A Beautiful Princess

Coming back to school after winter break was always bittersweet. On one hand, we had to be driven through the cold snow and ice and go back to homework and lectures. But on the other, we got to show off all our new winter clothes! I chose my outfit carefully, that fateful day in seventh grade. A baby pink skirt paired with a scooping neck sweater in a chilly shade of white. My pink boots came up past my knees and white socks stuck out from them. The final touch was the new makeup Momma had bought me, a pink lipstick that brought out my eyes and an alluring mascara.

Being a princess, I was used to be staring at it. It came with the territory. But everyone at school is descended from royalty or someone who helped royalty, so they rarely stared. Until that day.

I walked through the halls and all I remembered were eyes. Eyes following my every move. No one said anything, they just looked. I was constantly running into the bathroom to make sure I didn't have a zit or a booger hanging out of my nose.

When I got home, I went straight to my room and cried off all my mascara.

"Audrey, sweetheart, why are you cooped up in your room?" Momma asked, knocking gently on my door as she entered. When she saw my tears, she gasped and immediately hugged me. "Tell me what troubles you, my daughter, and we'll make it all better."

"Everyone…. everyone stared at me all day. They didn't say anything, just looked at me. And they never do that at school! Do they think I'm weird now?"

Momma pushed some strands of hair off my face and snuggled up next to me. "People do lots of things for many reasons. And when they look at you, they see something to be admired. You're not weird, Audrey."

"How can I not be? I was castle-schooled until junior high, I like dancing and playing in the woods better than being in the castle, and now everyone thinks I look funny!"

"Quite the opposite, actually." We both looked up to see Grammie standing in the doorway. "Have you not noticed how beautiful you are becoming? Especially today when you decided to accent your beauty with outfits and makeup. Audrey, they did not think you strange. They thought you were stunning."

"They…did?"

"Of course, they did," Momma promised. "I'm going to go get some of those swam tarts you like so much, okay?"

As she left, Grammie took her place on my bed. "Even though you are beautiful, Audrey, you must remember it is not something to take for granted. Not everyone is born beautiful."

"That's sad."

"Indeed, it is. But you are lucky. And a princess is almost guaranteed to be beautiful. What you must do now, though, is learn to hone it. A princess's main skill is her beauty. Beauty is power."

"How do I do that?"

"I have some books for you to read but ultimately it is up to you. I only ask that you do so in a way that makes me proud."

"Here we are!" Momma exclaimed, bringing in a tray with a dozen tarts shaped like swans. But I could hardly focus on eating. My mind was too busy bouncing with all Grammie had said.

The next day I used Grammie's books to do my makeup. A perfect stroke of eyeliner, blush on the cheeks…it had tips and tricks for everything! The style portion was outdated, though, so I disregarded it and chose my own outfit of a pink sweater vest with a golden chain necklace and circlet.

I held my head high through the halls, smiling brightly. I began to understand that though the girls looked at me with envy, the boys looked with amazement.

When I reached my locker, I saw Ben and Chad together at their lockers near mine. I hadn't seen Ben yesterday; our schedules didn't line up. But now I could see his reaction to my improved look.

"Hi, Benny Bear," I squealed and hugged him tight. When I pulled back, he turned to look at me. This was it….!

Nothing. Eyes didn't widen, breath didn't catch, he didn't even look at my outfit. Grr….

"Hi Audrey. I didn't see you yesterday," he remarked.

"Guess our classes don't line up," I muttered, slamming open my locker.

"I'm going to miss having your help in Royal History. You practically know everything about it."

A princess's main skill is her beauty. Not her brain, which is all Ben was talking about.

"Well you know more about all the other subjects," I replied, pulling out all my textbooks. I had so many this year.

A bell chimed and Ben shut his locker. "I'll see you later."

My eyes narrowed as I watched him go.

"You…you look really pretty, Audrey." I turned and saw Chad staring at my dress, eyes wider than china plates.

Well if Ben wasn't going to notice, I might as well appreciate the princes who did.

"Thank you, Chad." My eyes fell to my heavy textbooks. "Don't you hate having to carry all these books around?" I pouted, sticking out my bottom lip. It was a look I'd practiced in my mirror last night.

"I can help!" Chad quickly offered and took them out of my hands.

"How charming of you." Then I spun and headed to class, Chad trailing behind me.

Chad carried my books to all my classes the rest of the week, meaning he was late for nearly all of his own classes. By Friday his teachers were fed up and he was sent to detention, a rarity in all of Auradon.

As the final bell rang that day, I closed my locker door and started heading to the doors where my royal limo was waiting to take me home. But a handsome prince soon blocked my path.

"Audrey, we need to talk," Ben told me.

"Benny-bear!" I exclaimed with my most stunning smile. Even Grammie said it was perfect.

Nothing. What was wrong with this boy?

"Chad's parents are coming to the school to talk to him about his detention. He's in a lot of trouble."

"Poor him," I whimpered, sticking out my bottom lip in a pout.

'Perfect dear, don't forget to bat your eyes. You really are my granddaughter.'

"Audrey, Chad told me he was carrying your books all week. That's why he was late, because of you."

Was…was Ben accusing me?

"How dare you!" I exclaimed. Ben jumped in shock and I corrected my tone instantly. "I…I mean, he was just helping me. Won't his parents be proud of their prince helping a princess?"

"That doesn't mean you can use people Audrey!" Ben argued. "Look, you're one of my best friends. But I don't think what you're doing is okay. So you better apologize to Chad."

"Or what?"

'Never demand more of your prince then you should. And never argue with him.'

"Or I'll tell Headmistress Blue Fairy. And you'll get detention."

I fainted in shock, and fell to the ground, seeing nothing but black.

"Fainting was very clever of you," Grammie said as she fussed over me after I explained why I had to be carried out of the school to my limo by Ben. "But now you have to apologize to Chad and admit your wrongs, something a princess should never have to do!"

"I'm sorry," I blubbered, crying into my pillow. "I…I just wanted Ben to notice me. And now he thinks I'm mean!"

"No, no, dear," Grammie clucked, sitting on my bed. "He doesn't think you're mean. Or at least he won't when we're done."

"Huh?"

"I'll show you exactly what to do. And Ben won't be able to resist you, I promise."

I was early to school, dashing inside as soon as they opened the doors. It was Monday so Belle would be helping in the library. Which meant Ben would be here very soon.

It didn't take long for me to set everything up, not with twenty servants at my command. I shooed them away just as Ben entered the library (Grammie had asked Belle to wait outside ahead of time).

"Audrey? What are you-?" Ben gaped when he saw me standing amongst the stacks of books, under rows and rows of twinkling fairy lights I'd hung from the ceiling.

"Benny-boo, I am so sorry for what I did. You were right, I should've made sure Chad got to class on time too, especially since he was helping me. I wasn't very thoughtful. But I'm here to make amends!" I recited, making sure to tear up.

'Never underestimate the power of a single tear, Audrey dear.'

"What are you…?"

"Come on!" I grabbed his hand and tugged him back into the stacks of books, through the maze of shelves, until we reached a small reading nook in the bay window, two chairs sitting at a small table which was now covered in Ben's favorite scones and a pot of tea.

"Wow, Audrey, this is…"

"It's all your favorites: peanut butter cookies, jelly scones, peach tarts, even peppermint tea! I wanted to show you how kind I can be. Please, Benny. Please forgive me." Bat the eyelashes, single tear…

And he melted just like Grammie predicted.

"Of course I forgive you, Audrey," Ben assured me and hugged me tightly. My heart soared.

Yes, yes, yes!

"Shall we?" he asked, pulling apart, gesturing to the table. I did a small curtsy and he led me over to the table.

Grammie was right. Beauty was power. And I intended to use it.