December 16, 2017 (senior year of high school)

Briar can't believe this is happening. She rushes through the halls, struggling to hold back the tears that are pushing against her eyelids. Faybelle's venomous words still ring in her ears, stabbing her heart like knives.
"Whatever! Go back to that dipshit girlfriend of yours! You guys are perfect for each other! Boring, wimpy squares!"
All Briar had said was that she wanted to go back to her dorm to check on Ashlynn. Ashlynn has had a terrible stomachache today. She thinks it's food poisoning from the weird-tasting veggie burger she ate yesterday. She threw up twice this morning. As always, though, Faybelle had taken offense at Briar's friendship with her BFFA and lashed out.
"What do you have against Ashlynn?!" Briar had yelled, her eyes stinging with tears. "She's my BFFA, and I'm worried about her! That is it!"
"Well, I know the real reason you're constantly with her!" Faybelle had shouted. "You just want to get in her pants! You've got the hots for her! I can tell!"
"What?!" Briar had spluttered. "I'm constantly with her because she's my best friend forever after! Not to mention she doesn't treat me like shit! That's it! I'm not going to let you treat me this way anymore! We're over!"
"That's fine! You go run to that freak and cry boo hoo hoo!"

Then Briar ran, faster than she ever had out of the dorm Farrah had enchanted into a ballroom. This was Briar's event, the party after the holiday talent show, and she'd never left a party before, but she just couldn't be there anymore. Not with Faybelle, face purple with fury, leering at her. Not with the sea of wide-eyes partygoers staring at her. Not with the force of her pounding heart shaking like an earthquake in her chest. She needs Ashlynn.

Now she's standing outside her dorm, and she forces herself to stop. She takes a deep, shaky breath.

"Get yourself together, Briar," she hisses.

Ashlynn is sick, and Briar shouldn't get her embroiled in her drama.

"Come in," says Ashlynn, her voice hoarse, when Briar knocks.

Briar tries to hold her head high and not let her emotions get to her, but the second she sees Ashlynn sitting in bed, a blanket around her shoulders, all messy hair and tired eyes, she loses her composure. Tears begin to stream down her face.

"Hey," Ashlynn says. "Why are you back so early? I told you I'm fine. Wait–" She furrows her eyebrows. "Are you crying?"

Briar chokes back a sob, angrily rubbing a fist over her eyes.

"Hey," Ashlynn cooes. "Come here."

She reaches her arms out.

Briar stumbles over to the bed, falling into Ashlynn's arms and burying her face in her shoulder.

"It's okay," Ashlynn whispers, holding Briar close as she cries. "Just let it out."

Briar sobs, images of Faybelle flashing through her mind. Standing at the top of the rock wall, faces inches apart; she can see the beads of sweat on Faybelle's forehead, like drops of dew on a blue flower. Sitting on the dock, Faybelle's face like ivory in the pale moonlight. The softness of her lips, the taste of her blackberry chapstick filling Briar's mouth. Their hot, sweaty bodies pressed against each other as music blares, the flashing lights of the disco ball casting colorful patterns across Faybelle's face. Faybelle was her first love. She knows that their relationship wasn't perfect. It wasn't even good, honestly. But her heart still feels broken, like there's a gaping wound in it that only Faybelle's love can fill. But the love isn't there; and even if it is, it's not true. It's a twisted kind of love that hurts even when it feels good. So she just clings to Ashlynn and cries, savoring the safety of her friend's arms around her.

When Briar starts to calm down, her breathing evening out and her tears receding, Ashlynn softly speaks.

"Do you want to tell me what happened?"

Briar draws in a long, trembling breath.

"It's over," she whispers, her voice hoarse. "For good."

Ashlynn gives her a comforting squeeze.

"I'm sorry, sweetie."

Briar takes another deep breath.

"I don't know why I was with her in the first place."

Ashlynn is silent, slowly running her fingers up and down Briar's back.
"I just–" Briar sighs, "this is my first relationship, and it only lasted five months before it royally failed. I mean, look at you and Hunter. It's your first relationship, and you two have been together for over two years now and are still going strong. Am I–am I just not good enough to make a relationship work?"

Her voice breaks as her emotions threaten to overwhelm her again. Ashlynn holds her tighter.
"You are good enough, Briar. You're more than good enough. You're absolutely amazing, and anybody would be lucky to have you as their girlfriend. Hunter and I–we're very similar. We have similar personalities, the same interests; there's really just nothing for us to clash over."
Briar laughs humorlessly.
"So, I guess Faybelle and I were just too different. Like I couldn't have seen that coming. How could I be so blind?"

Briar pulls away from Ashlynn, looking at her with glistening eyes. Ashlynn reaches out, gently wiping her tears away.
"You weren't blind, Briar," Ashlynn says, lovingly tucking a lock of hair behind Briar's ear. "You were...in love." She laughs softly. "That's really the only way to explain it."
"I was," Briar whispers.
She sighs, resting her head on Ashlynn's shoulder.

"I know, baby," Ashlynn murmurs. "I just need you to know, though–you deserve better."

"Do I?" Briar says, her voice hollow. "Or am I just as much of a bitch as her?"
"You are not, Briar!" Ashlynn exclaims. "You are such a kind person. I wouldn't be friends with you if I didn't think you were absolutely wonderful. You're generous, you're thoughtful, you're funny, you're loving. You care about everybody. You're always there for people, for me. You stand up for others. You're fun, you're adventurous, you're brave."

Briar's eyes burn, not with sadness, but with gratitude.
"Thank you, Ash," she says, her voice shaking. "I love you."
"I love you too," Ashlynn murmurs. "You're my best friend. Like I said, you're always there for me. And you deserve somebody that will treat you with respect, will show you kindness and compassion. Will listen to you and appreciate you and encourage you and–will tell you that you're everything."
"So basically like how you treat me?" Briar says, amusement ringing in her voice.
"Exactly," Ashlynn replies, giggling.
Briar lets out a shaky laugh.
"Well, if I could ever find somebody as amazing as you to be with, then boy would I be lucky."

XXX

December 17, 2017

As soon as Briar walks through the front door of her castle home, she's bombarded by her brothers, all lunging at her at the same time.

"Briar!" they yell gleefully. "Yay! You're home!"

Briar laughs joyously, feeling happier than she has in weeks at the sight of her eight brothers, all bright eyes and buck-toothed smiles.

"I missed you guys so much!" she exclaims, giving each of her brothers a kiss on the head.

"We missed you too!" Loyalty says.

"And now that you're home, we can go sledding together!" Chivalry enthuses.

Briar laughs, ruffling his hair.

"Yes, we will definitely do that," she says. "But first, hot chocolate!"

Her brothers' eyes light up. They cheer, running in the direction of the kitchen.

"Linda, may you please make us some hot chocolate?!" she hears Faithful ask, polite but loud.

"Briar, can I have a piggy back ride?" Honor asks.

Briar smiles at her youngest brother, enamored as always by his sweet smile.

"Sure thing!" she agrees.

She bends over, and he jumps onto her back, giggling.

"Oof!" she exclaims, straining to walk. "You're getting so big!"

"And I lost my first tooth yesterday!" he enthuses. "And the Tooth Fairy gave me twenty bucks!"

"Wow!" she exclaims. "What are you going to do with all that money?"

"Buy you a present!" he says matter of factly. "Cause you're my favorite sister!"

Briar laughs, her eyes stinging slightly, touched by Honor's loving selflessness.

"I'm your only sister!" she jokes.

He laughs.

They enter the dining room. She smiles at the sight of her brothers sitting at the table, fidgeting with anticipation. She and Honor sit down.

A moment later, Linda, one of the many maids at their castle, walks into the room, holding a tray of steaming mugs of hot chocolate.

"Here, Linda," she says, jumping up "Let us help with that."

"Thank you, dear," says Linda as Briar, Honor, and Loyalty each take a couple mugs.

They pass them out. Linda sets down the tray.

"Come here, my little rose," Linda says warmly, opening up her arms.

Briar chuckles, melting into the warm embrace. She's known Linda all her life, and it's wonderful to see her again. She misses everybody at home so much when she's away at school. When the hug ends, Briar kisses Linda's cheek.
"It's so nice to be home," she says as she sits back down. "This Christmas is going to be off the page!"

"Yeah!" Courage exclaims. "We'll go ice skating and skiing and sledding and build a snowman! It'll be the best Christmas ever!"

Briar smiles as she takes a sip of hot chocolate. All she needs to make Christmas perfect is her family all together.

XXX

Briar giggles, running after her brothers up the hill of snow.

"I'm going to get you!" she exclaims.

"Never, you foul beast!" Gallantry bellows.

"Hey, guys! Wait up!" Tenacity yells. "This sled is heavy!"

"Loyalty, help your brother out!" Briar says.

"Uhh, fine," Loyalty groans. "Honor's the littlest, and he's holding a sled by himself just fine!"

Briar rolls her eyes affectionately.

At the top of the hill, she finally catches up to Gallantry. She lunges at him, and they drop to the snowy ground, rolling around together, laughing uncontrollably.

"Okay, weirdos! I'm going to sled now!" Loyalty yells.

Briar and Gallantry finally get themselves under control.

"Phew," Briar says, wiping tears of laughter from her face.

"Come on, Briar!" Loyalty exclaims. "Sled with me!"

"Oh alright, if you insist!" Briar teases.

She holds the sled steady as Loyalty climbs on before jumping on behind him. They sail down the hill, the cold slush spraying their faces.

"Whooo!" Briar and Loyalty cheer as they race faster and faster through the snow.

As soon as they reach the bottom of the hill and skid to a stop, Loyalty jumps off. Trust and Courage come soaring down the hill after them.

"We're going again!" Loyalty exclaims, running up the hill.

"You forgot the sled!" Briar yells.

"It's your turn to carry it!" he shouts.

Briar rolls her eyes.

"Fine," she grumbles. "I guess I need a workout after all the cookies I ate."

She makes her way up the hill, dragging the sled behind her. She looks up at the clear blue sky, breathes in the crisp, cold air, and finally, for the first time in months, feels content.

XXX

"Okay, we need a carrot for the nose and raisins for the eyes and mouth!" Briar exclaims. "Oh, and get a top hat, too!"

"Okay!" Chivalry agrees. "Come on, Faithful! Let's go get the stuff!"

Briar and her other brothers continue to pack snow together, forming a head for their snowman.

"He's looking great!" Briar enthuses when the head is complete. "Now let's find sticks for the arms!"

"No, that one's too big!" Tenacity insists as she studies a stick she picked up.

"Aww, can't he have big arms?" Briar asks.

"No, they need to be the right size!"

Briar can't help but laugh as she suddenly thinks of Blondie and how similar she and Tenacity are.

By the time Briar and her brothers find two sticks that are up to Tenacity's standards, Chivalry and Faithful are back with the items.

"Ooh, I want to put the carrot nose on!" Honor exclaims.

"But you can't reach up that high," Trust points out.

"That's okay! I can hold you up!" says Briar.

Honor giggles, running over to Briar and jumping into her arms.

"Oof! You're getting heavy!" she exclaims.

She kisses his head, breathing in his sweet scent. No matter how big her brothers get, they'll always be her babies. She smiles as he reaches forward to attach the carrot to the snowman, his tongue out in concentration.

"Ta da!" Honor exclaims, when he finishes and Briar sets him down.

"He's adorable!" Briar enthuses. "Now, we just need the raisins for the nose and mouth."

"I've got it covered!" says Courage.

He carefully places the raisins, shaping the snowman's face into a large smile.

"Well, he's a very happy guy, I see!" Briar exclaims.

Her brothers laugh.

"And for the finishing touch," says Gallantry, "here is the top hat."

He gently sets the hat on the top of the snowman's head. They stand back, admiring their work.

Briar smiles, happiness beating warmly in her chest. "He looks perfect."

XXX

January 3, 2018

Briar and her brothers sit at the kitchen table, eating sugar cookies. The candlelight flickers, reflecting off the smooth mahogany wood of the table.

"Here's the special blue Santa one you frosted, Trust," Briar says as she picks the cookie out of the glass bowl they're crammed into.

"Ooh! Yay!" Trust cheers.

He grabs the cookie from Briar and shoves it into his mouth whole.

"Jeez, Trust!" Briar exclaims. "Don't choke!"

He laughs, crums of cookie falling from his mouth. Briar rolls her eyes.

"Table manners are something you will never learn!" she laughs.

She looks up as her parents enter the room.

"Hey Mom," she says. "Hey Dad."

"Kids, there's something we need to tell you," her father says, his tone somber.

Briar gasps when she turns and sees her parents' pained expressions. Are those tears in her mom's eyes?!

"What's going on?!" she exclaims, suddenly breathing heavy with the panic pressing on her chest. "Did somebody die?!"

"Shhh," her mother soothes, holding up her hand for quiet. Her voice is slightly hoarse. "It's nothing like that. Calm down."

Briar lets out a shaky breath, relief flowing through her body. Her parents sit down across from her and her brothers. Her father is looking at the floor, his eyes vacant, like he's a world away from them. Her mother takes a deep breath.

"Now guys, this is going to come as a shock, but…" She lets out a trembling breath. "Your father and I have decided to get a divorce."

Briar's stomach lurches like she's on a roller coaster, hurtling down a giant drop. The air is whipping her face, taking her breath away.

"W-Why?" she manages to stutter out. "I thought–I thought you were happy."

"We are, sweetie," her mother says. "We love every minute we spend with you guys. But–" she sighs, "our marriage is just not working out anymore. Life is going to just be easier for us if we live separately."

Briar turns to look at her brothers. Everyone looks just as shocked as she feels, their eyes wide and their faces blank; then she notices that Honor's lip is trembling. She rushes over to him, sitting down beside him and wrapping her arm around his little shoulders.

"I want Mommy and Daddy to stay together!" he sobs.

She pulls him close.

"It'll be okay, baby," she murmurs.

Her eyes burn, and her face is heating up. She has to stay strong for her brothers, though.

"Kids, don't make such a fuss," her father says sternly. "You're still going to see both of us. I'm just going to be living somewhere else."

"But we're not going to be a family anymore!" Loyalty bursts out.

He starts crying, too. Briar bites her lip. Her heart pounds like a drum in her chest.

"Hush now, sweetheart," her mother says softly. "We'll still be a family. I promise."

Briar takes a deep breath, gathering her composure before she speaks.

"When are you leaving, Dad? And where are you going to go?"

He sighs. "I'm leaving tomorrow, and I'm going to be living–" he pauses, "in another house."

A suspicion creeps into Briar's head, and she nearly gasps. Could he be...moving in with another woman? Could he have...cheated? Her heart races faster.

Loyalty runs out of the room, sobbing. Briar wants to go after him, but she needs to get to the bottom of this.

"I can't put up with this anymore!" her father says irritably. "All this drama is unnecessary!"

He stands up and leaves the room, the thud of his leather boots hitting the tile echoing through the room. Briar looks at her mother. She's biting her lip, clearly trying not to cry.

"Boys, why don't you go to your room?" Briar says softly. "I'll be there in a few minutes."

They slowly shuffle out, quieter than they've ever been before.

When they're out of sight, Briar takes the deepest breath she can muster.

"Mom," she says quietly, "did he–you know?" Her voice trembles.

Her mom sniffs. A tear rolls down her cheek. Briar is struck then, looking at her mother's devastated face, how much alike they really do look. Her mother's face is like Briar's reflection in the mirror, only older and worn down. Her mother's mauve eyes, identical to Briar's, have seen things that Briar could only imagine.

"I'm not going to lie to you, Briar," her mother says, her voice shaking. "Your father has–found another woman."

Briar's insides fill with rage, overpowering every other emotion she's feeling. Her fists clench.

"How dare he?!" she growls. Her nails press crescents into her palms. "That's not the father I know! That's–" She lets out a sharp breath. "Has he just been pretending all these years?! Is he actually just a poor, pathetic excuse for a man that–"

"Briar, that's enough!" her mother exclaims.

Briar looks at her. Tears are streaming down her mother's face now.

"Mom, I–" Briar mutters. She suddenly doesn't know what to say.

Her mother stands up on shaking legs, pacing around the room, her gaze lowered. Briar slowly makes her way over to her. She reaches her arms out, but the moment she touches her, her mother pulls away.

"Thank you, sweetie," she says, her voice choked, "but I need to be alone right now. I can't believe I'm bawling in front of you like this!" She sniffles, wiping her eyes.

"No Mom, it's okay," Briar murmurs.

"No, it's not," her mother says quietly. "You deserve better."

Briar doesn't know if she does, though. This could be all her fault. It could be her not following her destiny that drove the wedge between her parents. Her eyes sting at the thought.

"I'll see you later, honey," her mother chokes out, before sweeping out of the room, her long dress swishing across the tile.

Briar stands there, frozen, as her mother walks away. She's numb everywhere. Her lungs can't breathe right; her heart won't slow down. But still, even with the pain she's carrying, she goes to her brothers' room. They're all crying now, heartbreaking sobs racking their tiny frames. She holds them close and promises them that she'll always be there for them, even if their father won't.

Briar feels bad bothering Ashlynn. She's been relying on her so much lately; she must be tired of dealing with Briar's neverending steam of problems. She should call Apple or Crystal. It's times like these, though, when she's too anxious and overwhelmed to think coherently that she only wants one person: Ashlynn. It's not long before she has the phone against her ear, and Ashlynn, dependable as ever, picks up after the second ring.

"Hey, Briar," she says happily. "What's wicked?"

Briar smiles through her tears.

"Nothing too wicked going on with me," she says, trying to keep her voice steady. "How are you doing?"

Ashlynn is quiet for a few seconds. Briar can already feel the concern coming from the other girl.

"I'm good," Ashlynn replies, sounding serious now.

Briar curses herself for ruining Ashlynn's good mood. She should've handled this on her own. It's too late now, though. She sighs.

"Are you okay, Briar?" Ashlynn asks softly. "You sound off."

Briar finally lets the tears drop from her eyes.

"I'm not doing great," she admits, her voice strained.

"What happened?" Ashlynn asks, her voice laced with concern.

Briar squeezes her eyes shut, breathing deeply as she gathers the courage to say it out loud. Ashlynn waits patiently. Finally, Briar forces herself to speak.

"My parents haven't been acting at all like their usual selves this break, and today they finally told us why." She clears her throat. "Well, the truth is, they're getting divorced."

Ashlynn gasps. Briar furiously swipes her fist over her eyes.

"Yep. My dad has already packed his things, and tomorrow–um, he's leaving us."

She grips the blanket, digging her fingernails into the soft pink fabric.

"Oh, sweetie," Ashlynn cooes. "I'm so sorry."

Briar presses her hand over her mouth, trying desperately to hold back the sobs, but they are annoyingly persistent.

"Just cry," Ashlynn murmurs. "I'm right here. It's going to be okay."

"I just feel like everything is changing so fast," Briar sobs. "First I get excommunicated from my fairytale and lose my sleeping curse. Then I start dating Faybelle, and it's wonderful and horrible at the same time. And then she breaks up with me. And now my parents are splitting up and it's all my fault because I–" she can barely get the words out now; the sobs are consuming her.

"Briar, you need to breathe," Ashlynn murmurs.

Briar hadn't even realized that she's not really breathing. She clenches the blanket tighter. Her head spins.

"Shhh. Count your breaths, baby. You can do this."

Briar struggles to gulp in oxygen between her hiccups, but after a moment, is able to take in a shaky inhale of air.

"There you go," Ashlynn cooes. "Now hold it. Good girl. Then out, slowly. You're going to be fine."

Briar breathes along with Ashlynn, struggling at first but eventually falling into a rhythm.

Slowly, Briar's vision returns to normal. She's not sure when it had turned blurry.

"Are you feeling any better?" Ashlynn asks softly.

Briar sniffles.

"Yeah," she hiccups. "Thank you."

"Of course, sweetheart. Now tell me: how could any of this possibly be your fault?"

"Well–" Briar takes a shaky breath. "I-I didn't follow my destiny and–my parents' lives got turned upside down. I let them down, and maybe it's the disappointment that led my dad to-to–" She chokes out a sob.

"To what?" Ashlynn asks, her voice soft.

"To cheat on my mom!" The words burst out of her. Ashlynn gasps. "He cheated on my mom, and now he's going to live with another woman!"

"Oh kingdoms!" Ashlynn exclaims, sounding scandalized. "That's so horrible! Oh my gosh! Your mom! The poor thing!"

Thinking about the pain in her mother's eyes brings tears cascading down Briar's cheeks again.

"Oh, love. I'm so sorry," Ashlynn murmurs, sounding near tears herself. "I wish I was there with you right now! I hate that you're having to go through this alone."

"I wish you were here with me, too!" Briar sobs.

"I know, sweetheart," Ashlynn cooes. "Just let it all out."

Briar cries and cries, unable to stop. She can faintly hear Ashlynn's soft voice, murmuring words of comfort. By the time she finally gets her breathing under control, her throat is raw and her head aches. She groans.

"Do you feel any better?" Ashlynn asks tentatively.

"Yeah," Briar croaks, noting that she feels somewhat refreshed now.

Her heart is still heavy with grief, though. She doesn't think that feeling will go away for a long time. She grabs a tissue from the box on her bedside table and blows her nose.

"Oh, you poor baby," Ashlynn murmurs. "It's okay. Winter break is almost over. We'll be together soon. And I'll hug the stuffing out of you."

Briar giggles. Ashlynn laughs along with her, sweet and beautiful as ever, and Briar knows that she's going to be okay. Both of them will be.

"So, what were you doing before I very dramatically interrupted you?" Briar asks.

Ashlynn chuckles.

"Hush, Briar. It was no interruption. I was just in my room, lazily scrolling through my phone."

Briar laughs. She's not sure why. Just hearing Ashlynn talk is making her happy.

"I was just thinking about making some dinner," Ashlynn continues. "Maybe some vegetable soup."

Briar's mouth waters.

"No fair!" she whines. "Now I want to be with you even more!"

Ashlynn laughs.

"Well, you can listen to me make it if you'd like," she says.

Briar can sense the smile in her friend's voice.

"That sounds delightful," Briar agrees.

Ashlynn stays on the phone with Briar as she prepares the ingredients for the soup.

"I'm going to chop up vegetables now, so I'm going to have to put you on speaker," she says.

Briar chuckles.

"No problem. Definitely don't try to hold the phone and cut veggies with a knife at the same time."

Ashlynn laughs.

"Don't worry your pretty head, Bri," she says playfully. "You know what a responsible young lady I am."

Briar chortles.

"That I do, Ash."

Briar lies down under her blankets, listening to Ashlynn hum as she prepares the soup.

"Did you have dinner?" Ashlynn asks a few minutes later.

"Yeah, I did," Briar replies, closing her eyes.

They continue to casually converse, Ashlynn discussing, in a low voice how she'd gone skiing in the mountains. Briar smiles as she listens to her friend talk.

When Ashlynn has finished making the soup and is eating it with small, polite sips, while talking excitedly about a fox that she'd befriended on her trip, Briar feels her eyelids growing heavy. She tries to stay awake, but Ashlynn's voice only relaxes her more and more as the moments slip by. The last thing Briar remembers before she drifts off is a whispered, "Good night, Briar. Sweet dreams."