In My Shoes

I was the next Heiress to the throne of Dreamland. I felt lucky. I felt scared. I felt excited. And I felt nervous. I also felt-well, the list would be too long to tell.

Dreamland was a magical place, where all your dreams come true. Now that I think about it, that kind of sounds clichè or something someone would tell you when you walk into an amusement park.

Let me start again. Dreamland was a magical place where dreams were real. Where dreams came alive. Where dreams were crazy, amazing things. And sometimes they were scary.

I felt like I was living in a fairy tale. I kind of was. Becoming the Queen of Dreamland, you know?

I pulled up to the magical school of Dreamland in a black limo with tinted windows that were bulletproof. Not everything in Dreamland was perfect. Not everything was safe.

“Crystal, over here!” Someone shouted as camera lights flashed and I covered my face and eyes. 

“Crystal, tell us- are you excited to become Queen?”

More lights flashed.

“Why wasn’t it your brother?”

That got to me. It hit hard. And it hit home.

My brother, Emery, was technically the Heir of Dreamland. Born with great looks, and super smart. He knew everything about Dreamland. He spent his whole life right up until January 9th practicing and studying to become King.

But on January 9th, Emery was diagnosed with a heart disease. Everyone started to judge him; tell him that he wouldn’t make a good King.

King Alexander Augustus III and Queen Alice Augustus, my Mother and Father, couldn’t have that kind of shame and scorn brought to their family. They had to make the hard decision to sort of kick Emery out of the picture. And that’s where I came in.

I filled in for Emery.

And boy, did Emery blame me for everything that happened.

“Crystal!” Someone yelled.

Expecting it to be more paparazzi, I shielded my face from the camera. It wasn’t though. It was my friend, Regan.

Regan had lighter skin than my rich caramel skin, but hers was a little tan. Her golden locks were flowing all the way down her back and she looked like a model. Especially since she had big blue eyes that were too big for her face.

“Regan!” I yelled as I opened my arms to hug her.

She gladly hugged me and then pulled apart. “I can’t believe my best friend is becoming the QUEEN OF DREAMLAND!” She exclaimed, making the last part so loud that everyone turned to stare.

I hid my brown eyes behind a curtain of my brunette locks. “Stop,” I told Regan. She was a huge extrovert, and I was a huge introvert. How was I going to become Queen being so shy like this?

She stopped and tucked my hair behind my ears. “Sorry.” She apologized.

“It’s fine. Let’s get to class.”

We walked down the halls, a few fairies and walking sharks passed by us. Everything and anything that people dreamt of, came real in Dreamland. Who dreams about walking sharks? 

When we entered the class I sat down next to Regan and we pulled our books out and turned to page 549 as directed on the chalkboard in the front of the room.

“Class,” Mrs. Windsburrow clapped her hands to get our attention. “Today we will be learning about the recent changes in our world. Including Miss Augustus’s news about becoming Queen.”

My cheeks turned red in embarrassment. I’d never really been that popular. I mean, people obviously knew who I was, but they only really befriended me to get close to my family. To get close to the money. To get close to the power. Regan was my only true friend.

Someone coughed, “Loser.”

The whole class started to laugh.

Mrs. Windsburrow gave 'The Look'. 'The Look' would get you landed in the principal's office if you didn’t quiet down.

“Jameson.” She yelled at the boy who coughed. “Office. Now!”

The rest of class was uncomfortable. Everyone was passive-aggressive with me whenever we had to be partners. People were calling me “Loser!” Gosh, I was so happy when we got to the passing period.

“Gosh,” Regan said when we got out of class. “That must’ve been intense.”

“Ya think?” I asked her. “I can’t even tell you how hard it is to be a stupid Queen!” I yelled as I slammed my locker shut.

She flinched. “Look. Sorry. But you need to calm down!” She told me.

“I already have enough people telling me what to do! Mom and Dad are making me practice being a Queen, Emery is giving me a hard time that he has to give up his spot as the Heir, and I have so many people making fun and being mean to me! So can you please be there for me?” I shouted.

She gave me a look as if she couldn’t process what I was saying. Then it turned into a fake smile. “I am there for you. I always have been. I know it’s hard to process and understand becoming a Queen and being a part of a Royal family, but please. You’re being a drama Queen, Crystal. And all I’ve done is watch you brag through the good times and comfort you through the hard times. But you know, now that I think about it, not once have you been there for me. Like when the mobs of paparazzi showed up at my house. Like when my mom decided to get a divorce with my dad.” She stopped and sniffled, tears filling her eyes. “So no, your Majesty. I can’t be there for you.” She flipped her hair and walked off. “Try putting yourself in my shoes.” She called back to me.

I stood in the hallway, stunned. I felt really, really bad. I felt like I’d throw up. I felt sad. I felt mad at myself. I was just a horrible friend.

And she was right. I wasn’t there for her when the mobs of paparazzi showed up at her house. What in the world did they want? And when her parents got divorced? I couldn’t believe she’d told me that. Her parents loved each other. Though I guess I wasn’t there enough to know if they really were.

“Hey Bigfoot!” Jameson yelled from behind me. That was his nickname for me since I was tall. “Thanks a lot for getting me suspended. That was my last strike. Now I’m expelled.”

He purposely bumped into me and made me drop my backpack on my foot.

The rest of the week was horrible. Regan avoided me. And actually, pretty much everyone did. Well, except for the paparazzi.

“Crystal!” Paparazzi yelled. “Is there something going on?”

“Why are you sad?”

“Why haven’t you become Queen yet?”

“High school drama?”

“Too much work?”

“Friends?”

I walked into school and coincidentally bumped into Regan. She was standing with another girl. I immediately recognized her.

Rebbecca.

“Watch where you're going, loser.” Rebbecca said. She was my arch nemesis. What was Regan doing with her? 

I ignored her comment and my eyes met Regan’s. She had changed. She had long, painted, black fingernails, her makeup was done really well, she dressed like a popular girl with expensive clothes.

“Yeah, seriously.” I didn’t expect that to come from Regan. I guess I deserved it though.

I nodded and we parted ways, me running and not stopping till I reached the bathroom.

I turned on the faucet and washed my face with cold water as I cried. I cried and cried and cried as I thought about Regan and what she had said.

Try putting yourself in my shoes.

I thought back to the other day, when Regan and I were playing in the castle. Hide and seek.

I had just come home from school and I got to bring Regan. But on the way to the car to go home, I got bullied by some of the college students that were visiting to help out.

“Crystal, it’s okay.” Regan said, comforting me as we made our way to the car. I cried into her shirt as she hugged me. That’s what we did, the whole way to the castle.

Regan decided it would be fun to play hide and seek, probably her way of cheering me up, but I’m not complaining. It was so fun.

I hid in a closet in the Maid’s Quarters and surprisingly, Regan found me.

“My parents never find me there,” I told her.

I splashed my face with cold water, knocking me out of my daze.

My last sentence probably got to her. Her parents were divorced.

I thought back to the first day of Kindergarten when I met Regan.

I sat in the corner of the classroom, clutching my crayon’s mom bought for me at the store. She said I could share them with my new friends and they would love it.

A pretty ash brown haired girl walked by. I tapped her on the shoulder.

“Hi!” She said to me, “I didn’t see you there.”

I laughed. “Sorry,” I told her. “I’m a little shy.”

“That’s okay. First I was but now I have lots of friends. I’m Rebecca but you can call me Becky.”

I waved. “I’m Crystal. Crystal Augustus. Would you like to draw with me with these new crayons?” I asked.

Her eyes went from kind to dark. “No. You are spoiled rotten, Princess.” She kicked the crayons out of my hand and they fell to the ground.

I cried in the corner where nobody saw me, but then a girl with blonde hair walked up to me.

“First day jitters?” She asked.

I sniffed. “Yeah. And bullies.”

“Don’t worry.” She comforted me. “You’re not the only one. I’m Regan.”

“Crystal. Crystal Augustus.”

She threw her arms around me. “I know we’ll be great friends.”

I splashed my face again.

Regan had always had my back.

I ran out the bathroom door trying to find Regan, and sure enough, I bump into her as I round the corner.

“Bigfoot,” She teased. “slow down.”

With a hair flip she walked off.

For a second I thought about not apologizing. She was mean. But I thought back to how great of a friend she was and how bad I was and decided to call her back.

“Regan, wait.”

She turned around and crossed her arms. “So you can yell at me again?”

“No. I’m sorry.” I explained to her what I’d done and how bad of a friend I was. I told her I needed her.

She closed her eyes. “Good.” She said. “I couldn’t keep this act up any longer if I tried. What are we doing?” She threw her arms around me.

“Sorry.” I told her again.

“It’s okay. I’m just glad to have my friend back.” She pulled away. “We are friends right?” She asked.

“Till the end.”