Note: In response to emotionalminesweeper's review on Chapter One… Who said she was living alone? As always, thank you for your reviews. You make me smile. :

xxx

When Amy was ten, her mother sat her down on the throne and smiled brightly at her. "You're going to be queen one day," she had drawled out in her heavy accent, something that had always irked Amy. It wasn't that she hated how her mother talked. It was more on the fact that it was an accent deeply ingrained in the citizens of Tunod, but something that their future queen had never been able to pick up.

How was she meant to rule over them when she never felt like one of them?

She ten year old Amy had frowned and tugged at the itchy cape Farrah had thrown on her. "I don't want to be queen," she had said. And while ten year old Amy may have been oblivious to a number of things – mostly things that involved the History of Tunod and how to act like a proper princess – she saw the way her mother's face fell at her words.

She saw the disappointment tinged with an unsaid 'I expected as much'.

When fifteen year old Amy watched her mother walk down the aisle on her wedding day with a man she had met from a trip to America, Amy saw that bright smile again. But it wasn't directed at Amy. It wasn't even directed at the man by her side. No, it was directed at the girl around Amy's age with the haughty air around her.

Lauren Cooper.

Second in line to the throne via marriage, but the new first choice in her mother's eyes.

She hated her already.

xxx

"No way."

Lauren scoffed and pushed her way inside, her nose scrunching at the sight of the place. Amy had only been in the apartment for two days, but the smell of doughnuts and pizza already filled the air. Typical.

Alpha stood behind Lauren and shut the door, keeping the prying eyes of the neighbours away. Of course, the hallway had been abandoned, which was why he'd chosen that exact time to transport Princess Lauren.

"It was the Queen's orders," he answered, placing Lauren's heavy bags inside. "Her words were that it would be a wonderful opportunity for her daughters to bond."

"There's only one room," Lauren butt in before Amy was able to voice out her hatred of the idea for the umpteenth time. "I'm not sharing that with her."

"News flash, I don't want to share it with you either." Amy crossed her arms over her chest. "I was here first." She stuck out a tongue at Lauren before turning back to Alpha. "Can't you just get her another apartment? I'm sure she'd–"

"This place is a dump. I'm not going to live in a dump."

"Will you stop being a stuck-up brat?"

"Oh? And what are you supposed to be? You look like a hobo."

"Nice attitude. Where did you get it? Abercrombie and Bitch?"

Lauren's eyes widened before she smirked and looked about ready to cut Amy where she stood. Thankfully, Alpha took that as his cue to intervene. With a roll of her eyes, Amy walked away and headed for the fire escape, huffing as she leaned forward on the railings. The alley underneath was empty except for a stray dog, and somehow, it brings a wave of peace towards Amy.

"Trouble in paradise, Shrimp girl?"

Amy started and she turned to glare at the owner of the voice, but found that her words were caught in her throat as soon as she saw who it was. Chestnut brown eyes watched her flounder for words in amusement.

Reagan was sitting on her window sill a floor below Amy, a lit stick of cigarette in between her fingers. A lazy smile painted her lips, and Amy found herself relaxing even more.

"I also sometimes go by Amy." There. That was a good introduction, right? Although, nothing could really beat their first meeting in terms of awkwardness and inappropriateness, so it wasn't that hard to do better.

Reagan stood and flicked the unfinished cigarette away. She climbed up the stairs halfway, extending her hand above her. "Reagan."

Amy knelt on one knee and met Reagan halfway, taking the girl's hand in hers. An image of Romeo and Juliet flickered briefly in her mind's eye but she waved it away, almost chuckling at the absurdity of it. She found herself offering a sincere smile, the first she'd given in months to someone other than Karma (and that thought caused a shiver of something to run down her spine).

Reagan gave her hand one final squeeze before coming back down and leaning on her own railing, looking up at Amy with a playful grin. "So… Trouble? I heard some major bitching up there?"

"You heard?" Amy was careful to keep her voice even, despite the fact that her mind was screaming at her to ask just to what extent Reagan heard.

The brunette shrugged. "Not really. I couldn't make out the words, but I heard your voice."

Amy snorted in response. "What? You're a stalker now?"

"You weren't exactly quiet, Shrimp girl." There was an undercurrent to Reagan's tone, and the way her eyes bore into Amy's when she said those words caused a shiver to run down the blonde's spine. She had to avert her gaze away and returned to staring at the lone dog below them, who had no taken to digging through the dumpster.

Following her line of sight, Reagan frowned. She whistled sharply, causing Amy to grimace. It also caused the dog to pause and look up. "Sammy," Reagan called out, eyes on the scrawny pup. Another whistle and she pointed in the direction of the streets, partnering it with a glare. The dog was quick to follow the orders and ran out.

"Is he yours?" Amy couldn't help but ask.

Reagan shook her head, purple hair flying around. "He's a friends'." She left it at that, biting back the bile that tempted to rise up her throat. Just because they broke up didn't mean Sadie had to throw away everything that reminded her about Reagan. Even the pup they had adopted. As much as Reagan wanted to take care of him, she knew that she couldn't, so she'd given him to the old man down the street that was in dire need to companionship. Mr. Harley wasn't in any way rich, and he hadn't been able to take care of Sammy properly.

She made a mental note to go and offer her help next time.

A comfortable silence fell around them that was only broken by a girl's voice from inside Amy's apartment. The blonde made a face of disgust, and Reagan had to chuckle at that. "What's wrong?"

"My step-sister."

Reagan gave her a light chuckle and tilted her head. "Want to go on an adventure?"

A small smile tugged up at Amy's lips. "An adventure?"

"Yeah." There was a resolute nod, and an extended hand, but all Amy really saw was the playfulness in brown eyes. It felt oddly refreshing – the fact that Reagan didn't know who she was and that Reagan didn't expect anything from her.

Climbing down the steps to take Reagan's hand in hers? Well… Amy was just going to ignore how it felt like she was about to run away with prince charming.

xxx

Afternote: I'm trying out this thing where I switch POVs between them every chapter. Sammy's gonna play a part in Reagan and Amy getting together. Theo will be here too.