The day was cut short due to the sudden snow. Half of my class wasn’t even there, including Dawn, who sent a text saying she couldn’t get out of her house.
Aiden was looking for a new meeting place, since the roof was covered in snow, and Lilli had work, so I was on my own. I hadn’t been alone since this whole Ice Princess thing started.
I gripped my bag tighter to my chest as I left the school grounds. I’m not a helpless princess. I chanted in my head. I can take care of myself. Part of me wished I’d taken self-defense classes with Dawn.
I sighed with relief when I reached the local park. It was just a quick jog through it and down the street to my house. I was almost home free.
As that thought hit me and I loosened my grip on my bag slightly, a hand reached out and pinned me to a tree. I gasped and tried to push the person away. They caught my hand, ripping my bag from my grip.
“I found her!” They called out. Through narrowed eyes, I could make out a tall man in his early 20s looking over his shoulder as another man came out from some bushes. “Check if she’s alone.”
The second man disappeared and the first one returned his attention to me. “A princess without bodyguards is a bad idea.” He reprimanded.
My eyes widened, realizing they must be the others Daren had warned me about. I tried to speak, but the man’s hand was still over my windpipe. I could only watch as he tipped my bag up-side-down and the contents, including the tiara, fell to the ground.
“Not so well protected.” The man chuckled as he raised a foot over the tiara.
“Leave her alone!” A girl’s voice rang out.
Someone collided with the man, sending him off balance. He toppled over, releasing his grip on me. I slid to my knees, gasping for air for the second time within a week.
“It’s one thing to empty someone’s belongings onto the ground.” The girl was still shouting. “But breaking them is something else entirely.”
I looked up and saw Ciela standing between me and man. She was cradling the tiara in her arms.
The man looked down at the tiara, a calculating look on his face. He lifted a personal radio and spoke into it. “Earth is with her. Fall back.” There was no response, but the man must have had an earpiece, since he spoke again. “There’s a new gem. Ask Sanders about it later.”
He walked away and, once he was out of sight, Ciela turned to me. “Are you okay?” She reached out a hand to help me up, her other arm still holding the tiara delicately.
“Thanks.” I said shakily, accepting her offered hand.
Once I was on my feet, she handed the tiara back. “So… you’re a princess?” she asked, eyes shining delightedly. “Is there a story behind that? Illegitimate heir? Crown under siege? Betrothed to someone you don’t love?”
Despite what had just happened, I had to laugh. “No, nothing like that.” Was there an Ice Throne somewhere?
As I thought about it, Ciela stooped to gather my belongings. “Who dumps a schoolbag in the snow?” She grumbled, holding up a wet notebook. “Hey, if you’re being bullied, you can always talk to a teacher. Even if the bullies are adults, they can help.”
“I could say the same thing to you.” I crouched beside her and held my bag open while she shoved things inside. “Your bag was emptied in the front hall.” I reminded her. “And you were pushed into the pool.”
“I fell.” She corrected me, but her voice wavered. She wrapped her arms around herself and I noticed for the first time that she was only wearing a t-shirt.
“Don’t you have a coat?” I quickly stripped my own coat and draped it around her shoulders. At least I was wearing a sweater underneath. “It was freezing this morning. Don’t tell me you forgot one.”
“I forgot one.” She said plainly.
“And you walked all the way to school in a t-shirt?”
“Yes.”
“And no one stopped you on your way?”
“No.”
“But you remembered winter boots?”
Ciela looked down at her feet. They were definitely winter boots, built for warmth instead of fashion. “Yes.” She said, but this time her voice wavered. She pulled my coat tighter around herself. “My mom put them out, so I just put them on.”
“And where’s your bag?” I asked as I slung mine over my shoulder. “Did you forget that, too?”
I guess she realized that I wasn’t going to let up, because she stared up at me, determination in her eyes. “You can’t tell anyone.” She pleaded. “If you parents find out, they’ll move again. I like it here.”
I nearly stumbled back. “This isn’t the first time?”
She shook her head. “Every year, it seems I’m in a new school. I thought high school would be different, but I guess I was wrong.” She chuckled bitterly. “But I’m not different, so why would it?”
“You’re not different?” I asked.
“I refuse to hide.” She stated. Her back straightened and she planted her feet, as if daring me to challenge what she was saying. “I’m out and I’m proud. Anything else, I can handle.”
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