“Bri, what was that all about earlier?” Ben asks me once we get home. “Well,” I start, getting off my bed to shut my door so no one hears me. I then go back to my bed and sit down on it, finishing, “I saw someone I met down there and didn’t want them to recognize me.” “Oooh! What’s their name?” Ben asks, sitting down next to me on my bed. “You promise not to tell anyone?” I ask him, leaning in towards him a little bit. “You know me! I won’t tell a soul,” he responds. I know he isn’t lying. He’s the only person I’ve been able to go to for all these years, and he’s never told anyone anything I’ve told him. “Well his n-” I begin. “His?!” Ben exclaims, interrupting me very loudly. “Ben! Shut up!” I hiss at him. “Sorry. But him?!” Ben repeats a little quieter this time. “Yeah, now will you let me finish my statement?” I ask him. “Fine,” Ben shrugs, then rolls his eyes, allowing me to answer his original question. “About time. But yeah, his name is Caspian,” I tell him. “Yeah, but you do know you’re getting married, like, next month, right?” Ben asks me after processing my words. “Yes! Oh my god!” I instantly reply. Why would he think of me doing something like that! “Good. Just making sure,” Ben says. “Get some sleep Bri. Love you.” Ben then gets up and leaves my room. “Love you too Ben,” I say to him right before he shuts my door, leaving me alone in my room. I probably should go to sleep, but thinking of seeing Caspian again just makes me happy. Without thinking again, I quickly lay down, expecting to be awake for another hour or so, but instead I find myself drifting off to sleep within minutes. The next morning I woke up to the sight of my mother and father standing right next to my bed. Startled at the sight, I yelp and quickly sit up in my bed. “What are you doing here?!” I exclaim. “Brina, don’t shout,” my dad points out. “Brina, there is something we need to talk about,” my mother states. “Meet me in the dining room in an hour.” “Alr-Alright,” I reply, worried about what they needed to talk to me about. Had Ben told? He couldn’t have. He wouldn’t have. After that, my parents left, and I got up to get myself changed into something not too casual, but not too formal. After an hour, I walked down to the dining room, and met my parents there. “So… what did you wanna talk about?” I ask them once I sit down at the table. “Well, we’ve been thinking about it, and we’ve decided to send you to the high school in the town,” my mother explains. “Public school?!” I shout in shock. “Sorry for shouting, but why public school?” “We accept your apology, and we’ve decided on public school because you need to meet some friends,” my father tells me. “But I have friends!” I say. “Brina dear, your brother does not count as your friend,” my mother admits. Well, that sucks, because it’s true. My brother is my only friend I have since I’ve never been to a public school. “Ugh,” I groan after my mother brutally insults me. “Fine. But won’t people recognize me?” “Oh, we have that all covered,” my father tells me. This is not what I had pictured when my parents said that I wouldn’t need to worry about people messing with me, or recognizing me. “A bright pink wig? I don’t think so,” I state. “Won’t this make me stand out more?” “I guess she’s right,” my mom says to my dad. “Please guys, just let me keep my normal hair and self, and I’ll just wear something un-princess-y I guess,” I tell them. “Are you sure that's what you want?” my dad asks. “Yes, I’m sure,” I confirm. The only logical reason to do this is because I want Caspian to recognize me. “I could just use a fake name! Like… Brielle! Brielle Stirling.”
