I felt like I was that girl in The Hunger Games. Poised like a snake, ready for the kill. I'd never felt so ruthless in my life. But that confidence faded when I realized what I almost did. I almost killed the guy I like! But didn't he deserve it, after killing Oliver? He was a murderer! I should loathe him! I should never speak to him again after what he did! 

But, don't ask me how I still love him. That night when I first found out how much I was in love, I was slipping under the surface and I couldn't breathe, the ice in his eyes pushing me down. I wanted those eyes. I knew I did. I wanted those eyes to look at me the way they do. Another thing crossed my mind right then. 

Was he telling the truth? Am I really to blame for the loss of Oliver? The murder in cold blood that  I had no part in? I know it's not and it was just his spite talking, but those words messed with my mind. You. It was you. It's your fault. I shook those thoughts away and sighed. Oliver. Sweet Oliver.

<Flashback>

"Hey, beautiful."

"Stop that!", I yelled, trying to be angry though I was blushing very hard and tried not to giggle shyly like a dork. It burst out. I snorted mid-laugh, then covered my mouth in shame.

"No! No, there's no need to be embarrassed! I like a girl who can snort."

I couldn't take much more before I exploded into giggles. I waved my hand across the screen, hiding from him. I turned around and fell to my knees, giggling and thinking about Oliver. I put my face in my hands, and it was burning up. I thought I'd caught something until I realized. I'm blushing. Something I hadn't done since... Peter Piper.

<Flashback>

I was sitting yesterday in the mirror, waiting for Maggie, when a boy walked in. He looked around 16, the age I look and act when I don't know the universe's knowledge. And by God, was he handsome. I forgot Peter Piper in a heartbeat. He walked up to me, a slow grin forming in his eyes. His eyes. I could never forget his eyes. Blue like the sky on a summer's day.

"Are you a... magic mirror?"

"Yeah... I'm Sage...and, you are?"

"I...uh.... you can call me Oliver. You're pretty for 5,000, mirror girl."

"And you're ugly for 16, human boy."

He laughed a gleeful laugh and bowed like I was royalty, then kissed the part of my frame that would have been my hand. I felt his kiss, and for the first time in 500 decades, I didn't feel so lonely.

<Flashback>

"I wish... that this was real. I wish I could hug you, kiss your cheek, and tell you how I feel. But you know things, and you're much older than me. I... I think I've fallen for you, Sage Amelia-Rose. I think... I love you."

I burst into a million pent-up words.

"I love you too. I've always loved you. Ever since we met, you were the first human I'd ever felt that I'd liked since going into your mirror. I've been trying to forget you. Meeting you. You were a distraction. That's how I felt. "

"Ok. So, what year is it?"

"Why are you acting so odd? Is this because of the kiss? I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have-"

"No... I was okay with that... That wasn't-"

We both blushed awkwardly. Wrong topic for us. Focus!

"I'm asking because I thought this was 5,000 years after the Poverty Police died out."

"Oh. That old thing? That was about 20 years ago! Why?"

"That's when I entered the mirror."

He suddenly seemed disappointed.

"Oh... That means you're not 16..."

"No. I don't age in here."

Those irresistible deep blue eyes lit up and he smiled.

"Oh thank heaven. That means we are the same age."

"I never said I liked you!"

"Uh-huh. And you didn't giggle and blush yesterday, Sage?"

I glared at him, cheeks burning.

"Okay, fine. Now FOCUS!"

"Right... Sorry."

I paced in my mirror.

"How did I feel 5,000 years in 20? I saw princesses grow up, get married, and have children, repeating the process. "

"I don't know, but I know one thing."

"And that is?"

"I love you."

And with that, we kissed again. I didn't want to know anything about my past. I just needed Oliver to look at me the way he did that day.

That was then.

He never did that again.

He's dead.

<End>

I started sobbing. He can never look at me like that again. That was the day he died. I remembered it vividly, tears continuing to drip down my reddening cheeks in frustration. 

<Flashback>

As he was about to leave, a hooded figure came in and stabbed him. My heart stopped. I used my magic to leave the mirror (I can do it temporarily, once a year.) and ran to his side. I held him in my arms as tears started to roll down my cheeks.

"No. NO! OLIVER! OLIVER! PLEASE! YOU CAN'T DIE ON ME LIKE THIS! NO! PLEASE!"

He opened his eyes.

"S-Sage? Y-You're outside?"

"Yes! Yes, I'm outside! I'm out and I'm here for you so you can't die on me, okay?! I need you too much! I love you too much to let you just die like that."

"S-Sage?"

"Oliver?"

"I love you, Sage Amelia-Rose. And I love Hope Primrose. I love both parts of you. Stay strong, stay sweet, stay beautiful. And remember, fight back. You don't have to copy them. You don't have to be a mirror. And you need to show that to the world. You're real. Original. And you've gotta show them. Promise me you will. "

"Oliver! Don't say things like that! You're going to be okay."

He shook his head.

"P-P-Promise..."

"I promise! I promise, Oliver! Come back! Please."

"Hope... I'm s-sorry. Goodbye, my lady love."

And he kissed me, then he took his last breath. But died smiling. Smiling for me. To give me courage. Even in death, he cares about me. He really cared, huh? The small giggle following this became tears down my cheeks. That sweet boy was gone. Forever.

<End>

After that, my world changed. Truths were revealed, crimes were committed. I found out things I didn't want to know. But I shook it all away and turned off my night light. It's just stupid feelings. That's all.