A glass barrier

"Tangerine?" Mia questioned her mild tone beginning to waver, with the strong scent of joy bleeding through the gleaming smile beginning to emerge across her face as she took a step into the black limousine.

The interior of the limousine mirroring the affluence of the outside Mia pressed her delicate fingers on the cream-coloured front seat pulling herself into the car, the tips of her fingers being absorbed by the softness of the seat. 

The pony-tailed, brown-skinned woman sitting on the driver's seat sent a warm smile that increasingly brushed off on Mia, the colour of her hair synonymous with that of her name. "Good afternoon, Miss Mia," Tangerine called in a staunchly cheerful and welcoming tone. 

Mia's smile narrowly limped for a second as she adjusted herself in the passenger seat beside Tangerine, her gaze softly drifting away from the maid. "I told you; Tangerine you don't have to be so formal with me." 

"Well I'm sorry, regardless of our personal relationship I do still work professionally as your private maid and overseer, you are my master I must treat you so," Tangerine replied apologetically as she began to start the car. 

Despite the initial bump at the beginning of the conversation, Mia and Tangerine continued the ride in laughter and engaging deep talks with each other, nothing but happiness and tranquillity emanated from within the dark black limousine with what felt like hours of fun and happiness crammed into just a few minutes.

However, suddenly the dark reality that had slowly faded away to the back of her mind, absorbed by the bright light of the car came flooding back. "Hahaha, I know right, anyway so Mia how'd you enjoy your break?" 

Mia paused for a moment before her solemn reply, completely shattering the vibrant vibes in the atmosphere "It was okay," she responded her tone falling below her breath, evidently not wanting to pursue further with the conversation topic. 

Yet Tangerine persisted, "Not trying to pose you as a liar, but I'm not sure you really think it was that okay, Miss Mia." 

Why couldn't she just be allowed to abandon her despair-filled world even if only for a few moments. Why is Tangerine, her only escape always pushing her right back in. Mia thought somewhat spitefully, and with a deep frustrated *𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩* Mia elaborated extracting her gaze from Tangerine to the window. 

"Okay is just a neutral term socially isn't it, despite it actually referring to something positive?" Tangerine continued her eyes steady on the road ahead.

"That's why I used it, it's not like I'm allowed to like or not like everything I do, I just follow. At 3 pm I go home to have lunch instead at the cafeteria that's it, just like the rest of my life not much else." 

Outside the car window, a band of female friends wearing the Unity high uniform waltzed outside a café shop all: laughing, joking, and playfully make physical contact with one another.

Even as the group of friends slowly fell out of view Mia's decrepit eyes remained fixed on them, her chin resting on the palm of her hand her arm leaning on the doors handle.

Even as they slowly left view she watched them, then the direction of where they had been, then only in her mind. 

"I see, you still haven't made any friends yet have you? And with a non-existent social life, you're pretty lonely." Tangerine evaluated although accurately, carelessly ruthless. 

"Hey!" 

"Sorry-sorry ha-ha didn't mean to offend you... Possibly." Tangerine apologised with a warm smirk that even made Mia let out a short giggle even though only for a moment. 

"I do have some friends…" Mia muttered. 

"Who?" 

"You…" 

"I told you this before, although I do consider you my friend, however it's not ideal that you consider a maid your only friend, you need to find someone your own age." 

"You know that's impossible; people are nice from time to time but it's all so obviously fake. No one would ever ask me to go out with them, or eat lunch at their table, or even have a chat or two.

No one will accept the risk of becoming even somewhat involved with me. " 

"Yes, it is impossible but the only reason for that is that barrier you build around yourself, that only I am blessed to see come down. 

 No one else but me sees how amazing of a person and friend you can be. All they see is the kings daughter until you can show them someone else, and you're so much more. Eventually, you'll find good friends that don't care about where you came from, that love, respect, and cherish you, for you." 

"But-" 

"And when you do find those people that make you as happy as you make them, hold them and make sure to never let them go." 

"That sounds very...aggressive and... stalkerish." Mia chuckled, as Tangerine began chuckling alongside her.

"Besides it'll be really greedy of me to keep you all to myself, wouldn't it? Look, how about this, try to make at least one friend, bring down that glass barrier for a day, and no matter the outcome how about I sneak in a little visit to the mall together after we complete that list." Tangerine lovingly interrupted. 

Still considering the possibility of her making any friends in a day was completely impractical and hopeless, Mia gave a subtle "Okay, fine. I'll try." Although dreading the disappointment that'd be on Tangerine's face by the time she came to pick her up from school, she didn't want to disappoint her now either, and better then than now. And the mall was most likely to drown out that disappointment anyway. 

Not uttering another word between them, the limousine slowly parked in front of the school gates and Mia stepped out of the car. "Thank you, Tangerine." Mia muttered. 

"Yeah, no problem, it is my job after all, ha-ha. Have a nice rest of your day." Tangerine replied still brimming with the exact same enthusiasm as she had earlier. 

"You better hurry now, lunch is about to end in ten minutes, and you still have to catch up with your presidential work," Tangerine informed observing the watch on her wrist, drawn up to her face. 

"Oh yeah," Mia stated just before she left for the school doors, with a final "thank you," towards Tangerine who restarted the car and drove till she was completely out of sight, yet far from out of mind.