Resigned Lockheart

By Shannoya Wallace

“What?! What do you mean I’m of royalty.” There was me, in a tank top and jeans being accused of having some type of royalty blood in, I would not even fit being of royalty.

I took a deep breath then opened my eyes to see this bodyguard with sunglasses still staring at me. My two friends take me by the arms and run off as my body remains in shock. When we get to my friend James’ house, we sit on the floor and try to collect ourselves as James pulls out a book that lists all the royalty that ever stepped foot in this town. Good thing I have a nerd as a friend I guess. 

“What’s your last name?” he asks. “Eastwood?” He flips continuously until he stumbles upon Ashylon Eastwood, my mother’s name. 

“Yep, it seems as though you’re royalty.”

I look at him wide-eyed, like I’ve seen a ghost. I didn’t understand how I could originate from a royal family and why no one ever informed me of this. Guards knock at the door as the three of us look at each other. James opens his door. 

“Yes?” he says to the guards with a nervous smile.

Suddenly, the guards request me to leave with them. James hugs me before I get up and make my way to the door. My other friend, Zyler, who was holding the door, hugs me tightly and gives a sad smile before finally letting me go. They walk me out and keep me locked in this secluded room, which presents no means of escape. No Rapunzel moment for me. 

It is an unusual feeling, but yet again, it feels right. Kissing her feels like a puzzle being completed.

I text my best friend Shelby, breaking down the details of what happened to me, and while I am typing, a guard walks in saying, “Get ready. You’ll be meeting multiple princes to see who’s a match for you.” 

Before he leaves, I ask if my friend Shelby can come over and do my makeup. It’s comforting for me, and I want an excuse for her to come without knowing about this prince situation. Seeing this not as a threat, he agrees to my proposition. She comes in a matter of minutes with her whole makeup carrier and an outfit. 

I chuckle before saying, “I didn’t need an outfit but okay, babes.” 

She giggles then says, “It’s because I love you so much.” 

I roll my eyes and respond, “Yeah, right.”

While doing my makeup, she keeps complimenting me on the littlest things like how I “blink cute” and I have pretty eyelashes. We had never been this physically close before and the proximity allows me to absentmindedly admire her beauty as well. When she finishes doing my makeup, she stares at her masterpiece. 

I then ask, “You finish making me pretty?” 

She replies, “You’re always pretty.” 

As I am processing the compliment, I notice her leaning in closer to me. I realize what is happening and follow her lead. For the first time in my life, I lock lips with someone of the same gender. My heart bursts like fireworks in the sky! It’s an unusual feeling, but yet again, it feels right. Kissing her feels like a puzzle being completed. 

In this moment, I realize that she is the one for me. We pull away, still holding hands, as I gaze in her eyes and see a light pink blush graze her cheeks. 

She then says, “Go put on your outfit, cutie. I would’ve kissed your cheek, but I don’t want to ruin your makeup.” 

I laugh before changing into this cute outfit she picked out for me. I twirl around and do a few poses as she laughs while clapping in praise. 

“So what was this for anyway?” she asked.

Crap. I forgot to tell her about the predicament I’m in; the princess and the frog got nothing on me… Wrong movie. This is going to crush her, but I have to be truthful. 

I grab both of her hands as I respond, “I— See, I didn’t want to tell you this, but I decided to be truthful and—” I take a deep breath before continuing, “They want me to meet with a lot of princes to see who I’m comfortable with, but I now realize that I don’t want this. I want you. I want to live a comfortable life with you on a farm with four dogs and two cats, and I just want my future to be with you.” 

I start to choke up due to the tears, but she says, “That was sweet. If I’m honest, if one kiss can make you feel all that, I wonder what will happen with more.” 

She starts to tear up too and continues, “I would love to have a comfortable life with you too, but where did the farm and the dogs and cats come from? Also, don’t cry—it’ll mess up your makeup!” 

I laugh; she knows how to lighten the mood even during a sad time like this, which is why I’m in love with her as a person. This is why I made her my best friend; this is why she’s now becoming my lover; this is why I can’t lose her to some scummy prince who probably doesn’t even want me. 

I’m in love with her. 

Process

I was inspired by a lot of things, but mostly the friends to lovers trope and this ASMR series of a toxic friend falling in love with you. The idea mostly came from the friends to lovers trope as I do read and watch a lot of things on it and I wanted to write it myself for once so this is how it becomes a story. I used (or well going to use) Grammarly, my mentor, and inspiration from other stories to put this all together. Magical realism is the workshop that inspired this, as there are some very fairytale-like of parts to the story, and very real-ish parts. I learned that you need to have an open mind towards things that come your way even if you don’t know how to handle it.