'love is anything but patient; love is far from kind.'

╰ ˟ ｡ ♛ ┆BRIDGETTE ‌.

“ oh, shut up. though i am a little offended that i haven’t met your parents yet, ” she teases, manicured nails drumming along the fence. “ i was just curious. you never talk about them, so i wasn’t sure. ”

╰ ˟ ｡ ♛ ┆BRIDGETTE ‌.

she snickers at him and leans forward again, watching him through those same lovesick eyes that have followed him for the past year. “ hey, mikey ? do you ever see your family ? ”

╰ ˟ ｡ ♛ ┆BRIDGETTE ‌.

she beams at him innocently, because of course it’s hypothetical. “ of course, of course. so … your dream land is somewhere tropical, not near a castle or anything fringing on the royal side of things. duly noted ! ” 

╰ ˟ ｡ ♛ ┆BRIDGETTE ‌.

“ a beach town … in which country ? i’m sure we can use my princess-ly powers to get us a ticket to anywhere you’d like to go. just say the word and we can go. ”

╰ ˟ ｡ ♛ ┆BRIDGETTE ‌.

bridgette lets out another groan. “ goooood, you are so complicated, why am i in love with you ? ” it’s not the first time she’s said it and it won’t be the last. she’ll say it until he gets it. ( and that’s shaping up to be a big, fat ‘never.’ ) she lets out a huff. “ okay, then where do you want to run away to, huh ? ”

╰ ˟ ｡ ♛ ┆BRIDGETTE ‌.

“ you wouldn’t work for me if you’d just run away with me, ” she points out, singsong and innocent, where she really isn’t. “ i don’t know if i need to remind you, but colton’s already said that we can live in his castle. all you gotta do is say yes. ”

╰ ˟ ｡ ♛ ┆BRIDGETTE ‌.

bridgette rolls her eyes, a full body movement that involves her leaning back as far as humanly possible and letting out a groan. “ i don’t want to be a princess, and when will you let that go ? you’re the only one who cares about that ! stop caring about it ! ”

╰ ˟ ｡ ♛ ┆BRIDGETTE ‌.​

“ um, duh ? ” bridgette leans forward on the fence, chin hooked over her crossed arms. “ what are your priorities ? considering you still won’t run away with me, that is, ” she throws out, because yes, she’s still asking.

“ with halloween on the horizon, i think it’s very important to focus on our actual priorities … costumes ! ”

╰ ˟ ｡ ♛ ┆BRIDGETTE ‌.

the smile on her face is one for the ages: bright and unbothered, mouth spread so wide, it conquers everything else. “ we don’t to any lead, silly ! all you have to do is sway … ” she steps into him, positioning their arms correctly. with one of his hands situated on the small of her back and the other wrapped around hers, she starts to sway them back and forth. “ … and spin me when the moment is right. ” that was more of a joke than anything else, but she wouldn’t protest being spun or dipped. “ see ? it’s not that hard. ”

╰ ˟ ｡ ♛ ┆BRIDGETTE ‌.

victory paints a grin across her lips, and shoots lightning through her veins. “ that’s all i ask, i promise. ” she snatches his hand up again, and leads him out of the dance hall. the benefit to being as close to charlotte and samuel as she is is that she’s been here so many times, she could make a map of this palace. finding the garden is mindless work, and her feet can’t carry her fast enough. she values every stolen moment with him, so she doesn’t complain about it. when they’re standing in the middle of the garden, away from the mass of royals and nobles but still close enough to hear the music, she finally comes to a stop. grinning up at him, she holds out a hand. “ may i have this dance ? ”

╰ ˟ ｡ ♛ ┆BRIDGETTE ‌.

“ it will be fun because it’s with you. why is this so hard for you to understand ? ” she knows that, at some point, she has to give up. she can’t force him to like her,  no matter how much she wishes he did. but she can force him to have fun. “michael, it’ll take two minutes to dance with me, but i can stay up and argue with you all night. one dance,” she repeats, hoping that he’ll get it this time. “no strings attached. just something to do tonight, so you can see that it’s okay to have fun. no one’s going to tattle on you.”

╰ ˟ ｡ ♛ ┆BRIDGETTE ‌.

she crosses her arms with a huff, tipping a glare in his direction. “ what the heck are you so afraid of ? my parents aren’t even here this time. it’s just diana, and it’s not like she’s going to tell on us. ” if diana wanted to ruin bridgette’s life, she could’ve done it years ago. or maybe she should just stop being so insurgent, determined to break rules and fall in love with the wrong boy. she could be like charlotte and marry a nice boy of her parents’ choosing. but that’s not bridgette, and that whole ‘ love ’ train has already left the station & gone out of business. she’s stubborn and stupid because dear god, she swears she’s in love with him. “ we don’t even have to dance in front of everyone. there’s a beautiful garden, it’s super private, and we’ll still hear the music. all i want is one dance, then you’re free to go back and hide in your room. ”

                                              [      for @mxchael-l      ]

“ come on, michael ! ” heels click a sharp staccato beat against the linoleum as she shuffles closer to the man in question. one would imagine that after being rebuffed so many times, she would take a hint, but lord knows bridgette’s never been one to do that. taking his hand in hers, she playfully tugs at him. “ i didn’t sneak you all the way to korea for you NOT to dance with me. ” a pout forms on her lips, shining with fresh gloss. “ please ? it’s just one dance, i swear. ”

╰ ˟ ｡ ♛ ┆BRIDGETTE ‌.

she rolls her eyes at him, the gesture more playful than irritant. “it’s because you’re so grumpy. you two are never going to get along if you don’t learn how to treat each other nicely.”

“i’ve been nice - !” his attempts are futile, and he knows it. there’s absolutely no point in it. playing nice and complying with bridgette’s ideas is the only option that will result in the least amount of pain. “fine. whatever. help me get on.”

╰ ˟ ｡ ♛ ┆BRIDGETTE ‌.

she positively beams at him, and wiggles her fingers emphatically. “come on, then. honestly, vandal’s not going to wait for ever, you know. you’re not making a very good impression,” she teases, her smile unshakeable.

“oh i’m not making a good impression?” he’s hesitant to even approach the horse let alone get on him. bridgette is far too optimistic that the two of them will get along. “i’m not the one who tries to bite the person trying to feed me.”

╰ ˟ ｡ ♛ ┆BRIDGETTE ‌.

she doesn’t allow herself to feel triumphant yet, but she feels herself getting a bit closer to victory anyway. she shrugs. “if they do, i can say  forced you to do it. but no one comes around here this time of day. haven’t you noticed?”

he had. because he’d been checking. there’s nothing going on between him and the princess; just an unlucky, unfortunate relationship bonded by a stubborn horse. that’s it. but that doesn’t mean any passersby won’t see something different. it’s risky, but it’s more annoying to argue with her. “fine,” he agrees begrudgingly.