With an unwavering smile, Kael walked up the stairs and into his room. He closed the door gently and locked it subtly. And when he was sure he was completely alone- like always - he broke down in tears. He clutched himself as he sobbed- using the warmth of his own body as comfort. He was his shoulder to cry on, he was his own best friend... except for Layla.

Kael cried his eyes out- the carpet soaking up his salty tears...again. He sat down on the floor and leaned against his red door with a diamond shaped hole at the top. His eyes are dim, he looked pale....he looked sick. You could see dark circles around his eyes.

He wondered what he did wrong. No one told him where he came from, the people who he stays with treats him like he's some sort of disease....or perhaps...a monster?

When he was little, he just took their treatment as they were being overprotective of him. It was the delusion or lie that he constantly told himself since he was five years old....and he still clings to that lie. Delusion is the only way he escapes his pain.

He sat there thinking. At young age, that's pretty bad. But, fortunately, Layla with her infectious enthusiasm and charm saved the day. She knocked gently on the door. The sound awakened Kael from his dark thoughts. He sniffled and wiped his face. He tried putting on a smile, but this time, the pain was too much to bear. The more he tried to smile, the tendencies of him breaking into tears were more.

He opened the door with a neutral facial expression -layla standing there with face that showed she was concerned.

" Hey," she spoke softly as she entered.

Kael gave a weak smile and closed the door behind them.

" How was training?," He asked softly.

" Ugh! Disappointing!," she plopped down on the bed.

" Disappointing? How?," Kael asked as he sat beside her.

" Edward didn't get to take off his clothes...I mean shirt (she sighs) it was sooooo boring," she groaned.

Kael chuckled softly.

" So...still getting the cold treatment form the jolly fat man?," Layla asked.

" It's not cold and he's not fat. He just has big, round...abs," Kael defended.

" I'm the princess of ice," she stated. " I know cold when I see it," She said.

" Maybe... It'll all blow over," he lied to himself. Layla purses her lips. " Maybe when I'm older everything will be fine and totally full of love," he chuckled nervously.

" Seriously... that's what your going with?," she raised a brow.

Kael looked at her and shrugged.

" Kael, you need to...move forward. You can't keep doing....this! It's very unhealthy and totally not demure," Layla said.

" I'm not like you Layla," Kael said-a hint of anger in his tone. " I have no choice but to wait. This is my home!, this is where I belong! It's just.... taking a little time( he said softly).

" You're hurting yourself Kael. Please stop," she said in a soft tone.

Kael sighs and avoids her gaze. Layla sighs, she looked down and thought of a way to cheer him up. Her face lit with excitement as an idea came across her mind.

" Guess what I found out about today," she said enthusiastically.

" What?," Kael asked weakly.

" Well, it turns out, that during the the crowning, after I've been crowned, I'm going to have a transformation!," she said cheerfully.

" Okay?"

" You're not seeing the awesome in this! It turns out, that during the transformation, part of what's going to change will be my hair color," Layla said.

" Cooool," Kael tried pretending it was something astonishing as he wondered in confusion.

" There are two hair colors: white and blue. If the crownee gets a blue hair, it means the person is kind, loving, thoughtful....and demure," Layla said.

" Pretty sure that last part isn't there," Kael said.

" And the white means you're truly connected to the ways of the ice. It means you're cold blooded, you have a heart of ice...it means you're powerful and ruthless!," she said in pompous voice.

" Well, I guess we know what hair color you're getting," Kael said.

" White right?," she said with a smug smile.

" No...red," Kael answered.

" Red?"

" Yeah... that's because you are beyond ruthless, completely heartless..you are more than the word heartless," Kael said.

" I am not heartless!," Layla mocked gasped.

" I've seen how you shave animals," Kael said. " And you don't even use their furs for anything!"

" Shaving animals and extremely hairy men
....I mean people, occasionally is a hobby and you know it!

" You are one weird human being," Kael said with a smile.

" Well, I'm happy that this weird human being was able to bring a smile to your face," her face beamed with a smile.

His smile deepens.

" Moving on. The ceremony will be Sooner than we expected. Sooner as in tomorrow night," Layla said.

" What? Why?" Kael asked.

" I don't know. But Santa really wants this done fast. Seriously, you should have seen him. He was petrified, knees locked, sweaty face....like he was scared of something," Layla said.

" He does look scared sometimes," Kael said.

" And even my mom.was in a rush too. Weird, isn't it?"

" I guess so. But that doesn't matter. As long as you and I will be there together. It doesn't matter whenever they want to hold the ceremony," Kael said with a smile.

Layla grinned and side hugged him.

" Don't worry, when I'm queen, You'll always come to visit," Layla said.

" And trust I will"

They enjoyed that moment of a warmth and friendly love for a moment.

" I can't wait for you to try out your dress for the ceremony!" Layla said enthusiastically.

" I'm also excited! "

" We're gonna be wearing matching dresses. And you'll be on make-up-

"- what?"

" What's there to not be excited about!"

" What do you mean by make-up!?"

" I have to get home for preparations. See you tomorrow!," she waved and ran quickly out of the room.

" What did she mean by make-up?," Kael asked himself as fear gripped him.

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