X - Wonderland (Chloe's POV)
The ride to Wonderland was painfully awkward. No one said a word the entire time. I couldn't help but feel like my own brother saw me differently after seeing that.
But all the awkwardness vanished when we arrived at Wonderland's castle. The Queen of Hearts was outside waiting for us, talking with my parents. When she saw the three of us get out of Chad's car she was practically beaming with pride as if all three of us were her children instead of just the one. She hugs each of us, squeezing onto her daughter the longest.
"How has school been treating you, dear?" she asked Red, her hand under Red's chin.
"Good," Red answered, trying to match her mother's peppiness. "I really like my art classes." Her mother smiles pleasantly in response before turning her attention to me.
"Chloe, darling," she says with glee. "I trust you've been keeping her in check?"
I let out a small laugh, "Yes, I've been keeping her in line." Beside me Chad coughs at my response, and it takes every ounce of self control I have to keep from rolling my eyes at him.
"Well, let's go eat supper then, we can all catch up!" the Queen of Hearts turns on her heels, walking swiftly into the castle and into the dining room. Everyone knows the castle by heart now, we've been doing this for so long. Bridget and Ella have stayed friends through highschool and into their royal lives, of course we would know each other's homes.
"Mom, can I run up to my room real fast?" Red asked.
"Of course, dear, you don't need to ask," her mother answered. Red gives me a look, and I follow her up the staircase and to her room. When we get there she closes the door behind us.
"Is he gonna say anything? About what he saw? About us?" Red asked in a hushed, panicked voice.
"No, he won't say anything," I tell her reassuringly. "He knows that he'll upset me if he does, so he won't." I press a gentle kiss to her forehead in an attempt to calm her down. She lets out a long breath, before finally relaxing a little bit.
"Okay," she said. Red wraps her arms around me, taking me by surprise. I wrap my arms around her, too, taking in her scent. We hadn't had time to shower after Chad found us, so she still smelled like sex and sweat and it made me feral for her. I wanted to taste her again, to feel her body convulse with pleasure because of me. As much as I wanted to take her right here, right now, I fought the urge. We weren't here for sex, and I wouldn't risk her mom or my parents walking into the same scene Chad did. Instead I capture her lips in a kiss, and before we part I bite her lower lip, claiming it as mine. She giggles, hiding her face in my neck. There were a few marks from me blooming on her chest, but they weren't dark yet, not like the ones from the weekend on her neck. She conveniently tried to hide those by braiding her hair and draping it over her left shoulder.
We head back down to the dining room where everyone else awaits. The spread was quite nice this time. Broccoli cheddar soup with bread, roast chicken, mashed potatoes, and mixed vegetables were already on the table. We sit down and start eating, and of course, we always sit side by side.
"So, Red, have you thought about when you'd like to take the throne?" her mother asked when the opening bits of small talk were over with. Red choked on her food for a moment, clearly not expecting the question.
"What?" she asked her mother.
"Have you thought about when you'd like to take over Wonderland as queen?" her mother asked again. I felt her getting anxious, so in an attempt to calm her down I discreetly put my hand on her thigh, slowly rubbing it.
"Uh, no, not really," she answered, the anxiety heavy in her voice.
"Well usually the coronation happens once you're sixteen, but what do you think, dear?" her mother said.
Her mother was right. All the kingdoms typically received new kings or queens once the heir became of age, which was normally sixteen, or whenever the current monarch felt the heir was ready. King Ben had been sixteen when he was crowned King of Auradon. The throne of Cinderellasburg would most likely be passed to me since Chad was adopted. If I wanted to abdicate the throne to him I could, but it had never been done before. I worried what would happen if both Red and I became queens of our respective kingdoms. Would we combine them into one or keep them separate? In less than a month, was Red's birthday, her sixteenth birthday, more specifically.
Red glanced over at me, worried, and then it hit me where my hand was. Without even realizing I'd moved my hand all the way up her thigh, almost between her legs. I felt my cheeks get warm and I moved my hand down a little bit.
"Do I have to take the throne so soon?" she asked, nervously chewing a piece of bread.
"Well obviously you'd have to prepare," her mother started. "You would need at least a month off from school and —"
"No!" Red shouted, cutting her mother off mid-sentence. She cleared her throat, composing herself. "I mean, don't you think a month off from school would be bad for me?"
Her mother pondered the thought, considering Red's words. "I suppose so."
"What if she took the throne in the summer?" my mother piped up, her voice, soothing and calm. The Queen of Hearts shifted her gaze from Red to my mother.
"If she took the throne in the summer she would have enough time for training and she wouldn't miss any school," my mother proposed.
"I quite like that idea, Ella," Bridget said. "So it's settled. Red, you'll have your coronation next summer."
Red glanced down at her lap, almost as if she were accepting defeat. At that moment she looked like a child being scolded, except she wasn't in trouble. She doesn't retreat though, "What would Wonderland think if their Queen didn't have so much as a highschool diploma? Would they even want me as their ruler?" She feigned a look of concern, but I knew she was just trying to buy herself some time before she would be crowned queen. Her mother seems to be in deep thought at Red's words.
"Alright," the Queen said finally. "I suppose you're right. You'll have your coronation the summer after your highschool graduation." A quick smile graces Red's face before she quickly brushes it away.
"Okay, it's a plan, then."
After dinner we were all dismissed to do as we please. My parents and brother went with Bridget in the sitting room to discuss their plans and royal strategies, things I knew nothing of. Red and I went up to her room again, locking the door behind us. The only one who would be suspicious of her locked door would be Chad, and I doubt he would try and find us again. I laid on Red's large bed, watching as she paced anxiously around her room, talking to herself. Her words were nonsense to me, but they made perfect sense to her as she spoke in her native language that belonged to Wonderland.
"Red," I said, but she didn't hear me. "Red!" I said louder, pulling her from her thoughts.
"What?" she asked, her eyes gleaming with tears threatening to spill over at any second.
"Come here," I said, patting the spot on the bed beside me. She reluctantly walked over and laid down.
"You're gonna be okay," I said. The tears started falling from her eyes as soon as I said the words. She buries her face in my hair, and I hold her while she cries. She doesn't want to be queen, not of Wonderland, not of anywhere. I knew she didn't want to.
When her body slows and her tears stop, she faces me. I wipe some of the wetness from her cheeks. "Do you feel better?" I asked.
"No," she sniffles. I sigh, not knowing how to make her feel better. I don't know what I can tell her to make her not upset, so instead I kiss her. Her lips are salty with the taste of her tears. She slides underneath me, pulling me on top of her.
"Red?" I asked, surprised by the motion.
"Please," she asked. "I want this."
"No, you don't," I said. "You're upset and you want a distraction from your feelings. It wouldn't be right." She sighs, not pleased with my answer. If she weren't upset I would have no problem with sex.
"Chloe, please," she begged. "I want the distraction. I need it." Fuck, I loved to hear her beg, but I couldn't bring myself to be okay with this.
"No, Red. It's wrong."
"Fine," she replied, violently shoving me away from her. I'd made her mad, but I could live with that if it meant doing the right thing. I reached out to touch her but she shoved me away. "Don't touch me."
Okay, I'd really made her mad. "Red, you're not mad at me, I know you aren't. You're upset about the situation."
"I'm not upset, I'm scared!" Red exclaimed, sitting up on the side of the bed. "I can't do it! I can't be queen. And if I have to I'll be horrible at it. I don't know how to rule a country." She starts crying again, burying her face in her hands. Her entire body shakes as she cries. I rest my head on her shoulder, wrapping an arm around her belly. She shakes her head, sniffing back more tears. "I'm sorry."
I move to sit on the side of her bed with her. I lift her face to look at me. "Baby, don't be sorry. You're scared, overwhelmed, anxious. It's okay. You don't have to be happy all the time."
"Chloe, I—" Red started. She takes my hands in hers. "I've been thinking about us." My heart quickens its pace, I try to keep my face neutral, to keep strong.
"Okay," I said.
"I—I'm ready to be your girlfriend. I want to be your girlfriend," Red said, a small smile crossing her face.
"Really?" I asked, a smile on my face.
She nods her head, "Yes, I mean it."
"Well, in that case, Red, will you do me the honor of being my girlfriend?" I asked.
"Yes, Chloe. I'd love to be your girlfriend," she said. I cup her face in my hand and kiss her and I can't help but feel different this time. She's mine, and mine only. I can hold her, kiss her, touch her, all because she's mine. My girlfriend. We lay on her bed together, her body is between my legs and she rests her head on my chest. At this moment I can feel nothing but pride and adoration for this girl.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you this somewhere sweet and romantic. I probably should've waited," Red said.
I lift her face up to look at me, "Red, no. I don't want us to be some copycat, picture perfect couple. I want us to be us. I want us to be sweet and romantic, but I also want us to be weird, and imperfect and different. I don't want us to be like anyone else."
A smile crosses her face and I can't help but feel so much for her. I didn't know if I could tell her I loved her yet, I didn't want to make her feel like we were going too fast. I did things with her I never did with anyone else. I did things for her that wouldn't have even crossed my mind if it had been someone else. Hell, I fought a grown man because he was talking shit to her. Red made me feel proud to be who I was, and I wanted everyone to know that, I wanted everyone to know she was mine and I was hers. But I wouldn't do anything unless she was okay with it first, I didn't want her to feel as if I'd outed her when she wasn't ready.
Our lips meet, and I can never get enough of the taste of her, whether it was her mouth or anywhere else. She tasted as sweet as she was, and that was a taste I'd never grow tired of. There's a knock on her bedroom door, breaking us away from each other. She rolls her eyes and gets up, opening the door. Standing in front of her is my brother. His eyes widen when he sees me sitting on Red's bed.
"Can I come in?" he asked.
"Yeah, I guess," Red said, closing the door behind him. Red walks over to her bed, sitting on my lap. If I had any doubts she was ready to be out to our families they were all squashed at that moment. Without even thinking my hand comes up and grabs one of her thighs, kissing her neck.
Chad lets out an exasperated breath, his eyes averted to the floor. "How long?" he asked.
"What do you mean?" I asked in response.
"How long have you guys been together, like officially?" he clarified.
"Today," Red said proudly.
"What?" my brother asked, shock coating his facial expression. "You're telling me, you guys are together one day," he pauses, lowering his voice to a whisper, "and you're already having sex?" He reminds me of a disapproving parent, and the thought of him feeling like he needed to approve of who I dated was comical.
"Last I remembered, you were the one sneaking Audrey into your dorm and your room at home to sleep with her, and you weren't even dating at the time," I said, feigning that I was deep in thought. He draws in a tense breath. Red lets out a quiet laugh, and I move my hand higher up her thigh.
"And technically, we had sex before we were together," Red said, adding in her two cents.
"That's different," he said, a hint of anger in his voice. I'd hit a nerve, but I didn't really care.
"How so?" I asked. I would make him say what he meant, what he really meant.
"I just—I don't want you getting hurt," he let out. I roll my eyes. Of course he would try to be the protective big brother. But what he didn't know was that I had no intention of ending things with Red, I had no intention of us ever being not together anymore.
"I think I'll be fine," I bite out.
"Chloe," he starts, but I cut him off, not letting him get out another word.
"No, I'm sorry that you saw what you saw when you walked in on us earlier, but it's my life, not yours. You don't get to decide who I date. You don't choose who I love, I do. I understand that you're trying to look out for me, but please, don't." I said.
He lets out a heavy breath, "Okay."
"Thank you," I said as he turned to walk out of Red's room.
"Oh, and by the way, I won't say anything to anyone. I'm happy you finally got your girl, Chloe," he said with a smile. He closes the door behind him when he leaves and Red is staring at me, an eyebrow raised in question.
"What does that mean? 'You finally got your girl?'" she asked quizzically.
"It means that I finally have you as my girlfriend now," I smiled at her.
"You're so cheesy," she said, laughing at me.
"But you love it."
"Do I?"
"Oh, shut up," I said, playfully pushing her off my lap and onto her back. I pinned her hands above her head into her soft mattress, and for a moment I thought of what I must look like to her. I'm on top of her, my eyes crazy, my breathing ragged. I notice Red's eyes flick between my eyes and my lips.
"What are you doing?" I asked her.
"Nothing," she answered, her face turning red.
"I don't buy that," I said, teasing her, and then planting my lips on hers. Beneath me she tries to move her hands but I have them in my right hand, pinned down by the wrist. I take my left hand, tracing it up her side. The lightness of my touch makes her jump and squirm beneath me. The sight of her squirming at my touch invigorates me. I let out a small laugh but she doesn't notice it.
"No," Red said, breaking me from my trance of desire. I immediately stop, letting go of her hands.
"What's wrong? Did I make you uncomfortable?" I asked in a worried voice.
"No! No, it's just—I want you to feel good, too, so this time, let me," she said. I suck in a breath, anxious.
"Okay, whatever you want, love," I told her. She pushes me down onto the bed, climbing on top of me. She's straddling my lap, leaning down to kiss me. Her hands rest on my hips, and I'm not used to it. Normally this is the other way around, even when we just kiss or make out. I take control and she follows my lead. This is different, but if she wants this, I'll let her have it. She breaks away from me, just long enough to slowly slide my shirt off. When she returns her lips to mine, her fingers work for my bra, unclasping it and tossing it to the side.
Red peppers kisses on my neck. Her kisses weren't like mine, hungry and full of desire. Instead, they were soft and gentle. The only way she knew how to show love was soft and gentle, but that didn't make it feel any less good. She was intoxicating, and God I would let myself get drunk off her.
She bites a spot on my chest, kissing it after. Her attention focuses on each of my breasts, tenderly kissing each of them. I didn't notice her slide her hand in my pants, but as soon as she starts rubbing circles on my clit a moan slips out of my throat. She lets a small smile slip across her face, enjoying the reaction she gets out of me. Her steady pace brings me closer and closer to my release.
"Fuck," I moan quietly when my orgasm comes, feeling the sensation of my muscles tightening and releasing with pleasure. When the relief leaves my body I find Red with a smug smile on her face.
"You cursed," she said. "You cursed because of me." I roll my eyes at her.
"Yeah, I guess I did."
"You only ever swear because of me," Red said, planting another kiss on my lips. "My badness is rubbing off on you."
I sit up now, taking her face in my hands, "You are not bad, you know I don't think that."
"I know, babe, I just like teasing you," she smirks, eliciting a large eye roll from me.
Soon after it was time for us to all head back home. We bid our goodbyes to each other and Chad drove Red and I home. She held my hand in the dark of the night, and I couldn't help but feel as if it were a bit poetic. Nighttime always felt calmer, more relaxed with her. The loud, spinning world had gone to sleep, and she could be mine in the peaceful calm of the night.