Chapter 6:
(Skyler POV)
As they announced my name I made my way down to the dance floor and all eyes were on me. I made my way down where Rose was waiting for me. I held out my hand for her to take and she gladly accepted and we began to make our way across the dance floor. "You are doing great Skye." She said. I smiled, "Thanks Mom." As the words slipped from my lips the room went dark. I turned around and there Mom was standing. "Skye, you replaced me." Thunder clapped as a white light filled the room. "Mom," I started as she clutched her chest, "I never stopped looking for you Skyler. I didn't think that you would give up on me." "No, Mom I-I didn't..." I started but then people started coming from all around me, "A new sister," Jane said. "A new friend," Hermione followed. "A new Mom," Rose said. "A new life," Dad finished. I held onto Mom, "Mom p-please don't go. Mom." She closed her eyes, "You've already forgotten me."
I woke up with a start as I began hyperventilating. It was just a nightmare I told myself. I held onto the rings as I tried to calm myself down. I wouldn't forget her, I couldn't forget her this was not my life. I had spent the day humiliated by Onyx, but I also spent the day with Hermione and Jane. I thought about that time and I realized that I wasn't thinking about Mom. That I started to have fun. I put my face in my hands and took a breath, "I can't do this. I can't forget her." I thought about what I could do for a while and I came up with a plan, as soon as I was 18 I was going to leave the castle, I was going to move back to the village, I would reopen the cobbler practice and I would live out the rest of my life there. Maybe, I would come to visit my Dad every now and then but, I couldn't be here for the rest of my life. I just had to survive two more years here. Suddenly, that felt like an eternity as I let myself lean back and fall asleep.
I didn't get much sleep the rest of the night as I made my way to breakfast the next morning. I decided to bypass the table and go straight to the kitchen and grabbed an apple and went into the carriage. I made polite conversation with Jane and Onyx seemed happy, so I was choosing not to engage. When we arrived at school I saw Hermione was coming closer to me but, I quickly excused myself though as a group of princesses began surrounding her. I kept my head down and made my way through the day until it was time for our last class, dance.
I went over to borrow a pair of practice shoes when Onyx stopped me, "I grabbed you a spare pair from home." He handed me a pair of shoes. I looked them over skeptically, "Thank you." He shrugged, "Look I just don't want anyone saying anything about my kingdom because you are wearing shabby shoes. Get ready we are starting soon." That made more sense. I put on the shoes and joined the rest of the class. Hermione made her way over next to me, "So you have been avoiding me today." She quietly spoke. I shook my head, "No I haven't." She scoffed, "Please, I don't know what is going on with you but you have been avoiding me since this morning." I didn't have a response as I listened to the Professor, "Everyone pair up." She clapped her hands. I looked around the room and then at Hermione. She sighed and held out her hand, "Bow." She whispered. I bowed, "May I have this dance?" I asked as I took her hand. She nodded her head, "Of course." "Excellent alright first three couples begin the waltz that is Prince Onyx and Princess Desdemona, Prince Skyler and Princess Hermione, and Prince Holden and Princess Zara."
We began to dance and I stared at my feet. "Look at me," She said. I looked up and she gave me a smile, "You got this." I nodded my head and we continued to dance. I felt myself beginning to relax into the dance when I stepped on her foot, "Ow." She exclaimed. "I'm sorry," I said softly as I went to look down at my feet. Suddenly I was losing control of my feet and my movements. I started to spin and jump and do things I shouldn't have been able to do as the other couples moved back away from the dance floor. I caught a glimpse of Onyx as he had a satisfied grin on his face. I began spinning again crashing into a pile of pillows. I sat up and threw off the shoes and went out of the room angrily glaring at Onyx.
(Jane POV)
Skye had been quiet the entire day. When we were at dance class though I saw him smiling as he was dancing with Hermione but, all of the sudden it was clear that he lost all control of his movements. I looked over at Onyx who was smiling as Skyler began zooming around with no control. He crashed into a pile of pillows and threw the shoes off before leaving the room. Hermione went after him and I examined the shoes. They were a pair of trick shoes that we used to use when we were little and wanted to be silly with Mom. I looked at Onyx who was acting as shocked as everyone else was and I shook my head. He had taken this too far and I was done.
(Hermione POV)
I made my way out of class and saw Skyler running in the halls towards the front of the school. He was probably trying to get to his carriage. I knew a shortcut and met him out front, "Skye." I called out. He turned to face me and I could tell that he was flustered and mad. I touched his shoulder and he jerked away. There was clearly more going on than what happened in dance class. I sighed and held out my hand, "It's fine if you don't want to talk, but you still owe me a dance." He let out a breath before nodding his head and taking my hand. We walked to the school gardens and began to dance. "It is just 1-2-3," I said softly as I placed his hand around my waist. I put my hand on his shoulder and we began.
He stepped on my toes a few times but, I just smiled and kept telling him to keep his eyes on me. I relaxed too and I leaned in, he leaned in as well and soon our foreheads rested against each other. "Why have you been avoiding me?" I whispered. "I-I can't let myself go there," he said. I leaned back a little, "Go where?" His breath was quickening and I could hear my heartbeat loudly ringing in my ear. "Skye," I said leaning closer. Our eyes closed but then Skyler said, "I can't."
He leaned back and I opened my eyes, "What is wrong?" He shook his head, "I am getting too invested. Two years, just two years..." He started muttering to himself as he paced back and forth. I grabbed his arm, "Two more years until what?" He looked at me, "Until I move out of the castle and back to the village where I belong." "Y-You plan on leaving?" I asked and he nodded his head, "Y-You've barely been there a week." He closed his eyes, "This isn't my life. I can't pretend that it is. My life is in the village working on shoes from duck til dawn with my Dad. It is being in the house where my family was happy. I can't leave it behind and forget about it."
I was confused, "Who said anything about forgetting about it?" He shook his head, "You wouldn't understand." "Try me," I said with my hands on my hips, "What is so complex that I couldn't understand." He shook his head, "I said wouldn't not couldn't there is a difference." "You still haven't answered my question," I said. He sighed, "Every moment I spend in this new life with this new family and new friends I find myself forgetting her. I promised I would never do that." I sighed and moved a strand of his curly fawn hair, "I don't think that you will ever actually forget her. We never forget the ones we love, but they wouldn't want us to stop living our lives."
"We?" He asked and I nodded my head, "My mother. She died when I was 4." My hand still stayed on his cheek after I moved his hair. He placed a hand on my cheek as well and I closed my eyes as I leaned in closer and we found ourself sharing a kiss. We slowly separated and I looked back up at him as my eyes widened. He looked at me, "Sorry." I shook my head, "It's fine." I said, "It was fine." He nodded his head and this time I sighed, "But, it can't happen again." I said as I held onto his hand. He nodded his head, "Of course. See you tonight." He gave me a small smile and walked away. I placed my hand on my lips and sighed. This time I had taken everything too far.
"Princess Hermione," I turned and saw Onyx standing there. I smiled, "Prince Onyx." He took my hand and placed a kiss on it, "I will see you at the Ball tonight." I nodded my head and he looked at my hand, "You are still not wearing it?" I shook my head, "No, not know. I'll start wearing it after the Ball." He nodded his head, "I know that it is a lot but, uniting Enchancia and Albuquerque is for the best." I nodded my head, "I know. Our kingdoms need each other." He bowed, "Save me a dance tonight Princess." I nodded my head and he walked away.