence that she was upset (again). Mrs. Redford internally sighed. This girl looked like she needed a break in life, and Mrs. Redford knew the perfect one.

"Did you know Chase, that when it came to masquerade parties your mother was the girl-to-go-to for masquerade masks and costumes?" Chase frowned, slightly confused by her statement.

"Well you didn't think I was ordering your costume from online did you?" Chase knew his mum was making his mask for him so it'd be unique, and cheaper, but he had no clue what she meant when stating this. "What's the main theme of masquerade parties?"Again she paused, before answering her own question. "Disguises, disguises, disguises. The best masks are the one that label you unrecognisable. I know we all have to follow rules, and society can somewhat scare you adolscents into fitting into a mold that you don't really feel free in, which is what makes masquerades so fun. You get to let loose. Have a bit of fun. Before returning to boring old school." Chase still looked really confused, but was starting to get what she meant, a little bit. Mrs. Redford just sighed. "You get to be yourself, and no one knows it's you.

Darling on the other hand understand that all, and her heart chipped a little bit. The only chance she may have had to be herself was gone. Her tomboyish, free self, disappeared. "My parents will never let me go." She whispered, but it was only audible enough for Chase to hear.

"No worries, just say you're going to the library again." He whispered back.

"But then how will I get there?"

"My mum'll take you, she loves you. You can just say you're my friend from my old kickboxing club."

"And what if someone finds out it's me? Then it gets back to my parents. With this kind of stunt, I'm pretty sure I'll get kicked out. They'll send me to my aunt if they find out!"

"Is living with your aunt really that bad in comparison to your parents?" Darling glared back her response, obviously not finding Chase's joke amusing.

"No worries Darling, you just have to see the masks my mum makes. Honestly you will be unrecognisable."

Mrs. Redford had always believed in children having fun while they still had the opportunity to do so, she could not stand the way Darling was refusing herself. She had a few guesses as to why, but she knew what Darling really needed was some persuasion, and some help. And she knew exactly what to do.

Woo that whole chapter was hard! Not going to lie the effort put in so it made sense. If it does clash with the other chapters please! please! Please let me know! Likewise with spelling mistakes. Just incase you get confused 1 week left till the party!

Thanks to those for favouriting and following, it does help motivate me to push myself to write more, otherwise this could've taken till like after Christmas. This feeling of completing this chapter is pretty cool.

Now I'm just a bit nervous about how it went: SO don't forget to leave a review if you feel like it. (Who am I to force you into it?)

Write more later.

Crunol