I wake up a little after midnight.

  shock and sadness have faded into what I find is defiance.

  I will try my best not to give a fuck what anyone thinks.

  even Sye.

  I'm still wearing my dress, so I grab a bck shirt that's Rowan's and switch to that and bck tights.

  my dark brown cloak billowing around me as I sneak into my brothers room.

  I grab his old leather boots, one of his dress shirts, and with a digging through of his clothes that are too small, a pair of cargo pants that fit me perfectly.

  after returning my newly acquired clothes to my room, I pulled the cargo pants over my tights and repced my current shoes to Cassander's.

  I grin, looking into the mirror.

  I look like myself.

  Which is weird, since I don't really know what my style after always being everyone else's version of me.

  but I can try this and see how it goes.

  I can always change back, or be something new.

  they/them . . . maybe I should think about it before going that far.

  it seems better than being a girl for some reason.

  I turned sixteen a month ago, so, technically if I'm following the rules like everyone else, I'd be allowed to hang out after midnight without a parent or chaperone.

  I look at the balcony, then back at the mirror.

  then I see something on my face.

  "one more thing" I mutter, grabbing an already damp towel, thanks to Rowan, and wipe my makeup off.

  now I'm ready.

  standing on the railing it's actually easy to jump to the tree branch that shakes a bit as I edge to the center of the tree.

  I jump to the ground, the soles of my feet hurting only a little bit.

  I see the lights of people still celebrating, the forest to the other side.

  Cassander, not me.

  its too te, forget about it, you're still better.

  I walk toward the lights.

  "I see a light Rowan!" Max cries, grinning.

  "don't go towards the light Max!" Rowan suppresses a smile of his own.

  "I'm gonna walk towards it!"

  I blink back to the present, the area around me fshes darkness and fades back to the normal lighting.

  shit.

  my wings.

  but I'm trying to be myself according to my rules right?

  I do like the feel of them on my back.

  Could I fly?

  that thought has never crossed my mind before.

  another time.

  now, how am I supposed to hide them then? I know I'm being myself but seriously, if the princess just walks into town with a new haircut and wings someones going to freak.

  I paused outside of the towns main gate.

  wait, Esme.

  I mentally sp myself on the head.

  Esme the goddess of love and inheritance, she had wings!

  so many people are going to have top-notch fake wings they'll be no difference!

  inheritance, Cassander is inheriting the literal rulership of these people, of course people will try to bless his inheritance by honoring Esme.

  I entered, past the two guards, who didn't even gnce at me.

  bck wings, meaning for Esme to make sure the Prince's riches are well intact.

  I hope not though.

  other gods have an association with wings, bck wings for Lorei would mean wishing death upon him.

  but today's Esme's day.

  I like to think Lorei knows that I'm honoring her, not Esme.

  the square is filled with lively music and many people are dancing, floating nterns light up the night sky, asking the goddess of family, Selene, for a good future.

  I smirk, plenty of people are wearing fake wings, some even have ones that move.

  I start to cp along with the music, like a few people are doing, no one is asking me anything or gncing at me or whispering about me.

  when people do compliment me it feels genuine, not forced at all.

  "wow, your wings are so realistic! My name's Peggy, wanna dance?" a girl around my age with blonde hair offered me her hand, pink dress swirling around.

  "thanks, I'm Max, and of course I do!" I took her hand.

  it took me a few moments before I realized we were actually dancing.

  a girl and a girl, she didn't ask like a friend, or someone who wanted to be.

  she asked and we danced like she kinda wanted it to be more.

  when the song ended and another started we both went into the crowd again, Peggy was nice, but not my type.

  I danced with a few other people, a nervous guy who barely knew how to dance, another girl, I asked her this time, her name is Jade and she talked a lot.

  I had just finished dancing with a small girl, around seven, who gave me a flower, I put the lily in my hair.

  "Hello" Someone said.

  I turned and found Sye, approaching me, looking shy, hair in a crown braid she was pulling off miraculously.

  "Hi" I say, trying to act normal and not at all like an idiot.

  two friends cut past us, arguing about who was the best dancer here.

  "I-I'm Max! do you want to dance?" I asked, beaming, surprised at my own confidence.

  I guess knowing she'll never recognize me is a plus.

  "I'm S-Sye . . . I don't know how to?" she didn't look away from me, like I was pretty when I was the opposite of what people wanted.

  it doesn't matter you know that.

  it's hard not to feel judged when your crush is staring at you.

  you admitted it, crush, you like her!

  "well, that's fine, I can teach you!" I took her hand and realized she wasn't wearing any armor, just a long sleeve shirt and jeans.

  we both dressed down I guess.

  "don't know . . ."

  "I just danced with a toddler, I can handle you" I drag Sye into the dance circle.

  a slow song started and I put my arms on Sye's waist, moving hers on my shoulders.

  "this one is easy, don't worry"

  Sye didn't object, so we danced.