Once upon a Princess (Atypical Series #1)||✔️

29. The Accomplice

Isabelle's in big trouble...

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I found Isabelle curled up under her blanket, watching a movie from her flat screen television when I barged in her room.

She jumped, sending the cover flying in mid-air before she snatched it in her grasp and narrowed her eyes into slits at me.

Like everything else, Isabelle's room was a complete contrast to mine.
While my bedroom walls were painted a deep purple, hers were a light yellow. Everything else was stark white with an occasional yellow or green pop of colour.

"Ugh your room is so bright," I muttered as I closed the door behind me.

She threw her legs over the edge of the bed and rolled her eyes at me, "Thanks for barging in. Supposed I was naked?"

"We have the same body. Literally."

She waggled her finger with a teasing smirk, "According to Cole, yours is fatter."

I swiftly flipped my middle finger and she replied with an air kiss.

I folded my arms and gave my well-practiced death glare.

Her grin faltered, "Jeez I was kidding, your body is banging okay? I wish I had curves like you."

"This isn't about what you said Isabelle," I paused as her lips pursed and her eyes squinted at me in confusion.

"Isabelle... why'd you really reject the offer of Crown Princess?"

Her lips parted and I swore I heard an intake of a sharp breath before she dropped her gaze.

"I thought that you'd be perfect as Queen."

"Look at me," I instructed, "And say that again."

She lifted her head and her eyes zeroed unto mine and her voice rang out as rich and clear as a bird, " I think that you'd be perfect as the Queen, Alexa."

When I didn't reply for a few seconds, she furrowed her brows and slipped off her canopy bed.

"What's this all about?"

"Yeah what is this all about Isabelle? Mom's crown? Really?"

She flinched as if my sharp tone had slapped her across her face and took a cautious backwards step.

"Isn't that what you wanted? To be queen?"

I couldn't find it in me to answer her so I just sank onto the carpet with a dramatic plop, and wrang my hands together.

"I'm sorry, I didn't think it through when she came asking about using mom's crown. I thought you'd be..." She trailed off, as she crossed the room and sat beside me on the floor.

"Over it?" I finished with a raised brow.

She smiled lopsidely and then it vanished when she released a deep sigh, "Sometimes I feel guilty when I realize it's been a while since I've thought of her."

"Sometimes I feel pathetic for thinking about it so much," I admitted, "It's been ten years. I should have moved on-"

She clasped my shoulder so abruptly that I stopped mid-sentence and started to speak, "Alexa. Everyone's different. Everyone takes their own time to grieve, some may settle their grief within a month while others it'd take a lifetime."

I nodded as she continued to rub circles into my shoulder as mom always did.
"Wise words from Belle, how on earth did I get stuck with Crown Princess," I said with a chuckle.