A/N!
Time for reviews!
Story Lover: The feels get me all the time! It's so overwhelming!
Anime Pop Circle: Well Lizzie is Duchess's dorm mate so I had to pair her with someone and who better than the person whose head she tries to cut off one day?
Donnie Gale: I just think that some of the characters in EAH aren't really teenagers most of the time. I think they needed a real life experience.
Chapter 7 - Friends, Flowers and First Teams
A stream of bright morning light somehow managed to get past the dorm's thick red velvet drapes. Duchess groaned and turned over in her bed. Her head was pounding with her hangover. Fuzzy memories of last night came back to her. She had to get up. Her first class today was Princessology and the White Queen was ruthless when it came to latecomers. Some girls said she was worse than Lizzie's mum. At least she cut you head off, the White Queen yelled it off. Duchess attempted to sit up but she couldn't and just fell back down onto her fluffy goose down pillow. Lizzie came out of the bathroom with her hair up in a towel, singing some random song with strange lyrics. She plopped herself down at her dressing table and starting doing her make up. Duchess decided that if Lizzie was up she should be up. She took a fairy long shower and didn't even bother with her hair. She felt like a real ballerina in her old dancing shoes with a bun on her head. She couldn't bear to wear heels. She'd be constantly tottering over. Everyone was buzzing with chatter about the party. Apparently Briar allowed Hopper to dance with her and he tried to kiss her. All the attention seemed to keep Briar awake.
"So, did he taste like pond water?" An over eager girl leaned closer so Briar could hear her question. Briar blushed, something less noticeable on her than most other girls.
"Well, actually it wasn't that bad," A few girls squealed and started talking excitedly. Apple leaned over and whispered in Briar's ear and the 2 of them giggled. A brazen girl went so far as to suggest that Briar must like Hopper.
"He is pretty cute even though he's so geeky. I wish a prince would pay me that kind of attention," the girl seemed wistful. Duchess just shook her head but regretted doing so immediately, her head ached. She watched the other girls laugh and smile without pain. How did they do it?
"Quiet girls, quiet. I have an assignment for you to complete before your Legacy Day," Professor Queen walked around the room handing each of them papers. Duchess had completely forgotten about Legacy Day! She only had about two weeks to prepare for that life changing decision now but she decided that for today she would forget about it, "Now, I would like all of you to find out about your family tree, anyone whom you are related to and a genealogical chart will be needed. You may even find you are related to some classmates distantly," The school 'bell' rang and people started to pack up. They all rose and curtsied to the queen and left. Duchess was jostled all through the hallways and by the time lunch arrived all she wanted was to go back to bed. Her usual meal felt different. It just wasn't to her liking. She got up from the seat early and as she when to put her tray away Sparrow caught her eye. She froze. He didn't look upset. He was completely neutral. Except for the moment before she faced him. From the corner of her eye she saw him. He was hunched over his tray and his fists were clenched. She turned away and ran. The room seemed to heat up until she couldn't bear it any longer. She had to get out.
The forest seemed colder. The shadows were darker than usual and the normally soothing sounds of forest animals frightened her. She could run faster in her flats but she knew that this little walk in the forest would ruin them. The tree was the first place she thought of. It was where she always sat. She had spent many a lonely afternoon huddled under that tree. But she couldn't go there now. He would find her easily. She turned down a path she didn't recognise. The trees grew closer together here and she kept slipping on the mud left over from the previous rain. She kept on walking until the forest opened up. A well sat in the middle of a clearing. The sunlight shone through the leaves on the trees overhead. She was cautious. Paths like these led to candy houses where withes lived. Witches loved to eat children. The well looked ordinary enough but she knew it was a wishing well. A real one, one that did grant the wish. No animals scurried here. No birds chirped in the trees. It was silent. Not even a breeze stirred the leaves. She approached the well and looked down it. It was pitch black and she knew no water lay at the bottom. Wish making was a dangerous thing. Loopholes and catches, careless wording and everything that can go wrong will. A coin was in her hand. It hadn't been there before. The wish called her. All she had to do was make a wish-
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Duchess turned in surprise and the coin fell from her hand. Melting into the lush grass as if it never existed. Sound returned to the clearing. Birds flew overhead and a squirrel ran across the clearing in front of her. The spell had broken. Duchess shook her head as the fog that clouded it dissipated. It was Sparrow. He had his hands thrust into his pockets and was looking at her with an unreadable expression. She stammered, fumbling for the right words.
"Are you angry at me?" It wasn't the right thing to say. She should have said 'I'm sorry' or 'Please forgive me' but she had to know. He seemed hesitant but sighed and rubbed the back of his head.
"Well I was, but now I'm not. I'm still fairy angry at Daring though," his voice dipped low on Daring's name but Duchess felt relieved. At least Sparrow didn't hate her. She felt so relieved she launched herself at Sparrow who just managed to catch her and not topple over,"Whoa! Okay." He hugged her back even though a healthy blush spread across his face. Duchess realised what she was doing and let go.
"Sorry I just, um-" Sparrow laughed at her expression.
"It's fine, what're friends for?" He punched her in the shoulder lightly and smiled. Something about that phrase bothered her a bit but she couldn't tell what it was, "So, I guess you're over Daring now?" He sounded slightly hopeful. They started walking away from the strange clearing and it's wishing well.
"I think so. I just always thought he was so perfect. It's kind of a shock you know?" It was weird how easily they fell back into old habits after what Duchess had worried was the fight that ended their friendship.
"Yeah, thing is I know exactly what kind of guy Daring is. I've experienced it before," Duchess did a double-take and stopped in her tracks.
"Excuse me? 'Experienced it before'? Explain this concept to me, I don't understand," Sparrow felt awkward.
"Well, um, what I meant to say was-"
"That you were just as bad with girls before?" She'd always had a sneaking suspicion that he was a player. It made sense. He sang and played the guitar. He was a perfect gentleman - at times.
"Well, I wouldn't say just as bad but- Yeah I was," Duchess shook her head and smiled. She turned back to take a final look at the clearing but it had disappeared. There was no trace of it. An illusion. No, it couldn't just be gone. She must just not be able to see it. She refocused on her conversation with Sparrow.
"It's okay, as long as you've changed your ways," He nodded and pressed a hand to his chest.
"Thief's honor," He winked.
"I thought thieves didn't have any honor," She poked him in the chest. He laughed.
"Well, usually we don't but I do as the next Robin Hood solemnly swear," He took off his fedora and looked up into the sky to show sincerity as Duchess snickered, "That I have changed my player ways and shall never," Duchess was barely hold her laugh in now, "EVER play with another girl's heart," He bowed low and Duchess clapped for his amazing performance. It was moments like these that made her forget all about the Legacy Day drama. It felt good to have a real friend. Duchess smiled as she watched him talk animatedly about his skill with a bow and arrow.
Who said a thief and cursed girl couldn't be friends?
The rest of the week passed without a single sighting of Daring. Duchess barely though about him or the mess of a party. Today was basketball trials in Grimmnastics and she had to get her head in the game.
Basketball was the sport of choice at EAH. The 1st team was praised for their skills every time there was a match. The school's biggest rival was Once Upon a Time Private School or sellOUTs as some of the more rowdy fans called them. The guys at that school played ruff. If you weren't naturally tall (without the 4 inch heels) they simply passed the ball right over your head and you didn't stand a chance. Duchess was lucky to be tall and used to being on her toes. Apple didn't even bother with Basketball. She was more of an extreme crocheter. The boys and girls played together. It wasn't always that way. Basketball used to be a boys only sport until a couple of years ago a girl named Astoria Hedge decided it wasn't fair and campaigned against Grimm's rule. Things got messy and eventually she got pulled out of school but it was too late. The girls rose up against the unfairness and were allowed to play. Duchess always owned the court. Vice-captain was always her spot since captain was usually a boy. Trials were tough. They immediately eliminated the noobs that couldn't run in the fitness portion. Those who tripped over their own feet in agility and then came the toughest section. Some people argued that flexibility was pointless in basketball. Why do we need to bend over? Well it was necessary. Duchess laughed as she put her foot behind her back while people were struggling to reach their toes.
"Wow, do my eyes deceive me or is it the great Duchess Swan?" Duchess looked up to see the face of Daring above her. She sneered and continued to stretch, ignoring him completely. He sat down beside her and leaned in towards her to whisper in her ear, "I'm sorry for the interruption the other day. Maybe we can continue where we left off?" She growled and turned to face the smug faced Daring.
"Go away you two-faced sleaze," she got up and brushed herself off. Daring did the same and followed her as she walked towards the water cooler.
"C'mon Duchess, don't be like that. You weren't so cold towards me a couple days ago," he came up right behind her as she attempted to get a cup of water.
"She said go away Daring. Now be a good little prince and run along," Sparrow appeared from the other side of the basketball court and shoved Daring away, assuming a protective stance next to Duchess. Daring looked at Sparrow as if he was something that crawled out of the gutters.
"Oh look, it's your thief in stolen armor. She doesn't want the likes of you," Daring crossed his arms and smirked, obviously pleased with his little retort.
"Well at least I don't-" Duchess sighed and stepped between them. She looked at Sparrow with a 'please, is this really necessary?' expression.
"Calm down boys, we're here to play the game, not to hate the players," she turned and sauntered off towards the stands to say hi too Lizzie. Daring and Sparrow watched her go.
"That girl has a fine ass," Sparrow slapped Daring across the face and shook his head. Sometimes he wondered how Daring was related to his brother.
"Okay kiddies, I want this game to be fair. No magic, no potions and certainly no swords. Last year we lost an entire bag of game balls to a rogue sword. I'll split you up to make this fair, no choosing sides," they were split so that there were an equal amount of boys and girls on each team. Duchess was on the same team as Sparrow and Daring was on the opposite team. She looked around at her other team mates. They had Cerise and Lily-Bo-Peep, both really good players but they also had Humphrey Dumpty who could fall over practically anything. The other team had Cupid, Hunter and Faybelle who was usually cheering instead of playing but probably had some moves she couldn't wait to use. They had a better team but Duchess knew she was a better player.
Halfway through the game Cupid's hair came undone and her pink curls just happened to be in Cerise's way and she attempted to get to the net. The rest of the game was very back and forth, both teams scoring often. By the time the game was nearly over the score was tied. Duchess had two options, give it all she got and take the ball all the way to the net or pass it around until someone got close enough to score. She decided the latter was the best plan and passed the ball to Lily who then continued passing until the game was suddenly thrown into chaos.
"Help!" Lily shouted out as she fell over nothing. The ball flew out of her hands. It's sudden and if anything, Faybelle's smirk iwas enough to convince Duchess of what went wrong, but it was too late. The ball hit her smack in the middle of her forehead with much more force that Lily could ever exert even if she hadn't fallen in the process. Duchess landed flat on her back, knocking the wind out of her and as her head hit the ground there was a sickening crack. Everything was blurred and her last memory was of seeing Sparrow's worried face above her before she sinks into the darkness.
"I think she's waking up!" Her eyes opened slowly and she blinked against the harsh white light. Trying to sit up was the first thing on her mind but she lay back down instantly. The throb of her head was even worse than her party hangover. She groaned and took in the excited face of her roommate above her.
"Ooh! Duchess you've missed so much! There's this rumor going around the school about Legacy Day and-"
"Godmother Lizzie, give the girl some room to breath," The sweet voice had laughter in it. Lizzie shrunk back a little bit.
"Oh, I didn't mean to bother you it's just- well never mind," Duchess smiled a tiny bit and tried to sit up again. She gritted her teeth in pain but managed and Lizzie adjusted the bed. She looked behind Lizzie to see Apple, of all people.
"What are you doing here?" Her voice was croaky, it was obvious she hadn't had anything to drink in a long time. Apple sighed and came forward. Lizzie stepped back but gave Duchess a 'I'm here if you need me' look.
"I wanted to make sure you were okay, you've been asleep for the past three days Duchess," Three days? She must have missed so much work! That meant that she only had a week and a half to prepare for Legacy Day.
"What happened? I can't remember."
"Well you were playing basketball and Lily fell and dropped the ball and it hit you in the middle of your forehead and it was like one of those 'off with your head' moments. Then Daring went to you and offered to give you CPR but Sparrow punched him and blamed him for not seeing Faybelle's spell coming and he carried you to the sanatorium. He sat next to you all through the first night and then Apple convinced him to get some sleep," Lizzie said this all in one breath. People may think she's just a quiet wonderlander but sheesh can that women talk. Duchess was shocked. Sparrow had stayed with her? Everything was just so confusing. She needed a break from all of this drama.
"Well I'm glad you're okay Duchess but I have a Kingdom Management class in 5 minutes so I need to be going," Apple hugged Duchess lightly and smiled at her. She waved her princess-y wave and left the room. Duchess was amazed at her. Not even an apology. Must be part of her 'duty to all royals' thing. Lizzie sat down next to her and started explaining what she missed.
"Raven has gone crazy. Like not Mad Hatter crazy but like, CRAZY crazy. She's been trying to find a way to not pledge without disappearing from the fairy tale world. Apple been going crazy ever since and the idea has been spreading like wildfire. Apparently a royal and a rebel are dating! How mad is that?" Duchess felt like telling Lizzie that the rumors were true but she was too stuck on what Lizzie had said about Raven. Not pledging? That was really crazy. What if she went poof! And just didn't exist anymore? Then she processed what Lizzie had said.
"Well actually A-"
"Duchess? You're awake!" Just as she was about to tell Lizzie all about Ashlynn and Hunter Sparrow walked into the room. He looked surprised as if he hexpected to see her brain dead, lying on the bed like Apple would one day. Lizzie looked back and forth between them both and smiled wickedly.
"I'll just give you two a moment to 'catch up'," She slunk out of the room behind Sparrow. They stared at each other from opposite sides of the room. Sparrow tried to say something but he just closed and opened his mouth like a fish. Duchess spoke first.
"So, I heard that you were my knight in shining armor then?" The awkward tension dissipated as he laughed heartily and came over to her bedside.
"Yeah, so I guess Lizzie told you the story hey?" She smiled at him.
"Yeah, though I can't believe you punched Daring Charming. Didn't he sue you for damage to his face or something?" She laughed. Knowing Daring and his vain-ness he probably did.
"Well not really. I did get detention though. After I finished scrubbing the front steps of the school I got you these. I know their your favourites and this room looks really dull," He handed her a bouquet of waterlilies. The were pink and delicate and smelt amazing. She looked towards her small bedside table. There in a glass vase sat withering red roses. Lizzie and her roses, She took them out, careful not to prick her fingers and layed the lilies in the vase. She smiled at Sparrow. He really did know her well.
"So, what happened after I nearly died? Did Coach Gingerbread pick teams?" She was upset that she hadn't been there to see the sad faces of the rejects. She probably was one of them now.
"Yeah he did, apparently he thinks that taking a ball to the head like that and not dying is a very worthy thing. You made 1st," Duchess squealed, which she instantly regretted because it made her head throb. That meant she had a shot at captain.
"What team did you make?"
"1st of course. I am awesome. And the best thing is that since I broke Daring's nose he can't play! Something to do with keeping up appearances," He grinned his cheeky lop-sided smile and pull out his chair, "I kind of have to go, my detention isn't technically over."
"Wait, Sparrow? Can you come here for a second?" He came closer and knelt next to her bed.
"What is it Duchess? Grimm's gonna tan my hide for skiving off deten-" She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. He deserved it for defending her from Daring. He blushed, Something she had never seen before.
"Um, see you later, bye!" He ran from the room and Duchess giggled. Boys.
Meanwhile...
"Yes! Finally I do something right!" Sparrow punched the air as Headmaster Grimm rounded the corner.
"Mr Hood, I thought you were serving detention today. Be off with you! And two extra days." Sparrow slumped in defeat.
"Aww man..."