I've come back to this story in a new light. It must be a good light since you didn't have to wait as long for the next chapter.

According to my notes, I came up with this chapter "while looking at a picture of someone wearing earrings" which sounds promising.


Photo #124: The Earring Principle

Eadlyn's ears hurt just looking at this photo. She touches her earlobes, feeling her small pearl earrings which doesn't help her imaginary pain. The photo is when she's a little girl, sitting in a chair in one of the libraries. She looks scared but her mother is crouched beside her, holding her hand on one side. On the other side is the cosmetologist lady smiling sweetly (or, as child Eadlyn in the photo probably remembers, evilly).

Eadlyn wasn't sure if it there was a principle in the royalty handbook on the princesses or any member of the royal family to wear earrings. Maybe it was mandatory because it looked regal or to wear special earrings. For instance, if she and her mother were to go somewhere, they would try to incorporate an accessory crafted by a local designer. Having pierced ears increases the options.

And Eadlyn didn't mind. Earrings completed outfits or added some extra bling. But that didn't excuse her ear lobes hurting from looking at that photo.

-o-

America knew she should've gotten Eadlyn's ears pierced when she was an infant, but she and Maxon couldn't stomach watching someone poke holes into their baby girl's tiny ear lobes. It enlightened her to see Eadlyn so excited to get her ears pierced. She wanted to choose her first pair. Yet America couldn't bear to see Eadlyn scared when their cosmetologist showed up to the palace.

She thought it would help that Josie wanted her ears pierced as well. If they did it together, then maybe it won't be as bad.

Josie volunteered to go first because she was so fascinated by the small sparkly studs and the fact that she could have more. She nearly jumped into that chair and was kicking her feet excitedly, watching as the cosmetologist prepped herself. Josie even giggled when her earlobes got cleaned with the cold disinfecting wipes. She wanted to watch her ears be marked because those are the spots her future earrings will be. Josie wanted to be in this process as much as she could.

"Okay, are you ready?" The cosmetologist asks Josie, smiling brightly.

"I think so," Josie responds, swinging her legs. "Did I pick the pink ones?"

"You did. Should I count down?"

"Yes," Marlee responds, standing beside her daughter and holding her hands tightly. She's exhibiting more fear than her daughter but wants to look like Josie is more scared.

The cosmetologist stands in front of Josie, putting two piercing machines on each ear so they could be done at the same time for less shock. Marlee grips Josie's hands as tight as Josie's wide smile. To the side, Eadlyn stands cowering behind her parents, hiding behind their legs but peeking out to watch. She's gripping on one of each parent's legs and Maxon and America rubs her backs comfortingly as they watch as well.

At the end of the countdown, the piercing happens and … nothing. No reaction from Josie. She sat through that double piercing like a champ. Marlee even closed her eyes only to open them wide when she didn't hear or feel anything from her daughter. Maxon and America glance at each other, thinking that maybe it wasn't that bad and that it was a good idea to offer an ear piercing to Josie since it'll calm Eadlyn down. Little did they know that Eadlyn's glaring at Josie for managing to sit through that as if she was still waiting. Even the cosmetologist lady was impressed.

Josie bounces in her seat when she gets the mirror and can look at her little pink diamond studs. She has never looked happier and nearly jumps in her mother's arms. Eadlyn's seething with jealousy, thinking she should choose the emerald studs to match, but her frown fades when she realizes it's her turn. She watches her mother approach Josie, praising her earrings and other pleasantries.

Maxon crouches beside his daughter, holding her close. He can sense that she's nervous and hugs her tighter.

"What if my ears don't heal?" Eadlyn whispers.

"You have to hurt them a little for them to heal, and they'll look so beautiful afterwards," Maxon says.

"Can I be ordinary with plain ears instead?"

"The difference between ordinary girls with ordinary ears and extraordinary girls with extraordinary ears is that extraordinary little girls could be afraid but would go through it anyways." Maxon kisses her forehead before she walks up to her mother.

As the cosmetologist preps for Eadlyn's piercing, America lifts her onto the chair. Eadlyn glances at the tools and doesn't understand how they work which makes it worse. She looks away when she feels her mother hold her hand with both of hers. She's leaning forwards a little, smiling softly to put Eadlyn at ease.

"You're extraordinary," America whispers.

Eadlyn glances at her father who holds his camera up, a tactic he uses to make sure his kids don't cry (because they would never want their tears caught on camera), and it worked.


I have a vivid memory of getting my ears pierced both times. The first time, I was around six. I ran out of the store crying with giant tears and hugged my dad's legs. Many years later, I was 19. I snuck out and got my second lobe piercing spontaneously. The salon lady probably thought I was insane since I just walked in asking for them. Now I want a third set.