What could have happened AFTER the Castlecoming Ball (Part 1)
You can find
What could’ve happened at Castlecoming Week here (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)
and
What could have happened AFTER the Castlecoming Ball here (Part 2, Part 3)
Ella walked down the halls of Merlin’s Academy with Charming. With Bridget out of sight since the Castlecoming Ball, she’s grown worried for her friend. She felt guilty that she wasn’t able to get back to Bridget that day, but she hoped that Bridget could forgive her for that.
She parted with Charming. With a small peck on his cheeks, she said, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Charming skateboarded out while Ella makes her way towards Bridget’s room, hoping to find her there.
In the dormitory, she knocks three times. “Bridget? Are you in there?” Ella called, her voice filled with concern.
No one answered.
She really hoped that Bridget was right. She hoped that she was just experimenting with new treats to bake for her not to be seen for two days.
Feeling fidgety, she twisted the doorknob but to no avail, until an unlocking sound could be heard from the inside.
“Who is it?” Bridget asked in a low and hoarse voice.
She opened the door to see Ella. “Oh, it’s you,” Bridget muttered, her eyes avoiding Ella’s. Bridget’s hair no longer in a bun, hung limply around her face like an uncooked noodle. Her lipstick smudged across her cheeks while her eyes puffed as if all she had done was cry since the Ball.
“Bridget, what happened?” Ella asked, noticing the change. “You haven’t even changed out of your dress too?” she added, her eyebrow furrowed and eyes tight with concern.
Bridget remained silent, her head facing the floor, as Ella walked inside the room.
Ella started to turn on the lamps, one by one. When she reached for the last lamp, she felt some shards instead. She withdrew her hand quickly as she felt a shard pierce through her skin. Blood began to flow out from the finger as the room lit up, painting the view clearly.
The room was a mess. Shattered glass littered the floor and the remnants of a broken vase scattered across the table. The crimson gown Bridget had worn was wrinkled and torn at the sleeves.
“Bridget, what happened? Ella asked, her voice filled with worry as she wrapped a tissue around her bleeding finger. Looking around, Ella saw ripped wallpaper like the room was attacked by some wolf. The room smelled like burnt treats. Or was it the scented papers? Bridget’s oven was also on the ground in a broken state. Her curtains were closed shut as if Bridget didn’t want to see any light.
Bridget’s hollow eyes looked up to Ella. “It’s nothing,” she muttered, turning away.
Ella moved closer, gently taking Bridget’s hand. “This isn’t nothing. Please, talk to me,” she urged softly.
Ella waited for Bridget’s response. Their breaths are all they hear and now, it’s quite deafening.
Tears slowly dropped as Bridget faced Ella. “Why do you care now?” she said, trying to hold back the tears that kept flowing.
Bridget’s mind was in a whirlpool of conflicting emotions. Seeing Ella standing there, concern etched on her face, made her want to scream. How could Ella act like she cared now? Where was she when Bridget needed her most? The memories of the ball flashed through her mind, each one like a dagger to her heart. She had felt so alone, so utterly abandoned.
Now, after everything, Ella dared to ask what was wrong. The betrayal cut deep, deeper than she thought possible. She tried to blink away the tears, but they kept coming, fueled by the hurt that had been growing inside her since that night.
“What do you mean? I always care because you’re my best friend.” Ella said as she squeezed Bridget’s hand.
Bridget, unconvinced, shook her off and said, “It didn’t feel that way when you left yesterday. You know, when I needed you the most.”
Ella softened her gaze as she felt her heart pounded in her chest, a reminder of the weight of her guilt. “Bri, Castlecoming was two days ago. Still, I’m sorry if I left. You know I was just hiding from my step sisters. Then Charming helped me out and—”
“Save it, El. I saw what happened. I saw you flee, holding hands with your prince,” Bridget snapped, her voice bitter.
Ella couldn’t understand Bridget’s bitterness. She knew it was wrong for her to leave Bridget alone when she was the one who asked in the first place. But, was it also wrong for her to be living the dream? It was already done and she was sorry. She’s here now. She was ready for the consequences or at least she thought she was.
“That’s not fair, Bridget.” Ella protested, her expression pained.
”You know that my life’s been filled with nothing but misery. Charming was the best thing that happened to me,” Ella continued, her voice pleading.
“What about me Ella?!” Bridget’s voice rose, trembling with emotion. “I had the worst time of my life when Uliana turned me into a monster.”
“Bri—” Ella tried to interject.
“They humiliated me at my first dance. Cackled at me as my nose grew longer, my hands crooked, and my skin green,” Bridget recounted, her voice cracking with each word.
Bridget couldn’t take it. Reliving that moment was already harsh enough. But, the need to retell the story from her perspective just so her ‘best friend’ could understand her was cruel. She hugged herself involuntarily as she remembered that night. The night when she sought for Ella, only for her to see her running out of the hall with Charming.
“I didn’t know—” Ella started, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Of course, you didn’t know! My so-called friend didn’t even bother to look back at me.” Bridget accused, wiping the tears that streamed down her face.
“I really didn’t know. I’m so sorry. We can go through this together. It was just one of Uliana’s stupid pranks.” Ella pleaded, her eyes welling up with tears.
Ella’s heart ached with regret. She felt small and helpless, wishing she could turn back time. Maybe if she did, she would have made Bridget happier. Happy that Bridget got to experience the Ball. Happy that they would have spent their time laughing about the stories they would’ve created that night. But no, she stood here on the brink of losing one of the important people in her life. For her, just the thought of it was unbearable, but at the same time, she knew part of it was her fault.
“No. I already went through it and you weren’t there. James was right, even salt can look like sugar.” Bridget replied, her voice cold.
“James? James Hook? Why were you with him?” Ella asked, confusion evident on her face.
“It doesn’t concern you now, does it, Ella?”
”He was there when you weren’t. He helped me see the world a bit more clearly.” Bridget added, turning her back on Ella. “You can see yourself out now.”
Ella stood there, stunned, unsure of how to approach her friend. Her breath hitched. She opens her mouth to utter something, just anything. She guessed that anything she said wouldn’t have changed Bridget’s mind.
“What are you still doing here?”
“I said leave!” Bridget’s voice rang in the entire room. Ella, not knowing what to do anymore, went through the door and left.
Each step she took felt heavier than the last as if she dragged the chains of regret behind her. The door clicked shut, but the sound echoed in her mind like a final goodbye.
Ella knew when she left that she would never see the friend she knew and loved again. Because the Bridget that she saw today had eyes that glowed red and a heart that turned black. She had found love, but in doing so, she lost a friend. She knew part of it was her fault and she would carry these guilt-weights until she took her last breath.
~~~
A/N: WAHHHHHH! I finally finished it! I know this may not be what you imagined for the aftermath but I really need to conclude the Ella-Bridget relationship. So yeah, here it is. I would be writing the Bridget x Hook part of the aftermath in the near future. Hope you guys like it! Happy reading!!!