Aveline's Past

A/N: Change of POV and Narrator

I liked her. I think I did. She was sweet. Who am I kidding I was jealous. Rightfully so. How many times have I relived this dream? 

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"Miss Elena, the carriage is ready." my butler said.

I never liked him. He always had this stoic look on his face. He was a dog, loyal to my father. I wished that he would one day disappear or that he'd have a terrible accident.

"Thank you, Mr. Conway," I smiled.

I stepped into the carriage and took a seat on the leather chairs. Mr. Conway sat in the front. He peered at the back seat through the rear-view mirror.

"Your debutante is today." He spoke, "Are you nervous?"

"No." I lied.

"Then I suggest you calm your trembling hands."

Of course, I was nervous, I just turned six yesterday but I guess in human years I'm an adult. Frozen Crystal Institute was a place where only the highest grade floralith go to. Naturally I went there, I was an Arctic Willow after all. After a few minutes, we stopped just outside of a gate. There was a sign that read, 'Floralith only.'

"Here we are. Your entrance." Mr. Conway said.

I felt butterflies in my stomach but I pressed on.

In the distance, there was a church that belonged to the Faith of Abstinence. I walked through the snow, making my own path, my dress was entirely covered in snow, my boots kept sliding, but I walked as if I knew what I was doing. Until I didn't and I fell, face first into the snow. The snow muffled my hearing but I swear I heard a voice.

A hand reached out and pulled me out of the snow.

"Are you okay?" the voice asked with a smile on her face.

I wanted to thank her but I couldn't. She looked so, perfect. Her violet hair, tied neatly into a ponytail; her beautiful emerald green eyes, and her silver-colored glasses were made for her face.

"Hello? Anybody in there?" she knocked on my head.

"Wha-" I stammered, "You shouldn't do that!"

"Do what?" she said, feigning ignorance, as she tilted her head.

"Ugh." I groaned.

"It's rude to not answer when someone's talking to you." She smiled.

"I didn't know you were talking to me." I remarked, "And aren't you just being rude now?"

"That's fair." she giggled, "Sorry, my name is Aveline, what's yours?"

"Elena." I mumbled.

"I can't hear you," Aveline leaned in, her head inches away from my face.

"It's Elena."

"What a beautiful name." Aveline complimented, "So what kind of flower are you?"

"You don't know?" I raised a brow.

Aveline shook her head.

"Nope." she popped the "P".

"I'm an Arctic Willow."

Her eyes lit up at the mention of my species. She grabbed both of my hands and squeezed them tight.

"Let's be friends." she proposed without missing a beat.

"I- sure, why not." I responded.

Aveline's eyes seemed to shine brighter than before, as the corners of her mouth curled upwards.

"Yay."

"What about you?" I asked.

"I'm a Saxifrage." she said, "It's not as cool as a Willow though."

Aveline visibly pouted at the thought.

"Oh." I blushed.

I had seen a Saxifrage in a few books before but, I couldn't remember.

"Let's go." she grabbed my hand and dragged me along.

I nearly tripped, stumbling over my own feet, but Aveline didn't seem to mind, she kept pulling, as the scenery became more beautiful. The church was made from white marble, it had tall towers, and stained glass windows. We were greeted by a woman with jet black hair, her outfit reminded me of a nun.

"Are you alright child?" she asked, as she knelt down, the hem of her long robes touched the floor, and her red eyes were full of concern.

"Yes." I spoke.

"She's new here." Aveline informed her.

"I see." the nun nodded, "Now, tell me what is your name and age?"

"Elena, Age six."

"Wonderful," the nun smiled, "my name is Miss Marguerite, and I'm the headmistress of the Frozen Crystal Institute, it is a pleasure to meet you, Elena von Hallow."

"T-Thank you." I stuttered, "Nice to meet you too, Miss Marguerite."

Marguerite gave me a warm smile.

"Von Hallow?" Aveline asked, "Isn't that a duke's family?" she tilted her head.

"Duke Zachariah is an old friend of mine." the headmistress confirmed.

"Wow." Aveline exclaimed, as her eyes sparkled with admiration.

"You're a duke's daughter?" she asked, her eyes searching for validation, as they locked onto mine.

"Yes." I mumbled.

"That's so cool." Aveline replied, her face was practically beaming with glee.

I felt a warmth spread in my chest, as I saw Aveline's reaction.

The headmistress chuckled softly, "Well, I hope that you make many friends during your time here."

The first month went by quickly, we were taught how to treat humans, what not to do with humans, and what to look for when bonding with a human. It was really about the relationship between humans and floralith. I enjoyed recess more than the lessons. It was very fun hanging out with Aveline. 

"Aveline, what are you doing?" I asked.

Aveline was busy crouching in the snow next to a tree. She picked something up before standing up.

"It's a baby bird!" Aveline said, as she waved the creature around in her tiny fist.

"Can it fly yet?" I wondered aloud, as I scrutinized the baby bird.

"No," Aveline answered matter-of-factly, "This baby bird can't fly, its wings are too small."

"I'll nurse it." she said.

"Nurse it? Just throw it back into the snow. It'll die anyway," I said.

"Throw it back? No! That's not nice." Aveline retorted, a frown on her face. She clutched the baby bird protectively.

"That's stupid," I retorted, "Why bother saving a bird? There are millions of them in the world."

"I can't believe you," Aveline snapped, she turned around and started walking away.

"Stop being childish and give it to me," I said.

"No," Aveline replied, as she stomped away, clutching the poor baby bird to her chest.

After a few minutes, I followed after her into the playground. There were other kids there too, all kinds of nobles and high-grade flowers. They gathered around Aveline.

"Is that a baby bird?" a kid asked.

"Where did you find him?" asked another.

"How cute!" squealed a third.

"What's his name?" A fourth asked.

Aveline blinked slowly.

"Um..." she trailed off, as she pondered the question.

"Quinn," Aveline chirped cheerfully, as she stroked the baby birds feathered head.

"That's a weird name for a bird," I said.

"Nothing wrong with a weird name," Aveline retorted as she shielded the bird with her body.

I rolled my eyes at her remark.

"It's a cute name." a kid said.

Aveline puffed up her chest, and grinned.

"Thank you," she beamed.

Thanks to the bird, Aveline made some new friends. She started to hang out with them more. I just faded away in the background.

"My mom says that humans are bad," a kid said, "and they should all be killed."

"What does that mean?" Aveline asked.

"They can't love us," the kid replied.

"But I thought that love was more powerful than anything in the world," Aveline said, tilting her head, "I always wanted a human to love me."

"A human can't love us, silly," the kid laughed.

"Yes they can," Aveline puffed up her cheeks, and clenched her fists, "I'll prove it."

"You can't love a human, Aveline," the kid said.

"Watch me," Aveline challenged.

"You'll be branded an abomination," another one said.

"I don't care," Aveline said as she thrust her chest out.

Aveline was always bold but this was ridiculous. Everyone, even the teachers, said the same thing about humans. Only a handful believed that they could fall in love, with us. I was among the skeptical. Humans would never love us. That's what I'd been taught.

A few days went by, and Aveline would sneak out and feed the bird. Quinn, her bird. Every evening, before the lights went out, she would be there, feeding the creature. Every time love was brought up she said the same thing.

"I'll prove it."

We would study about humans, and how they should be tools. You don't fall in love with tools. Without us, they can't even fight the kudzu properly. But Aveline would keep insisting and insisting until one day I had enough. I knew her secret. I was her best friend but she betrayed me. So I did what I had to do.