Chapter 3
Sophia
There are lots of things I should be focusing on right now, one of the most important being my new friend as she goes through my wardrobe to see if she can find anything to wear to tonight's party.
Despite my many assurances that I'm happy for her to wear something of mine, she's being a little hesitant about it, which I hope is because we've only just met rather than because of my royal status.
"Have you decided what you're wearing?" Lottie asks me as she holds up a dress and looks in the mirror before putting it to the side.
"I'm not sure," I admit. "I thought I knew, but then I started thinking about all the other options I've got, and I can't decide. I don't even know what kind of party it's going to be. Is this like the welcome party where it's attended by faculty too?"
She laughs. "Definitely not. This is for students only."
"I hope so."
"You've got nothing to worry about. Drake knows how to throw a party without anyone finding out. He was notorious in our area for throwing the best parties."
"I hope you're right about that. So, how do you know him? Is he an ex..."
"No, definitely not," Lottie says quickly. "I used to work for his family as a part-time job, that's all."
"Ah, so nothing for Archie to be disappointed about," I say offhandedly, but watch my new friend for her reaction. We may not have been at the academy for long, but her wings seem to flutter a little bit every time she's in my twin's vicinity.
Lottie clears her throat. "I doubt that Archie will think about Drake at all."
"Maybe not," I respond.
"So, what are you wearing?"
"I'm not sure." I run my fingers along my tail as I consider the options.
"Sophia?" Lottie's voice cuts through my thoughts.
"Hmm?"
"I asked what you thought of this one?" She holds up a brown dress that I love, but rarely wear. It's not precisely up to royal standards, and I've been a little worried to wear it in front of my parents.
"That one will look amazing on you," I respond. And it will. The fabric matches the brown of the wings which sprout off her shoulders, with beautiful patterns that make me consider my own wings a bit plain. Though they do have the advantage of being retractable.
"Are you sure it's okay for me to borrow it?" she asks.
"Of course." I flash her what I hope is a genuine smile.
"I have a handbag that will go great with it," she says a little sheepishly.
"Then it's meant to be."
"And now you have to decide what you're going to wear. Though I don't know how you manage to ever pick."
I laugh. "I pick the tiara first."
"I can't tell if you're joking."
"Half," I respond. "Sometimes I do know what tiara I'm going to wear for an event, and it does help me with what to wear. But other times there's a dress code, or my mother picks." A hint of bitterness enters my voice.
"Does that happen a lot?"
"More than I want it to," I admit. "But it's different here.
I can pick what I wear, and go where I want to.
Within reason, anyway." Even if there isn't anyone explicitly watching me at the party, I need to be careful in case someone takes a photo that gets leaked, or dozens of other potential issues.
I step over to my wardrobe and start going through my dresses, stopping when I get to a shimmering lilac one with a daringly low neckline. According to my mother, that is. It barely shows anything.
"That's beautiful," Lottie says.
"Thank you." I smile at her. "I love wearing this colour." It contrasts well against my skin and brings out my eyes.
"I should go put this on," Lottie says, gesturing to the borrowed dress. "Thank you again."
"What are friends for?" I grin.
"We met a couple of days ago," she points out.
I shrug. "True. But we're flatmates. And don't you ever just get the feeling about someone?"
She laughs. "Are you suggesting there's a mate bond for friendship?"
"I guess, but also not at the same time," I respond, though never having experienced a potential mate reaction before, I have no way of knowing if that's true.
"Have you had one?" she asks curiously.
"No. Have you?"
"I've felt the reaction," she admits slowly. "But I've never sealed the mating bond."
"Why didn't you?"
"Timing." Something about the way she says the word makes me think that there's more to it, but I don't want to risk the budding friendship the two of us have by insisting that she explain that.
After years of living in the palace and everyone knowing who I am, I've not had a chance to have a normal friendship where we do normal things like borrow clothes and talk about the things going on in our lives, and I'm not about to ruin the first chance I've had at that.
I came to Rosewood to have as much of a normal university as possible, and that includes this.