The Never

Back in Miro’s dorm, the lights had also gone out, but Miro and her friends were still up. It was the first day of school! Of course they weren’t “going to sleep.” 

“I’m- j-just saying,” Harpin said, swaying gently and trying not to spill her fourth soda. She didn’t handle sugar very well. “That Miro could and would murder Victoria. Should. Could, would, and should.”

“Victoria? Not worth it.” Layette said. “What is she, Cinderella’s kid?”

“Yeah, how else would we know who she is?” Miro said, laying on her back on the floor, enjoying the banter.

“Well that’s nothing!” Layette insisted. “You should go after your nemesis…. Like, Harpin, your maleficent’s daughter- Who’s Sleeping Beauty’s kid?”

Harpin looked considerate. “Philip… he’s friends with that Bartholomew kid.”

“Exactly! Wanna be a legend, go after him! What about you Miro, has Snow White got a kid?”

“Yep.” Miro said, absentmindedly. “Beatrice. She’s only 14, she’ll be in school next year.”

“Oh. Well you can have fun until then, I guess.” The girls laughed. Even X, who had been laying on her stomach on her bed, kicking her legs in the air and brushing her terrifying doll’s hair, cracked a smile. 

“Anyway, did you write back to your family Layette?” Miro said.

“Yeah. Honestly they probably won’t even have noticed I'm gone. Did you guys?”

“Yeah.” Harpin and Miro said together. They all turned and looked at X, who, as always, didn’t say anything.

“The responses are coming in tomorrow.” Harpin picked up. “That’ll be fun. Can’t wait to see what the Evil Queen will say about what Miro did to that Bartholomew kid.” 

“Ooh, yeah!” Layette said, laughing. “That’ll be hilarious.”

Just then, the Miro heard footsteps outside of their door. 

Cursing, the girls dove under their covers, hiding all evidence of the evening by swiping the bottles and garbage underneath the bed.

Someone knocked on the door. The girls muffled their giggles in their pillows.

“Hello? No one should be up past curfew.” A familiar voice, belonging to a teacher, said. Miro struggled to keep herself silent.

As soon as the footsteps faded, Miro shot up. “Resume.” She said, the others following her lead. They stayed up nearly the whole night, talking and laughing into the morning.