Chapter 4: The Day I Finally Fought Back

The very next day, Amber made it her mission to target me.

I pulled out a pink pack of tissues. She immediately gasped, loud enough for the whole room to hear.

"Wow! Even your tissues are pink! Are you literally trying to turn yourself into a plastic Barbie?"

After art class, I was wiping paint off my hands with a wet wipe. She nudged the guys next to her, smirking.

"Make way, the princess is cleaning up."

When the teacher made us rearrange our desks, I got tired and stopped to catch my breath. Amber shouted across the room.

"The princess is tired! Quick, some knights get over here and carry her stuff!"

Every time she did this, the guys she hung out with would burst into laughter, acting like she was the funniest person alive.

At first, Cole thought she was crossing a line and would tell her to knock it off.

But Amber just waved him away.

"I'm just playing around. Aurora is way too uptight. I'm just trying to help her bond with everyone."

Hearing that, Cole actually nodded, looking thoughtful.

"She does have a bit of a princess temper. Is that just how girls are these days?"

Amber punched him lightly in the shoulder.

"Hey, don't lump me in with them. I'm completely different."

Cole chuckled.

A bitter ache settled in my chest. I always knew Cole thought I was delicate and high-maintenance.

To guys like him, liking pink, being a neat freak, and not being physically strong automatically meant you were a spoiled princess.

Eventually, I hit my breaking point.

That summer, I went to the beach with my parents and got a pretty deep tan.

It had happened before. Usually, I'd stay indoors for a few weeks and my skin would fade back to its normal tone. I didn't think much of it.

Shortly after school started, I wore a pink button-up over my t-shirt.

When Amber saw me, she pitched her voice up in mock horror.

"Oh my god! Aurora, your skin is so dark right now. Don't you think wearing that pink makes you look absolutely ridiculous?"

She clutched her stomach, laughing hysterically.

"No, seriously, I'm dying. How can you still play the princess? Who ever heard of a dark princess? You look more like a little stray mutt! Hahahaha..."

She and her little group of guys lost it. Cole's lips twitched upward into a smirk, like he found it amusing too.

In that exact second, a massive wave of humiliation and helplessness drowned me. Blood rushed straight to my head. My fists clenched.

Over the sound of their roaring laughter, I grabbed my open water bottle and splashed it directly into her face.

Amber shrieked, frantically wiping at her dripping face.

She was wearing a full face of makeup. The water completely ruined it. Dark streaks ran down her cheeks.

"Are you crazy?!" she coughed, her voice shrill. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Oh my god," I mocked her tone flawlessly. "Showing up to class in false lashes and full foundation. No wonder you aren't a princess. Are you here to learn, or are you trying to seduce guys? Do you think this is a beauty pageant?"

A few of the guys frowned and stepped in front of her. Cole led the pack. He reached out and snatched the bottle from my hand.

"Apologize, Aurora."

He looked down at me. His brows were pulled together, his voice laced with cold authority.

My eyes burned. I stared right through him.

"Did you not hear what she just called me? She called me a dog."

"That's completely different, and you already insulted her back," he stated, like he was delivering a verdict. "Now you need to apologize for throwing water on her."

He stepped closer, his tone condescending.

"You did something wrong, now own up to it. Be a good girl and stop throwing a tantrum."

He truly believed he was in the right.

"Just say sorry. Amber won't hold it against you."

A cold laugh ripped from my throat.

"Fuck you."

Cole's eyes widened.

He raised his hand and slapped me across the face.